Over the past five years of tearing it up at D.C. hangs like Austin Grill, Iota and Half Moon BBQ, J.P. McDermott and Western Bop has become D.C.’s premier rockabilly band. Recent local awards include “Country Vocalist of the Year” for J.P. and “Country Recording of the Year” for the band’s 2005 debut CD, “Last Fool Here.” The Washington Post calls the music “Honky-tonk the way it should be.” MetroMusicConnection declared it “Authentic rockabilly…outstanding.” On Tap Magazine dubbed J.P. “The Keeper of the Rockabilly Flame. ”

One listen and you get it. In a sea of rockabilly musical tangents, Western Bop is vintage. “Original rockabilly was made by a bunch of rowdy guys raising hell and having fun. It was rhythm and a good beat to dance to,” observes J.P. “That’s what we’re all about.”

Part of staying true to form was recording “Last Fool Here” the old-fashioned way: live. “We were all in the same room at the same time, banging away—drums, guitars, vocals, bass,” J.P. says. “The tracks are tougher to mix that way, but the feel is great, so it’s worth it.”

Central to that feel is J.P.’s driving, rhythmic guitar style. Also vital is his dynamic stage presence, inspired by his hero, D.C. legend Tex Rubinowitz. “A Tex Rubinowitz show was a life-changing experience. He took command of the room and built the shows to a fever pitch. It’s a high mark to hit, but that’s what I aspire to.”

Critics and fans concur: J.P. hits it. Western Bop grabs hold and takes control of that primal place inside that makes you move, groove, get up and boogie.

Along with rhythm and intensity, it doesn’t hurt to have musicians with chops. Along with J.P. on acoustic guitar and lead vocals, Western Bop features some of D.C.’s A-list players—Bob Newscaster on lead guitar, Louie Newmyer on upright bass and Tom Bowes on drums.

The song list is an intriguing mix of covers and originals, stompin’ rockers and heart-stopping ballads. Familiar classics are joined by covers of lesser-known album cuts that J.P. chooses based on a personal connection. When he writes, he strives to stay within the confines of the form. He’s good at it—fans frequently mistake his originals for oldies, and The Washington Post calls him “The sort of tunesmith who knows how to put a lost soul in his place.” Live and on CD, the songs come together to create a unique, seamless flow that takes the audience on a gripping, musical wild ride.

J.P.’s commanding voice engenders comparisons to Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly. It also won him a recent gig singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at an Orioles game, to an audience of 49,000. “It was an emotional high point in my life,” he says. “That kind of moment is the ultimate reward in this business. ”

But the rewards for this band are many, including a strong presence in Europe, where rave reviews and radio airplay are steadily growing.

With press, gigs, record sales and radio exposure on the rise, there’s no telling how far J.P. McDermott and Western Bop will go. Here’s what we know: if you’re looking for electrifying, downhome, classic rockabilly, look up J.P McDermott.