Delilah DeWylde is a Grand Rapids music staple. From her vintage dress to her black bangs, perched atop an upright bass, one is hard-pressed to find a West Michigan music lover who hasn't seen her perform.

When asked about her persona compared to the real her, she said it might surprise people that she can be "a bit shy," but said a love of music and fun persists for both the stage-side character and the "stay-at-home-in-pajamas" version. A prominent member of DangerVille until 2006, DeWylde switched her focus to Delilah DeWylde and the Lost Boys, then with Lee Harvey (guitar) and Dan McCoy (drums).

"It was actually [Harvey's] idea to start this band, since he wanted to switch from drums to guitar," DeWylde said. "This band is different because I had to become the frontperson and do all the singing."

DeWylde cites a love for The Bakersfield Revival, as well as "vintage-throwback" in general, as shaping factors when forming the group.

"Our intention was to continue with our rockabilly roots and branch out into classic country sounds," she said. "The classic country vocal style was fun to sing, so we kind of went with that since the beginning."

Going along with the classic country themes, DeWylde rattles off a list of the usual lyrical suspects — "Broken hearts, cheating, drinking," to name a few, as Harvey's use, along with reworked versions of old songs the group likes. DeWylde helps Harvey with the arrangements.

Delilah DeWylde and the Lost Boys Album: The Price You Pay Genre: Americana/Honky Tonk Sounds Like: Rose Maddox, Buck Owens, Led Zeppelin Upcoming Show: CD Release wsg Ralston Bowles, Red Sea Pedestrians Billy's Lounge, Grand Rapids Sept. 8, 9 p.m., $5 billyslounge.com, (616) 459-5757

Recorded by Joe McCarger at River City Studios, The Price You Pay is important to DeWylde and the band for many reasons. DeWylde feels as though her singing has improved over the year, making it a more personal record. But it is also close for more tragic reasons.

"Dan's brother, Neal McCoy, passed away during the middle of all this, after a long painful battle with cancer," DeWylde said. "It was rough on Dan because he was the only immediate family member in town, but he never missed a gig, a rehearsal or a studio date. Neal was also a musician, and encouraged Dan to do what he needed to do."