The Laserdome stage dims, as flashing lights in red, blue, orange and yellow begin to brighten the room. Five boys are armed and ready with instruments as the opening notes from The Who’s “My Generation” echo off the spherical walls.
Like a seasoned pro, Bailey Norman holds the microphone with two hands while singing, ” … I hope I die before I get old … “
If that’s the case, these boys have quite a while to go.
Dooligus, a Lititz band that’s creating a buzz, makes the Jonas Brothers look old.
These boys are young — really young.
Dooligus, comprised of Bailey on lead vocals, Joey Dougherty on lead guitar, Josh Kintzer on drums, Conner Mohler on bass guitar and J.J. Vulopas on keyboard, isn’t just another angry teenage band. In fact, two members aren’t even teenagers yet. They range in age from 11 to 14 years old and are in elementary and middle school.
“As the youngest member, it’s really cool to be a part of this,” says J.J., a sixth-grader at John Beck Elementary. “The older ones always have my back.”
The boys’ ages may be why people who stumble upon them playing have similar reactions.
“Every time they play, customers come in and say, ‘How old are those kids?’ ” says Dan Furlow, who owns Freeze & Frizz, where the band has played twice in the parking lot, during Second Fridays in Lititz. “The kids are unbelievable. They have so much talent for being so little.”
The boys also know how to play the crowds.
“They definitely bring energy to the crowd,” says Gary Parsons, whose Creations Café, in Lititz, has hosted the band three times. “Joey Dougherty is absolutely amazing on guitar.”
Joey, 14, Bailey, 13, and Josh, 14, are the founding members of Dooligus. After seeing his father Joe’s work in the music industry, as a live sound-system concert engineer for Clair Bros., Joey picked up the guitar.
“They possess a powerful and special gift, and it should be treated with love and respect,” says Joe Dougherty, who is currently working at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, with Bette Midler and Cher. “They treat themselves and everybody they meet with that same love and respect, and it shows.”
Although the boys rock out on stage, they aren’t your typical rock stars. All of the guys keep a busy schedule with extracurricular activities. A typical night can include a run-through of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train,” followed by a campfire with the Boy Scouts or math homework.
“I run track and cross country outside of the band,” says Josh, an eighth-grader at Warwick Middle School. “I also take drum lessons.”
The name “Dooligus” originated from a dream Joey’s mother had one night. She ran the name by the boys, and they went with it.
Dooligus’ music focuses mainly on classic rock. The boys cite their biggest influences as the people who surround them — parents, friends, music teachers and local bands, like Cinder Hill — but they are also influenced by such acts as Led Zeppelin, Rush and The Who.
Through his father’s connections, Joey has met some of these rock legends, who serve as his biggest inspiration.
“My biggest influences are probably Jimmy Page (of Led Zeppelin) and Ritchie Blackmore (of Deep Purple), because they wrote the most influential songs of rock,” he says.
Adds Bailey: “I had heard The Beatles singing ‘She Loves You,’ and I was moved deep inside, because up till then, I had only been listening to current pop tunes on the radio.”
Dooligus is not about just singing and playing music. Band members are also writing lyrics and composing songs. Their first song is called “Figments,” and they currently have a handful of others under production.
Being so young, the boys have many opportunities ahead of them.
“My hope for them is that they continue to keep the personal bond that they possess as friends,” says the elder Dougherty. “These boys are good — really good. … If this was organized sports, you would already know their names.”
While some members hope to attend medical school, become writers or continue their aspiring music careers, the boys understand the possibilities the future holds — once they graduate middle and elementary school.
“Goals? I’m only 11,” J.J. says. “I do know that I want to fully use my talents, make a difference in this world and have lots of fun.”
Kendal (Gapinski) Kloiber 