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THE SILENT BOYS
Lightning Bugs Are Smiling (Shelflife / Too Good To Be True Records)
Add date: 11.10.2026
Release date: 11.6.2026
Links:
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Bandcamp
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Shelflife
Spotify
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Too Good To Be True Records
The Silent Boys bandleader, Wallace Dietz, formed the group in the mid-80s, inspired by the post-punk guitar pop that once ruled the college radio airwaves. The Silent Boys were frequent players at many of the rock n’ roll nightclubs in downtown Richmond, VA until 1991 when Wallace “pulled the plug.” The rehearsal space gave way to a newborn son’s bedroom, and players’ career moves led them to faraway places.
Recordings from this era made their way on to various indie pop compilations in the late 90s. With the renewed interest, Wallace reformed the group in 1999, recording an album every 2-3 years, leading up to the present.
“Willfully obscure” has been The Silent Boys’ mantra throughout the 2000s. That’s easy to do when Wallace is writing music for an audience of one and is already working on the next album when he should be promoting the current one. As Wallace closed in on the final mixes for the previous album, his wife (her artwork/photos are often featured as album covers) urged him to do something more to expand his fan base. Consequently, Wallace reached out to indie record labels with rosters of bands sharing DNA similar to The Silent Boys, and, there was a lightning strike of good fortune - Too Good To Be True liked what they heard on Sand To Pearls, Coal To Diamonds and issued a CD release of that album in 2022.
Fast forward to the present, and The Silent Boys are thrilled to announce that Shelflife Records is joining forces with Too Good To Be True to co-release Lightning Bugs Are Smiling on CD/vinyl with cover art by Carlie Dietz.
John Suchocki, an original member, continues to weave classic guitar lines in his signature surf jazz pop style for the latest album. Moreover, he hasn’t lost his touch shadowing and enhancing Wallace’s vocals and adding complimentary harmonies.
Longtime drummer John Morand has channeled his inner Casio beat box to infuse this new set of songs with a danceable retro vibe that recalls the heyday of 80s indie pop.
Grant Oliver, lead guitarist for Wallace’s alternative folk-rock / 60s era garage band, The Grain Hoppers, returns on bass to spin some more magic, at times channeling New Order and other times adding an addictive pop bounce.
For the first time, a The Silent Boys album features keyboards on every track supplied by newest member, Dan-O Deckelman, Wallace’s songwriting partner in The Melody Chamber. Dan-O’s keys cast a trance-inducing spell destined to transport listeners to an 80s frame of mind.
Each member brings an element and ideas that add to the fullness and texture of the music. This is absolutely a case of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts- they’ve skillfully produced 10 songs that beckon like a siren call, luring unsuspecting listeners to hit “repeat” and discover the subtle beauty of layer after layer of ear enticing melody.
So there you have it - here’s another The Silent Boys album of intelligent, well-crafted, memorable, and dreamy jangle pop-rock that will appeal to music fans of all ages. Though reminiscent of past classic P!O!P! groups, The Silent Boys have established their own genuine, fresh, and distinctive style that’s deserving of attention and stands tall in the current landscape of indie pop practitioners.
Apple Music
Bandcamp
Shelflife
Spotify
Tidal
Too Good To Be True Records
The Silent Boys bandleader, Wallace Dietz, formed the group in the mid-80s, inspired by the post-punk guitar pop that once ruled the college radio airwaves. The Silent Boys were frequent players at many of the rock n’ roll nightclubs in downtown Richmond, VA until 1991 when Wallace “pulled the plug.” The rehearsal space gave way to a newborn son’s bedroom, and players’ career moves led them to faraway places.
Recordings from this era made their way on to various indie pop compilations in the late 90s. With the renewed interest, Wallace reformed the group in 1999, recording an album every 2-3 years, leading up to the present.
“Willfully obscure” has been The Silent Boys’ mantra throughout the 2000s. That’s easy to do when Wallace is writing music for an audience of one and is already working on the next album when he should be promoting the current one. As Wallace closed in on the final mixes for the previous album, his wife (her artwork/photos are often featured as album covers) urged him to do something more to expand his fan base. Consequently, Wallace reached out to indie record labels with rosters of bands sharing DNA similar to The Silent Boys, and, there was a lightning strike of good fortune - Too Good To Be True liked what they heard on Sand To Pearls, Coal To Diamonds and issued a CD release of that album in 2022.
Fast forward to the present, and The Silent Boys are thrilled to announce that Shelflife Records is joining forces with Too Good To Be True to co-release Lightning Bugs Are Smiling on CD/vinyl with cover art by Carlie Dietz.
John Suchocki, an original member, continues to weave classic guitar lines in his signature surf jazz pop style for the latest album. Moreover, he hasn’t lost his touch shadowing and enhancing Wallace’s vocals and adding complimentary harmonies.
Longtime drummer John Morand has channeled his inner Casio beat box to infuse this new set of songs with a danceable retro vibe that recalls the heyday of 80s indie pop.
Grant Oliver, lead guitarist for Wallace’s alternative folk-rock / 60s era garage band, The Grain Hoppers, returns on bass to spin some more magic, at times channeling New Order and other times adding an addictive pop bounce.
For the first time, a The Silent Boys album features keyboards on every track supplied by newest member, Dan-O Deckelman, Wallace’s songwriting partner in The Melody Chamber. Dan-O’s keys cast a trance-inducing spell destined to transport listeners to an 80s frame of mind.
Each member brings an element and ideas that add to the fullness and texture of the music. This is absolutely a case of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts- they’ve skillfully produced 10 songs that beckon like a siren call, luring unsuspecting listeners to hit “repeat” and discover the subtle beauty of layer after layer of ear enticing melody.
So there you have it - here’s another The Silent Boys album of intelligent, well-crafted, memorable, and dreamy jangle pop-rock that will appeal to music fans of all ages. Though reminiscent of past classic P!O!P! groups, The Silent Boys have established their own genuine, fresh, and distinctive style that’s deserving of attention and stands tall in the current landscape of indie pop practitioners.