Pittsburgh local music spotlight: Boy Wonders

Mike Palm TribLive Mon, Dec 22, 2025 • 08:05 AM

Pittsburgh’s Boy Wonders (Courtesy of band)

The sophomore album from Pittsburgh jangle pop band Boy Wonders feels “more mature” than their debut, according to singer/guitarist Derek January.

“(It) really sees us digging into ‘60s pop more — there’s jangly 12-string guitars all over the place, lots of group harmonies,” he said. “Some of that post-punk feel that permeated the last album is definitely still there, but on this one I really was on a mission to give it a more cohesive sound and feel and flow that was in my head from the early stages.”

Events in January’s personal life helped to shape this album thematically.

“There’s no denying that the majority of the lyrical subject matter concerns where I was at the time, which was going through the process of a relationship ending that really devastated me and was pretty much drowning a vast majority of my energy and mental focus,” he said. “I poured those thoughts out onto paper and into the music and a song like ‘Little Black Shadow’ is a good example of where my headspace was at the time. The song is about being alone with heavy thoughts in your mind and the confusion and lack of clarity that that intrusion can bring about.”

When it comes to live shows, January said the band enjoys Mr. Smalls as well as Thunderbird Music Hall, where they opened for The Lemon Twigs.

”It’s funny because public speaking absolutely terrifies me. I cannot stand it. Ever since giving presentations in college, it has crippled me with anxiety,” January said. “But performing live is one of those things where I genuinely love it and feel very confident up on stage, most of the time at least. It’s almost like putting on a mask and getting to escape for a brief amount of time.”

As far as unusual moments, a late night in 2022 after a show at the Government Center stands out.

“Supporting ‘90s shoegaze greats The Veldt and having them crash at my house was quite surreal,” January said. “We stayed up drinking beers on my front porch until like 5 a.m. and they told me countless stories about working with Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins and touring with The Jesus and Mary Chain. In the morning I took them to a very hungover breakfast at Ritter’s diner and the waitress was like ‘… Are you guys in a band?’”

January filled in TribLive on what else we should know about Boy Wonders:

Band: Boy Wonders

Band members: Derek January (vocals/guitar); Adam Levine (bass); Del Weinberg (drums). (Levine is a new member and did not play on the album. Joe Praksti plays bass on the album and sings one song (“Sister Suzie”) but is no longer a member.)

Founding story: I started Boy Wonders as a solo outlet in 2016, and it eventually morphed into a full band for the recording and release of our 2022 album, “Happy Days Are Here Again.”

Origin of band’s name: The 1983 song “The Boy Wonders” by Aztec Camera

For fans of: ’80s and ’90s college rock, ’60s pop

Influences: The Smiths, R.E.M., Ride, The Beatles, XTC, The Jam, literally anything with a 12-string guitar

Releases: “Character Study” album, 2025; “Happy Days Are Here Again” album, 2022; “Boy Wonders” EP, 2016

Next show: “Character Study” album release party, Jan. 10 at Club Cafe, with support from Valleyview and The Garment District.

How to find them: Boy Wonders can be found on Bandcamp, Spotify and Instagram.

Three other Pittsburgh area bands to check out:Valleyview, who are playing our release show and are a very exciting young post-punk band with roots in New Kensington, hence the name. Choice Words, which is our drummer’s very Elvis Costello-y solo project. And Trace Remains, who is my friend Joey’s hard-hitting band that blends sounds of ’90s alternative, post-hardcore and noise rock and are one of the best live sets you with see from a local act.

Favorite pizza shop: In the city, I gotta go with either Badamo’s or my neighborhood spot Spak Brothers, but all-time has to be J&S in Natrona Heights. The spaghetti pizza is insanely good, and I’ve been going there since I was a little kid when it used to be in the old Natty Heights mall that is now sadly a Walmart.

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