Amish band talk 'Snoop Dog' song and 'Amish Paradise,' before NASCAR concert in Dover

Delaware darlings The Amish Outlaws have traded in their buggy for burnouts this NASCAR weekend, when the band returns to the stage at Dover Motor Speedway. 

The Amish Outlaws will play a free concert in the Fan Zone at the Monster Mile on Sunday afternoon, two hours before the big race starts. 

Here are four things to know about this unusual cover band, plus how to see the Würth 400 on TV or in person. 

Amish band took 'Snoop Dog and Dre' song to NASCAR  

If you've never seen an Amish Outlaws concert, you must expect the unexpected from the band this weekend, because that's how they roll.    

The band covers everything from System of a Down (metal) to 50 Cent (rap) and Luke Byran (country), one song after the other.  

Ezekiel Scott, better known as band co-founder "Eazy Ezekiel," said when his gang made their Monster Mile debut in 2022, opening for country star Jimmie Allen, they could've played it safe and started with a country cover. But that's not really their style.  

"I'd rather confuse them," Eazy said. "I think that's what we did the year we opened for Jimmie Allen. We opened with 'Next Episode' by Snoop and [Dr.] Dre, and then launched into a country song." 

Amish Outlaws have weird history with 'Amish Paradise'

About 16 years ago, the Amish Outlaws used to get a ton of requests to perform "Weird Al" Yankovic's '90s hit "Amish Paradise," a parody of rapper Coolio's Grammy Award-winning song "Gangsta's Paradise."  

Eazy, who has seen "Weird Al" several times in concert, said his band has only played "Amish Paradise" about four times in 21 years. The reason why the song hasn’t been in heavy rotation is because the Outlaws have a weird history with the tune. 

"Everywhere we went, it was like, the first minute people were [saying], 'Oh my God, they're doing it. They're really doing it!'” recalled the bassist, who also sang the rap verses when he did the parody.  

"We were expecting it to be an absolute home run," he explained. "As much as people asked for it over and over and over and over, once we gave it to them, they were like, 'Yeah, I kinda don't want this.' "  

Rap inspired Amish band's stage names  

There's nothing plain about this Amish band, except for their clothes (straw hats, suspenders, and light blue button-up shirts). Even the stage names for the six band members are colorful: Most of them have an alias that's connected to a rapper.  

That means there are members named Snoop Job (Snoop Dog), Big Daddy Abel (Big Daddy Kane), Eazy Ezekiel (Eazy-E), Amos Def (Mos Def) and Hezekiah X (Malcolm X). The drummer is "Jakob the Pipeplayer." That name isn't connected to any hip-hop figure, but Ezekiel said it sounded cool so they used it.   

Are the Amish Outlaws really Amish? 

The band started in 2003 with four of six original members who grew up in strict Amish households in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where there weren't any power lines connected to their homes. There also wasn't any alcohol or musical instruments. 

Eventually, those Amish members would end up rebelling against their faith community. While not everyone in the band's current lineup has an Amish background, all members do perform in Amish clothes.  

Eazy Ezekiel said the goal from the beginning was for him and his three fellow band founders, who also grew up Amish, to celebrate their freedom of playing music, while also honoring their Amish roots.  

"I was like, let's call ourselves the Amish Army, the Amish Armada ... and then it was like, [we're] the Amish Outlaws."

NASCAR in Dover: How to watch Würth 400 

The race broadcasts on FS1 at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 28. For more info, visit foxsports.com.

2 of top NASCAR drivers coming to Dover:One of them will be racing

12 Delaware concerts to see this summer:From rock and rap legends to country & more

How much are tickets to Würth 400 at Dover Motor Speedway? 

Tickets are $10 to $130+. For more info, visit dovermotorspeedway.com. 

When will Amish Outlaws play the Monster Mile?

The concert at Dover Motor Speedway (1131 N. Dupont Highway, Dover) starts at noon, Sunday, April 28. Visit dovermotorspeedway.com. 

If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters.