Music
Jacye, That Was Then (Crazy Chester Records)
Jacye Guerin, a skilled songwriter and passionate singer from Plaquemine in Iberville Parish, goes all out for her album debut. That Was Then presents 13 mostly Southern soul–style original songs […]
Longhair Revelation: Per Oldaeus’ scrapbook
Per Oldaeus heard Professor Longhair for the first time in 1973. Longhair’s 1959 Ron Records release, “Cuttin’ Out,” was in a stack of vinyl 45s a friend had brought home […]
Leyla McCalla Talks Back
“You keep telling me to climb this ladder. I’ve got to pay my dues. But as I rise the stakes get higher. I’ve got the capitalist blues. When I give […]
Colin Blunstone of the Zombies talks back
In a cosmic twist of fate, March 29 is a twice-special date for the Zombies. On March 29, 1969, the British invasion band’s “Time of the Season” reached number one […]
Jim Pharis, High Mileage (Independent)
Folk-blues singer-guitarist Jim Pharis keeps it simple on High Mileage. Most of the songs on his made-in-Lafayette album feature Pharis’ finger-style acoustic guitar playing and deadpan, rather odd but amiable […]
The Iceman Special, The Iceman Special (Independent)
The Iceman Special’s Facebook bio says the group transplanted itself from Louisiana swamps to New Orleans. Traces of the swamp appear in the group’s eccentric, sometimes phantasmagoric music. Prog rock, […]
I Believe in Rock ’n’ Roll: River Gibson of LVVRS is not faking anything
If former “American Idol” contestant River Gibson played Cajun music, he could be gigging in his native Acadiana every day. But waltzes and two-steps never moved him. Green Day did. […]
The One That’s Got the Mojo: The Ric and Ron Records legacy
During the 2018 holiday season, Shirley and Lee’s 1956 hit, “Let the Good Times Roll,” accompanied Walmart’s Christmas-themed TV commercial. In 2016, Professor Longhair’s 1959 recording of “Go to the […]
Various Artists, Stax Singles, Vol. 4: Rarities & the Best of the Rest (Craft/Stax)
Stax Records continues its 60th anniversary celebration with Stax Singles, Vol. 4: Rarities & the Best of the Rest. The six-disc box represents deep exploration of the Memphis soul label’s […]
Beth McKee, Dreamwood Acres (Independent)
Singer, songwriter and keyboardist Beth McKee has lived many musical lives. They include her early-1990s membership in the all-female New Orleans country-pop band Evangeline, and a 2009 solo album of […]
