Walkin’ To New Orleans: Cajun Swamp Rock

Doug Kershaw

We’re taking a trip from Texas to New Orleans and plan to get there in time for Mardi Gras.  Along the way, we’re revisiting some of the interesting characters we’ve met in past years.  Today we’re in the dark swamps along the Atchafalaya River, but the story begins back in Texas.

I remember this scene as clearly as yesterday: I’m in a small garage apartment and two music legends are sitting in my living room.  Jivin’ Gene Bourgeois and Johnnie Allan, both South Louisiana music legends, are doing some publicity for a music show in Port Arthur and they decided to “take it” to the reporter.  Where he lives.

I had met Allan – who was a high school principal in Lafayette, Louisiana, at the time – at a South Louisiana music legends show the year before.   We drove to the show with Jivin’ Gene, who was a neighbor and old friend.  Allan was, and still is, one of the most tireless proponents of the South Louisiana music sound.  That sound was a tasty blend of rock and roll, R&B and a bit of rockabilly made spicy with some Cajun seasoning.  A British guy started calling it “Swamp Pop” in the 1970s but I always hated that term – “Swamp Rock” is more appropriate.  Because, as we used to say in Port Arthur, that shit rocks.

Hurricane Ike Is Here

There are probably many things one could sensibly be doing as a major hurricane moves in to the neighborhood, but I’m writing this post for a music blog.  Hurricane Ike is poised to come onshore off the Texas coast within an hour or so.  Galveston, that fine city to our south, has apparently taken a major blow in the form of flooding and nasty winds.  In the days ahead we’ll count our losses.  But now is the time to hide from the wind – and listen to a few tunes.  If you are in a place where the wind is not blowing and the power is still flowing, count your blessings and dedicate your next beer to the good folks in Galveston. 

MP3: “Mighty Storm” by The Duhks

MP3: “Galveston” by Glen Campbell

MP3: “Catch The Wind” by Donovan

MP3: “Buckets Of Rain” by Neko Case

MP3: “Galveston” by Ezra Thomas

MP3: “Hurricane” by Mindy Smith

MP3: “Four Strong Winds” by Johnny Cash

MP3: “Galveston Bay” (live) by Bruce Springsteen

MP3: “Hurricanes Carla and Esther” by Lightnin’ Hopkins

MP3: “Blue Tarp Blues” by Sonny Landreth

Welcome to Hurricane Season

 

The first day of June is the beginning of hurricane season, and once again most of us who live along the Texas Gulf Coast collectively say: “Who the hell cares?”

Oh, we realize this is serious business.  But it’s hard to take it too seriously, especially after the fiasco of Hurricane Rita in 2005.  The storm hit about 125 miles east of Houston but in the days leading up to landfall many residents of the nation’s fourth largest city jammed every highway out of town to create the biggest traffic jam and cluster fuck in this country’s history. 

Review: Roots Rockers

Don’t know if you are going to hit the road this summer, but if you do don’t forget to pack a radio.  That would be a cheap entertainment addition for any $4-a-gallon road trip and if you avoid Clear Channel-owned stations you might get lucky and hear some new stuff.  While exploring America, try and explore “Americana,” usually found on the left side of the FM radio dial.