Interview with Marc Broussard: "Cajun Soul Singer"

“Chet, you ol’ dog!” exclaimed singer Marc Broussard over the telephone. With such down-home exuberance evident right off we could have been talking about Broussard’s favorite football team, the New Orleans Saints. “I’m fired up about coming back to Grand Rapids--I can’t lie,” continued Broussard. To hear this sincerity it’s easy to understand why he has remained as one of the top vocalists going. Broussard’s music ripples with powerful currents of R&B, gospel, and swamp pop. His soul-laden original songs have always been quality crafted and delivered with emotional depth. Not bad for starters. Marc Broussard hails from the tradition rich, potent soil of Louisiana; so far has lived up to the southern soul singer heritage part. But when it comes to musical tradition down there, he says he comes by it honestly courtesy of the nearby Cajun community up by his hometown of Carencro. “I would say that some of these local boys, like Belton Richard and the Cajun and zydeco musicians, were always fun to listen to,” said Broussard from a recent tour stop in Columbia MO. “I’m still being influenced by Cajun and zydeco music,” continued Broussard. “Roddie Romero is an excellent musician and a good friend of mine. I’m a huge fan of Roddie’s stuff, no doubt about it. He started out playing accordion but he has turned into, truly, one hell of a slide guitar player. We’re going to do some writing together for my next record.” Broussard also readily acknowledges the influence of noted songwriter and fellow Louisianan Bobby Charles of “See You Later Alligator” fame, which was later immortalized by Bill Haley & the Comets. “Bobby’s a great, great songwriter,” said Broussard. "He wrote some fantastic songs for Fats Domino (“Walking to New Orleans”) and Bob Dylan.” Broussard appears in Grand Rapids at the Intersection on Sept 19 in support of his newest release simply titled Marc Broussard (Atlantic). The effort was produced and co-written by Nashville’s Jamie Kenney, who also contributed piano parts to the project. “Jamie was hugely instrumental in bringing about these arrangements,” said Broussard. “As a co-writer it’s rare to have such a connection from the get-go. We got along as musicians and as people. He’s supremely talented and a joy to work with.” For all the pop sheen applied to the Broussard release, the song “Eye on the Prize” is the most representative of Broussard’s “bayou soul” origins. “Prize” starts out swampy, murky, with a slash of slide guitar as you might expect and just keeps going. “We’re doing that one on tour now but doing it a little differently than the record version—a little more dynamic,” said Broussard. “I think it’s one of the shining moments on the album. I wish we would have had more time with “Eye on the Prize” before calling it quits on the recording. The original version of that song is vastly different than what we recorded. It started out really smooth and pop sounding. Imagine taking a Steely Dan song and totally swamping it out,” said Broussard with a chuckle. The Marc Broussard band coming to town will feature noted Memphis Hammond B-3 player Al Gamble on keys. In addition to a busy touring schedule, Broussard is known for his philanthropic work with post-Katrina New Orleans. “There was obviously a huge outpouring of support from all over this country and all over the world which allowed New Orleans to reclaim itself from shortly after the storm,” said Broussard. “Out of that tragedy it brought about some sort of reformation in that city. Obviously the New Orleans Saints football team winning a Super Bowl championship after the storm was a big part. Drew Brees (Saints quarterback) and those guys have been huge motivational factors for people who were skeptical about moving to the city. It’s funny how a football team can give a shot in the arm to a city like that but they sure as hell did. The city, I think, still has all of its charm and all of its culture but it’s got a little more pep in its step these days. I’m excited about being there.”

Marc Broussard wsg Chic Gamine & Scars on 45 at the Intersection Sept 19. More information at Marc Broussard's web page.

TMGR interview with Steve Berlin of Los Lobos

Even for a seasoned musician Steve Berlin sounded enthused. He was talking about the current co-bill tour affair of Los Lobos and Los Lonely Boys where so far the jamming opportunities have been plentiful. It seems that Berlin, Cesar Rosas, and David Hidalgo had been taking time out of their busy summer nights to jam a few tunes with Los Lonely Boys onstage. "We're doing the LLB songs "16 Monkeys," "Friday Night," and "Heaven," Berlin said from a tour stop in Colorado. You would think that jamming opportunities for working musicians must figure into the equation with some regularity. While not always the case you must still  trust the other band before you get back on stage. Fortunately for Berlin and Los Lonely Boys the bonds of trust were established on their 2008 Brotherhood tour together. Now Berlin and LLB's Garza boys--Jo Jo, Ringo, and Henry--make it an almost every night occasion to sit in with each others bands. "We really enjoy playing the Los Lonely Boy songs," said Berlin. "They're built for jamming--probably more so than our songs are for the most part. We know these guys so well by now that it just feels natural when they sit in and, I hope, vice versa."  The bonus for the fans of Los Lobos is that LLB joins them for their signature songs "Don't Worry Baby," "La Bamba," and a bluesy "Pride & Joy." Berlin notes that the current show-sharing arrangement is "really what a double bill should look like."  The kicker for career musician Berlin is that he's digging the view from the stage of the varying age difference in each audience. "It's quite gratifying to see the demographic range when we play," said Berlin. "It's a win-win for fans of both bands. I think we're expanding each others audience with these shows. I hope we continue to perform with them for a long time." Los Lobos comes to Grand Rapids'  Fredrick Meijer Gardens on Aug 11 in support of their most recent release Tin Can Trust (Shout! Factory), which was nominated for a Grammy in the Americana category earlier this year. As the tour winds down on August 12 Steve Berlin, though a tad wistful, sounded pretty sure of one thing. "I think we're going to miss them (Los Lonely Boys) when this tour ends."

Los Lobos and Los Lonely Boys at Fredrick Meijer Gardens on Aug 11 at 6:30pm.

More information at http://www.loslobos.org/

Coming Soon: Interview with Steve Berlin of Los Lobos

Steve Berlin talks about his main influence on saxophone and what it's like jamming with Los Lonely Boys on their current tour together. The Brotherhood 2011 tour makes a stop at Fredrick Meijer Gardens on Aug 11. All this and more coming up on Taste Makers Grand Rapids.

Interview with Oliver Wood: The Wood Brothers at the Intersection 5/30

Heartfelt is just one characteristic of traditional American roots songs. Songs written by Oliver Wood display this and other essential lyrical traits. From fertile blues roots territory Wood is able to incorporate his own contemporary touch with folk and jazz nuances just as he did  when writing songs for blues singer Shemekia Copeland. In producing Copeland's latest CD Never Going Back, Wood says he believes Copeland and her camp were looking for the Wood Brothers distinct songwriting vibe and perhaps a brief departure from her rocking blues background. "I think they hired me to have her sing some pretty stuff, some spooky songs, and atmospheric things. I guess you could say they're contemporary but more than that the songs are just different enough than your standard blues." Oliver is convinced of one thing: most audiences secretly long to see the human side of those in the spotlight. “A lot of music can be great where its appeal is that it’s real aggressive or rocking; or its real forward or great for a party,” Wood said from his home in Atlanta. “There are so many good things about those types of music. My thought is what people like, and what often as artists we forget, is that people want to hear you be vulnerable sometimes. I think people want you to expose yourself somewhat. That comes from how you perform, if you sing softly for instance, but it also has to do with subject matter--what are you singing about. There’s a lot more to sing about than relationships. But often times you can still be personal about a song and it doesn’t have to be about a relationship. It can be just about anything: politics, addiction, kids, and parents. And it takes guts to do that. People like to see you be vulnerable about in the same way that--though they don’t always realize it—they like it when you screw up. It’s the same reason people watch NASCAR to see a crash or watch a hockey game to see a fight. They're there to see people’s pain and what’s real about them. As performers a lot of time, when you’re up there performing putting on a show you’re not doing that necessarily.” Even though he got his start as a touring musician with electric blues guitar great Tinsley Ellis, Wood says the roots influences he learned first-hand from that experience serve him today. “What’s similar musically is that we’re all influenced by the same roots,” says Wood. "From Chicago blues to acoustic blues, to gospel and R & B, there are so many ways you can express those influences and everybody does it a little differently. Even now with when I’m doing my original music thing with my brother this is how we express those influences. It is quite different from the Tinsley days but not a stretch.” Root vegetables are the best thing for the body. Similarly quality roots music done the right way is nourishment for your soul. Oliver Wood, along with his brother Chris, seem to feel this more than most. Although billed as a two piece act, the Memorial Day 2011 tour by the Wood Brothers will feature an extra musical hand in drummer/vocalist Jano Rix. Rix was asked by Paul McCartney to play piano on McCartney's Driving Rain release and world tour. He has recorded with Marc Broussard, Liz Wright, Damian & Stephen Marley. The Wood Brothers come to Grand Rapids in support of their most recent collection of songs called Smoke Ring Halo. Wood is proud to announce they’ve recently signed with a fresh imprint out of the Atlanta area called Southern Ground Artists, a new start up by Zac Brown of the Zac Brown Band. “Brown is doing really well now in the country market. He loves all kinds of music and wanted to start a label so he could get some music that he likes out in front of people. We’re already touring with the new record that comes out on August 2. We’re lucky to have been picked up by him.”

The Wood Brothers featuring bassist Chris Wood (below left) of Medeski Martin & Wood tonight at the Intersection, doors at 6:30 pm.

Coming Soon: Interview with Oliver Wood of the Wood Brothers

The Wood Brothers perform at the Intersection in Grand Rapids on Monday May 30.

Sharrie Williams at Billy's Lounge Jan 22: “I’m going to get right into your spirit.”

Sharrie Williams gonna tell you one thing; it’s about to get all spiritual up in here. Dig: her live shows dare conjure up such power side music that it just about threatens the known senses; this, friends, is when her inner side arises. "I'm just grateful when I'm able to use the lyrics of my songs to bring forth that power,” Williams said of her mostly original compositions described as “rockin" gospel blues.” The Saginaw-native Williams says she was raised in the gospel and still, as expected, infuses that flavor in her music. But her sound represents all the various shades of blues, she says. So while not a traditional blues band per-Se, she somehow incorporates into her show the hard-driving Tina Turner; the powerhouse blues of Etta James and Koko Taylor. “I do know some shuffles. I want to touch everybody in the audience and not just one sect of people,” Williams said. “I think that’s what's made me a ‘keeper’ in this business. People call me back because I love to entertain and I bring the audience into the experience.” Williams brings her 5-piece Wiseguys band back to Billy’s Lounge on Jan 22 on the eve of a week-long tour of Dubai. According to Williams there is more to helping people forget their problems for a of couple hours on a Saturday night. “I say forget about your problems and then get over them if possible,” she said. But that thought can be a tall order for just about anyone, Williams admits. “Nowadays with the killings in Arizona and the foreclosures and such, we live in a very blue moment.” But Williams proves again the importance of real belief. “We have to be strong enough to overcome all of that," she explains. "A lot of times people go into deep depression and they don’t come out. I want to be the blues buster and bust you out of that depression.” In substance abuse recovery for fourteen years Williams proves the Creator can see anyone through. “We all have the power to make it,” she said. “There’s a song on my latest album (I’m Here to Stay) called 'Power'. It's about the power we have within ourselves,” said Williams. “A lot of it is laying there dormant and we don’t know how to tap into it. That’s why I call it a musical movement. It’s there--we just have to find it. And we are going to find every bit of that power on the 22nd of January," Williams said with a hearty laugh.

Click here to listen to Sharrie's MySpace Page.

Tad Robinson wsg Greg Nagy Band at Billy's 1/8

Guitarist/singer Greg Nagy

Try as he might, Greg Nagy could hardly conceal his excitement. Nagy was getting worked up about his gig at Billy’s Lounge this weekend when a new development unfolded. No wonder. It seems Nagy had just secured Hammond B-3 player Jim Alfredson as a special guest to join Nagy’s band when they open up for vibrant vocalist Tad Robinson on Saturday night. Even though Nagy and Alfredson have an affiliation that goes back to their time with the Root Doctor, Nagy knows opportunities like this don’t always come together so easily. “Jim is helping me produce my new record as we speak,” Nagy said.”We’re in the studio now. Even so there are a few tunes that Jim knows that we haven’t done out live yet. I don’t worry because Alfredson is really good about thinking on his feet as far as just following along,” Nagy said of performing newer songs that might not be complete as they’d like. If that doesn’t work, there’s this. “Jim will pull stuff out of the hat which is kind of exciting. And when in doubt he can just lay out (improvise musically) and it’s not the end of the world,” Nagy said. Having a player as accomplished as Alfredson coming off the bench before half-time, so to speak, affords Nagy a coveted chance “to build a (better) show.” According to Nagy this sort of show-building worked out well when Alfredson joined the Nagy trio of Jim Shaneberger (bass) and kazoo playing drummer Kevin DePree at the Old Town Blues Festival in Lansing last September. “I think we’ll do half of the show as a three piece,” said Nagy. “Then I might have them sit down and I’ll do a solo number, a finger style thing. Then call the trio back up and get Jimmy up there as a special guest. When we call up Jim it clearly changes the sound and the choice of material you can do. The whole pacing of the set is more dynamic when you have a special guest.” Nagy sounded equally wound up about the chance to sit and watch Tad Robinson and not just play in his accompanying band on Jan 8. With good reason: Robinson brings to town a piece of blues history in the fabled Delmark records rhythm section of Harlan Terson and Marty Binder. Between them, these two Chicagoans have experience with just about every important blues artist of the last 35 years. For bassist Terson it came from recording with Lonnie Brooks and Otis Rush among others. For drummer Binder it was playing the kit behind Albert Collins & the Icebreakers and fellow Delmark label-mate Ken Saydak. “They’ve got that Chicago thing going on because they’ve been a part of that scene for so many years now,” Nagy boasts. “Marty has that ultimate “fat-back” beat which you don’t find too often.” Longtime Grand Rapids music lovers may remember seeing Binder with Saydak at the former Rhythm Kitchen Cafe. Rounding out Robinson’s side of the band is the Indianapolis connection of Kevin Anker (Delbert McClinton, Darrell Nulisch) on keyboards and Paul Holdman on guitar. And what more could Nagy say about Tad? “He’s a singer’s singer and an excellent harmonica player," Nagy explains. "In my opinion Tad doesn’t get nearly the credit he deserves for the way he plays the harp.”


Tad Robinson wsg the Greg Nagy Band, Jan 8 at Billy’s Lounge.