Jeremy Kelley was assembling his saxophone when he identified the band that starts today’s show. You won’t have to guess cause I’ll just tell you but get it started now and then read on about today’s studio set with Bon Bon Vivant. (click the sideways arrow below)
Bon Bon Vivant first caught my ears with their album recorded live at the New Orleans Mint. This group offers beautiful harmonies with hip swaying rhythms, haunting lyrics and engaging melodies. This is music for the body, brain and soul. And this isn’t just music that copies the New Orleans. These cats live there.
Dirty Bourbon River Show kicks off today’s show with “”Ain’t No Place (Like New Orleans)”. This song that could have been written by the members of Bon Bon Vivant who hail from California originally but have been living and performing for at least a decade in New Orleans making great music. While the two sisters and Jeremy made the eastern migration together, they found the other California refugees in New Orleans.
I wasn’t surprised when members of the band also recognized the very talented Carolyn Broussard who opened the first full set of the show with “Sweet Inspiration” from her Revival! release. Albanie Falletta and John Fohl, both active musicians in New Orleans, finish out that set.
While Bon Bon Vivant was setting up in the adjacent studio at KAOS today, I played a set of music featuring Raymond Weber on drums. He turned 53 today He’s performed with a wide variety of groups, including Harry Connick Jr., Irma Thomas, Jon Cleary, a Jerry Garcia tribute band, and Dumpstaphunk. But HBO Treme fans might recognize him from when he played himself as the drummer for Antoine Batiste and his Soul Apostles which was featured in the second season. It’s a fast paced set.
When I learned that Jason Jurzak, the BBV’s sousaphonist, wrote songs and performed with Meschiya Lake, well it was easy to pull out her “Bad Kids Club” record and play a Jurzak original “Flim Flam Man.” Lots of fun music followed including songs by Frog and Henry, the New Orleans Swamp Donkeys, Louie Ludwig and the Shotgun Jazz Band.
Finally, a little less than an hour in to the show, the six-piece band kicked off with “Lost Soul.” Their music is hard to describe and easy to dance to. As mentioned Jeremy Kelley plays sax (soprano and tenor), his partner, Abigail Cosio writes the songs, plays guitar and sings. Her sister, Glori Cosio, adds harmony and rhythm. Ryan Brown handles the accordion and engineers the band’s live recordings. Jason handles the base line on the sousaphone and Brad Webb is their drummer for this tour, filling in for regular drummer Ry D’Antonio who had to skip the tour so he could be a supportive new papa.
I haven’t met anyone who doesn’t like this band so stay listening through the early sets so you can catch them. Or, just play this version below which just includes the band’s five song set in the KAOS radio studio.
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