Congo Mombo #2 – Swamp Pop Throwdown

Starring the Legends of Swamp Pop: Tommy Mclain, Warren Storm, Jerry Raines, Roy "Boogie Boy" Perkins, Gene Terry, CC Adcock and the Mau Mau Playboys
October 11, 2003 9pm at the Rock and Bowl, New Orleans

The Scoop:
The living legends of Swamp Pop will throw it down with CC Adcock and members of the Lil Band o' Gold backing them up. If you saw or heard about the Swamp Pop set at this year's Ponderosa Stomp- where Phil Phillips turned back time with his immortal "Sea of Love" - you won't wanna miss this!

The Stars:
Swamp pop crooner extraordinaire Tommy McClain will have the honor of headlining this show and as those in the know are bound to know, there's no man alive who can turn a lyric like Tommy can. His unbelievably great "Before I Grow Too Old" ("I'm gonna go out dancin' every night, I'm gonna see all the city lightsŠ") is a South Louisiana dance floor anthem of epic proportions, while his invasion of the pop charts in 1966 with million seller "Sweet Dreams" closed the book on the Willie Nelson standard.

Hailed far and wide as "The Godfather Of Swamp Pop," drummer Warren Storm is the rhythm master pounding the skins behind every swamp blues artist from Slim Harpo to Lonesome Sundown, but don't think his rhythmic duties at J.D. Miller's Crowley recording studio in the late '50s and early '60s are his only accomplishments. Storm's '58 smash hit "Prisoner's Song" showcased his powerful vocal prowess as did its flip side "Mama Mama Mama." He'll be on drums the whole night, as well as turning in his own killer vocal set from behind the kit.

When people talk about the first practitioners of South Louisiana rock 'n' roll, two names come to mind: Bobby Charles (esteemed author of McClain's aforementioned "Before I Grow Too Old") and Roy "Boogie Boy" Perkins (pianist on Storm's aforementioned "Mama Mama Mama"). We haven't coaxed Charles back to the stage yet, but two years ago the Mau-Mau booked the "Boogie Boy" for his first gig in thirty years. Fittingly dubbed a "mystic rock 'n' roller" in the words of historian John Broven, Perkins has "that teardrop in his voice," and when you hear him sing his early hit "You're On My Mind" you're bound to fall to your knees. He'll also be doing such classics as "Drop Top," "Ba Da" and his fine version of "Lawdy Miss Clawdy." Roy's got a voice somewhere south of Sugar Boy Crawford and Lloyd Price- simply no one can belt out a tune like this guy can.

Swamp pop has produced its share of unsung heroes, and as sure as that's the understatement of the century we know you just can't resist the temptation of seeing one of them, Jerry Raines, at his first New Orleans appearance since the '60s. Author of the timelessly tragic "Our Teenage Love" and the scintillating rocker "Dangerous Redhead," Jerry'll also be kicking down the door with other classic originals like "No More" and of course his fine rendition of Junior Parker's "Barefoot Rock." Yeah!!

And speaking of undeservedly obscure, Gene Terry-who cut one of Goldband Records' all time greatest rockers (and that is really saying something!), "Cindy Lou" will be there to take no prisoners! Coaxed out of the wilds of Texas to tear the joint down in his inimitable style, there's only one band capable of providing the backing:

The Lafayette hair-raisers C.C. Adcock and the Mau-Mau Playboys, stars in their own right (Lil' Band o' Gold) who grew up worshipping at the altar of all those who paved the way. Check out Adcock's debut CD Houserocker for his duet with McClain, "Done Most Everything"-an answer to "Before I Grow Too Old"-as well as a fine version of "Cindy Lou."

The Grease:
Pre-show, post-show and in-between set entertainment will be provided by expert DJs spinning only the finest South Louisiana rock 'n' roll rarities, while KAGY 1510 AM's Gilligan will be on hand to add some surprise excitement of the festivities.