Newsletter

Welcome, and here's the latest. First, let me wish for the best and for a safe return for all of our troops battling in Iraq. It's hard to imagine what a soldier goes through, but they must be some of the best men and women that our country has to offer. I believe that what they are doing will eventually make this world a safer place.

It's just the best time of year, don't you think? I've already indulged in crawfish a few times and plan on many more. One of my regular gigs - Landry's Seafood Ya Ya - has all you can eat crawfish on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Think I'll try there, soon! All the spring festivals and their band line-ups are out! Check my links page for many festival destinations and information. As you know, I recommend Jazz Fest in New Orleans, the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival, and Memphis in May. Though I've never been, I hear the French Quarter Festival is a great time, too.

Gigs have sprung up like crazy and I have definitely booked too many! I hope my old voice will hang in there. My great friend, Rhett Anthony, is leaving his regular Monday night slot (for now) at The Caterie. He'll be in New Orleans every week - Monday thru Thursday - playing at Utopia on Bourbon Street. The remaining members of the Monday night band have asked me to join them, and Toby Templet, onstage. So, look for us on Mondays at 10pm at The Caterie. And I want to thank Rhett, Cam Pyle, Mike Broussard, Lynn Boudreaux, Terry Acosta, Jeff Hood, and Brian Brignac for inviting me onstage at the close of the official last Monday show at The Caterie on March 24th. What a freakin' talented group of guys! You were lucky if you took advantage of those many years of Monday nights. If you missed it, you dropped the ball. Don't miss out on all the new bands that have sprung from this group, like Hip Boot Joe and the Cam Pyle Band.

I'm still at Spanky's in Prairieville every Sunday, and Landry's every Tuesday. This is my month off from the Bulldog, but I'm booked every Thursday with a private party, two shows at On the Half Shell, and a return to Samuel's on St. Charles Avenue on April 17th. Also, check out two new "once-a-month" regular shows at The Station and The Vineyard. Thanks to Scott Gascon at Green Frog Music for these gigs. I'll be at both of those bars for the next three months.

On April 12th, my buddy Russ Joffrion, is releasing a CD of his original tunes. The release party is at Serranos Salsa Company that afternoon. I am opening the show for him around 4:30pm, and he and Serranos are donating funds from the day to cancer research. Click on that date on my calendar for details.

Happy birthdays to my Uncle Jimmy in Texas and Chris Roussel (Suzanne's oldest) this month! Please check my schedule page for all show dates. If you are in or have family members in the military, you have my thoughts and prayers and gratitude. Also, let's watch out for each other here in Baton Rouge. There's an evil person stealing the lives of women, and we need to be aware, careful, and diligent to end his meaningless time on the planet.

Thanks so much for all your support of the shows and the new CD! I sell some at almost every show. Still working on promotion ideas and ways of getting it heard more often. I am still very proud of it and hope everyone is digging it. I listen to it often, hearing all the things that were recorded, but didn't make the final cut! Just like when I wrote the songs and play them at gigs, I hear all the instrumental parts in my mind. Great to see so many old friends are still in my life and aware of what I'm doing. Thank you all so much. Enjoy the spring!