A journal for South Louisiana.
Our editor and resident Tangipahoa Parish songwriter Jesse Brooks shares how going back to the country roots of music can lead to the redirection of American music. Photo by Matthew C. Roy. By Jesse Brooks I’ve been doing a lot of tweaking to my music act while in the extra solitude we have these days.... Continue Reading →
Steven Page and Ed Robertson, frontmen for Barenaked Ladies. By Jesse Brooks Quarantining for COVID-19 can get pretty weird and it can lead to some pleasant surprises even in the darkest of times. I fell down a YouTube rabbit hole the other day and basically was reminded of how great the Barenaked Ladies are as... Continue Reading →
CHANGES- New Orleans songwriter Rel returns and shares demos of new music days before a performance at The Starlight on St. Louis Street Thursday at 8 p.m. New Orleans songwriter Rel Myers has released a demo of a new song called "Changes" on SoundCloud in anticipation of her first public performance in a few years... Continue Reading →
THE ROOT- Little Brother Montgomery, jazz and blues pianist from Kentwood, should likely be credited for creating the initial foundation for the song that became Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" By Jesse Brooks One of the most well-known songs to ever be labeled as rock-n-roll out outlaw country is "Folsom Prison Blues" by Johnny Cash. So... Continue Reading →
By Jesse Brooks Memphis is a resilient city that has seen many challenging times in American history. Whether it was the Great Depression, civil unrest or a recession, Memphis seemed to always come back better than ever. It may seem typical for anyone from Louisiana to compare New Orleans to Memphis, but there are some... Continue Reading →
STARTING POINT- Owned by Sam Phillips in the 1950s, Sun Studio is considered to be where the first rock-n-roll record was made, Rocket 88 by Jackie Brenston and the Delta Cats. Eventually, a label formed, Sun Records, which launched the careers of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and more. Photo by Jesse Brooks. By Jesse... Continue Reading →
By Jesse Brooks As I write this, we are at the end of the second day since we learned that we lost Anthony Bourdain, world-renown chef, television host and author. He took his life at the age of 61. On Thursday night, I was preparing to go to bed and I was bored. My wife,... Continue Reading →
REFLECTIONS- Hammond rapper J. Quick (a.k.a. Jarius Burton) attempts to small town dreams into big city realities. Photo submitted. By Jesse Brooks For anyone young in America right now, figuring out how to manage day-to-day living while facing an ever growing income inequality gap is a harsh reality. This especially rings true for young African-Americans... Continue Reading →
Pig & Pint, a bbq resturant in Jackson's Fondren district. Photo By Jesse Brooks. By Jesse Brooks To experience the full range of Jackson, Mississippi’s food & drink culture, the best plan of action is to stay overnight so there’s amble time for the full experience. The Old Capitol Inn is a full service boutique... Continue Reading →
Baton Rouge musicians Clay Parker and Jodi James will perform at the Hammond Regional Arts Center on July 27. Hammond, LA, April 20, 2018 – The Hammond Regional Arts Center is pleased to announce the launch of its original listening room series, "Playing the Staircase." This exciting new concept to Hammond, Louisiana will see the... Continue Reading →
Small Town Stories 