The Promised Land- A Swamp Pop Journey

"The Promised Land is a film that takes you to the heart of Louisiana's musical phenomenon - Swamp Pop. Shot in South-west Louisiana we meet this super group of cult and underground heroes and observe their lives, their music, their culture. Tracing founder member CC Adcock's search through the swamps and flatlands of South Louisiana we are drawn into a world of beauty."




"Lil' Band O' Gold resurrected swamp pop tradition while putting its own stamp on the rock music coming out of Southwest Louisiana. The nine-piece supergroup, consisting of singer/guitarist C.C. Adcock, singer/accordionist Steve Riley, singer/pianist David Egan, saxists Dickie Landry, David Greely, and Pat Breaux, bassist Dave Ronson, pedal-steel guitarist Richard Comeaux, and legendary drummer Warren Storm, rarely performed outside its home base in Lafayette, LA, because of its members' commitments to other bands.

Lil' Band O' Gold recasted traditional Cajun rockers into roadhouse boogie with the help of a dynamite rhythm section and the St. Martin's Horns on its 2000 self-titled debut CD on Shanachie Records. The band revved up "Parlez Nous a Boire (Let's Talk About Drinkin')," written by Cajun pioneer Dewey Balfa, after revisiting "Shirley," originally done by John Fred & the Playboys. Its version of "7 Letters," which was a hit for Warren Storm in the '50s, showed a slow balladic side of the group. Rockabilly from the '40s and '50s got the call on the band's remake of Moon Mulligan's "7 Nights to Rock." "Allons Rock 'N Roll," a Cajun rocker made famous by Lawrence Walker, who pioneered the cross-pollination of rhythm & blues and swing with Cajun music, epitomized the band's efforts to embrace all kinds of music from its heritage."


This record was given to me my dear departed friend Chris Kelly with the simple command, "You should listen to this." Chris Kelly was a man of few words, but when he did speak you barely heard him. Still, I'm glad I managed to understand his instructions, rather than toss the CD into a "to be processed" pile at the old store. Lil Band Of Gold quickly became one of my favorite New Orleans/Louisiana records, and the band, along with its key members CC Adcock, Steve Riley, David Egan, & Warren Storm have been my go-to guys whenever I'm down Louisiana way.

I can't recommend this record enough. A few more essential recordings:

CC Adcock- Houserocker
CC Adcock- Lafayette Marquis
Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys- Bayou Ruler
David Egan- You Don't Know Your Mind


I still haven't seen "The Promised Land." The film screened the morning I left New Orleans back in April, and it was weeks after the fact when I found out there was a NYC screening.

Here is a track called "Teardrops." I believe it is featured in the film, but only available on a promotional E.P. given away at the film screenings. It is a killer, and will absolutely put you in a great mood.

You need that, don't you?

TEARDROPS ZIP