“Crescent City,” the new single from New Orleans’ Loose Cattle, is a fiddler-driven reading of Americana icon Lucinda Williams' classic tune. Their rendition features special guests Louis Michot of Grammy winners Lost Bayou Ramblers as one of those fiddlers and Drive By Truckers’ Jay Gonzalez on organ and was recorded on the banks of the Vermilion River at famed Dockside Studios, produced by John Agnello (Son Volt, Dinosaur Jr., Waxahatchee, Horse Girl). “Crescent City” was spontaneously tracked during sessions for the band's second studio album, which is expected late summer/fall 2023. This track is being released as a stand-alone single on April /21 on Low Heat Records as a digital download and on streaming platforms in celebration of Loose Cattle’s first appearance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, May 4.
"It was kind of a Louisiana love-at-first-sight story,” says Kimberly Kaye, co-leader of Loose Cattle with Michael Cerveris, and lead singer on “Crescent City.” "Michael had known Lucinda for a while through Lu's tour manager, his fellow native West Virginian, Travis Stephens. When we came to town for an unofficial Louisiana Americana showcase during last year's Americana Music Fest in Nashville Lu invited us to stay at her place, with typical Southern hospitality.”
“We bonded right away, talking about parents, writing, and her childhood in Louisiana," says Cerveris, "It seemed natural for us to invite her to sit in on our Vinyl Tap set. And despite being scheduled to head out on her own tour later that day, she said she'd love to come out and make music with her Louisiana people. We all decided ‘Crescent City’ would be the perfect song especially since we'd brought Cajun fiddler Louis Michot with us filling in for our regular fiddle player, Rurik Nunan.”
"We kept it a surprise ‘til Lu came up onstage, and then the tiny room exploded with joy, appreciation and most of all, love for Lucinda," says Kim. "We carried that feeling back home to New Orleans," continues Michael, “and then into Dockside when we started recording our second album. One day, when Louis stopped by to deliver andouille sausage and boudin balls as a local treat for the out-of-towners (more of that Southern hospitality), we decided to try and recapture a little of the magic of that day in Nashville, this time with two fiddlers, just for Lu."
lyrics
Everybody's had a few
Now they're talking about who knows who
I'm going back to the Crescent City
Where everything's still the same
This town has said what it has to say
Now I'm after that back highway
And the longest bridge I've ever crossed
Over Pontchartrain
Tous les temps en temps
That's what we say
We used to dance
The night away
Me and my sister
Me and my brother
We used to walk
Down by the river
Mama lives in Mandeville
I can hardly wait until
I can hear my Zydeco
And laissez les bons temps rouler
And take rides in open cars
My brother knows where the best bars are
Let's see how these blues'll do
In the town where the good times stay
Tous les temps en temps
That's what we say
We used to dance
The night away
Me and my sister
Me and my brother
We used to walk
Down by the river
Tous les temps en temps
That's what we say
We used to dance
The night away
Me and my sister
Me and my brother
We used to walk
Down by the river
credits
released April 21, 2023
LOOSE CATTLE:
Kimberly Kaye - singing
Michael Cerveris - guitars and harmony
Renè Coman - bass
Doug Garrison - drums
Rurik Nunan - fiddle and harmony
with
Louis Michot - fiddle, t' fer and harmony
Jay Gonzalez - organ
Produced, recorded and mixed by John Agnello
additional production by Michael Cerveris
recorded at Dockside Studios, Maurice, LA
by John Agnello with Justin Tocket, engineer
and at Marigny Studios, New Orleans
by John Agnello with Rick G. Nelson, engineer
mixed by John Agnello at The Rabbit Hole, Raleigh, NC
mastered by Greg Calbi and Steve Fallone at Sterling Masters
Loose Cattle has appeared at Lincoln Center in NYC, on Mountain Stage (twice!) live from West Virginia with Arlo Guthrie, at
Jazz Fest in New Orleans and on tour throughout Louisiana and New York City, confounding expectations and moving audiences all the way to the bar and back again.
Fresh off his appearance on “Cowboy Carter,” Shaboozey presents his killer alt-country debut, available here on limited wax. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 15, 2024
Nicolette Hoang's velvety vocals are the finishing touch on this pitch-perfect update on outlaw country with a touch of 60s glam. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 27, 2024
Hailing from Houston, Alien Eyelid make Grateful Dead-ish psychedelic alt-country with a distinctly twangy Southern rock tinge. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 13, 2023