Elmer "Lloyd" Matherne
February 15, 2010
Attempt to raise rates denied by insurance dept.
February 18, 2010
Ask Tommy Gros about the future and watch the glint in his eyes as he leans in and smiles.
“This is going to be our year,” says the 47-year-old singer/songwriter and leader of Tommy G and Stormy Weather. “This year should be the big kick off. Music is getting really, really exciting and the calls are coming in.”
Born and raised in Amelia, Gros has weathered his share of band woes. En route to this point, at least four groups have fallen apart when one member or another developed a penchant for drugs or booze… the tales VH1 “Behind the Scenes” rockumentaries are filled with.
But like a weather vane in the wind, Gros has always found his way back to his core love for writing and singing songs.
Gros is best known locally for the song “Merry Christmas to You, O Lord,” which he penned after his 11-year-old nephew, David Paul Gros Jr., died in 1991. Recorded with the band Bayou Country, the single was released that November. It quickly became local radio’s most-requested Christmas song, a distinction the tune still holds today.
It would be a couple of years before Gros reemerged in the musical season. And when he did in 2005, Mother Nature had other plans. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita sent would-be band members scrambling for safety. The whole scene was repeated in 2008 with Gustav and Ike.
“That’s where the band’s name came from,” Gros explains. “One day, we were talking about rehearsing and I said, ‘This damn stormy weather is keeping us from getting together.'”
The name, Stormy Weather, appropriately enough, stuck.
And Gros is quick to note, it’s a perfect storm. “This is what I’ve been looking for,” he says of the group.
Tommy G & Stormy Weather is Gros on lead vocals and keyboards; Grand Caillou’s Julian Aucion, 49, on rhythm guitar and vocals; Pierre Part’s Phil Richard, 62, on lead guitar; Gibson’s Don Evans, 60, on bass; Tommy G’s son, Jarred “Candy Man” Gros, 21, of Morgan City, on saxophone and background vocals; and Berwick native Frank Morgan, 41, on drums.
Their combined experience and musical tastes makes for the band’s unique sound, according to Gros.
“We’ve combined a blend of sounds – rock ‘n’ roll, swamp pop, zydeco, blues and country – and meshed them into our own sound. We call it swamp rock,” he says. “It’s all of those sounds, but just a little bit more aggressive.”
The sound, in part, can be credited to drummer Morgan, who came to Stormy Weather via a hard-rock group.
“It happened by pure accident more than anything,” Gros says. “We couldn’t hold [Morgan] back on drums.”
“Everything just got faster, more upbeat,” chimes in Aucoin.
And the sound has been infectious, based on audience appeal. “It all fits, whether you’re younger or older,” Aucoin explains. “You can still dance to it and it brings you up. You can’t sit still and you go away happy.”
“I can tell when we’re really in the zone,” Gros adds. “The toes get to tapping and I start dancing. I never even realize it… the music just takes you there.”
Tommy G & Stormy Weather marathon shows are known to go as long as four hours.
“It’s a really good blend,” Gros says. “You can hear ‘Jolie Blon’ to ‘Freebird’ to something from Motown to Zydeco. Just give it a moment and you’re going to hear something you like.”
The band has been known to play for four to six hours and never repeat a song.
But it’s Gros’ originals that are quickly gaining attention in music circles. In recent months, the band has received invitations to tour England, Australia and, within America, Minnesota and Florida.
“Only You and Me Tonight,” a song about a couple that finds themselves alone together after the children are gone is a particular favorite. And it mirrors Gros’ and his wife Denise’s personal experience. “I’ve got all the kids through college and now it’s daddy’s time,” he says of his new full-time career.
“Cajun Crawfish Boil” and “Woman Like You” are also crowd-pleasers, Aucoin notes.
And “Little Monkey,” also based on life experience, draws applause and laughter from all ages. “It’s a zydeco tune about a monkey my neighbor had that used to drink beer,” Gros explains. “The monkey was out on the fence one day and [his neighbor] slipped him some spirits. He’d drink a little, then jump off the fence, slap my dog in the head, and climb back up. My dog was left looking around for who hit him. It was the wildest thing I ever saw.”
“Little Monkey” is often slipped in to sets when youngsters are in attendance, although the primate’s behavior is altered to suit the audience.
“You can’t sing the part about, ‘I told Little Monkey, ‘Don’t say another word,’ and he turned and flipped me the bird,'” Gros laughs. “We leave that part out.”
The band expects to return to Paul Broussard’s Leap Studios in Lafayette by spring to record its second CD, which will include “Little Monkey” and five other original tunes.
In the meantime, the band’s current CD is available via the group’s Web site, www.myspace.com/tommygrosandstormyweather.
Tommy G – Tommy Gros – belts out a song as bass player Don Evans (at left) plays at the Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival in Morgan City.
