Motorsports Park regularly hosts Kart racing, too
April 3, 2013
Andrew Calise Freeman
April 8, 2013
Do you feel like you’re a party animal, with no place to party during the long grueling work week? Do you find yourself looking for someplace to blow off steam, all while listening to some of the most talented musicians that Houma has to offer? If so, you’re in luck, I feel the exact same way. The fact that It’s a weekday, doesn’t change my lust for live music and camaraderie. The following are, in my opinion, your best bets to hear quality music during the week.
So it’s Monday, and you want to get out of the house to hang out with friends, catch a drink and listen to some tunes. The Brickhouse Tavern hosts a weekly acoustic jam night. Any musicians, poets, or singers are welcome and encouraged to come out and play music. The atmosphere is always friendly on these nights as the respect between musicians grows more every week. All musicians should feel free to bring any acoustic instrument and join in on the jam. The show starts every Monday at 10:00 p.m. and runs until closing time at 2 a.m.
Tuesday night, I find myself back at the Brickhouse, but this time I’m here to see the Brickhouse Allstars. Since its inception a decade ago, one night has stayed a success virtually from the beginning, Tuesday. The Allstars have seen members come and go and come again. The line up as of today consist of Chris Briggs on lead vocals, Tim Belanger on the skins, Shawn “Diesel” Roddy on the bass guitar, and finally Scotty Elstrott on the lead guitar. The music is a mash up of popular songs from the past thirty years, played with energy and precision. The show starts at 10:30 and once again can be listened to until closing time.
Wednesday night, brings me down the street to the Boxer and the Barrel for their weekly jam night session. Once again any musician is encouraged to come out and show off their talents. The jam is run by the trio of Seth Stogner on guitar and vocals, Tim Belanger on drums, and Shawn Roddy on Bass. The group plays music from amazing bands such as: Radiohead, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd. The music is always exciting to watch as new performers take the stage week in and week out. The Boxer Jam starts at 10:00 every Wednesday night. Back at the Brickhouse, Wednesday night means karaoke. Everyone gets the chance to be a rock star, all you need is a little courage. Karaoke starts every Wednesday at 9:00 and lasts until 2:00.
Thursday night, once again has me running up and down Main Street from the Boxer to the Brickhouse, so that I can hear the best of what both worlds have to offer. Thursdays are ladies night at the Boxer with free domestic and well drinks for women. Most Thursday nights you can find the Les Deadlies featuring Todd Rowan on vocals and guitar, Corie Duplechin on the bass, Zach Cheremie on guitar and Tim Belanger on drums. The NOLA Treblemakers can be found twice a month playing their unique style of rocking swamp pop. The Treblemakers are made up of Jak Locke on guitar and vocals, Derrick Gordon on drums, and Callico Jack on piano and vocals. Down the block The Cool Pops take the stage at the Brickhouse. Made up of Chris Briggs on guitar and vocals, yours truly Alex Martin on rhythm guitar and vocals, Terrell “T-Money” Clark on bass, and last but not least Rick Voision on drums. The Cool Pops play a variety of musical styles and put their own spin onto familiar cover songs. The shows at the Boxer and Brickhouse both start at 10:30 and last until 2:00.
I sat down with Kendal Brunet of the Brickhouse and Todd Rowan of the Boxer and the Barrel separately, and spoke of the visions they have for weekly weekday entertainment. “The talent doesn’t stop just because of the start of the work week. I feel like we need to have some type of musical activity going on every day to satisfy as many customers as we can,” Brunet says. “If you really want to know why we rock so hard, it’s because that’s how we roll. We always have and we always will celebrate the music and musicians of Houma.”
“It’s our pleasure to have the stages to put people on and give them a chance to do what they love,” Rowan says. “It isn’t about having a competition between bars to be better, It’s about having bars and making Houma better for both the musician and the listener.”
As for me, I believe in that statement whole heartedly. Ask not how Houma can be a better place to you, but how can you make Houma a better place to be, period.
The typical work night does not deter live entertainment in the Houma-Thibodaux area. Spahr’s Seafood at Ramada Inn along Martin Luther King Boulevard in Houma isn’t adverse to booking bands on weeknights. Gumbo Entertainment Guide columnist Alex Martin looks at the weekly options in downtown Houma.
