Melbourne based trio Opelousas are back with their second album ‘Opelousafried‘ and some dates supporting Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton. We take a closer look at proceedings.
As their press release proclaims …
“Melbourne’s swamp-blues powerhouse Opelousas are back in the saddle with their much anticipated second album Opelousafried. Following on from their award-winning 2019 debut Opelousafied, the new album raises the stakes even higher. Opelousafried showcases an evolution in the interplay between Kerri Simpson’s visceral vocals and powerfully raw guitar, Anthony “Shorty” Shortte’s hypnotic grooves and swamp-soaked percussion and Alison Ferrier’s menacing electric guitar, keening amplified fiddle and sultry vocal tones.”
If we may, we’d like to add …
Who’d have thunk gettin’ a ‘Haircut’ could be so stanky … and when was a ‘Train To Brunswick’ ever this phunky? On Opelousas’ new album Opelousafried, the Melbourne based swamp-rockin’ trio make such seemingly trivial matters come to life with their mastery of noise and feel. It ain’t pretty but it sure is attractive.
A follow up to their 2109 debut Opelousafied, Kerri Simpson, Anthony “Shorty” Shortte and Alison Ferrier have added a consonant to the board and delivered Opelousafried, twelve tracks of bewitching, cajun flavoured blues and rock n roll. The band is named after Opelousas, a small city in Louisiana which claims to be the ‘spice capital of the world’ and this band from down south in Australia have taken that responsibility to heart, injecting all manner of ingredients into their blend of musical sorcery. There’s a touch of grunge, a sniff of smokin’ blues, some punk funk and even a little Appalachia.
On the track ‘Third Jinx Blues’, it’s no so much a conversation between Kerri Simpson and Alison Ferrier’s fuzzed up guitar sounds but more like a swashbuckling, drunken rant. ‘Hey Cinderella’, is loose and freewheelin’, a high-spirited knees up. ‘Washboard Shorty’ is menacing … ominous, everyone knows there’s something sinister goin’ on but nobody wants to ask. Then there’s the ‘Black Cat Dreams’ and ‘Rolling Through The Straw’ side of the band, featuring Alison’s reverb-laden, smouldering, minimalist lead guitar licks that say so much.
On their second album, the trio proudly wear their delta, voodoo and blues influences on their sleeves but also manage to place their own stamp of authority into the mix. Paraphrasing an iconic British music chameleon … “This ain’t rock roll, this is Opelousafried.”
TOUR DATES
SUN 21 APR – Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy
TUES 21 MAY- Memo Music Hall (Samantha Fish, Jesse Dayton support)
SAT 25 May – Corner Hotel (Samantha Fish, Jesse Dayton support)
ALBUM CREDITS
Kerri Simpson – vocals, electric guitar, electric baritone guitar, amplified resonator guitar.
Alison Ferrier – vocals, electric guitar, amplified fiddle.
Anthony Shortte – backing vocals, drums and percussion.
Engineered and mixed by Jeff Lang, mastered by Colin Wynne.
Produced by Jeff Lang and Opelousas.
MORE ABOUT THE BAND
KERRI SIMPSON has successfully traversed musical genres from gospel to country, dance and rock. Simpson’s vocal style is straight whiskey and she has played and collaborated with some of the world’s best, including Dr John, Keb Mo, Kylie Minogue and Chris Wilson. Her Confessin’ the Blues was nominated for an ARIA while Sun Gonna Shine remained in the Oz Roots charts for nine weeks, gaining her US airplay and appearances at festivals across Australia.
ALISON FERRIER is a prolific songwriter, talented guitarist and an active player in Melbourne’s vibrant music scene. She has appeared at Port Fairy and Woodford Folk Festivals, among others, toured the east coast and supported Saharan Desert band Tinariwen at The Melbourne Recital Hall. Her third album, What She Knows, is a rippling slice of folk, country, blues and rock ‘n’ roll.
ANTHONY SHORTTE is well known to blues lovers as the back-beat powerhouse behind the original ARIA award winners,Collard Greens and Gravy. Shorty is a regular with Dan Dinnen and the Houndlings, has toured nationally and in the USA. He has brought his down and dirty grooves along with his electro washboard to a new level with Opelousas.