So happy to be home

Spencer Bohren

makin’ it home to you 

Valve Records

Spencer Bohren presents us with ten songs, for our aural pleasure, to tickle our imaginations, and have them stir up the pot a bit, five of them  written by him.  Before I go any further let me say that Spencer is one of the kindest of souls you will ever meet.  Many, many, years ago he was coming to Tucson to play a gig and I arranged with the musical society bringing him to have him play in my classroom, no we did not know each other; he not only took the time but he put on a performance that left the kids talking and having a new appreciation for music.  He is not just a musician, but also he is  equally a very gifted storyteller.  He had the kids and two other teachers rolling on the floor and also learning a tremendous amount about the New Orleans culture and music.   He was like having a guest teacher in the room.  The amazing thing was I think he came back about a year or two later and he called to see if he could do it again.  That speaks volumes about the character of this man. 

JUST GOT A NOT ON THURSDAY JANUARY 31 AT TIPITINA’S THERE IS A BENEFIT FOR SPENCER FOR HIS CANCER RECOVERY AND ANDERS OSBORNE – GEORGE PORTER JR – JOHNNY VIDACOVICH – RAW OYSTER CULT AND MORE  MUCH MANY MORE WILL BE THERE 

 (A bit of an aside as there are at this time no videos of these songs that I could find, so here is a sampling of his music and the soul of the man to give you for being kind enough to look in.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5owoappS38M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEI1K3Op1A4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHPhXcFIyWQ

Spencer has been a staple of music in New Orleans for about thirty some odd years, oft times spending time going back and forth to the Montana/Wyoming area, with lots of smaller detours on the way to spread the joy of NOLA music far and wide.  Often times he is joined by his son, Andre on drums, in various groups such as The Whippersnappers, the name is reference to their youth.  They are joined in the band by such young up and comers as Alex McMurray on guitar, Dave Pomerleau on bass, Casey Mcallster on keyboards, and Aurora Nealand on saxophones.  Also Spencer has other groups such as the Write Brothers and Rory Danger and the Danger Dangers, which are Spencer, Andre, Alex and assorted others.  

Spencer has a voice that can sell you the whole gamut of New Orleans music, from the gospel of “I’ve Been Delivered,” man can he shout that gospel to that soft tucked in ballad, “Thief In The Night.”  His voice expresses the emotions the songs demand.  As good as this album is when you see him in person it is a new ballgame because of his personality.  

by bob gottlieb