Interview with Beth Patterson, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, novelist, poet, Celtic music specialist.

It is hard to summarize Beth Patterson (Paxton) in a simple paragraph. She embodies the terms multi-talented/ faceted, and she earnestly goes deeply into the musical avenues that interests her. But, this isn’t limited to music. She also has written novels (published) and poetry, and while she somehow does all that she puts on wild and riveting performances and invents crazy stuff to do with her also highly talented husband, Josh Paxton.

So in this interview you will hear her talk about coming out of Lafayette and somehow ending up involved in all sorts of world music but especially Celtic music. She plays an unusual instrument - the Irish Bazouki as well as bass and mandolin. Her dexterity and execution are amazing, but she also has an incredible wit and humor that are both fast and sensitive…and insensitive at exactly the right time. Her songwriting style is wide ranging as well as having a colossal repertoire of traditional music from around the world and the ability to fuse these things together. Is it mash-up or fusion?

Either way, it’s very interesting and she has a lot of thinking, ideas, and experiences that go into and come out in her art. Check out her ideas in this 4 part podcast.

part 1 of the Interview with Beth Patterson

part 2 of the interview with Beth Patterson

part 3 of the interview with Beth Patterson

part 4 of the interview with Beth Patterson

to know further:

Beth's website

Beth’s Wikipedia page

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Happy Talk with Luke Allen, songwriter/bandleader

Luke Allen is the leader of an interesting local New Orleans group, The Happy Talk Band.  He writes in a style unlike anyone else in town.  He has a generous, though un-imposing, personality and this comes through well in his songs.  In this conversation he explains a lot of where he came from and uncovers some connections between his life travels and New Orleans residency and how those things impact his songwriting.

The interview was conducted where he felt at home, Markey's Bar in the Bywater.  There is background noise from the conversationalists and jukebox but it provides a nice backdrop for Luke's lively conversation.

Part 1- Where he came from, Salinas, Santa Cruz; how he came to New Orleans and why;  how he started writing his own material; where the dark themed songs come from; playing music before Happy Talk; how The Happy Talk Band formed; how the band name came about.

Part 2- Playing with Bailey and relationship with The Morning 40 Federation; gaining a following and seeing people in the audience starting to know his songs; Checkpoint Charlie's, Hi-Ho Lounge, Matador, Circle Bar, Kelly Keller; how he chose the kind of music to go behind his songs; the stylistic influences on his sound; his difficulties with recording and playing live; the band's recording history; working with Mike West; interest in other types of writing and the impact on his songwriting; his writing process; audience response to The Happy Talk Band; desired future directions in music; being a bartender and his views of the profession; his views on New Orleans and changes over the years; what he's liked in music in New Orleans and what he's liked about the city.

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