Who is "toofish"

For anyone who has ever visited the city of New Orleans, the food and the music leave the most lasting impressions. And much of the heritage of the food and the music comes from the culture of Southern Louisiana, a short journey south, through the swamps. The indigenous music, present in all aspects of life in Southern Louisiana, is a mix of Cajun, Creole and other types of juju music, usually infected with rock and roll, country and rhythm & blues. Tyrin and Tate Benoit grew up in the middle of this stew of sounds. While deferring to their older brother Tab in the straight-ahead blues world, they have created their own style of rock and roll, clearly permeated with the local flavors.

Tyrin’s lyrics sometimes change from English to French, to patois and back. The stories in the songs revolve around life in New Orleans and the surrounding bayous. And while the music is unmistakably steeped in Cajun culture, the rock and roll delivery clearly makes the music accessible to all ages. Tyrin’s lead guitar winds around brother Tate’s bass, and the sound drives the music with a traditional rock and roll passion. The other instruments, washboard and accordion, along with zydeco beats, create the spice which keeps the music hot and the listener ready for the next bite. Whether as a powerful 3 piece, 4 piece, or sometimes a 5 piece, the music is a unique synthesis of their Southern Louisiana heritage-but always, first and foremost…rock and roll.

There is a whole ‘nother dimension to the band in concert. They are excellent players, confident enough in their own songs to go as far afield as covering Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry and others, whose songs they can usually take and make their own. Perhaps the most important aspect of their live show is how the audience reacts to toofish’s music. Whether the crowd is there because they have bought the CD or just passing by a club and curious to see what the racket is all about, they all leave as friends, the music and the show having created a bond that no one could have expected when the stage lights went up.

Best put: “This is Louisiana Juke Joint Sauce at it’s best".