| What People Say about the band: |
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♫ Mark Hackett: I just wanted to say how pleased we were with you
guys. You were awesome! EVERYONE was blown away. We've
had numerous compliments on what a great band we had [for our event].
Some guests have asked for your name and contact info, so don't be
surprised if you get some calls for some other parties down here.
I hope you guys had a good time and didn't mind the trek down here too
much. If this becomes an annual event, which several people want,
then you'll be first on our list to call. Thanks again, and if you
ever need us as a reference, we'll be happy to sing your praises.
♫ From the 5/17/06 music picks of The Tennessean: Zydeco-spiced groove mavens Delicious Blues Stew.  ♫ Rose Reburn, singer & babe: "I love it when Patio talks that Cajun French!" ♫ Malcolm Hare, owner/general manager, Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar, Nashville, TN: "Great show! Lots of energy and excitement. One of a kind!" ♫ Rick De Yampert, The Tennessean: "Funky blues with a swampy, good-time Nawlins feel." ♫ Big City Blues Magazine: "The Mardi Gras celebration was packed and ROCKIN'!! Credit has to go to Delicious Blues Stew...." ♫ The Nashville Rage: "The Cajun-fried crew of Delicious Blues Stew was recognized as one of Nashville's best blues band recently when they walked away with four awards at the 2001 Music City Blues Awards, including nods for best drummer for Tom Larson, best bass player for Scott Achord and best harmonica player for the second year in a row by Shannon Williford." ♫ Blues City Café manager Ty Agee, Memphis: "I've never had my employees, my regulars, and the other employees on the street ask for a band like they ask for these guys. Even my wife asks me to bring 'em around, and she never says anything about any band!" ♫ Dean Smallwood, Huntsville (AL) Times: "Delicious Blues Stew isn't your traditional, run-of-the-mill Cajun Music Act. Delicious Blues Stew is an eclectic act with a unique understanding of the absurd."  ♫ The Blues Groove, Knoxville, TN: "The Stew creates a wild and wacky, Mardi Gras atmosphere any time of the year. You can't help but have fun." ♫ Rock & Read Magazine: "Put the talent and the craziness of these guys together and you have a show that no one will forget." ♫ The Alert Entertainment Magazine: "Great down home mud-funky bottomland music." ♫ Dan Janeck, manager Boardwalk Cafe, Nashville: "Very innovative...the Stew cometh...time for the insanity to commence." ♫ Fran Zinder, wild woman: "Played my third and fourth 40th birthday parties. They're having so much fun when they play!" ♫ Leslie Bills, producer, Pete's Wicked Band Contest: "The most entertaining band in our contest...and we have 48 bands!" ♫ Mimi Shimon, Special Programs Coordinator, Metro Parks; Nashville: "This band held the attention of our children for the whole show...amazing!" ♫ Mac McDonald, Entertainment Chairman, Nashville Downtown Partnership: "One of the best acts we've had in 12 years of the Downtown Progressive Party!"  ♫ Ron Wynn, The Nashville Scene: "Despite all the rain and storms of late, there's a reason to celebrate all this week at Bourbon Street Blues & Boogie Bar. The venue is not only spotlighting one of Nashville's better ensembles -- Delicious Blues Stew -- each night, they're bringing in some hot national acts as well." ♫ Music City Bluesletter: "Serious musicianship, fun harmonies, groove and general silliness!" ♫ Westview News: "Great entertainment." ♫ Music City Blues Society: "Best Unsigned Blues Band in Nashville." ♫ Nashville Music Guide: "Spicy Louisiana Blues". ♫ The Nashville Scene: "The fine nightclub band Delicious Blues Stew...fun filled, plenty of rich flavor and a dash of Cajun spice." ♫ The Rage: "Delicious Blues Stew -- solid and steamy, this New Orleans-style blues outfit mixes Zydeco and Cajun with Second Line and Mardi Gras to pleasing results." ♫ Music City Bluesletter: "Descended from chickens, wild Mardi Gras women and serious Louisiana bluesmen, you never come away from a Stew gig unscathed."  ♫ The Daily Times Weekend, Maryville, TN: "If you've seen the guys in Delicious Blues Stew throw down at Brackin's Blues Bar, then you know what a tasty treat it can be." ♫ Ann Wallace, The Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle:
Delicious Blues Stew, a Jazz on the Lawn
favorite from Nashville, provided the entertainment for the evening as
Beachaven Winery
toasts 20 years in business with an all-star lineup for its concert
series. Funky music, award-winning
wine and hanging out with old friends and making new ones are the
essence of Jazz on the Lawn. |
| What People Say about Fat Stewsday: |
 "Dominated by the second-line rhythm patterns associated with Mardi Gras music, the fellows good-time their way through 'Mardi Gras Mambo,' 'Big Chief,' and Sonny Boy's 'Checkin' Up On My Baby,' with some fantastic harp work from Shannon Williford. Special mention, though, must be afforded our favorites. Check out 'Cal Daniels,' the 'blues queen of Baton Rouge,' and her version of 'Chain Of Fools!' What a hoot! "Audience participation, as well as a very liberal interpretation of Gov. Jimmie Davis' 'You Are My Sunshine,' make this one a real party anthem. You've never heard The Meters' 'They All Asked For You' done quite THIS way, complete with animal sound effects! 'Congo Square' has a good Allman Brothers jam feel to it. The set closes with a raucous 'When The Saints Go Marchin' In' where everybody gets a chance to shine, complete with a nod to Lennon\McCartney! "Fans, if you want a party on a platter, grab a copy of Fat Stewsday by the Delicious Blues Stew! And, check 'em out live when you can and be a part of a fun time you'll never forget!" |
| What The Stew says about Fat Stewsday: |
 The record also has a distinctly live version of "Audubon Zoo" (They All Asked for You), featuring the crowd's attempts at animal noises. Another great thing about FAT STEWSDAY is that it has a version of a Stew classic "true story" from Phil Brady's bar, "Cal Daniels." And, most importantly to me as a music fan, we succeeded in releasing a version of a Stew tour de force, the 13-minute jam band version of "Congo Square," featuring the outstanding percussion work of Tom Larson and Brannan Lane. I'm such a fan of that tune, originally written by Sonny Landreth, that I always request our band to play it at Mardi Gras. Thanks again to Patio, the tune has morphed into something distinctly different from other artists' versions. We, in fact, recorded two "Congo Squares," both live at Mardi Gras. We liked 'em so much, we almost put both of them on the record (Maybe the other version will show up on another record another time. Some of y'all hard core fans might like that.). The cut features the one-musical-moment-in-time attitude that we like to bring to live shows. You never know what each musician will play on our tune as they explore new ways to release the music. As the old felluhs at Tabby's Blues Box used to say, "It goes dat way, too!" Speaking of that, we also recorded yet another version of "You Are My Sunshine," even though the song appears on our last disc, 2STEW. Why? Well, mainly this is a bawdier, wilder cup of sunshine, the way we perform it live. It goes dat way, too. So now you know why we did this record. |
| What People Say about 2Stew: |
 ♫ Graham Clarke, www.BluesBytes.com: "As their name might indicate, Delicious Blues Stew, are not just a straight blues band, but a mixture of several potent ingredients. Throw in some blues, a little rock, a bit of Cajun and zydeco, a little second-line, a smattering of swamp pop and country, and a healthy dose of humor, and you've got a savory gumbo that should please all that should sample it. Their latest effort, 2Stew (Nightfly Music), should satisfy their loyal fan base as well as anyone else who might give it a try. Based in the Nashville area, the Stew is known for its wild live gigs where no one is safe from the groove. 2Stew attempts to capture the feeling of being at a live show. From the opener, "Trouble," which sounds like it could have been an outtake from a Little Feat album, to the Cajun beat of "Maw Maw Paw Paw," to the goofy "De Con," which must be heard to be believed, to the funky "I'm the Man," it's obvious that the Stew is comfortable in several different arenas. They can also display a softer side, as on the ballads "House Built on Love," and "Place We Fell In Love," and even a serious side with the moving "Star Spangled Lady," about a mother waiting on a call from her son who disappeared in Vietnam years before (which strikes a little closer to home now, in light of recent events). Also covered is Jimmy Davis' "You Are My Sunshine," with guest star Larry Garner (who also appears on the bonus cut, "Mardi Gras Women") and lead singer/harp man/frottoir player Shannon "Bayou" Williford's 4-year-old daughter Julia Bee, who sings the opening verse. "Bayou" and the other lead vocalist, Scott "Paddio Daddio" Achord, are both solid vocalists who fit the band's sound like a glove, and the band itself is top notch. Fans of good music and a good time should check out this disc. It's available on their website, which is pretty entertaining by itself. ♫ Eric Bove, WMFO 91.5, Tufts University: "2Stew slipped into my top-ten today. Top10 CDs of 2001." ♫ John Larson, The Phoenix, Nashville: "With 2Stew, the band effortlessly bridges the gap between blues and pop and Cajun and rock, with little surprises in each track. The Stew pulls all this off with savvy, good humor, and, like good gumbo, about every kind of spice I can think of." ♫ Wildman Steve, WAUD, Auburn, AL: "Got 2Stew and it absolutely ROCKS!! Love it. My wife loves it. My kid loves it. It's a hit!! I'll play it regularly on my radio show and feature it on my website." ♫ Ron Wynn, The City Paper, Nashville: "Longtime local favorites,
Delicious Blues Stew’s music reflects the band’s identity. They
explore and perform a wealth of styles — from wailing blues to joyous
Cajun, urgent country, soul and rock.  ♫ Eric Black, Australia Blue Country 101FM: "Can’t get to the Mardi
Gras in New Orleans? Then grab a copy of 2Stew the latest CD from
Delicious Blues Stew, and you can have a Mardi Gras every day of the
week. Founded in 1996 by Shannon Williford and based in Nashville this
band brings together some of the hottest players from Music City and
veteran Baton Rogue bluesmen for a good time celebration, Louisiana
style. ♫ The Crows, Music City Bluesletter: "How to Make a Delicious Blues
Stew: One part good-time Cajun and zydeco-influences grooves. One part
New Orleans, Mardi Gras second line rhythm. One part Mississippi Delta
blues. One part down home, plain old-fashioned funk. Stir in a heaping
helping of clever songwriting. Mix well with a group of the best
musicians and vocalists on the planet. Pop into CD player and crank to
maximum volume. Side effects: expect to break into spontaneous dancing
and hand-clapping and singing along! |
| What People Say about Stewed Alive: |
 ♫ Rick De Yampert, The Tennessean, Nashville: "The band whips up funky blues with a swampy, good-time Nawlins feel. That's true on such songs as 'The Levee's Gone Dry', and a harp-fueled, funky take on 'When The Saints Go Marching In.' Check out the latter if you thought you were tired of that Big Easy staple. The band also takes a trip to the islands with the Caribbean rhythms of 'Communicate,' and delves into roadhouse rowdiness on 'Chicken,' a silly, fun tune about -- what else? -- eating chicken." ♫Cookie Holley, Riding the Rider: "Just had the pleasure of my first,
but not very likely to be my last, experience with Delicious Blues Stew!
I loved this CD more than any I have received in quite some time! ♫ Bluegill, The Blues Groove, Knoxville: "Captures the fun of this party band. My favorite version of 'Saints Go Marching In.' 'San Antonio' is a silky-smooth, almost sinister song that could have come from the soundtrack to a David Lynch movie. Serves up a gumbo of blues, funk, a chunk of calypso, a pinch of jazz, and some other ingredients I'm not real sure of." - ♫ Tom Carter, Music City Blues: "Stewed Alive is a most delightful departure from the usual straight blues groove. Taste Delicious Blues Stew once and you'll find yourself wanting more and more." |
| What The Stew Says about The Stew, an Interview: |
 Just as variety tantalizes the tongue, new sounds excite the mind. Saturday, hear a sound common to the Delta but seldom heard in these parts -- the Bluesiana Party Band stylings of Delicious Blues Stew. The Cajun band's show at the Warehouse is part of the bar's Pre-Hot August Blues Festival Fish Fry. For 8 bucks, get all the fried catfish you can stand and a heapin' helpin' of the Stew. Shannon "D'Bayou" Williford, named 2001 Blues Harmonica Player of the the Year at last fall's Music City Blues Awards, says the choice of cuisine is appropriate. "Catfish are good," the homegrown Louisiana boy says. "We used to fish in the Mississippi River and catch the great big ones way down under the bridges. They ate whatever floated by, and we ate them." Starting at 7 p.m. Saturday, Chris Byard will fry up catfish on the Warehouse deck, manager Jeff Heggie says. Coleslaw and white beans finish out the Southern fried yum fest, and Heggie promises it will be oooooie! good. "Chris Byard's supposed to be one of the best cooks around here," Heggie says. "We'll cook it all night until it runs out." With a couple hundred pounds of catfish in the cooler, that won't be anytime soon. Williford says eating bottom feeders is apropos, seeing that Louisiana is the colon of America. "You just have to adapt to a funky way of life. It shows up in the music," he says. And the music Delicious Blues Stew dishes out is spectacular. It's bluesy and spicy with dashes of Scott "Patio Daddio" Achord's Swamp Pop influences. The scratchy zing of a washboard and Williford's gorgeous harmonica distinguish the band's sound. "It's closer to Mississippi Delta Blues -- raw like the Delta, funky like New Orleans and driving like zydeco," Williford says. A cadre of excellent musicians ensures that the Stew has talent and technical quality beneath the flair. Achord was named Blues Bass Player of the Year. Every other member of the band has won honors or has been nominated as well. Brannan Lane, among them, is an admired Clarksville musician who played for a dozen years with Skeeter Davis and is the author of several eclectic solo projects. The band plays mostly originals, like the newly-developed "Blues World," but throws in stewed-up versions of time-honored classics as well.  "In Louisiana, the music is part of the people," Williford says. "There's not such a defined line between the band and the audience. It's important to make people feel I'm not here to see a show as much as I'm part of the party." The Stew has that dynamic down to slip-and-slide science, with musicians wandering through the audience, occasionally using what may have been your table or chair as a percussion instrument. Despite its near-constant gig schedule, Williford jokes about the band's lack of teen-market sex appeal. "I wish we weren't so fat and bald and ugly," he says. "If we were 21 and pretty, we'd make a bazillion dollars." The comment is all the funnier coming from Williford. OK, so the Stew isn't going to be the next boy band, but Williford, who is probably 40, has the energy of any 20-year-old, plus beautiful eyes that will blaze right through you. The Stew is just about as hot as you can take it. |
| What The Stew Says about The Stew, another Interview: |
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♫ Matt Gleason, Scene Writer, Tulsa World: There’s a saying that
Shannon "Shan de Bayou" Williford picked up from "old Blues Cats" in
Louisiana juke joints; "It goes that way, too." It’s a simple expression that says everything about the importance of spontaneity in Cajun music. "Those guys would just start playing and if somebody really messed up one of them would say, ‘Well, it goes that way too,’" said the Delicious Blues Stew singer in a recent telephone conversation.  The festival features live music and Cajun Cuisine, such as an authentic crawfish boil, alligator on a stick and fresh gulf shrimp. Williford said Delicious Blues Stew, which he describes as a "bluesiana party band," revels in its spontaneity. In fact, he’s proud to say that the last time his band rehearsed was about two years ago. "It’s kind of a point of honor that we don’t rehearse," Williford said about his band that plays about 150 gigs a year. "A lot of our songs get written on stage. We’ll sometimes start a new song a night. Somebody will say, ‘OK, somebody get something going and we’re all going to jump on and ride.’" To Williford, that’s the joy of playing live music. "If you want it to sound just like the record, well, go buy the record," he said. "If you want to hear live music, you’re hopefully going to hear a one-moment-in-time experience at our show. That’s why you go hear live music." Williford said he and his musical cohorts didn’t set out "to work real hard to be great Cajun players." They just play. "If you play a bunch of times and you get old doing it," he said. "Well, you’re going to play pretty good." Delicious Blues Stew plays original music along with Louisiana standards, such as "When the Saints Go Marching In" and "You Are My Sunshine," but one of its best known tunes is "Wiggin": I’m wiggin’ from my head down to my toes I’m wiggin’ with folks I don’t even know I’m wiggin’ I’m ‘bout to lose my mind. During the song, Williford’s band mate Scott "Patio Daddio" Achord lets his body shake like a man possessed by the music. The dance is hard to describe but – if the crowd is willing – Achord will teach them how to do it, Williford said. "That song is one that only comes out when the moment is right," Williford said. Other Delicious Blues Stew tunes beloved by their fans include one simply referred to as the chicken song. "I was famous in Louisiana for writing it," he said. "On that, we go to the barn yard. If you’re at the show, we’ll allow you to go to the barn yard, too. There’s a lot of crowd participatory stuff in it. "We like to blur the line between the band and the audience." |
| What People Say about Swamp Stories: |
 "Highly entertaining & educational." Bob Dorris, Principal, Eakin Elementary, Nashville "Entertaining & enlightening...students learned a great deal." Carol Boehms, Museum Educator, Country Music Hall of Fame |
| What People Say about Nick and Bayou: |
 "Awesome! Energizing! Great supplement to what I had been teaching in music. Enjoyed it immensely - could have listened all day." --- Margaret Hampton, Music Specialist, Tom Joy Elementary School, Nashville, TN. "The BEST program in all of Metro Schools! Pertains directly to our studies on the spiritual, blues and what comes after….I never tire of your enthusiasm and love of your craft. Our students see it and respond! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" --- Kay Anderson, Music Specialist, Tusculum Elementary School, Nashville, TN. "The program is excellent. It introduced the students to a whole new genre of music - American music!" --- William Moody, Principal, Two Rivers Middle School, Nashville, TN. |