 Delicious
Blues Stew is a Bluesiana party band that plays bayou rhythms such as Baton
Rouge & New Orleans blues, zydeco, Cajun, Second Line and Mardi Gras music.
Eclectic, with quality original material, the Stew founded the highly successful Mardi Gras celebration at Bourbon Street
Blues & Boogie Bar in Nashville. The band features a catalog of over 300
songs, ranging from high-spirited originals to time-honored classics in blues,
rock 'n' roll, country and jazz. The Stew delivers good-time "Bluesiana
Music" with a Mardi Gras flavor.
 Descended from chickens, wild Mardi
Gras women and serious Louisiana bluesmen, you never come away from a
Stew gig unscathed.
No less a musician than Wynonna Judd has this to say about The Stew: "When I know that
Delicious Blues Stew is playing in town, I always smile. I have the greatest
memory of the first time I ever saw them play. I happened to be at Bourbon
Street Blues & Boogie Bar in Nashville with my mother. We were there to see
Jimmy Vaughan, and after his set, they came on stage. The next thing I know my
mother and I were dancing in the aisles. They groove my brains out!!! You need
to experience the joy and celebration in their music like I have. Its truly a
healing experience."
Delicious Blues Stew band members:
 Shannon "Shan de Bayou"
Williford harmoica, frottoir, vocalist, songwriter, originally
from Baton Rouge. Founder and nine year host of the legendary World's Greatest Blues Jam at
Phil Brady's Bar in Baton Rouge. Played and/or recorded with Kenny and Raful
Neal, Tabby and Chris Thomas, Grammy nominee Henry Gray, Handy nominee Larry Garner, (former lead vocalist
with Blood Sweat, & Tears) Luther Kent, Elvin Killerbee, and many others in
South Louisiana. He won the Baton Rouge Blues Fest song writing award in '92.
With his partner James "Nick" Nixon, he was the recipient of The Blues Foundation's Keep
the Blues Alive Award for Education in 2000. Bayou has been named Music
City Blues Harmonica Player of the Year several times.
Scott "Patio Daddio" Achord
bass, vocalist, songwriter, originally
from Baton Rouge. Was a member of "Best
of Fest" band at Baton Rouge blues fest '93. Often performs while wearing a
dress at Mardi Gras. Patio can eat his considerable weight in
crawfish. Known for
children's performances. Has worked with Jo-el Sonnier, Esra Mohawk, Bill
Monroe, Carlene Carter, many others. He's the top band songwriter, and is known for stage
creativity, writing and singing songs on the spur of the moment.
Terry "Goose" Downing
guitar,
vocals, songwriter, originally from North Carolina. The groovingest guitarist in
Nashville, he's
performed and recorded with lots in Nashville (including Razzy Bailey and Darryl
Clanton) after an extended stay in East Texas where he discovered his wife. Goose is a
former DJ. Besides playing with
the Stew, the guitarist spends time as session leader for Monarch Productions.
Brannan Lane
drums, percussion, vocals, from Clarksville, TN. A regular for many
years on The Grand Ole Opry.
His solo CDs receive world-wide airplay, chart success and critical acclaim in the
World Beat and New Age formats. Despite all that success, he's
still not wealthy. His lack of a nickname and
Louisiana background raises questions about his musical validity, but he overcomes
that with excellent playing.
 "Lil Brother" Tom Larson
drums, percussion, vocals, originally from Colorado. Graduated from
the University of New Orleans in Jazz Studies. He has numerous studio drum
and percussion credits, both in New Orleans and Nashville. Tom has worked
with artists Ellis Marsalis, Scott Holt, Harold Batiste, Cowboy Mouth, David
Frazier and others in Louisiana and Tennessee. For two years Tom was the
house drummer for LTV, the Louisiana Music television show in New Orleans. Tom has appeared with Michael Ray,
Victor Goines, Delfayo Marsalis, Jeff Healy, the Neville Brothers, Steve
Masakowski, Coco Robicheaux, Tony Dagradi and others. He has toured internationally and has
released several solo CDs. Met a beautiful babe at Mardi Gras in Nashville, where he
proposed on stage. Their house now has Mardi Gras theme.
"Auxiliary Stew" Members
 "Junkyard" Joe
Hunter
tuba, bass, songwriter, from Baton Rouge. Played house bottom on tuba
and bass
in Tabby's Blues Box for six years. Played in a band with Williford for ten years
in Baton Rouge. Joe's been on national and international tours with Gatemouth Brown and Larry
Garner, and has numerous recording credits.
"Two Tone" Malone
frottoir, harmonica, guitar, vocals, songwriter. From Baton Rouge, he also
works in a duo with Williford. Two Tone has released a solo CD.
"T-Bone" Reed
trombone, originally from Houston. A Belmont University
music student, he's a friend of the Stew and provides support and crash house for Malone.
Don Kendrick
drums, originally from Baton Rouge. Played with John Fred's
Playboys there. Toured for 8 years with Freddy Fender. "Nashville's most
unknown drummer." Huge LSU and Saints fan.
"Exiled" Stew member Brian "Picnic" Fechino is the best guitarist you've never heard of. Or
maybe you have if you're familiar with the Pat McGee Band. Has played on recordings by
the Stew, Gwar, Mel Melton and others.
 All band members write and sing,
with Achord and Williford singing more of the leads and harmonies. The Stew's
first CD, Stewed Alive, was a live recording. The Stew can also be heard on two
compilations: Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar's Nothin' But the Blues Volume
1 and Music City Blues Volume One.
Well known on Beale Street in Memphis, the band held down a monthly midnight
packed house party at Blues City Cafι for a couple years. "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," said BCC manager Ty Agee, "Even my
wife asks me to bring 'em around, and she never says anything about any
band!"
"The Stew plays here more than any band except my house band. They are our
own walkin' talkin' spirits of Mardi Gras. This band is one of a kind in
Nashville, probably the world," says Bourbon Street Blues & Boogie Bar owner Malcolm Hare.
Listen to Delicious Blues Stew |
