The Legendary Balsa Wood Flyers

About Me

The Rivershack Tavern
(on the river road)
The Legendary Balsa Wood Flyers Have been a fixture of the New Orleans Americana/Folk music scene for the past ten years. Regular performers at the Kerry Irish Pub on Decatur St, where legendary status was bestowed upon them by Gill T. himself, they incorporate traditional string band instrumentation with stellar harmony vocals to bring to life their own musical creations as well as country, folk, gospel and blues standards.
The Flyers Were nominated by Gambit Magazine Readers in the 2005 Best of New Orleans Poll as one of the Best Acoustic/Folk Bands in the City. The band has stuck together and continues to perform this incredible music despite three of its four members losing their homes and all possessions in the flooding following Hurricane Katrina.
On the Back Porch Was created and recorded at the home of Lee and Heidi Campbell with a minimal use of studio trickery. Overdubs were done at Say Yes Studios. The recording retains the feel of several friends sitting around a living room or back porch sharing the music they love. The end result is an honest presentation of well hewn songs with an emphasis on lyrical craftsmanship and vocal harmony.
The Legendary Balsa Wood Flyers Are currently recording a second CD on that same back porch. Due to construction there are no walls on the back of the house so Paul’s vocal tracks picked up the rumble of The City of New Orleans on it’s way to Memphis. The mixing is being done in the formaldehyde laden FEMA trailer in the front yard. Mike Hogan will master it in his previously flooded necromanic lair. That’s life in New Orleans!
It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This!
Lee & Billy Davidson

Finally Got The Front Porch Just Right
Be Movin’ In Soon

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 3/15/2007
Band Members: "Schwegmanns, D H Holmes, Maison Blanche and K & B
Sunk into the Swamp of Financial Funkity
McKenzies is not Baking those Chocolate Covered Glaze
Bring Back the Flavor of those Good New Orleans Days"...New Orleans Bound

Photo by Kate
Chip Wilson, Lee Campbell, Paul Tobin, Heidi Campbell & Tom Campbell

Influences:Liz,
Next time we'll get you a seat in front

Lundi Gras Lunacy Lived Up To It's Name
Heidi, Tom, Paul and Lee were in rare form , Pablo estaba sin pantalones, Jason marched in with trombone in hand, Stevie added amazing hues to the mix, Chip sat in for a few and was phenomenal as usual, and our dear friend Steve Gavigan led the entire Flyer brigade and our extended family in an evening of Lunacy, Magic, and Harmonious Intrigue. Thanks Steve!!!
It sounded like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir meets the Memphis Horns following a second line band approaching the corner of Decatur & Bienville, with the kalliope on the Natchez adding the melodic counterpoint. Great Night!!!

A Few Influences...

Townes Van Zandt * Palestrina's polyphony * Gram Parsons * Hindemith's natural laws of sound * Berry Oakley * Tom Waits * Dr. Jerry Sieg * Steve Earle * Bach's chorales * John Prine * Steve Forbert * Wagner's chromaticism * Bill Solley * Frank Zappa * The Broadman Hymnal * Lauren Stalnecker * Johny Cash * Essie Marie * Dr. J Thomas Mitts * Wet Willie * Schoenberg's atonality * The Monk & Neil Young

BWF would like to thank:
Steve Gavigan, Chris Polacek,
Bart Ramsey, Mike Hogan
& The Monk
For having a glass of tea on our back porch and lending their talents to the CD.

Sounds Like: You are awesome musicians and everyone who sees this needs to check out your gigs! Peace...Susan Cowsill

I'm a sucka for anything that even smells close to NOLA
... you smell lots o' NOLA...Tom Faulkner

The Thursday night sets look forward to you... the name "legendary" is quite deserved...Philip Melancon

We love the band's sound and vocals...Eric Zanetis
NCA Music Publishing and Recording Co. Nashville, Tennessee

Ya'll Sound Like Folk Meets Country Meets Acid...Barry Cowsill

Thanks for the Inspirational Broom Dance Barry...BWF

Record Label: BWF Records
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

She Came And Got Al

She came and got ALBut Al was readyShe came and got ALIt was his time to goIn his raspberry trousers and Coast Guard life vestShe came and got Al
Posted by The Legendary Balsa Wood Flyers on Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:14:00 PST

They Tore Down Jesus House Today

They're tearing down lots of houses in New Orleans these days. Some need to go, some should be restored, and some...Some salient sinner sealed his fatewhen he swung that wrecking ball.I could see the ...
Posted by The Legendary Balsa Wood Flyers on Sat, 22 Sep 2007 11:04:00 PST

Pablo con Queso

Multi-instrumentalist Paul Tobin the youngest member of our flight crew, born April 13, 1971 in Detroit, Michigan. The Early Years Little Paul was surrounded by music very early in life. His mother...
Posted by The Legendary Balsa Wood Flyers on Tue, 04 Sep 2007 08:56:00 PST

Lees Story (and hes sticking to it)

My dad always said, "Keep your sights low son, you're special". Bass guitar was the perfect place for me. I've been in music forever. I was enrolled in the church choir sometime shortly after conc...
Posted by The Legendary Balsa Wood Flyers on Tue, 04 Sep 2007 08:25:00 PST