Les Poissons Rouges

Music:

Member Since: 26/08/2005
Band Website: www.lespoissonsrouges.com
Band Members: Jon Harris -- lead guitfiddles, vocals; Adam Campagna -- guitfiddles, pianee, lead vocals; Mark LeMaire--bass; Jeremy Camp -- drums, pianee, guitar, tambo, jar full of bottle caps; Paul Distler -- drums and vocals; Jason DeBlanc -- bass and vocals
Influences: Gram Parsons, Flying Burritto Bros., Neil Young, The Stones, The Band, Cash, Waylon, Willie, Merle, George Jones, Hank, Allman Bros. (esp. Duane), Ryan Adams, Whiskeytown, Gillian Welch, Steely Dan, as well as many, many others that would take too long to put down....
Sounds Like: Steeped heavily in the history of American roots music, Les Poissons Rouges (pronounced Lay Pwa-son Rooj) take their cue from the genre’s artistic peak of the late 60’s and early 70’s. Influenced by roots innovators such as The Band, The Rolling Stones, and Neil Young, Les Poissons Rouges stay true to the genre while also forging new creative paths in Americana.

The manner in which Les Poissons Rouges came together is the epitome of a silver lining. Fleeing their homes in New Orleans on the heels of Hurricane Katrina, songwriters and childhood friends Adam Campagna and Jon Harris evacuated to a farmhouse near Auburn, Alabama. With little but time on their hands and much to contemplate, the two began writing songs. What was initially a way to keep their minds off the recent misfortune quickly turned into the foundation of a band. With enough material to perform live, Campagna and Harris began gigging around the nearby college town to make extra money. Fans came quickly as did new band mates, bassist Jason Deblanc and drummer Jay Knorr, Auburn natives who also shared a passion for roots and Americana. Four months and countless late night writing sessions later, Les Poissons Rouges headed to Nashville to record their debut EP, entitled NASHVEGAS.

In January 2006, Campagna and Harris returned to New Orleans (along with DeBlanc) with a desire to contribute to and help rebuild the shaken music scene. They teamed up with fellow New Orleanian and drummer Paul Distler and carried their momentum onto the New Orleans music scene. A crazy year for all involved to be sure – but one not without redemption.

Les Poissons Rouges released NASHVEGAS in October of 2006. Created from nights spent on a front porch discussing their love of The Band’s early albums, playing music in the barn until the sun came up, and personal experiences of love, pain, and happiness, the stories and music of NASHVEGAS capture a sound and feeling that is both unique and familiar. Songs like “Nashvegas” and “Road Where I Was Born” exhibit the Americana tendencies of the songwriters, while “Oh, Alabama” and “Just Another Love Song” rock with a southern swagger. The lyrics exhibit insight into the songwriters and their lives in the turbulent American south. NASHVEGAS marks the entrance of Campagna and Harris into their mid-twenties and their commentary on their experiences thus far.

Campagna, Harris, and Distler also perform in other successful New Orleans acts - Campagna with Big Blue Marble and Blair Gimma; Distler with Anyface and Stone Poets; and Harris with The Whitey Herzogs.

Record Label: INDEPENDENT