Clean It Up

On Friday, at The Drake Underground, there was literally no other paying customer except myself. I have never been to a show where a band played to an empty venue; one of the travails of being a small, out-of-town band. But kudos to Before The Flood for gamely doing their set of thumping folk with gusto.

After the opening act, there was finally a crowd but still less than 50 people for Sweet Crude from New Orleans. This was a shame because they had the highest energy, most danceable set I saw this year. Their songs were a combination of English and French Creole, with powerful vocal exchanges between the two leads, and vibrant poly-rhythmic percussion. It seems every member played a main instrument plus some percussive item. There was even dance choreography. The band noted the irony of having Before The Flood opened for them. Being from New Orleans, everyone divides history into before the flood and after the flood with regards to hurricane Katrina.