Rivertown Breakdown held at the Southgate House this past June (2008)
Photo by Scott Beseler

This is a picture that was taken for the Rivertown Breakdown held at the Southgate House this past June (2008), which is a yearly benefit, organized by Jake Speed, to help clean up the Ohio River. Pictured from left to right:

Yvan Verbesselt and Chico Converse of Lagniappe; Chris Cusentino of The Turkeys and Lagniappe; Jake Speed of Jake Speed and The Freddies; Lance Kaufman of The Stardevils; Benny Harnich of The Queen City Zapatistas; and Norman Converse, Chico's "dowg" in the foreground.

Some of you may wonder why am I posting this photo here now. Well, it was just sent to me, and this blog was not 'yet born' when the Rivertown Breakdown was happening. But many of us have been living like the "old days with no power" ....Back when rivers were a major source of power and transportation for many people. So this picture is not a total non-sequitur. See Scott's site listed in the Interesting Links section for lots more photographs of Yvan, Chico, Cuz and the gang. Woof to Norman!

Well, it wasn't a Night At the Opera with the Marx Brothers, Exactly.

But the band had a guy named Chico (table dancing) and a good time was had by all. Lagniappe was at their best.


On this steamy hot August night, many friends, of all ages, gathered at the Riverbank Cafe and many photographs were taken. Feel free to email me (address in my profile) if you would like your names added here or if you just wish to remain smiling faces of anonymity, that's cool, too.

Some just like to share online and email to friends where to find the photgraphs. One never knows who should be living in Idaho under the Witness Protection Program! You know who you are. :)

The band was in a playful mood and the crowd enthusiastic.
If you took a cell phone photo, please forward it to me and I will be happy to add it.

I hope you will fill free to leave comments and if you have more photos you would like to see added, please contact me. Just click on the comment area, there is no membership requirement, or email needed. You may post as anonymous.

Thanks for stopping by.
Soph~

Lagniappe Summer Break is
over?


Even the squirrels appear to be asking, "Is it true?" Yes! The band will soon be back playing weekly. They have been playing scattered dates around already.

So if you missed them at Vora Tech's Party in the Park or at Whole Foods, you can stop
feeling squirrely and check this blog for dates, or check the original Lagniappe Web Site in the Interesting Links section (see side bar) Another person designed that site and there you can read brief bios of each band members and longer term forecast of band jobs.

I will post the monthly dates I receive each month. Also, though there are several band members, sometimes the band set ups are different for each gig. So sometimes you might just see four band members, other times five or six members. Although 'mileage may vary', the music always speaks for itself. Good stuff!

But tell your family, tell your friends, heck tell the boss you don't like about this great Cajun/Dixieland band. Soon they will be back at Arnold's, Riverbank Cafe, New Orleans To Go, Chatters and all of their usual haunts.

Lagniappe at Riverbank Cafe this past Summer. Check blog for band dates .

Riverbank Cafe Photos from the past several months. Chris, Jessie and John on stage. Then Chris on guitar, and Jessie with Yvan.

Some Photos of Lagniappe from Hamilton's Riverbank Cafe

Nice restaurant. If you want a seat near the band, call for reservations. It can be crowded and they will stick you in the bar where you can't hear yourself think. High din level in restaurant so you need to sit close to the band, though they do stroll the restaurant crowd as well. Stage set is high due to it's being the old Burg's Men's store. The men's shirts were up a staircase that years later, became the "stage" that you now see at the Cafe.
(Just in case you were wondering why the stage is so high, I know I was but I digress)

~~ Sophia