Elsah performs tonight at The Varsity, opening for American Aquarium and Cody Joe Tillman & The Wicked Truth. Doors open at 8 p.m. The show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10.
In the late ’90s, Neil Werries was living in a cabin set in an art village named Elsah.
“It was something out of the 1800s,” he says, in between sips of his 20-ounce coffee. “I fell in love with the place. [Elsah] is a tiny little town across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. [The cabin] was a place where I could get back to the basics, a place to get peace of mind.”
That village became the namesake of Werries alt-country rock band. For more than a decade, Elsah has been a fixture in the local music scene. Werries brought his tunes from Missouri to the Capital City around 2001.
“When I moved here, I was excited,” he says. “I had known Jay Farrar and Lucinda Williams had lived here, and they are both two huge inspirations on my musical upbringing. I knew that Baton Rouge had a musical history. It wasn’t until I got here that I was overwhelmed by that history and how vibrant it was. The first band I saw was the Red Stick Ramblers, with Joel Savoy and Linzay Young. It was one of the best bands I had ever seen. Then, I saw Poor Harvey. There were bands playing at Chelsea’s on State Street, Ichabod’s, Café Reggae and The Varsity. There was all this music in one place.”
With more than a thousand bumper stickers with him, Werries started putting the Elsah name everywhere, building steam for his music before the Baton Rouge version of the band even existed. Pretty soon, Werries found a band, playing with local cats like guitarists Sam Boykin Short and Glenn Harris, bassist Nick Butitta and drummer Dan Thompson.
Having material was never a problem, either. Werries is a prolific writer with close to 200 songs under his belt. Around 50 of those songs the band could play “given a quick rehearsal,” he says.
However, around this time last year, Werries wasn’t sure the band would continue. Thompson died in a freak accident.
“Almost a year ago now, we took a hiatus and took some time to breathe,” Werries says. “Dan [Thompson] was one of the first people I met when I moved here. He was a personality, and almost everyone knew him.”
It wasn’t until Werries met up with local drummer Chad Townsend late last year that the singer-songwriter had second thoughts about going forward with Elsah. Townsend, a drum teacher at Baton Rouge Music Studios and drummer with The Last Chalaron, Flamethrowers and many others, instantly connected with Werries.
“Without tearing up and hugging too much, [the band] decided to ask [Townsend] if he would rehearse and play some gigs,” Werries says. “We’ve clicked with him on the rhythm section. He’s brought an energy to the band that’s palpable.”
Now, Elsah isn’t only playing more shows, but it’s also prepping a new studio album with John Tulley and Ryan Farris at The Legendary Noise Floor. Werries hopes to have the album done by next year.
After another sip of coffee, he nods his head and smiles a little. His eyes open a little wider, and he’s excited about the band. The self-described “nervous wreck” is optimistic about the future.
“It does feel like we’ve built a little momentum,” he says. “We’re in a good spot.”
Live picks
Local rockers tackle the songs of the ’80s punk band The Replacements at Red Star Friday. 10 p.m. The Rakers open.
West Without, Minos the Saint and Bantam Foxes perform at Spanish Moon Saturday. Doors open at 9 p.m. Cover is $7. RSVP and get more information.
Local shredders Baby Boy will play with touring rockers Yautja at The Legendary Noise Floor next Tuesday. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The show starts at 7 p.m. Cover is $5.
Songs of the week
Nude Beach’s “For You” and “I Can’t Keep the Tears From Falling”
Perhaps one of the more overlooked young rock bands out right now is Nude Beach. Their Elvis Costello-indebted sound is infectious. After the classy pop-rock of II, Nude Beach is fixing to release a double album called 77. Listen to the singles below and tell me you’re not in love. (And if you’re not, go get an Icee or something, will ya? Cheer up.)
Album of the week
Benjamin Booker’s self-titled debut
A New Orleans transplant is making a splash, crafting catchy rock blues. The 25-year-old Benjamin Booker released his self-titled debut this week on ATO Records, and this could be the sound of a man saving a genre. The album starts with “Violent Shiver,” a speedy track with Booker discussing his “five-year bender” and sounding like a firecracker ready to burst through its wrapping paper at any moment. Elsewhere, Booker is rollin’ and tumblin’ through rock’s standard sounds on songs like “Have You Seen My Son?”. But his energy and delivery puts him above his peers. Booker sounds like he’s hanging by a thread, and music is the only thing that can save his soul just like the best blues musicians before him.
