Swamp Pop Legend Tommy McLain performs with CC Adcock and Dave Ranson at the Richard Sale Barn
Swamp Pop Legend Tommy McLain performs with CC Adcock and Dave Ranson
at the Richard Sale Barn
Abbeville, LA. The legendary Swamp Pop legend, Tommy McLain along with CC Adcock and Dave Ranson will perform on Saturday, March 30th as the next Richard Sale Barn’s Spring Series show.
Tommy McLain is considered a founding father of the Gulf Coast “swamp pop" Genre and is “A bonafide "Swamp-Poppa".
Known for his stunning voice, in the mid-1960s the Jonesville, Louisiana native found himself racing up the Billboard charts, appearing on Dick Clark’s television shows, and performing all over the US and UK on package tours with everyone from Otis Redding to The Yardbirds. In that moment, his music introduced the rest of the world to the joys as well as the drama that unfolded nightly in the Louisiana dance halls that he called home.
Soon after his national debut, he returned to working those same clubs six nights a week, mining them for a career of songwriting that has now probed six decades of Gulf South oilfield heartache through his own unique reflections on the human condition. As a songwriter, Tommy's first successes came from penning #1 hit singles for Freddy Fender on Huey Meaux's legendary Krazy Kajun label out of Houston, Tx. Ironically, Tommy’s most known records to date have been covers like "Sweet Dreams" (Don Gibson) and "Before I Grow Too Old" (Bobby Charles) from early in his career.
Along the way though, Tommy has become beloved by a multi-generational regional Gulf Coast fanbase, along with developing a motley amalgam of A-list acolytes, ranging from Robert Plant, Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe to Lily Allen.
In 2018, Tommy shared with his protege and producer C.C. Adcock, a new batch of original songs that he has (quietly) crafted over the last several years. Remarkably, they are the most powerful and deeply moving of his repertoire to date. Now, Adcock has produced the record that will make the world catch up to Tommy McLain, once again.
At 78 years of age, Tommy McLain is possibly the last great artist from the pioneer rock n' roll generation left to be rediscovered. His many talents and stage charisma remain completely intact and untarnished after a lifetime spent on bandstands back along the bayous of his home. His story unlocks the history of swamp pop and is a mainline into what is unique about Louisiana music. Tommy's immense soul and capacity to convey is simply undeniable.
Here is what Tommy and other musicians have to say about him:
"Texas has got Willie ... In Louisiana it's Tommy McLain" - Tommy McLain
"This record is like what Rick Rubin made on Johnny Cash at the end, except we haven't needed Trent Reznor and Bono songs ... Tommy has his own!" - CC Adcock
"Never mind the "Cajun Rod Stewart" - which hugely flatters one of those singers and it ain't Tommy - he might be the "South Louisiana Solomon"" - Elvis Costello
The Barn, located at 1307 S. Henry St. in Abbeville, is always a smoke free concert with doors opening at 6 pm and the music beginning at 7 pm.
As always, these concerts and events will be an opportunity to experience a special night of music, in a unique amphitheatre setting. A limited number of 100 tickets are sold, so get your now. For more information on any of these concerts or the upcoming convention, you can email Kathy at lebayousalebarn@gmail.com or call 337-893-5760
Tickets are $20 for this show and can be purchased at Robies Food Center, Piazza Office Supply or online at www.richardsalebarn.com.
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Swamp Pop Legend Tommy McLain perform...
Date and Time
Saturday Mar 30, 2019
6:00 PM - 11:00 PM CDT
Printed courtesy of www.vermilionchamber.org – Contact the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce for more information.
1907 Veterans Memorial Dr., Abbeville, LA 70510 – (337) 893-2491 – director@vermilionchamber.org