Lou Bourbon, Jr.-
banjo, vocals;
Louis Bourbon-
guitar, vocals;
Luigi Bourbon-
mandolin, vocals;
Lucinda Bourbon-
fiddle, vocals;
Ludwig von Bourbon-
bass, vocals
Influences
Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, Flatt and Scruggs, Kentucky Colonels, The Dillards, Tony Rice, Mahler, Neil Diamond, The Bay City Rollers, String Bean, Wham!, and The Shmenge Brothers.
Sounds Like
The kind of bluegrass made popular in the 1950s . . . in a galaxy far, far away.
Born in High Hat, Kentucky, in 1917, Lou Bourbon, Sr., had become a well-known fiddle player and philatelist by his twelfth birthday. In the late 1930s he briefly joined the Monroe Brothers, recording several unissued sides for the Dry Branch label, including the now legendary original Bourbon composition, “Whose Dang Liquor?” In 1946 he joined the Stanley Brothers, touring the southern United States and Indonesia before leaving the band after a dispute over a laundry bill. Returning to Kentucky, Bourbon eventually married Louisa Capet, his high school sweetheart and a prominent meteorologist. In the hills of eastern Kentucky, the Bourbons reared four boys, all named “Louis” and one daughter, Lucinda. Once asked why he had named all his sons “Louis,” Bourbon is said to have spit and replied, “Hell, if that name’s good enough for all them fancy-assed Frog kings, I guess it’s damn sure good enough for these here no-account boys.”
Since their father played fiddle, the boys naturally took up the other instruments of the bluegrass panoply. A prodigy banjo picker and fashion designer, Lou Bourbon, Jr., appeared on the Martha White Radio Hour with Flatt and Scruggs when he was only six years old and infamously asked Flatt why he didn’t wear a shinier suit and bigger hat. After a brief tour with the Kentucky Colonels and a flirtation with electric banjo that led to a short stint in Emerson, Lake, and Palmer (briefly renamed, “E.L.P.B.”), Bourbon returned to Kentucky and formed a band with his younger brothers, who had themselves opened a successful chain of authentic Cambodian restaurants. Meanwhile, their young sister Lucinda had taken up the classical violin, and toured briefly with Yo-Yo Ma and Parliament Funkadelic before joining her brothers’ band. Transplanted to Rhode Island by their love of fried dough and baseball, the Bourbon Boys now form a unique and somewhat incongruent feature on New England’s musical landscape. (Excerpted from the All Music Guide to Bluegrass.)
Wow!!! Wow, wow, wow. I can't tell you how much listening to your tunes brought me back to my childhood days! You guys sound TERRIFIC and I can't wait to catch a show soon! Excellent sound all around- and as a vocalist, I'm especially loving the harmonies! See you all soon, Melissa
Hay Lou and all Heard you had a good show at Patricks. I'm glad you got a chance to meet Erik. Good Kid. He will be one of the players I will bring when you want us to play. Don't let the young face fool ya he is more of a old school hick then I am. Any whoo talk to ya soon.
The Bourbon Boys Appearance at the Wood River Inn on March 30th has been canceled due to scheduling conflict. We are very sorry that we are not playing but hope you will plan to come see us at our next gig.
Hey Bourbonites: Enjoyed the set last month at Liberty Elm. Our string/fiddle band is playing there tomorrow for the Sunday series, if you're interested in coming out. Best wishes.
Well folks... The Bourbon Boys have played two gigs this week in Providence and the turnout was great and much appreciated. Our Monday night performance at the Penalty Box brought in about 50 people and our appearance at the Liberty Elm was about 35 strong and that was in bad snowy conditions. We REALLY missed Luigi, our mandolin player, but he was stuck in the snow. Your patronage is much appreciated and we look forward to seeing you all next year beginning with the WOOD RIVER INN, the last Sunday of the month. Have a safe and Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and please be safe.
hey hey - this sunday 12/16 "americana breakfast club" brings you THE BOURBON BOYS 11am-1pm free - live and unplugged WHO SAYS THERE"S NO BLUEGRASS IN PROVIDENCE! BRING IT ON! BYO We can provide the fresh squeezed oj & homemade bloody mary mixers!
THE LIBERTY ELM dang good cookin' gosh darn it! 777 ELMWOOD AVE PROVIDENCE RI 02907 401-467-077 the only lil' red 1947 Worcester diner car in Providence you can find it!
Sunday Morning Comin' Down with "AMERICANA BREAKFAST CLUB" at THE LIBERTY ELM Tomorrow 12/2 from 11am-1pm featuring THE BOMBOLEROS! live, free and unplugged
Primarily influenced by the gypsy jazz play of Django Reinhardt, The Bomboleros have a strong latin influence with major nods to American jazz, swing, and old time music. They're also featured in the soundtrack from the feature length film "YOU MUST BE THIS TALL" which opened on September 7, 2007, and documents the long history of Rocky Point Park, the amusement park and Shore Dinner Hall situated along the coast of the Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. The soundtrack features 15 tracks by Johnny Carlevale performed by his many musical projects - His Band Of All Stars, The Rollin' Pins, The Acoustic Trio, The Big Kahunays, and The Bomboleros!
BYO Bloodies & Mimosas
and........... WE'VE GOT TREES :) The Liberty Elm now has a limited supply of fresh cut New England-grown holiday trees and wreaths decorated by Tink w/luv for sale out front on the lot
Support local business and New England agriculture and please buy yours from us :) (instead of from the "big box" stores like Lowe's and Home Depot)
"Feed your neighbor!" GIFT CERTIFICATES to The Liberty Elm Diner in any amount Great for friends and family and anybody who likes good coffee, food and music
THE LIBERTY ELM 777 ELMWOOD AVENUE PROVIDENCE RI 02907 401-467-0777 in the little red 1947 Worcester Lunch Car diner across the street from the RIPTA garages just a few blocks from Roger Williams Park<
This SUNDAY 11/25 "Americana Breakfast Club" at THE LIBERTY ELM
brings you
CHRIS DALTRY (the 'mericans) & friends
FREE, LIVE & UNPLUGED from 11am - 1pm in the wi-fi room
Here he is, formerly of Purple Ivy Shadows, the master of Providence's Record Show and Rock & Roll Yard Sale, What Cheer Antiques & Vintage, and the 'mericans - Chris Daltry: http://www.myspace.com/themericans
Playing in the wi-fi room just fer u
THE LIBERTY ELM 777 ELMWOOD AVENUE PROVIDENCE RI 02907 401-467-0777 myspace.com/libertyelm
in the little red 1947 diner across the street from the RIPTA bus garages just blocks from Roger Williams Park
I am hosting a Samuel Smith Brewery promo night at the East Ave Cafe on Monday, November 19th from 7:30 - 9:30 pm. There will be free beer samples, giveaways and a couple supermarket gift card raffles.
