Americana is a genre of music that didn t exist in the UK till Paul Spencer brought it back from the US. Some may argue with this proposition but it s fundamentally true. Paul s a Brit who lived in Los Angeles, worked in the music business, and traveled frequently to New Orleans where he got to know and love Jazz Fest among other indulgences . When he moved back to the UK, Paul started up the Maverick Music Festival, which is kind of like Bonnaroo meets Jazz Fest, over the 4th of July weekend each year. On his current sortie to the US, Paul has been to Meridian Mississippi and comes back with a glowing report of what s going on there that you ll want to go check out for yourself. His tales from Montgomery Alabama are a little more sobering. Arsene DeLay is a member of the Boutte family, one of the royal families of New Orleans music. Her song about a break up is delivered with either extraordinary a passion or b anger. Pick one. If you d like to get in touch with Arsene s grandmother, Mama, it s a little late, but you can try her phone number if you d like. it s 504 945 2361. Arsene is picking up Mama s life where Mama left off Arsene is a Downtown Baby Doll. Next time you see the Baby Dolls on the street, impress your friends by using the correct collective noun it s a crib of Baby Dolls. If you re not from New Orleans and you have no idea what this baby doll thing is all about, Arsene explains it all. Lana Joseph is a Westbanker. That s something else that probably makes little sense if you re not a New Orleanian. The Westbank has a special place in the hearts and minds of New Orleanians if you re from there it s an unappreciated gem, if you re not from there it s a mystery as to why people from there think it s an unappreciated gem. Nonetheless, Lana is carving out a name for herself on the East bank with her audiology practice, High Level Hearing. If you re listening to this show on earbuds, Lana has a message for you see you in the clinic to get fitted for hearing aids when you turn 60. Earbuds and headphones are Lana s greatest job security. And apparently sticking toilet paper in your ears at a gig doesn t protect your hearing, in case like 2 out of 5 people at this table you do that. Spoiler alert Andrew Duhon is one of those people who sticks toilet paper in his ears. Andrew has played Paul Spencer s UK Maverick Festival a couple of times. Today Andrwe tries out a brand new song, and, as is often the case on Happy Hour, it s staggeringly good. If you stick it out till toward the end of this 60 minute conversation you re going to learn something vitally important to the future of our nation that you may not know how to talk to someone who violently disgarees with your political philosophy. Happy Hour is probably not the first place you d think to turn to for politicial punditry or insightful life lessons, but New Orleans barroom conversation is a whole other world. Photos at Wayfare by Jill Lafleur.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.