Review – The Soggy Po’ Boys at Caffe Lena; Saturday, Feb. 8

Elbow to elbow on the cozy Caffe Lena stage, the Soggy Po’ Boys played just that tight Saturday in a wide-ranging soulful survey of New Orleans music. 

The stage-full of young New Englanders, all bearded but trombonist Josh Gagnon, played more than the traditional sounds. They also got the soul, the spirit and the swing of street-parade chants, classic blues, rocking rumbas, even calypso, noting New Orleans is the northernmost Caribbean city.

The Soggy Po’ Boys, from left: Brian Waterhouse, drums; Mike Effenberger, piano (both with back to the camera); Scott Kiefner, bass; Nick Mainella, tenor saxophone; Eric Klaxon, clarinet, alto and soprano saxophones; Josh Gagnon, trombone; Stu Dias, vocals and guitar

They also scored extra points by playing the Earl King/Professor Longhair funk romp “Big Chief”* – but NOT the too-obvious/almost obligatory “When the Saints Go Marching In.”

As it happened, WAMC played an “American Roots” episode on my drive up, spotlighting New Orleans clarinetists including Evan Christopher (he’s also played Caffe Lena, plus SPAC’s Jazz Festival and the Cock ’N’ Bull), Sidney Bechet, Michael White, Doreen Ketchens and others. This tuned up my ears for fine work Saturday by Eric Klaxon, who also played alto and soprano saxophones, jammed between Gagnon and tenor saxophonist Nick Mainella.

In a return visit after their well-received 2023 Caffe Lena at SPAC set, they boldly opened with an original, the ominous “Waiting On the Bomb to Drop.” Like most tunes Saturday, they riffed a massed-horns intro to set up a dynamic Stu Dias vocal; then horn solos, a wrap-up vocal and killer all-aboard coda.

When I visited a close-up seat briefly, I needed two shots to include everybody. Top, from left: Brian Waterhouse, Nick Mainella, Eric Klaxon and Scott Kiefner. Bottom, from left: Eric Klaxon, Scott Kiefner, Josh Gagnon and Stu Dias. (Mike Effenberger is behind Kiefner.)

“By and By,” a standard New Orleans shuffle, followed “Bomb,” then they went tropical with “Gin and Coconut Water,” all the horns getting a piece of this happy calypso. Next, Klaxon owned “Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho,” earning claps and whoops for his agile alto solo.

Jumping from gospel antique to the vintage-sounding “Weary Blues” felt natural; in fact, song sequences worked well all the way through. For something spunky to set up “Big Chief,” the upbeat “Weary Blues” was just right. The coda on “Chief” had loose, unanimous horn anarchy. Then Professor Longhair’s playful “Tootie Ma Is a Big Fine Thing”** mixed sentiment and sensuality perfectly.  

While pianist Mike Effenberger and bassist Scott Kiefner were hard to see behind the horns, they floated to the top sonically in the bluesy groove “A Dirty Job,” Effenberger playing a muscular intro and Kiefner making the most of his first solo all night.

After “Serpent Miagre,” a Caribbean polka with a strong Gagnon trombone break, Dias sang at his mournful best in “It’s Raining,” an Allen Toussaint tune Irma Thomas still sings to stunning effect. Effenberger’s piano shone here, too, in a trio interlude with Kiefner and ever-steady drummer Brian Waterhouse.

The Mighty Sparrow’s calypso classic “Dorothy” launched the second set; wry, twisted-love tunes dominating the late run. In the kiss-off “Baby Would I Lie to You?” Mainella’s tenor set up Dias’s vocal beautifully. 

Below: Nick Mainella

Josh Gagnon

Eric Klaxon

They played the calypso “Miss Tourist” as a fan’s request, then it was back to the blues with Bessie Smith’s cautionary “Moan, You Moaners,” Gagnon’s trombone bringing gospel fervor.

Two all-in rumbas – “Touloulou” and “Carmona AD” – bookended “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” a surprising choice in a straight, non-ironic read. Sidney Bechet’s “Shag” showcased Klaxon’s persuasive  soprano sax, then a stop-and-go coda brought all the horns into dramatic dialog.

Stu Dias

They shrewdly chose the defiant shouter “It Ain’t My Fault” as sole singalong all night, then cruised “down In New Orleans” – key lyric of “Bourbon Street Parade” – as quick-hit encore.

Unique among concert merch tables, they offered chocolate made by friends back in New Hampshire; each bar earned the buyer an album download. 

My preview noted 37 minutes drive time from home to Caffe Lena; snow slowed things, homeward bound, to more than twice that. And worth it.

* Dr. John played guitar on the original 7” single (Watch Records 1965) along with 15 other New Orleans studio stars. Covers include Dr. John’s 1972 version and others by the Neville Brothers, Jon Cleary, the subdudes, the Wild Magnolias, the Meters and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

** The Preservation Hall Jazz Band (at The Egg March 8) plays a terrific version on “This Is It,” produced by My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, a big fan.

This came by email from the Soggy Po’ Boys’ office

Set 1
Waitin on the Bomb to Drop
By and By
Gin and Coconut Water
Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho
Weary Blues
Big Chief
Tootie Ma
A Dirty Job
Serpent Miagre
It’s Raining

Set 2

Dorothy
Rascal
The chief
Would I Lie to You?
Miss tourist
Moan You Moaners
Touloulou
Battle Hymn of the Republic
(I believe we added a tune here.. Carmona AD, I think)
Shag
It Ain’t My Fault

encore BOURBON ST PARADE