The Catahoulas focus on New Orleans's legendary R&B scene of the 1950s and '60s — the enduring tunes that emerged from J&M Studios and the pens of Dave Bartholomew, Allen Toussaint, Fats Domino, Ernie K-Doe, and Lee Dorsey. Band founder Joshua Gouzy comes from a family of working musicians stretching back four generations; around his upright bass he has assembled a local lineup of players with hefty resumes and impressive musical pedigrees.
The all-star roster includes veteran drummer and Crescent City institution Gerald French on drums and lead vocals, Kevin Louis (Preservation Hall All-Stars) on trumpet, Oliver and Earl Bonie on saxes, Steve DeTroy (Wolfman Washington's Roadmasters) on piano, and Bert Cotton (18 years with Bonerama) on guitar. The set list runs from "Stagger Lee" and "I Hear You Knockin'" to originals like "The Prowler" — alongside deep cuts like "Shrimp and Gumbo" and French's uncle Bob's "Bourbon Street Parade."
The Catahoulas hold a weekly Thursday residency at Mahogany Jazz Hall and work the Frenchmen Street circuit — the Spotted Cat, d.b.a. — plus the Maple Leaf Bar, the New Orleans Jazz Museum, and French Quarter Fest. Their debut album Homegrown was a critic's favorite, nominated for OffBeat's Best R&B Album of 2019 and named to the magazine's Top 50 Louisiana releases of 2019.
