In this engaging episode restaurateur, music promoter, and local legend Chris 'Shaggy' Davis welcomes Tales From The Green Room and listeners to Day 2 of the 10th annual NOLA Crawfish Festival, a celebration that marries New Orleans' rich musical heritage with its vibrant culinary culture held at The Broadside New Orleans. The episode features an interview with rising star keyboard player/vocalist/singer song-writer, and band leader, 15-year-old River Eckert and his father, Jake Eckert. Father and son reflect on their musical journeys, from River's early days learning jazz and blues to Jake's extensive experience with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and his current gig with The New Orleans Suspects. The conversation, recorded after River's appearance at the NOLA Crawfish Festival and an hour before his next gig playing with George Porter, Jr., delves into the significance of familial legacy in New Orleans music, personal anecdotes about growing up around legendary musicians, and the impact of the city's supportive musical community.
A special guest appearance by Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi All-Stars and Crawfish Fest stalwart) adds to the rich tapestry of stories, illustrating the unique cultural ecosystem of New Orleans, with Luther revealing the secret to his improvisational skills. Additionally, Shaggy shares his personal history, from boiling crawfish in his backyard to founding Crawfish King (the episode’s presenting sponsor along with Cochon King BBQ), and offers insight into the festival's evolution and his friendship with Dave Matthews.
Episode Photo Gallery by Chris Applebaum Images – 4/29/25 at The Crawfish Festival, Including Photos from Episode 33 with The Rumble and an upcoming episode with Joe Marcinek and Rick King (NOLA Dead Funk Summit)
HIGHLIGHTS
To be honest, what I do, what I really get paid to do at the highest level and what I did with Phil Lesh, or what I did with the Black Crowes, or whatever, like high end, high octane stuff, fearless improvisation, I learned at The Maple Leaf. . Johnny (Vidacovich) and George (Porter) taught me how to roll…I'd show up with songs and set lists, but they didn't want that man. They didn't even want songs. They just wanted to improvise for two full sets. And it would scare me to death. But I learned how to do it, man. And that's the real juice.I have a huge debt to the New Orleans culture.
-Luther Dickinson on his relationship with New Orleans
It's not ever annoying to hang out with older people because they're the ones with the knowledge. I'm my age and my generation's the one who's learning in the present moment. So when I'm around all those guys, it's just I soak up any information that I can possibly get.
-River Eckert on being 15 and hanging out with older guys in the music scene
There's a lot of music in the family.My great-grandmother and great grandfather.My great grandmother was a well-known vaudeville musician, And they were really menstrual types and well known at the time, Goldie Green and Bart Green and that was way back, silent movies, you know. Every department store, every function. That was before sound and movies. So they kind of got going like that. I tracked my grandmother all around and learned that lifestyle. My grandmother said to me before she passed, she said, you know, you got the blessing and the curse!
-Jake Eckert on growing up in a musical family.
I started just having backyard boils outside of the fairgrounds. I was close with all the New Orleans musicians. I'm lucky to call 'em friends. So I used to say, hey,come play in this backyard…do a cheap ticket, all you can eat, crawfish kind of thing. And we'd get anyone from Anders Osborne to George Porter. It was just always cool. Put food and music together. It's kind of my jam.
-Chris “Shaggy” Davis on the origins of the NOLA Crawfish Festival
LINKS
https://www.rivereckert.com/
River Eckert YouTube Playlist
https://neworleanssuspects.com/
https://www.facebook.com/nolacrawfishfestival
https://www.lutherdickinson.com/
MUSIC
Stack-A-Lee | River Eckert - with George Porter Jr, Terence Higgins, and John Fohl
River Eckert Music YouTube Channel
The Black Crowes LIVE: Luther Dickinson's 'Ozone Mama' Solo on a Dubreuille Classic
livedownloads YouTube Channel
Polytoxic w Jake Eckert "Do What You Gotta Do" 4/14/2012 @ Quixotes 400 Watt Room, Denver
Wspanicbrad YouTube Channel
SPONSOR LINKS
NOLA Crawfish King – Seafood & Catering
Cochon King BBQ
Special thanks to Luther Dickinson, Nick Burlison & Chris Applebaum/Applebaum Images
