©1991-2007
Student Publications,
All rights reserved.

Last modified:

Contact:
ktruitt@uh.edu

Life & Arts

Bluesy Serenaders liven up sweet spot

Art on the Town

Dusti Rhodes

What do chocolate cake and a washtub base have in common?

Think hard.

What does a banjo have to do with ice cream? 

Still thinking? Well, you can find the answer every week at a local 

confectionery. OK, so there are a lot of dessert shops in town, but every Tuesday night The Chocolate Bar, 1835 W. Alabama St., is the only place in town that serves up all of it's delectable dishes with a side of Dixieland sound.

The West Alabama Candy Store Serenaders put New Orleans flavor into a variety of familiar blues, bluegrass, jazz, swing and ragtime songs. The group consists of its two core members, Geoffrey Muller, who usually plays banjo, and Patrick "Hambone" McLaughlin, who plays a homemade washtub base and sometimes — himself. (The term "Hambone" refers to McLaughlin's ability to play his body like a drum by rapidly slapping his hands against his torso and stomping his feet against the floor).

Muller and McLaughlin met at parties and around the Houston music scene and one night as Muller says "got drunk on Cognac and forged a brotherhood."

McLaughlin expressed interest in playing music for money to Muller who suggested they find a place to play.

"He said ‘where' and I said ‘I don't know, how about there?'" Muller said. Muller had recently visited The Chocolate Bar and thought it would be a great place for the duo to debut its talents.

"I went there to buy some chocolates for my mom for her birthday and I was looking around and thought ‘I would really like to play here,'" Muller said. He called McLaughlin who then talked to the owner of The Chocolate Bar who agreed to let them play every Tuesday.

"They had never done music there as far as I know," Muller said.

The pair are usually accompanied by various local musicians they know from around town, which means that spectators will never see the same show twice and have something new to look forward to each week. 

Adding to its diverse set is the duo's ability to play in character, so the entire night proves to be a performance even when the music has stopped. In between songs they tell jokes and shares memories of "the old days" (Muller and McLaughlin are each in their 20s).

Spectators aren't left to just eat their cake and ice cream as the Serenaders encourage their audience to sing along on some of their tunes. Of course, if you prefer not to join in the fun, that's OK too, but it is recommended you sit toward the back. The guys play acoustic, so large crowds who are uninterested in what they have to offer can prove to put a damper on the sound, however the Serenaders always play through whatever distractions the night may bring them. 

Listeners can expect to hear old jazz and swing hits like "All of Me", "Dinah", "Minnie the Moocher" and "Daphne" along with original hits like "Hambone's Drunk Again".

With Valentine's Day approaching, those looking for a perfect way to end the evening should drop by The Chocolate Bar, which offers a delicious selection of numerous homemade cakes, ice creams and truffles. The Serenaders' sound, combined with The Chocolate Bar's menu, is perfect for those who prefer a more playful atmosphere for romance instead of dimly lit corners and stuffy waiters.

The Serenaders usually begin around 8 p.m. and play until 10 p.m. For more information, check out the band's MySpace page at www.myspace.com/westalabamacandystoreserenaders.
 

Send comments to dcshobiz@mail.uh.edu