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16
MY
ROUSES
EVERYDAY
MARCH | APRIL 2015
the other side of those levees. Obviously, we
know what happened during Katrina. It’s
really unbelievable how much land we’ve
lost. I grew up on 300 acres of lush, vibrant
cypress swamp,and in the last 25 years,we’ve
lost 260 of those acres to coastal erosion. I’m
a pilot, and before I started playing music
full-time, I used to fly pipeline control on
the coast of Louisiana every day between
the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers, so
I saw what was happening from a birds-eye
view. Nobody believed me then when I told
them how bad it was getting, but they sure
do now. The solution isn’t that complicated
— freshwater diversions through the levees
really do work, and they shouldn’t cost
billions of dollars, but unfortunately, it’s
all about politics. One thing I know is we
need to forget about the past and face the
truth, which is that, if we don’t quit arguing
whose fault it is and do something soon,
everything that we know and love down
here will be gone. We’re becoming the new
Atlantis before our own eyes.
BRAD:
If you had to plan your own last
meal, what would it be?
TAB:
It would have to be crawfish cooked a
few ways. Boiled, fried, and crawfish stew.
BRAD:
What kind of music do you like to
listen to when you’re cooking?
TAB:
Well, it depends on what I’m cooking.
If I’m cooking Cajun food, I’m definitely
listening to Cajun music. But if I’m grilling
meat — I love those dry-aged ribeye steaks
they sell at Rouses — I’m listening to the
blues, man.
BRAD:
So what did you give up for Lent
this year?
TAB:
Well, it changes every year, but I’m in
the middle of a month-long tour, so I guess
I gave up being at home.
“I caught Tab Benoit at the Thibodaux Firemen’s Fair, the Blues Tent at Jazz Fest, and with
the amazing Voice of the Wetlands on the Acura stage on the same day as Jimmy Buffett.
This year he’s back at Jazz Fest, playing Hogs for the Cause, and opening Rhythms of the
River in Lafayette, which Rouses sponsors. My favorite song is “When A Cajun Man Gets
the Blues”, but “We Make A Good Gumbo” is a close second. Tab is truly an ambassador
for the Gulf Coast.”
—Tim Acosta, Rouses Marketing Director
the
Food & Music
issue
The Voice of the Wetlands Allstars after performing at the New Orleans Jazz and heritage Festival, left to right Johnny
Vidacovich, Johnny Sansone, Cyril Neville, Anders Osborne, George Porter Jr.,Tab Benoit, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux,
Stanton Moore and Dr. John. [photographer Jerry Moran •
www.NativeOrleanian.org]
Rouses Crawfish – photo by
Frank Aymami