New Orleans’ best-kept secret won’t be that way for much longer.
Indie rock band Sweet Crude performed at the city’s Gasa Gasa to a full crowd on April 22.
The band’s larger than life sound transformed the cavern-like bar on Freret Street into a Cajun fais do-do. With its half-French lyrics, heavy percussion and the audience’s swing dancing, one would find it hard to believe they weren’t at a backyard bayou party.
To credit Sweet Crude, it fit all seven members and their instruments onto the small stage — no minor feat. The size of the venue didn’t take away from the show’s entertainment value. Rather, the intimate setting helped for the band to interact and further connect with the audience.
For the night, it was the happiest band on Earth. Sweet Crude has this great, infectious energy when they play that emanates charm. The band members always go all out for added flair and wore flowers tacked on their clothes.
While the crowd was a little rowdy with revelry, the band didn’t seem to mind. The members were endeared by the audience, who sang along to the songs they knew and danced hard to the ones they didn’t.
While Sam Craft is the frontman of the band, Alexis Marceaux is the true talent. Though each band member is talented, Marceaux something special. She entrances the audience. Watching her perform is an experience in itself. The duo’s behavior was in sync that anyone paying attention could tell they’d been playing together for a long time.
The group played for over an hour and a half with a set that far exceeded the five-track EP. I suspect several of the songs are on the upcoming full length album.
By the sound of it, Sweet Crude’s new album is going to be full of catchy, energetic hits. The band represents local talent well, but will only be neighborhood-based for so long.
The seven-headed group is a little weird and a lot of fun. In Sweet Crude’s world, they don’t just play the music, they embody it.

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Greta Jines

Sam Craft of Sweet Crude performs Friday, April 22, 2016 at Gasa Gasa in New Orleans.