A few doors down from The Caterie on Perkins Road and up a flight of stairs is a haven of studios in which several bands write, practice and perfect their music.
One of these bands, Meriwether, is rehearsing for a show at the neighboring bar the following night.
The music blasting out of the band’s rented room is catchy, solid and distorted at the same time, something Drew Reilley, a graphic design sophomore at LSU and the singer and rhythm guitarist for Meriwether, calls “driven alternative rock.”
The inspiration that “drives” the band comes from things that appear to be quite elementary.
“Girls and people that are mean to me are the inspiration for our songwriting,” Reilley said.
The band, which formed in the summer of 2003, also includes bassist Josh Barbier, drummer Brett Schexnayder, and new lead guitarist Stefon Bergeron, who was added in January.
“[Bergeron] has a very original sound that we thought would be a really cool addition to what we already had,” Reilley said.
The band’s live performance is their standout quality, as it is very energetic, Reilley said.
When the “Girls Gone Wild” bus rolled through Louisiana, Meriwether was scheduled to play one of their sponsored parties, which includes a filmed wet t-shirt contest, at The Caterie in Baton Rouge.
When the Alcoholic Beverage Control and Gaming Enforcement board threatened to shut down the bar if the show went on, the band packed up with the video company and played at Mike’s in Plaquemine. Barbier said the band performed after he was in charge of wetting the girls with water for the contest.
Opening for New Orleans-based Punch People’s record release party at the Howlin’ Wolf in New Orleans was another interesting show, according to Reilley.
He said he had a very bad stomach virus and was vomiting into a trash can during the performance, but they continued the concert.
“We’re so about the music and playing a good show that we played it anyway,” Reilley said.
Meriwether loves their music and wants others to hear it and love it too, but they don’t let it get in the way of their relationship.
“We don’t take ourselves seriously enough to get into fistfights and have drama,” Bergeron said. “We have fun and play music.”
The band has played in bars all over Baton Rouge, including The Varsity, Spanish Moon, and The Caterie, which has recently set its requirements to cover bands only, according to Reilley.
Reilley also said that the band will perform in bars in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lafayette and Houma throughout April.
The band will record a full-length album this summer for release in the fall, but has recorded a four-song demo, with the tracks available at www.meriwetherrock.com.