With humming harmonicas and passionate guitar chords, Elsah is dishing out rock the way Baton Rouge likes it — southern fried with a healthy dash of pop.
The local band, which just released a new album and returned from a concert tour in New York City, will play at 7 p.m. Saturday at SoGo Live.
The band recently joined C-Student Records, a local music label which boasts such talent as The Eames Era, said Neil Werries, guitarist, singer, songwriter and front man for the group.
Elsah released its self-titled album July 1 under the record label, he said.
“Our music is accessible,” said Glenn Harris, guitarist who joined the band six months ago. “People have fun and like to dance, and people actually dance here in Baton Rouge.”
Elsah’s assortment of musicians over the years have not stopped the performers from becoming more permanent and consistent recently, Werries said.
“Our first show was at Ichabod’s,” Werries said. “It was about as difficult to book as rolling out of bed — that is the beauty of Baton Rouge.”
Sam Boykin Short, guitarist and vocalist said he joined the group after seeing the Ichabod’s show.
The group also includes Glenn Harris on guitar, Justin Hilbun on bass, drums and vocals and Tim Marchiafava on drums and violin.
The cover band-laden Baton Rouge music scene can be rough for original bands like Elsah, said Aaron Gibson, occasional harmonica player for the band.
“You just have to find a large enough following,” Gibson said. “I think that’s why the cover bands are as successful as they are…a large following leads to money, but for me, it’s not about money, it’s about entertainment — it feels good.”
Short said that a band’s willingness to play anywhere for little to no money is an important part of becoming successful.
Werries said he relies heavily on promotions to get his band’s name recognized.
He said he began advertising the band’s name before the band had fully formed.
“The important thing is to get your name into someone’s subconscious,” Werries said.
Werries also incorporates humor into his promotions. He played a joke on fans on the band’s Web site, www.elsah.net, by announcing the band would play on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and “Late Show with David Letterman.” The band did tour in New York but to play at smaller venues around the city rather than on national television.
“Band Web sites tend to be too informative, too bland and lacking in humor,” Werries said. “I did it just as a spoof. I thought it would be funny.”
He said that the “spoof” got the band more attention than it would have otherwise.
Without intense promotion of the band name, getting a crowd to a show might be difficult, Harris said.
“Promotion is a big part of getting out to our shows,” Harris said. “The name has got to get out there.”
Live shows around the country are another important part of promotions, Marchiafava said.
“It seems for Elsah, the live [music] experience is more important than the recorded one,” Marchiafava said. “Going to a place where no one knows your name is a challenge, but we enjoy it.”
Elsah’s New York City tour was a revelation for them, he said.
“Knowing that you’re in a city with thousands of things to do…it’s almost like anything can happen in a place like that,” Marchiafava said.
The band went on the trip planning to perform five shows, Werries said.
“We picked up two shows while we were there, and we had a blast,” he said.
Harris said he sees more success in Elsah’s future.
“Things are looking pretty good,” Harris said. “But ultimately, we are just having fun.”
Contact Julie Chance at [email protected]