The Boston Herald

The Big Uneasy; New Orleans musician faces uncertain future in Cambridge
Christopher Blagg
Sep 15, 2005

Jeremy Lyons is a self-proclaimed Soup Bowl refugee.

Two weeks ago, the guitarist and singer was headlining a club on historic Frenchmen Street, just outside the French Quarter in New Orleans. Today, Lyons finds himself busking on the streets of Cambridge, singing delta blues ditties and slide guitar rags in Harvard Square. While charming in its own right, Harvard Square is a long way from the French Quarter.

The transition from New Orleans to Cambridge has left Lyons in a daze.

"I feel like my whole center of gravity is missing," he said. "Playing in Harvard Square has been OK. I made some money the other day, but it's weird. The source of my strength is gone. New Orleans has always been my inspiration."

In New Orleans, Lyons was a locally famous fixture. He and his band The Deltabilly Boys were mainstays in the city's vibrant music scene, playing in storied venues like Tipitina's and at the city's heralded Jazz Fest every year.

But in Boston, Lyon is just another guy playing for loose change. He's not alone, however. The New Orleans music diaspora has been massive.

"I've got musician friends who are now spread from California to Austin to New Jersey and New York," he said. "Someone told me there's like 5 or 6 others here in Boston. Maybe we'll all get together and do a jazz funeral, who knows?"

His own band is dispersed as well, and the likelihood of reuniting anytime soon looks dim.

On the Saturday before Hurricane Katrina hit, Lyons and his wife responded to the voluntary evacuation, packing up their daughter and as much of their belongings as possible and heading for Baton Rouge. With panic and tensions rising in Louisiana's capital city, they decided to come north to Boston where they had relatives waiting with open arms. While they've been able to enroll their daughter in the Cambridge public schools, their future remains uncertain.

Lyons is itching to go back to New Orleans to see whats left of his house in the badly flooded Mid-Cityarea. But he wonders what is left to go back to. New Orleans' world-renowned music scene may be as difficult to restore as the city itself.

"Even if we could go home now, there'd be no infrastructure, no one to play for," Lyons said. "I mean, soon enough, there's going to be music in New Orleans again. There's probably even music going on now, but there's not going to be any money in it for a long time."

In the meantime, Lyons will continue to play in the streets of Cambridge, singing his aching heart out while trying to rebuild his life.

The other day a hint of light entered Lyon's world. As he picked a Delta blues in front of the Harvard Coop, a familiar face emerged from the crowd. Another displaced New Orleans musician named Paul Hayes had heard Lyons' unmistakable tenor and come running. After exclamations, hugs and shared evacuation stories, Lyons came up with an idea.

"We should get together and play as a combo. We'll call ourselves The Refugees!"

There you have it. The Soup Bowl Refugees are coming.

Community Arts Advocates, a local nonprofit organization, has created a New Orleans Artists and Musicians Relief Fund designed specifically to help the displaced musicians of New Orleans. Those wishing to help can send a check or money order to Community Arts Advocates Inc. P.O. Box 300112, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130.

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