Folk festivals offer a promise that their artists and patrons share a sole prerequisite—they are all entertainers. Some entertain on stage facing thousands, while others do so around a campfire in the company of several strangers, of whom they just met and agreed to share their shishkebob and blanket with. Sam Doores and Cameron Snyder found their third balladeer, Riley Downing, in a similar manner at the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival in Okemah, Oklahoma, and who would collectively soon be known as the Deslondes. The Deslondes, also comprised of Dan Cutler and John James, are formerly known as Sam Doores + Riley Downing & the Tumbleweeds, under which name they released their first album entitled Holy Cross Blues.
The Deslondes find themselves among a camaraderie of Country-Soul bands such as Hurray for the Riff Raff and Spirit Family Reunion, who are awakening the already buzzing city of New Orleans. Their track, “I Got Found,” off of Holy Cross Blues bellows a rugged and industrial sound. The song is measured by the mimicry of the wail of an oncoming train horn and the pounding of nails into a railroad track.
…Once I was lost
[well I got found]
I could not speak
[but I heard a sound]
from dead man’s blood.
Little train’s comin’ with a huff and a puff…
Here, I feel the fever of the imagined Southern sun on my shoulders, as Downing’s burning vocals are swapped and supported by the resonance of workmen chants.
The Deslondes have reserved a spot on the scene for years to come. They are making their way to several festivals such as Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, Newport Folk Festival and its formerly covert after parties at the Newport Blues Café, alongside Joe Fletcher, Langhorne Slim and others. My only warning is when you find yourself giving the 12 songs of Holy Cross Blues a listen, bear in mind that the ever-enchanting pedal steel will once again stun you.
My parting request is make sure you check out “Reuben’s Train”—it’s the long-lost kin of Johnny Cash’s “Jackson.”
