Marc Pero

The style
Although I was born and raised in Baton Rouge, which is only 80 miles from New Orleans, I was as much of an outsider as anyone else when it came to the music, having been raised on pop radio. When I finally started learning it, I was amazed at how happening it was. The groove is laid back—at times way back. The drums play such a key role and the drummers here have that straight and swing feel going on at the same time, which was difficult for me to lock into at first. I listen to where they put the beat and the syncopation, and I make sure I’m not covering it up. Instead, I know there’s a space in there for me, and I try to find it. Sometimes it means locking with the kick, and other times it means catching accents from the snare or hi-hat. In New Orleans grooves, you usually don’t have that driving two and four backbeat of other dance music, yet it’s so hip and it still gets people moving. It’s the way everyone fits around the groove. It’s like a swamp: There’s the stagnant water on the top—the green algae—but underneath it’s swirling.

Playing tips
First you have to listen to the masters, like the Meters and Wild Magnolias, and songs like “I’m Ready” by Kano. Then you have to connect with and feel the drums. It’s not a busy music for the bass; you may play only a few notes, but it’s where you put them.

Katrina’s effects
I live halfway between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. When Katrina drew near, I evacuated to the west with my wife, daughter, and a dozen basses. The storm turned east, so we suffered no home damage. The band headed to California on tour soon after, and in every city where we had a layover we saw New Orleans musicians and we caught up, usually with tears in our eyes. The scene is slowly coming back; Papa has returned to our regular Monday night at the Maple Leaf Bar. There have been some silver linings. A lot of out-of-towners from FEMA, law enforcement agencies, and contracting companies come into the clubs when they get off work, so we’re gaining new audiences who will spread the word when they get back home. And of course, our relocated musicians are planting the seeds of the music in their new cities. There’s a tighter bond than ever between New Orleans musicians, and I have no doubt the city and its music scene will be back and better than ever.