Back alley dive in New Orleans where the best musicians come after hours
Hopefully intelligent, upbeat, pop rock - plus multiple other genres and rabbit holes I enter
The band is ME - plus any collaborators I can convince to come along for the ride. I love the process of song writing and production - I hope some others get some enjoyments - or chuckles out of these tunes.
Story behind the song
Inspired by the tradition of great musicians congregating after their regular gigs
Lyrics
Le Chateau Rouge
Ron Tintner & Andrew Richardson 2025, ASCAP
There's a club on the back streets of New Orleans that's kind of dull all day
Piano Joe tickles the ivories, the tourists watch him play
But Joe heads out near midnight, and a different kind of crowd arrives
To hear the best of the best of the best Make the music come alive
I'll save us seats... a table for two
To watch the jazz men jam, playing their dues
Down a few drinks, feel the blues At le Chateau Rouge
Mad Max blows on the saxophone, makes it growl and wail and cry
Daytime he cleans toilets at the downtown Greyhound line
He was a star in Kansas City, 'til he ran afoul of the law
Now he's laying low down here in New Orleans, but playing for the midnight crowd
Then there’s Clarence on the cornet. He can coo and he can blare
But only when he's less than half drunk, and those times are all too rare
His star used to shine at the Cotton Club, on Broadway too
But people had enough, so things got tough, so New York said "you're through"
So, grab a seat, the bar will do
Hear Clarence and Max, playing their dues
have a few drinks, feel the blues... At le Chateau Rouge
So many stories to tell
So many souls in a personal hell
They’ve written their book, now they’re turning the page
And they're all up there on the Chateau stage
Look who’s back, it’s piano Joe Who knew he’s so good?
And a whole lot more we don’t have time to discuss; I wish we could
I'll save us seats... a table for two
To watch the jazz men jam, playing their dues
Down a few drinks, feel the blues At le Chateau Rouge
