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Louisiana Surf Department




Weekly road trips to and fro Texas and Louisiana evolved into tours across the city, across the country, and across the world. The group has hit the ground strumming and plans to ride this tidal wave into uncharted waters and beyond. The talented trio originally sat down with Sidecar in August of ‘24 to discuss their first year of life, their genesis, and how they intend to keep stoking the fire after a piping hot start to their inception. We caught up with the group eight months after our initial interview to document the band’s recent adventures and summiting of new peaks. Please welcome to the page, Louisiana Surf Department.  


“On the seventh day, I had a crazy moment where I walked out into this prairie and there was a snake, I couldn’t see what kind of snake it was because the grass was so tall. I was like woah, because I was bare-footed…and then I looked up and I saw a hawk. I was like, well that’s crazy, this hawk is looking down trying to get some lunch. But what was crazy was above the hawk, there was an eagle. And I just had a moment where I was like, damn, this is a crazy moment between all of these guys. I went back to the cabin and sat down and thought, ‘man, I’m gonna heal, this is gonna happen and I’m gonna be as positive as I can be.’”   

   

Although Louisiana Surf Department has teased the Austin music scene on and off since March of 2022, January 1 of 2024 saw their formal introduction as an official band in the live music capital. In one year and change, LSD has experienced what some bands can only hope to achieve in a long, prosperous career. The group has conquered iconic Austin venues, released their first project with more records readily standing by, and left the state (and country) on tour with great musicians. There is no formula to help solve for the x-factor that empowered the band to make so much happen in such a short span of time, but we all gathered to come up with a few theories. Is there always a path in which one must choose, or do some catch the right wave and decide to take a ride?

 

It has become apparent that the Louisiana to Austin pipeline has blessed our city with a handful of genuine talents that grace the many stages around this town. Lead singer of LSD, John, grew up in the Bayou State alongside members of Austin’s beloved Nether Hour, being childhood friends with Bishop and playing music in similar circles in the Lafayette scene in his college years with Bercy. Eventually, John found himself in Nashville focusing on songwriting and for six years Music City became the site in which John grew his collection of original songs and sound. A discography that has grown to nearly one thousand documented tunes. 

 

A change in current swept John from Tennessee and he ultimately drifted his way back to Louisiana to play in another band called Medicine. It was around this time when he found himself coasting between Austin and Louisiana to play guitar beside his old friend, Bercy, for his solo gigs and residencies. To return the favor, Bercy started to play gigs with John and drummer, Brian Bounds, in ATX when he had time to do so. This gave birth to the original, but then nameless, threesome.

 

During this period, John was traveling to Austin for four days a week before returning home to Louisiana to work for a few days before repeating the cycle. As he walked throughout Lafayette after another weekly homecoming, John passed the Louisiana State Department on one of his walks and thought to himself, “LSD?! You can’t say Louisiana State Department without saying LSD?!” This charming revelation floated around his head until one day, John was faced with the task of providing a last minute band name to promote his group for an upcoming show. While Austin was still just a home away from home, Brian booked Medicine a gig during SXSW at Moonshine in the Spring of 2022. Excited by the prospect of seeing his childhood friend, Bishop asked John to swing by Latchkey Bar after their set for one of Nether Hour and Friends’ infamous Sunday Services. To advertise the show, Bishop asked for a placeholder band name to refer to this trio that has been sporadically playing around town and John immediately thought back to the Louisiana State Department. The “swampedelic greengrass” music the band had been playing required the musicians to slow things down, feel the motion of the ocean, and ride the wave, and thus Louisiana Surf Department was placed on the bill.

 

“We show up and had no idea what to expect, I have no idea who Bishop is, I have never heard of this band and we walk in and this place is fucking packed. These guys are just rockin’ out and we walk in and immediately Bishop eyes down John,” Brian recalls. “Well, he saw you first,” John interjects, “you walked in ahead of me and he said to the crowd that you looked like some actor…we were just trying to navigate through this crowd.” Bishop soon noticed his childhood friend and immediately summoned him to the stage to share an embrace and a few songs. John and Brian recall coming prepared, but did not expect to see the overflowing volume of people and energy in this venue. With nothing but a snare and hi-hat stand, Brian joined John on stage with Nether Hour to play a few stripped down tunes. Despite the fact that it would take another two years before the band and the band name became “official”, the event led to the first documentation of  Louisiana Surf Department via social media, and more importantly, further fortifying the group, graduating from its current makeshift nature and progressing into its next perpetual iteration.  

 

Shortly after their SXSW event, Bercy landed John a residency in Austin and he made the decision to make an indefinite move. That initial residency developed into two residencies and the shows were primarily fulfilled by John and Bercy, followed by Brian, who started to join these engagements with more consistency. With an uptick in gigs and their momentum building exponentially, the band was really starting to take its form and flow. At the height of their impetus, the wave they were riding unexpectedly crashed. During a bout of sickness, John suffered nerve damage for four months into his newly found life in Austin. This injury prevented him from playing his instrument for an entire year, during which the guitarist went from practicing up to 6-9 hours a day to being unable to pick up his guitar at all. But what was first seen as a curse ended up being an illuminating affair in numerous ways.

 

For the first time in his life since learning to play the guitar, John had to take a break from the stage and grab a chair in the audience. What was initially perceived as torturous, now was seen as an opportunity to discover and listen to other musicians without the intention of studying their set or analyzing their performances. He was able to set the competitiveness aside and really soak in the evident talent that is on display in the Austin music scene. John admitted that he had never appreciated just how gifted his circle of friends really was.


It was hard to go out and watch his mates happily playing music on stage as he struggled through his injury on the sidelines. Desperate to find a solution, John sought out a specialist who helped him learn about postural awareness when on stage, how to relax when playing guitar, and how to be patient with your mind and body as you heal. He was then introduced to the Alexander Technique, a method designed to help improve posture and promote efficient movement, all while utilizing the least amount of energy and effort possible. Students of this technique learn to be acutely mindful of their habits and posture so that they can evenly distribute the load individual muscles emit when completing a movement. This technique can be applied to many areas of life, whether it be athletics, daily life, or even on stage.

 

“For about two weeks, it was really hard. I went back to Louisiana and lived in the swamp for 7 days by myself. I had my family drop me off at a little cabin out there. No car, had some food, just stayed out there by myself reading Shantaram. On the seventh day, I had a crazy moment where I walked out into this prairie and there was a snake, I couldn’t see what kind of snake it was because the grass was so tall. I was like woah, because I was bare-footed…and then I looked up and I saw a hawk. I was like, well that’s crazy, this hawk is looking down trying to get some lunch. But what was crazy was above the hawk, there was an eagle. And I just had a moment where I was like, damn, this is a crazy moment between all of these guys. I went back to the cabin and sat down and thought, ‘man, I’m gonna heal, this is gonna happen and I’m gonna be as positive as I can be.’”   

 

Through tools like the Alexander Technique, meditation, and more, John slowly but surely worked to build his strength and after a year, he was able to really start booking gigs playing in front of crowds again. John had to essentially learn how to play from scratch during this time. As he was struggling and trying to get back on the guitar, he remembers moments of frustration as he was battling lack of mobility and collapsing fingers as they traveled his familiar fretboard. The ebb and flow of healing presents both obstacles and opportunities. It was during this time when John used the mobility available to him to write “No Matter”, inspired by not letting external circumstances interfere with the internal operations. The song provides a mantra for these times of uncertainty, chanting, “I don’t know, ain’t no matter.” A stoic, yet potent reminder that there is no use in trying to challenge the motion of the ocean.


 

As the tides of his injury started to turn, John started busking on the streets of South Congress every single day to build back his strength and confidence. “I didn’t have a residency, I didn’t have a band or anything, but I knew I had songs.” Busking was a valuable experience for not only John, who had previously been busking on the streets of Nashville, San Francisco, and New York, but for Brian as well, who joined him on occasion out on the busy avenue. When you are busking, you can get away with some things that would stand out when mic’d up on stage, but there is a different kind of pressure you don’t get at regular shows. Cars driving by, people on their way to the next shop or bar. A whole new experience of being on ground level, fighting for someone’s attention on an everyday street corner. The group found that while busking presented a unique set of obstacles, it was a good way to find out which songs really stuck. Brian soon recognized the library of songs that John had to offer and suggested that they should record and share them with people beyond the roadside. This is when the need of a third member became apparent and James was introduced to the group, adding four strings, a new skill set and valuable experience. They met the new member through the talented Tennessee guitarist, Markus King Williams, who connected them via social media and facilitated the meeting. Now that they could perform both groovy bass lines and vocal harmonies, a new world of opportunities opened up.

 

Their upcoming single, “No Matter”, was also the first song the trio ever played together. James said it felt natural just from the start. The three members jammed on and off for a few months, even booking a few private gigs they played together in the Fall of 2023. It was around this time when Brian and John started to seriously discuss making band practice a weekly thing and to invest in learning some of John’s originals. January first of 2024 was a Monday, and the first Monday in which LSD decided they would convene on this day every week moving forward. January 1st marked the first day that the group played their newly released single “Soda Pop and Sugar Cane” that John had just written over Christmas. James initially came into the picture to offer his talents on bass, but was also an integral part of the recording and producing process, adding harmonies to enrich the songs and mixing the tracks. Local artist Sam Norris offered up his services and agreed to help record and produce 5 songs for the band, three of which can now be found on your favorite streaming services. LSD had trouble narrowing down 5 records from the 40-something songs that were written on the whiteboard of their living room. “You Got It All” and “Soda Pop and Sugar Cane” were obvious choices, and the rest were decided based on what felt right as they jammed. “Ain’t Nothing Wrong with You” felt good to play live, felt easy. Each song has its very own sound and personality, but the infectious groove, thread of positivity, and effortless blend of psychedelic southern rock funk gives their sound an undeniable distinctness.

 

Spending time in the recording studio has helped reinforce the goal to get it as hot as possible right out of the gates. There is so much written music available, the band wants to be in the studio at least a couple times a month so that they can pump out as much music as they can. In just over nine months, the songs being recorded have helped the band solidify their identity through their maturation. It takes a village and like any successful band, Louisiana Surf Department has created a good roster of people to help support them as they continue to mature as a unit. The band loves Austin and credits the vibrant ecosystem for their start in the music scene. The primary theme in year one as a band was laying down a solid foundation so that they can one day afford employees. They currently see themselves as partners in an investment and these songs will continue to act as fuel for the band’s development; and there is no apparent ceiling to their growth.


With so many milestones in what seems like only a few blocks of travel, LSD have packed a lot of extraordinary moments into these last few months. The band reflects on the importance of playing to a packed White Horse on a Friday night, a unique set at Saxon Pub where the utilization of a second drummer was explored, and an epic show that almost did not happen at Continental Club on midnight of July 4th. On the eve of our nation’s birthday, James played a gig two hours away that was scheduled to end just two hours before their gig at Continental Club in Austin. The moment he learned of the opportunity only a week before, he immediately began planning exactly how he intended on loading his equipment into the car and driving the carefully scripted route as efficiently as possible to make it to Continental Club in time to perform. Somehow, the LSD bassist made it to the show with plenty of time to spare and the group went on to play one of their favorite shows to date.


White Horse, Saxon, Continental Club, Vulcan, and many more were all memorable gigs this year, each of which Louisiana Surf Department debuted for the very first time. Going from being happy to simply get a few reps in at bars around town so that they can practice as a band, to all of the sudden playing some of the most iconic institutions of live music in Austin in less than 7 months demonstrated the unbelievable trajectory of this talented group. The band stayed steady on this course and found themselves reaching far beyond the Austin music scene, playing shows throughout the United Kingdom in late September before returning back to the United States and playing shows in Colorado.


It is hard to imagine where Louisiana Surf Department has found the time to accomplish so much within their first year of being a band. With a few months left in 2024 to add to that long list of accomplishments, the band is beyond excited to see where all of their hard work will take them. “It is nice for me to recall all of this. So much has happened in such a short amount of time, it is hard to remember all of the little moments....and big moments,” Brian stated toward the end of the conversation. With so much on the road ahead of them, there has been little time to look in the rearview mirror and reflect. John admitted, “we are also still learning the music industry and the Austin scene. Where do we fit in and what can we do to participate.” Brian interjects to add, “and learning how to be a band. How to communicate with each other, how to book shows, better shows, get paid for shows.” The group desires to keep growing in their ambitions and abilities, but also desires to expand their foundation as well.  “We want to find more band mates and our sound will grow. We have two drummers now, looking to add another guitar player and hopefully a piano and organ.”

Louisiana Surf Department has two full length albums lined up and plans to switch from tour mode to album mode once returning from their tour abroad. You can find LSD’s full discography on Spotify and Apple music, including three new singles backing up their friend and talented musician, Bercy, for Austin Artist Spotlight. Their EP “Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong With You” came out in mid-July and features the band’s first singles, “Sodapop & Sugarcane” and “You Got It All”. The band plans to release more singles shortly, including “No Matter” and two more songs live from Cedar Creek Studio with Bercy.


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This is where we left off after our first meeting; so much anticipation and curiosity for what the future held for Louisiana Surf Department. An initial rogue wave of energy propelled the group forward at such a rapid pace, and the diligence necessary to maintain this momentum would have to be keenly deliberate. Following our initial exchange, the group soon after graciously played a Sidecar Junkaroo magazine launch event and we watched from close and afar as their momentum continued to soar to new and impressive heights. It was soon apparent that the group had blossomed into a fresh, more complete iteration of themselves, and a second rendezvous between Sidecar Junkaroo and LSD was necessary. Eight months after we first met, we sat down with the band after a set they played at Lil Easy on Austin’s east side. 


The same three musicians and friends sat in front of us excited and humbled to share the adventures they had recently embarked on. Just a short time ago, the group was hoping they would soon be able to find their footing and identity in the Austin music scene, while grasping how to book better shows and get paid for their work. In a handful of months, LSD is now playing residencies 5-6 days a week, sometimes for 8+ hours a day, all around Austin as full-time musicians. This city-wide tour has strengthened their bond as both musicians and friends, while preparing them for any stage within the Austin city limits and beyond...far beyond.


Last we spoke, LSD spoke of their excitement for the upcoming UK tour as the backing band for Austin-musician Zack Telander. This opportunity allowed the band to spend two weeks on the road with each other, fortifying their chemistry as a unit and gaining experience and exposure in a new environment. John was impressed and a bit surprised at the acceptance and intentionality of the attendees at their UK shows, stating that the crowd was very invested in the music and receptive to the foreigners. This trip across the pond was invaluable in a myriad of ways, but the most important consequence was arguably the preparation they underwent for their next adventure.


When the group was approached about an opportunity in Dubai, Brian was perplexed.

“I have never heard of a city named Dubai in Texas,” he thought.

It is true - there is no such place as Dubai, Texas. Instead of the gulf just to the southeast of their home, John, Brian and James would be packing their bags and heading to the Persian Gulf halfway across the world. An American Country-themed festival was to feature both Louisiana Surf Department and Zack Telander, who LSD planned to support once again. The crowd of Dubaians and expatriates listened to a 45-minute set that was tailored specifically to fit the theme of the event, which required some pruning of their typical 3-hour sets and some strategic curation of the band’s song bank. 


Hearing their songs emanate across this unfamiliar ground from a large, festival stage was a massive affirmation, the band proclaimed. Louisiana Surf Department’s set was then followed by the trio backing up their friend and fellow musician, Zack Telander, introduced by Irish mixed martial artist, Conor McGregor, whose powerful kick unintentionally unplugged John’s guitar amp on his way off stage. The group’s time in Dubai ironically consisted of Texas BBQ, countless hamburgers, and praise from fellow Americnas, but it also expanded their horizons and inspired their music. John was surprised when he was recently approached by a fan who realized his once delta blues licks were now sounding more akin to an Arabic motif, and the band is even more aware of any given environment’s direct influence on their art. Altogether, they endured 36-hours of travel for a total of 60 hours spent in Dubai; and it was one of the most rewarding moments of their young existence. 


To say these tours have been immensely enriching to their music and have validated their cohesion as a band would be an understatement. Although they found themselves across the world and far from their routine residencies, Louisiana Surf Department never felt homesick while in the company of one another. They have gotten to tour as both LSD and Telander’s band, which are seen as mutually beneficial, but certainly not mutually exclusive. Supporting songwriters is seen as a privilege and a large part of the trio’s identity. Their relationship with Zack Telander offers additional reps as a band and oftentimes they get to play LSD songs in their set as well. This support is not exclusive to Zack Telander. Local artist, Bercy, is also a beneficiary of the band’s support as well. Both Telander and Bercy have acknowledged the positive impact LSD has had on their sound and songwriting process, going as far as saying there is a unique signature on songs played with LSD. 


The personal relationship that exists between Louisiana Surf Department, Bercy and Nether Hour has created an ecosystem of collaboration and encouragement. The two bands have a lot of love and admiration for each other, and they hope to do a large tour with them at some point in the future. Serving and supporting others is crucial to LSD’s DNA. There is no better way to continue building and maintaining their momentum than being able to “swim in another’s creative waters” and keep themselves busy when they are not working on their own music, but also relieves the pressure of always focusing on their own sound and direction as a band. It is a commandment of the group to honor this perspective, and they live by the band’s motto, “serve where you are.”


Of course, the band somehow reserves some time to focus on themselves amidst their busy schedule.

Louisiana Surf Department exists as a true conduit for John’s endless library of songs and ideas that were living in the shadows as he played other peoples’ music. Thanks to a handful of Austin musicians telling John that there needed to be a project to support his songwriting abilities, LSD has now shared these tunes with people all across the world. The band prioritizes operation via “felt intelligence” rather than “thought intelligence,” which acts as a guiding principle as they continue to pave their path forward. John tries not to think back too hard on the mystery of life; the snake, the hawk and the eagle.


They know if they keep doing what feels right and paying their dues, the path will illuminate itself. 

“There's so much that happens every day, in every moment. You know, we are alive and there's a lot of mystery to existing,” John says. “There are always little things here and there, it is almost as if there is something communicating with you. Listening to you. It actually wants us to win. Just like nature wants these trees to grow, nature wants us to grow and expand and thrive, you know? Like a meadow or a forest.”


It is apparent that something is certainly listening to Louisiana Surf Department beyond just the growing number of followers and fans, and it wants the band to flourish. On top of the growing number of shows they are playing, the group believes they sit on a catalog of over 800 songs that John has documented since 2015, and that does not include the multiple singles they are excited to release soon. Of those new releases, one of the songs is the aforementioned and highly anticipated single, “No Matter,” that was discussed in last year’s conversation (released May 7th, aka John’s birthday). These songs come to life and are kept alive due to the band’s unified approach but varying disciplines and strengths. John seemingly conjures up songs out of thin air and James then brings a unique set of skills to the table with his knowledge as a producer and his formal education in music school. Every activity the trio participates in bolsters each member’s songwriting ability, as well as their musicianship, stage chemistry and, most importantly, their trust in each other.


Although there is no time for another meeting between Sidecar and LSD before these words are printed to pages, the story is far from finished. There is an eagerness and impatience to see what Lousiana Surf Department’s next adventure may be. If I have learned anything from this group of gentlemen so far, it is that there is no limit to what they can accomplish, and there is certainly no limit to how quickly they can accomplish it. The band wanted to extend their altitudes of gratitude, and expressed how blessed and stoked they are to continue playing for the city of Austin, and people around the world.


Next month, Louisiana Surf Department will be releasing a brand new single on all platforms. The band recorded “No Time for a Bad Time” at Studio 601 in collaboration with some of their best friends in town, Bercy, Sam Norris, Ellis Bullard, Lukas Hayden, Lindsay Walker, Nether Hour, which the band confessed that it was a huge privilege. This song was inspired by a writing exercise prompt put forth by Maxie Shepard and written in a 20-minute window by John. This song closely follows the release of “No Matter,” and is the second song in a long succession of tunes they aim to put out on a 28-day schedule for the remainder of the year.


Visit your favorite streaming platform to keep up with Louisiana Surf Department’s newly released singles and rediscover your old favorites with hopefully some new insight from the paragraphs above. For updates on their music and performances, please follow @thelouisianasurfdepartment on Instagram and listen to their live sessions with Bercy on the Austin Artist Spotlight page on YouTube.




 
 
 

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