The Iguanas

New Orleans, Louisiana's Iguanas reflected the diversity of musical styles found in their home state by fusing blues, classic R&B, zydeco, cajun, Tex-Mex and roots rock & roll. The group formed in 1989 around vocalist and guitarist Rod Hodges, who began playing guitar in San Francisco Bay Area blues and rock bands at age 14. While playing with a blues band in Colorado, he rediscovered the conjunto music that was a part of his mother's Mexican heritage, and inspired by master accordionist Flaco Jimenez, he took up the accordion as well. Vocalist and saxophonist Joe Cabral was raised in Nebraska, and his first musical experience came as part of his father's Mexican band. In college in Montana, he discovered Chicago blues, New Orleans R&B and the honking saxophone style. Bassist Rene Coman was a native of New Orleans whose recording credits include Alex Chilton, Guitar Slim Jr. and Willy DeVille, while saxophonist Derek Huston and drummer Willie Panker rounded out their original line-up. The Iguanas recorded their self-titled 1993 debut -- a pastiche of New Orleans funk ("Late at Night"), Latin music ("Para Donde Vas") and Mexican polka ("Take Your Pictures, Your Letters and Your Ring") -- for Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville label. By the band's second release, Nuevo Bugaloo in 1994, Panker was replaced on drums by Doug Garrison. According to Garrison, he first worked with Rene Coman in the Alex Chilton band in the mid-eighties, where they developed strong musical bonds. They have also recorded together with Tav Falco's Panther Burns, and Garrison appears on Charlie Rich's last recording, the jazz influenced Pictures and Paintings. In 1996 the band recorded their final disc for the Margaritaville label, Superball, which included a guest spot from guitarist and Iguanas fan Dave Alvin. Following the release of 1999's Sugartown for the Koch label, the Iguanas signed with Yep Roc, reunited with producer Justin Niebank and released Plastic Silver 9-Volt Heart in 2003. -- AMG





The Iguanas - If You Should Ever Fall on Hard Times (2008)

mp3 VBR~192kpbs | 66MB

If You Should Ever Fall on Hard Times is a title that clearly holds some real significance for the Iguanas; like many residents of New Orleans, the members of the eclectic Crescent City four-piece found themselves run out of town by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and it was close to a year before the band was able to return home after an extended exile in Austin, TX, and on the road. If You Should Ever Fall doesn't dwell much on the details of a three-year stretch that must have been difficult (to say the least) for the Iguanas, though the corrupt politician who narrates "Back in the Limelight" and the guy waiting out a storm with his faithful dog in "El Huracan y Pin Pon" are characters they've probably gotten to know quite well. Instead of dwelling on a tragedy, the Iguanas have opted to do what they do best -- play music that celebrates the funky gumbo of Latin music, Caribbean rhythms, and R&B swagger that is so much a part of New Orleans music, but with a special balance of ingredients that sets them apart from the average roots music outfit. The sardonic wit of songs like "Dancing for Dollars Again" and "Sour Grapes" and the hard-luck true-life tales of "Morgan City" and "Okemah" confirm that the Iguanas haven't lost their way with words while dealing with tough times, and the instrumentals "The Beep" and "The Fall" demonstrate they can communicate eloquently without saying a single word. For the Iguanas, playing well is the best revenge against the twin specters of Katrina and FEMA, and If You Should Ever Fall on Hard Times proves their troubles haven't broken their stride one bit. --AMG

01. If You Should Ever Fall On Hard Times 3:00
02. Malas Vibras 4:09
03. Her Red Fishnets 3:39
04. El Huracan y Pin Pon 3:37
05. Okemah 4:33
06. The Beep 2:21
07. Back In The Limelight 3:13
08. Dancing For Dollars Again 3:11
09. Celos Con Mezcal 3:05
10. Sour Grapes 4:18
11. Pelican Bay 4:29
12. The Fall 1:41
13. Morgan City 4:46
14. Warm Sun 2:40

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The Iguanas - Nuevo Boogaloo (1994)

mp3 256kpbs | 92MB | 49:50 min,

The obvious point of comparison for this tasty combination of R&B, Tex-Mex, conjunto, and rockabilly is Los Lobos. However, the New Orleans-based Iguanas draws on Louisiana swamp pop to establish their own identity. The music doesn't sound as wild and intense as you might hope, and the vocals could be more forceful and distinctive, but Nuevo Boogaloo does sound looser and more spontaneous than their debut album. From the sprightly "Oye Isabel" to the rockin' "My Girlfriend Is a Waitress" to the soulful "Hey, Sweet Darling," this is a very appealing recording. -- AMG

1 Oye Isabel 4:27
2 Boom Boom Boom 4:18
3 Panama Tones/Nuevo Boogaloo 4:06
4 Loco 3:33
5 El Orangutan 4:00
6 La Vanidosa 2:36
7 Angel 2:36
8 My Girlfriend Is a Waitress 3:31
9 La Tentación 4:17
10 Somebody Help Me 2:37
11 Ven a Bailar 3:46
12 As We Kiss Goodnight 3:58
13 Hey, Sweet Darling 3:21

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