press
Them Ol’ Ghosts Just Want To Be The Cajun Thin Lizzy
Fresh from an appearance closing out the House of Blues stage at French Quarter Festival in 2019, Them Ol’ Ghosts has released Hounds, an EP they describe as “unbridled Rock & Roll, filled with greasy guitar harmonies and visceral rhythmic sections.”
Theophile Bourgeois, the band’s frontman, says Hounds is an exercise in expanding the band’s creative, conceptual and sonic horizon. Their writing process was still “very unformed” when they released Renegade in 2017. “I had complete songs that I brought to the band and we didn’t make many changes to the original arrangements,” says Bourgeois of the band’s past writing process. “With Hounds, we’ve now been playing together for a few years and have built up so much creative symbiotic energy and trust in everyone’s strengths that the songwriting process has become a much more collective effort.”
The band says the new EP “aims to shine a revealing light on what we’ve been taught to be wrong or wicked and embracing the darkest parts of ourselves to face the crucible of being human. The hounds within us can either destroy us or in our darkest moments we can face them, tame them, and train them to be our guardians, the reminders of the internal battles we have fought, and won.” It’s just a little light listening for your day. -Offbeat
Fest Focus: Them Ol’ Ghosts
Recently, the Them Ol’ Ghosts appeared at Gretna Fest and at Tipitina’s, where they opened up for Delta Revelry. With several appearances at the House of Blues New Orleans behind them, Them Ol’ Ghosts are gearing up for the release of a new five-song EP, recorded at the legendary Music Shed Studios. On May 24, they’ll celebrate the release of the as-yet untitled EP. But first, the fledgling group is focusing on their debut appearance at French Quarter Festival, where they’ll appear on Saturday, April 13. - Offbeat
Them Ol’ Ghosts Are Here To Haunt Your Soul With Southern Rock
Them Ol’ Ghosts are a four-piece rock band with roots buried deep in Southern soul. Their 2017 debut, Renegade, was recorded off the grid in a makeshift studio in the backwoods of Mississippi. The extemporaneous recording process was worth it; Renegade is a magical piece of work, luscious beyond belief and groovy.
Fronted by vocalist and guitarist Theophile Bourgeois (best name ever?), who is also the proprietor and master artist at Oak Street Tattoo, Them Ol’ Ghosts will put on the biggest performance of their career at Gretna Fest on September 29. There, he’ll be joined by guitarist Justin Johnson, drummer Blair Champagne (best name ever?) and bassist Aaron Younce. Ahead of their performance, Bourgeois got insightful about their genesis, sound and plans for what promises to be an auspicious future. - Offbeat
Antigravity Magazine-Renegade Review
Renegade is a fresh take on soulful blues that only a bunch of bayou boys could pull off. They stay true to the traditional blues standards that most Bourbon Street players butcher, while offering a complexity and depth that listeners could relate to Incubus or Minus The Bear. The songs aren’t as raw as what John Hooker or Otis Rush did, but Renegade comes from the same place in the heart. “The Witch” opens the EP with clean guitars and big drum grooves that fill space. Theophile Bourgeois’ warm voice belts across the crunch of distortion, which offers tasteful support. Blair Champagne (drums) and Aaron Younce (bass) deliver accents that make the songs more impactful. “Hold On” is the anthemic single, the catchiest of the release. Despite Them Ol’ Ghosts being fresh out the pot, they have complete control over their sound and what they aim to represent. Some of their lyrical content may be unconventional for more sensitive listeners, but it can be admirable to tell it like it is, living and growing on the bayou. The title track closes the EP with a conviction that contrasts with some of the more impudent content of the release and scores a strong, final note. —Robert Landry