New Orleans musician Jake Hammer McGregor fights a never-ending battle with Irish cage fighter Connor McGregor.

Not literally, but for recognition. Try Googling McGregor and you’ll see what Jake’s up against.Jake and his bass player in the eponymous band McGregor demonstrate why Connor ought to be scared, at least of pursuing a music career.

If you’ve never heard Jake’s music you’ve just made a discovery for which you’ll be ever grateful. These guys  – Jake and bass player Sam Ferguson – have got it.

Sophie Lafayette materialized out of the internet in Dar es Salaam Tanzania where she has been a fan of New Orleans and a long-time Happy Hour listener and materialized at our table at Wayfare. Finally realizing a lifelong dream, Sophie made it through living in New Zealand, the UK, Norway and Tanzania before making it to Freret Street in New Orleans. While she’s here, Sophie’s shaking things up though not in the way most new arrivals do. Sophie is an international political activist working on behalf of folks she calls “stakeholders.”

For many years Rien Fertel was literally a steak holder. He was a busboy at his grandmother Ruth’s famous steakhouse, Ruth’s Chris. Rien, or if you prefer, “Dr. Fertel,” has graduated from steaks to barbecue, having just made himself heartily sick of hogs by spending years chronicling their incineration at the hands of a nationwide string of Carolina wanna-bes bringing the ancient and venerated methods of Southern sweat barbecue to cooler climes of America. 

Andrew Duhon continues his streak of writing beautiful new songs and we continue being lucky enough to be his sounding board. See what you think of this one, “Gone So Long.”

If you happen to be looking for a classic barroom conversation that traverses everything from long distance love to the consideration of what makes us love certian music, to hog heaven, you found it.

Photos at Wayfare by Alison Moon.