The nucleus of Bon Bon Vivant (so good they named it twice) is the extended Cosio family, Glori and sister Abigail and Abigail’s husband Jeremy Kelley.

On paper it sounds like some kind of mafia setup, but in real life the band (with addition of Ry D’Antonio on drums) sounds like a swirling melange of rockin’ Gypsy jazz, shaken not stirred into a sophisto-lounge New Orleans danceable feel-good fest. And if you can believe it, they started out in Simi Valley, home of the Ronald Reagan Library.

Seth Smiley started out in Baton Rouge, but soon found his way to New Orleans where he married into one of the city’s royal families: the Wolfes. If you’ve been in New Orleans for some time you’ll know the Wolfes as the folks behind the landmark Wagner’s Meat stores. If you arrived later, you’ll be more familiar with the current Wolfe family HQ, Melba’s po boy shop. Seth is an oxymoron: a nice lawyer.  Maybe there is something in a name. Seth’s take on how he eschews trials for negotiation is refreshing and educational.

New Orleans is typically at the top of the list of “worst of…” anything and the bottom of the list of “best of…” anything. But, not this list. Hopefully you’re sitting down because this is going to come as a shock. Did you know that we are not at the top of the list of most alcohol consumption in the country? Or even in the state?! They drink more than us in New Orleans, in Houma!! Yes, apparently Houma is the booze and drug capital of Louisiana. And we have that on good authority.

Dr. Susan Julius (aka Dr. J) is an addictionist at Townsend, a nationwide operation that has 8 addiction clinics in Louisiana. Dr J tells us, “If you learn nothing else today, understand this,” and goes on to explain that addiction to anything, from Netflix to heroin, is exactly the same. And it all has a single genetic cause that can be chemically corrected! Addiction treatment is really changing, and where better to learn about it than over a cocktail at Happy Hour.

Andrew Duhon makes his last appearance on Happy Hour as a guy with two recorded albums. The next time Andrew comes on Happy Hour he’ll be a guy with 3 albums: Andrew’s new record False River comes out this week, though it’s not quite as simple as it used to be before digital downloads complicated the music business.

Whatever exact date you can get it, you owe it to yourself to check it out. Even if you are diehard Duhon fan already this is going to blow you away.

Photos at Wayfare by Alison Moon.