Beth Patterson is the only professional bouzouki player in New Orleans who finds meaning and fulfillment in the words and music of the Canadian ensemble Rush. Yes, Rush.

There’s just something about Rush that speaks to Beth and somehow makes her feel less of a freaky outsider. And she really doesn’t have much to feel freaky or alienated from society about – other than being the author of songs like “Matchstick,” about the joys of arson, “Show Me On The Doll,” and going from this podcast to a recording studio to record a classical Indian version of a Black Sabbath song. Other than that, and being used, discarded, and the victim of attempted murder, Beth is just your regular Lafayette Welsh girl who moved to New Orleans and hides out in Mississippi.

Other than Beth, Becky Hardin has the darkest eyes of anyone who has ever been a guest on Happy Hour. What are the chances of having the two darkest-eyed people in the history of Happy Hour on the same show? Becky quit a career in music promotion with gigs like Voodoo and Wednesdays at the Square, to open City Surf, the workout gym Uptown on Magazine Street where you get to simulate surfing and end up with a body as awesome as Becky’s without the expense or effort of moving to Florida or California.

Andrew Duhon tries out a new song about the benefits of Going Alone.

Photos at Wayfare by Alison Moon.