by Keith Spera, Music writer, The Times-Picayune

Friday July 10, 2009, 5:00 AM

In Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath, Aaron Wilkinson and Chris Mule found themselves stranded in San Francisco with the rest of soul-blues guitarist Eric Lindell’s band.

In need of additional work, they resolved to pool their respective songs and create a new band. At the Boom Boom Room, a home-away-from-home for Louisiana musicians, they encountered fellow New Orleanians Sam Price, a bassist, and Garland Paul, a drummer.

With that, the Honey Island Swamp Band was born.

The Honey Island Swamp Band includes, from left, Sam Price, Aaron Wilkinson, Chris Mule and Garland Paul. They celebrate a new CD at the Hi-Ho Lounge on July 10.

With Wilkinson on mandolin and Mule spiking his guitar with slide licks, they stand squarely at the intersection of roots rock and country. On Friday, July 10 at the Hi-Ho Lounge, the Honey Island Swamp Band celebrates the release of its second CD, “Wishing Well.” read more…

Honey Island Swamp Band

Wishing Well
Independent
By David Kunian

In the years since the Honey Island Swamp Band released its first record, it has crossed the country and been the secret force behind swamp soulster Eric Lindell. Now it has released its second record, Wishing Well, a record that shows off its roadhouse-right rock ’n’ roll. Wishing Well splits its songs between their two main writers and guitarists, Aaron Wilkinson and Chris Mule. Both are good songwriters with tried, true, but not clichéd sentiments. Wilkinson pens a graceful turn of phrase telling the object of his desire that he’ll be at the “Dark End of the Bar” before a honky-tonk piano and easy slide guitar finish his thoughts. Wilkinson’s songs lean toward country rock in the vein of the Band, early Eagles, or Lynyrd Skynyrd. Mule’s song have a more rhythm and blues edge and a cynical, kiss-off sentiments as in “I can’t live the way / you’re killing me.” The band even adds some acoustic touches with Mule’s acoustic guitar and Wilkinson’s mandolin on “Decent Company” before the horns punch up some brassy trombone. Special guests such as Sean C. on harmonica and tight horn arrangements courtesy of Jimmy Carpenter help fill out the solid rhythms of bassist Sam Price and drummer Garland Paul and give a full mid-’70s sound to this fine record.

photo: Keith I. Marszalek

by Chris Rose, columnist, The Times-Picayune
Thursday April 30, 2009, 11:32 AM

The Honey Island Swamp Band chose their name well. Their opening set on the Gentilly Stage Thursday morning was a jolly rocking, sweet, swampy set of travelin’, drinkin’ and lovin’ trouble songs.

The first notes to travel over the Gentilly Valley were strummed from an electric mandolin, drifting on the wind (and in the tiniest short-lived drizzle). It was a beautiful tone to set the pace for the next 50 minutes of catchy hooks and gen-you-wine blue-eyed soul from one of New Orleans’ hardest working barroom bands. read more…

The Honey Island Swamp Band combines the talents of some of New Orleans instrumental ringers and lets them open it up for seven tunes that move from rock to roots to even reggae. All the songs are originals from the pens of guitarist Aaron Wilkinson and Chris Mule, both of whom were involved in bands that include Idletime, Eric Lindell, and Kirk Joseph before Hurricane Katrina put them in San Francisco, where they formed this band and started writing.

This first release is an excellent study in roots bar band music. The tunes are easy to dance or sway to with the rhythm section of bassist Sam Price and drummer Garland Paul keeping everything solidly in the pocket. Most of thes ongs feature either Wilkinson’s warm vocals or Mule’s thin voice. Wilkinson’s friendly voice gives his songs a bright sound while Mule’s give his songs an edge and make them sound like Chuck E. Weiss or some other boozy character is giving you advice from the end of the bar. The songs play out in a range of roots sounds including the country bounce of “Nadine” with the rhythms of Wilkinson’s mandolin combining with guest Michelle Lambert’s violin to give the song a rural lilt. The mood stays like that for the slow dance of “CloudHangin’ Over Me” that would be at home at any country dance or Fais Do Do.Mule’s two tunes have a steady rock ’n’ roll backbeat that plays off a trilling mandolin, fluid guitar lines, and punchy saxophone. In all, this is an entertaining and well made first effort that hopefully indicates great music to follow.

Weekly Freak Review of Honey Island Swamp Band EP:

“A-ron Wilkinson and Chris Mulé bust up some swampy roots dosed in funked-up bayou water.” I hear their live shows are bombadelic bombarazi the bomb. A few steps beyond good. I personally love this kind of twang-infused, Nolacana-flavored savory music. It requires no genre, which is another reason to embrace it. This album rocks, and speaks to my curious reflections, which serves as high props. If you get swamped or marooned on an island I hope you can listen to this music with hopes for rescue, which it sends right away. The swamps have never seen it so sweet. Indulge.”