Samedi

by Jillian Firnhaber

We catch up with Lee Bains of The Glory Fires somewhere between Houston and Austin. The band chatters away in the background. They’re far from their home in Birmingham, Alabama, and in the midst of a brief tour which will take them to Voodoo Fest on Saturday. It’s their first appearance on the NOLA Festival scene, and they’re ready to bring their Skynyrd-influenced Southern Rock to the stage.

“New Orleans is unlike any place in the world,” Bains says. “It’s one of my favorite places to go. I love just walking around the quarter or Frenchmen street. And eating. There’s a lot of good food in that town.”

Bains fled the South for college in New York, but couldn’t betray his Southern roots. 

“A lot of people grow up in the South dissatisfied. I was dissatisfied with what I saw at the time as Southern qualities.  I didn’t like the politics, the perceived narrow-mindedness. I built up New York like this magical place. But later I realized that just like everywhere else it has it’s own problems. So I headed back home.”

Home has certainly influenced The Glory Fires’ Southern style sound. The influence of 70’s era Southern rock is obvious, but Bains and his bandmates dose their music with a heavy dash on straight-up country, and a serious pinch of punk rock. One moment you’re shouting “Freebird” and the next you’re head-banging.  The Glory Fires have played New Orleans haunts like Circle Bar and Prytania Bar before, but this will be their first time in NOLA if front of a big crowd. 

“It’s such a fun city that even when you’re only playing for a couple people we still have a good time. We’re looking forward to playing," he said.

The Glory Fires’ Southern hospitality even extends to their touring. They’ve brought along their bass player’s cousin to do merch for free, just so he can see Metallica. Bains is also looking forward to checking out the New Orleans brass bands that will be performing throughout the weekend. Although they say they don’t have any costumes planned, everyone begins talking and shouting ideas in the back of the tour van. We’ll see what they come up with come Saturday. 

Lee Bains III and the Glory Fires will be playing at noon on Saturday at the WWOZ/Bud Light Stage.