Cajun sound and soul
revived in East Austin
By Maryam Tabatabai
Around the restaurant, colorful Mardi Gras beads hang from the gold-painted ceiling, the wall painting shows a young black girl braiding her grandmother’s hair, the old keyboard collects dust in the corner and the sign on the wall reads, “Have clean hands and a pure heart.”
At Nubian Queen Lo-La’s Cajun Soul Food and BBQ Kitchen, the meals often come with hugs. A small East Austin restaurant, Lo-La’s reached out to the community, holding three musical benefits for musicians evacuated from Hurricane Katrina; and they don’t plan on stopping once the news coverage of evacuees ends. 
A native of Lake Charles, La., restaurant owner Lola Stephens personally felt the evacuation’s impact. Feeling obliged to help, she volunteered with University of Texas graduate student Dean Graber at the Austin Convention Center, where evacuees were being housed. As she walked around the loading dock where evacuees mingled and shared troubles, she listened.
“We realized that these musicians could be doing something if they had their own space,” said Graber, who helped her organize and publicize the events.
Stephens was especially concerned about the musicians because they had used their talent to 
advance their careers in New Orleans, and in Austin they were strangers.
“There is such a thing as being a superstar in your own town,” Stephens said. “You may not get any farther than your city, but everyone knows who you are there.”
The events went forward from there, with contributions of everything from food and musical instruments to bus rides. The combined events raised more than $3,600 for the displaced musicians.
“It was great because we hadn’t got a chance to get out our music. Coming out of the storm was real rough and the music is always in our hearts,” tambourine player Annie Jenkins said.
The first benefit concert was at Lo-La’s backyard in September. Even with the rain, a few hundred people from all over East Austin came to support the cause. Those without a lot of money still came out to show encouragement. The $10 entrance fee was waived for all evacuees.
Stephens, who learned to cook from her mom, prepared a full Cajun meal for the guests. It included jambalaya, red beans and rice, Louisiana-style sweet potatoes and green beans. The ingredients were contributed by Quality Seafood Market, Boggy Creek Farm, Texas Sausage Co. and other local businesses and families. Menu assistance came from Richard Herbert, a New Orleans restaurant cook and temporary resident of the Convention Center.
Evacuee and percussionist James Williams said the Cajun food made him homesick. “Oh man, was it good. I could have eaten all day. I think I put on some pounds since I been going to Lo-La’s,” Williams said. “It just reminds me so much of home and my mama’s cooking.”
The first benefit raised more than $2,500 for 20 New Orleans musicians living at the Austin Convention Center at the time. The money was divided evenly among the musicians. The second event raised about $1,100. The third event was more like a reunion, Lola said, because so many of the musicians had found permanent homes. Graber anticipates having several more benefits around holiday season.
Numerous instruments also were donated to the musicians to aid them in restarting their careers. The donated instruments included guitars, trumpets, trombones, saxophones, clarinets and percussion instruments.
Giving wasn’t limited to money: Patrons exchanged hugs, phone numbers and stories with evacuees. Some patrons were moved to tears by victims’ stories.
“If you would’ve seen the togetherness that was there, it was a closeness you couldn’t even find at church,” Stephens said.
Many of the musicians are not full-time employees, and spend much time at home, Williams said.
“If you have a talent you should use it,” he said. “I don’t believe in letting it go to waste.” Williams has been playing drums since he was 5 years old. He is currently in his 60s and plans on becoming a permanent resident of Austin.
Claudia McWhorter, spokeswoman for the Red Cross, said these types of events always help lift some of the burden off the Red Cross.
“It is good to hear that they can target a specific group that needs the assistance and help them,” McWhorter said.
Kevin Bush, a tambourine player and singer, said, “It was one of the most beautiful experiences I ever had, Lo-La has really put it together. It was real nice, real, real nice.”