By Gabriel Duverge
At noon on Friday, Nov. 20, about 100 people, including University of Louisville students, as well as citizens of Louisville, gathered at the Red Barn. They were attending the third and final WFPK Live Lunch concert, featuring the band Bo Deco.
“I didn’t know what I was getting into,” said Jennifer Martens, a freshman undecided major. “I just came in to get free food and I walked into a rock concert.”
The Student Activities Board provided free food to students, and local radio station WFPK provided the rock music. The audience included a large crowd of older Bo Deco fans, who stayed the duration of the concert, yelling song requests and singing along with the music.
Martens said that she was expecting only students, but was surprised that she saw mainly an older crowd at the concert.
Bo Deco is a five-part rockabilly group that gained popularity in the early to mid-1990s. The name Bo Deco is a blend of the late rock icon Bo Diddley and the Creole folk musical style of zydeco. The group, which was founded here in Louisville, was called by the Trouser Press “one of the most underappreciated combos in the indie roots rock movement.”
WFPK has previously recognized Bo Deco, placing their 1995 album “Callin’ All Dogs” as No. 80 in their top 100 albums of all time.
“This music is something you just don’t see any more,” said Mark Allen, a longtime Bo Deco fan. “It’s sort of a thing of the past.”
Playing a fast-moving country style, with a hint of blues, Bo Deco played songs from two of their previous albums, as well as several songs from their newest record, “Soul Boost,” which was released last week. The group even threw in a few Bo Diddley classics, keeping in line with the late legend that inspired their name.
Many students who attended the concert had attended previous Live Lunches. Senior Drew Randall, a civil engineering and Spanish double major, attended the event with a group of his friends.
“This is my second time coming,” said Randall. “And I love getting the free food and getting to listen to new music from Louisville.” He said that he wants WFPK’s Live Lunch to return, because he enjoys the music available to students on campus.
While no dates have been announced for any more Live Lunches at the Red Barn, WFPK organizers hope to bring the concert series back to U of L sometime in the future.
To learn more about WFPK’s Live Lunch events, or to hear a recording of Bo Deco’s performance, visit wfpk.org/live-lunch.
