These days it’s difficult to find much of anything that truly represents an American regional culture. That’s why a group like The ReveleRs stands out as much as they do. This Grammy-nominated band hails from what is arguably the most musically fertile area of the country, Southwestern Louisiana. They combine the different sounds of the region, characterized by Cajun, Zydeco, Swamp Pop, Honky Tonk, and even Rock n Roll with their own original material - to represent not only Louisiana’s musical traditions, but where things might be headed in years to come. Some have called The Revelers a “Louisiana supergroup,” since they were formed by founding members of both The Pine leaf Boys and The Red stick Ramblers (two of the most popular and highly regarded bands to come out of Louisiana). The Revelers, however, have gone beyond that hype by making a mark of their own, blazing a trail with their busy tour schedule and incendiary live show - and curating the ongoing popular Blackpot Festival held each year in Lafayette in late October. Their songs, sung in both in French and English, have become Louisiana dancehall standards, and have been featured on the nationally syndicated HBO show “Treme” as well as Anthony Bourdain’s hit show “No Reservations.” Linda Rondstadt, who has covered one of their original songs, is a big fan of the group. Their latest full length “Get Ready” was nominated for a Grammy this past year in the Regional Roots category, further establishing their reputation as a group to sit up and take notice of. On this latest EP release, The Revelers Play the Swamp Pop Classics Volume two, The Revelers revisit the genre of Swamp Pop, of which they have become the new torch bearers. Swamp Pop came about as an attempt by Cajuns to play popular songs they heard on the radio in the 1950’s and early 1960’s, such as Little Richard and Fats Domino (both Louisiana recording artists). These Cajun artists took Soul, Rhythm and Blues, as well as Rock n’ Roll and put their own unique stamp on it, using the instrumentation they grew up with - accordions and fiddles, also adding horns, electric guitars and drums. They even translated many of these classic songs into French. What came out was unique to Southwest Louisiana and became immensely popular in the area. Artists such as Tommy McLain, Warren Storm and Johnny Allen, to name a few, packed dancehalls - and some, such as Bobby Charles, even flirted with national recognition. The Revelers have displayed an affinity for not only the original Swamp Pop artists, but for the spirit behind the music they were creating. Three of the songs on the new EP - Gary U.S Bonds’ “Trip to the Moon,” Arthur Alexander’s “If It’s Really Got To Be This Way” and Spooner Oldham’s “Lonely Women,” are songs The Revelers themselves have picked to be added to the Swamp Pop pantheon. Warren Storm’s “Nobody Would Know” is the only song on the new EP culled from classic Swamp Pop repertoire, but bringing likeminded songs into the genre is key to the evolution of the Swamp Pop tradition, and there are very few artists with the know-how and daring to pull off such an endeavor. As soon as the needle drops on this EP, you will be transported to another time and place: a sweaty Louisiana dancehall where people met, fell in love and danced the night away - but make no mistake, The Revelers are not a mere nostalgia band, and this is not a nostalgic recording. The Revelers are using Swamp Pop as a reference for the current music they’re creating via their own unique sensibilities, which is the spirit that drove Swamp Pop in the first place.