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2008 Event Sponsors

Children's Art Stage Sponsor

Poster Sponsored By

Electricity Work donated by

MalnarElectric

Organizational and Financial Support donated by the Ponchatoula Chamber of Commerce

Publicity is made possible by a grant from the Tangipahoa Parish Tourism Commission

 Restrooms Provided By Pot-O-Gold

Printed Materials Provided By    Premier Printing & Norman Falk

The Northshore Regional Endowment For The Arts Board would like to thank  Deborah Anderson  and Anderson Small Business Solutions for chairing this year's event!

Ghost Town is one of this region's most exciting bands combining rock sound with county to come up with something unique.  Check out their contribution to this year's Strawberry Jam'n Toast To The Arts CD.

-Tambalaya Magazine, November 2002

If you missed the re-scheduled Wooden Boat Festival you missed some great live performances. Highlights this year were, Christian Serpas and Ghost Town staying true to their country roots, along with adding their own original touch as they performed an amazing rocking honty-tonk set. 

- Ricky Windhorst

-Tambalaya Magazine, August 2002

GHOST TOWN RELEASES FIRST RALPH RECORDS CD - GIDDY UP

Anything associated with Christian Serpas and his traditional country band Ghost Town is a winner, including his new CD. Serpas is slowly climbing the ladder of success one rung at a time, taking with him his original band members, George Neyrey on lead guitar, Jeff Oteri on drums and Joe Lincoln on bass. All have the same goals - play well together and feel like family.

All of the members share in backup vocals since harmony is an essential element of their music, Ghost Town's first CD, Giddy Up, with Ralph Records, was released and a CD release party was held at Howling Wolf in June. All 11 tracks were written by Serpas, except Buck Owens' "Tiger by the Tail".

There's no doubt as to the roots of the album when you open the jacket to find four sets of boots lined up behind the credits. Ghost Town recently performed four songs on "Louisiana Jukebox", three of them from the album, including "There She Goes", "I've Got a Good Thing Going" and "That's It, I Quit, I'm Gone", which closed the show. It's always been the groups' tradition to sign off with the signature theme song. Serpas sang another new tune, "Read 'em and Weep".

Serpas' emotional mellow vocals are traditional country with just enough twang to make the listener feel a common thread of connection and become caught up in the collection of lyrics of love lost and sometimes found. It won't be long before you are trying to decide which one's your favorite.

But there's no sappy, crying-in-your-beer here or feeling-sorry-for-yourself songs, just matter-of-fact, talk-it-out tales in which most country fans can relate. Combined with exact instrumentals, it's an enjoyable listen for years to come and not one to become outdated (in other words, a classic).

The first feather in Ghost Town's cowboy hat was winning the New Orleans Jimmy Dean True Value Country Showdown. the band went on to win a Tambalaya Music Award last year for it's debut album, Electric Hoedown, and Serpas snagged one of his own for Male Vocalist of the Year.

Ghost Town is endorsed by the north shore's own Abita Beer and Schecter Guitars of California. Serpas plays an SW3000, and "Of course, it's black," said Serpas, who is known for his black attire and his love of the other man in black, Johnny Cash. The band's T-shirt says "God Bless Johnny Cash".

Serpas and Ghost Town appeared with Merle Haggard in Hammond, at the Slidell Heritage Festival and the Mandeville Seafood Festival recently. They will be at the Abita Brew Fest on September 21, Festival of the Lake in Mandeville on October 18, and Halloween Fest in Biloxi on October 31.

Visit www.ghosttown.org to check out all of the awards that the group has earned in its three years together, to get on its e-mail list or find out where they will turn up next. Visit www.ralphrecords or www.amazon.com to purchase Giddy Up.

OFFBEAT magazine 

July 2002

Christian Serpas and Ghost Town 

Giddy Up (Ralph Records)

Talk to Christian Serpas and he'll tell you about the genius of Buck Owens, and on Giddy Up, his love of Owens' brand of country is obvious. The band covers "Tiger by the Tail," but beyond that, Serpas shows a knack for his Owens' lyrical style. The songs have a subtle cleverness phrased in lines that sound like common speech, and though they have a story-love lost, love found, love fought for-the story takes a back seat to the simple pleasure of three good, musical minutes.

Fortunately, Serpas and Ghost Town can deliver the songs. He has a likable sincerity in his voice, particularly on songs like "There Ain't No Good in Goodbye," and the arrangements are spare, with no parts that distract. Guitarist George Neyrey gets a lot of space as the only electric guitar, picking tastefully, tracing chords, adding melody, then adding punctuation when it's needed. Producer Dave Fortman gives his guitar extra crunch on "There She Goes" and "Go," which features the memorable couplet, "the best thing about this town / is people getting out all the time."

As Fortman's presence behind the board suggests, for all the band's affection for heroes of country music, there is a rock band under those big hats.

--- Alex Rawls

The Times-Picayune

June 29, 2002 

"Hammond Daily Star, Wednesday, June 26, 2002"

    times picayune, lagniappe
    friday, may 31, 2002

Thursday, October 11, 2001 

SLIDELL SENTRY NEWS

Award-Winning Ghost Town 

at Festival of the Lake

MANDEVILLE - Christian Serpas & Ghost Town, recent recipients of two Tambalaya Music Awards, will be performing at the Festival of the Lake in Mandeville on Saturday, October 13 from 4:30 - 6:30 pm.

Ghost Town won "Album of the Year" for their "Electric Hoedown" cd, and Christian Serpas was voted "Male Vocalist of the Year" at the awards show held at the Slidell Municipal Auditorium. Over 35,000 votes were cast by the general public to choose the winners.

"We think our "Electric Hoedown" cd gives people a real good idea of what Ghost Town is doing," says Serpas, "and it's awful nice to know that people like it."

They call their brand of music thrillbilly.

"We take everything we ever listened to - country, rock, rockabilly, bluegrass, everything. Cram it all in a blender and mix it up. Fast." That's how singer Serpas describes Ghost Town.

Ghost Town blasted into country music's consciousness about two years ago, and quickly built a reputation throughout the region as a must-see live act, turning in sparkling opening sets before heavyweights including Randy Travis, Brad Paisley, Terri Clark, Ricochet, Tammy Cochran, SheDaisy and Kenny Chesney, and increasing their fanbase with each performance.

The four piece band, Serpas on vocals and acoustic guitar, Jeff Oteri (drums), George Neyrey (guitar) and Joe Lincoln (bass) released their debut cd, "Electric Hoedown", in the summer of 2000. Driven by radio-ready sing-a-longs like "There Ain't No Good in Goodbye" and "That's It, I Quit, I'm Gone", the disc grabbed the band a surprising amount of airplay, plenty of rave reviews, and favorable comparisons to Dwight Yoakam, Buck Owens, Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley.

"Electric Hoedown" is available at local record stores including the Grapevine in Covington, Barnes & Nobles and Borders in Metairie, and Tower Records and Louisiana Music Factory in New Orleans. You can also purchase it online from the Ghost Town website (www.ghosttown.org).

While Ghost Town's exciting live show gets the crowd's attention, it's the quality of Serpas' songs that keeps them listening, and coming back. "Anyone can relate to our songs," says Serpas, "because we're singing about the two things that everyone knows about - heartache and happiness - with a good beat."

The appearance at the Festival of the Lake in Mandeville is a great chance to hear and get to know this fine band.

Wednesday, October 3, 2001 

ST. BERNARD NEWS

Serpas & Ghost Town win awards

SLIDELL - Christian Serpas & Ghost Town received two awards Sept. 16 at the Tambalaya Music Awards.

Ghost Town won Album of the Year for their "Electric Hoedown" CD, and the Male Vocalist of the Year Award went to Christian Serpas.

The awards were voted on by the general public.

Ghost Town blasted into country music's consciousness two years ago and quickly built a reputation throughout the region, turning in opening sets before heavyweights such as Randy Travis, Brad Paisley, Terri Clark, Ricochet, SheDaisy and Kenny Chesney, and increasing their fanbase with each performance.

The four piece band, Serpas on vocals and acoustic guitar, Jeff Oteri (drums), George Neyrey (guitar) and Joe Lincoln (bass) released their debut CD in the summer of 2000.

Driven by radio-ready sing-a-longs like "There Ain't No Good in Goodbye" and "That's It, I Quit, I'm Gone", the disc grabbed the band a surprising amount of airplay, and favorable comparisons to Dwight Yoakam, Buck Owens, Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley.

Ghost Town performed at the recent Louisiana Shrimp Festival in Meraux and will return to St. Bernard Parish on Nov. 16 at the St. Bernard Fest.

Serpas and Lincoln are both from St. Bernard Parish.

Rhythm City News                                                                                                     September 2001

GHOST TOWN

Visit Ghost Town on the internet at www.ghosttown.org.

Tambalaya Magazine                                                                         August 2001

"Electric Hoedown" - Christian Serpas & Ghost Town

This "Album of the Year" nominee has quite a few accolades under it's belt: "Electric Hoedown" was released just one year after their first public performance, and since then Christian Serpas & Ghost Town have won the top prize at the New Orleans Jimmy Dean True Value Country Showdown and opened for such heavy hitters as Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney, and SheDaisy.

The album is not lengthy, it consists of only five songs. But don't mistake brevity for inadequacy. The tunes on "Electric Hoedown" vary from swinging rockabilly to swooning country ballads. All the while the band maintains a cohesive sound that makes it all seem so easy. "Sixty Seconds", the first tune on the album (and, it should be noted, also a "Song of the Year" nominee) instantly makes you want to sing along to its upbeat sounds and sweetly romantic lyrics. But these ain't no sissy boys, neither. The album maintains its core country sound while exploring other related genres (think Johnny Cash and Elvis. Got it!).

The album itself is just a snapshot of the whole band's abilities. In fact, they are just as good at playing rousing renditions of country classics that really get a crowd moving. But their originals are arguably just as radio-ready as the tunes they cover live. It sounds like they pulled all their strengths together to make "Electric Hoedown", check it out to see if it earns your vote for Album of the Year.

Sunday, July 1, 2001  Mandeville Picayune
Spotlight
by Beth Sager

Slidell Fest Music Hot as a Firecracker

On the SunCom stage at 11am, Christian Serpas & Ghost Town will bring their own brand of country to east St Tammany.  A Mandeville resident, Serpas returned to his roots, both musically and genealogically, about five years ago after living and performing in Nashville and California. After a few years of going solo, he added Ghost Town, old New Orleans classmates George Neyrey on guitar, Jeff Oteri on drums, and Joe Lincoln on bass, all north shore residents, except Neyrey.  Serpas has just finished his second CD "Giddy Up", after the local success of his debut album, "Electric Hoedown".  His major musical influences, including Johnny Cash, Hank Williams and Elvis Presley, come through in his traditional but original country style.  He has appeared on "Louisiana Jukebox", and his original "Sixty Seconds" has received plenty of radio airtime.  He was the regional winner of the True Value Country Showdown in 1999.  The Mandeville Seafood Festival crowd has enjoyed his ballads, Cash covers and his fun signature sign-off, "That's It. I Quit. I'm Gone".  

OFFBEAT MAGAZINE, March 2001

Christian Serpas & Ghost Town - Electric Hoedown. It makes me, as Ed Anger used to say, "pig-biting mad" that this city is such a lame town for country music, and it must similarly frustrate Serpas and his band because there are cities in America where this sort of dressy alt.country fills rooms. The disc would be a little more compelling if the band broke a sweat, but they do the mandatory genre exercises - love songs and heartbreak songs - with style and imagination, but not so much that they don't have the feeling of familiarity that makes good country as comfortable as your favorite sweatshirt. 
- Alex Rawls

Rhythm City Magazine,  February 2001

"Catching Christian Serpas and Ghost Town at The Thirsty Tiger proved to be a lot like meeting a cross between Hank Williams Sr. and Elvis Presley-these guys do a wonderful rockabilly show full of energy and solid selections. Their CD's back cover describes them well: "Tipping their hats to Johnny Cash, Hank Williams and Buck Owens, while creating their own distinctive brand of boot-stomping, hip swaying country... comes Ghost Town...Powerful songs about lonesome nights and broken dreams-an electric hoedown of tear-soaked ballads and saloon-shaking rockers." Ghost Town won't be playing close to Baton Rouge this month, but make sure to catch them the next time they're in town. I'm really not a country music fan, but this stuff is fun-I stayed much longer than I expected I would."

TAMbalaya Magazine, October 2000

Christian Serpas and Ghost Town: 
Spread the Word

By: Shane Gleason

"When we do a show we want people to leave and spread the word." So says 
Christian Serpas, singer, songwriter and leader of the band Ghost Town. That 
is the type of energy one can expect when seeing them perform live or when 
listening to their July released "Electric Hoedown." Tracks like "Sixty Seconds" and "She Won't Even Miss Me When I'm Gone" will leave you tapping your toe to the beat and humming the chorus long after the songs have ended. Which is, as anyone must admit, the truest test of any musical piece.

Since April of 1999 this innovative quartet has been performing in a variety 
of venues and settings and has really begun to earn its place as a local 
frontrunner in the country music genre. Since the band's inaugural 
performance at the Rockin' Horse in Folsom, with other local country great 
Chris Gray (TAM Nov '99), they have really taken the fast road to success. 
Only four months after the Rockin' Horse gig, and actually only their fourth 
live appearance, the gang was the regional winner of the True Value Country 
Showdown, a nationally sponsored talent search for country artists.

Taking advantage of the boost in publicity the band has gone on since then 
to secure several key spots on stage with some of the industry's greats. At 
the North 40 Festival in Folsom the band opened the stage for rising country 
star, Terri Clark. At a WNOE country show at Keifer UNO Lakefront Arena the 
band got their first taste of large arena play when playing with future country legend Randy Travis and award winner from this year's CMA Awards, Brad Paisley. (For those of you who don't know, he's the hottest new male solo act in Country Music today).

Most recently the band played to an audience of approximately 8000 people at 
the WNOE Country Party 2000 featuring Kenny Chesney and hot new female 
group, Shedaisy. Having appeared in these types of events it is obvious the 
group has earned the respect of the local music industry. This is not a 
group to rest on its laurels. Like the music itself the drive of Serpas and 
his gang is strong. But that's the way Serpas has always been.

Things happen for a reason. You can't rush fate. These are statements that 
both apply when it comes to the band. Serpas began years ago growing up in 
"the neighborhood" along with Joe Lincoln, Ghost Town's bassist. In fact, 
all the band members knew each other since their youth. Serpas learned to 
play guitar at the same time as highschool friend George Neyrey, guitarist 
and vocalist. Drummer Jeff Oteri and Serpas shared the stage in two bands before Ghost Town, which is actually where the real saga begins.

In the early '90's Serpas and Oteri hit the road for L.A. to crash the 
confused rock scene that at the time included everything from the lingering 
remnants of the '80's metal hair bands to the origins of the grunge 
movement. After about a year and a half of playing the local circuit, 
places like Scream and Club Lingerie-the Troubadour was in a funk at the 
time-the guys decided they had had enough. "We were around a bunch of bands 
that were hearing 'you're next, you're next,' and they were next.Then for 
us it was 'You're next, you're next,' but we were never next," recalls the 
lanky, six-foot five, coal black-haired singer.

After returning to Louisiana, Serpas decided to pack the guitar into the 
closet, figuring he had taken his best shot and that was it. He put the 
guitar down, but the songs kept coming. He could stop playing but the songs 
would not.

Having played in rock bands prior to this time, Serpas had never forgotten 
the music that he grew up on, Johnny Cash, Buck Owens and one of his 
favorites, Marty Stuart, whom he recently had the chance to meet. According to Serpas 
both the bands he played in prior to Ghost Town had a common thread of 
sound in them that reflected the heart-felt edge of the country legends that 
helped shape his ear for music.

When he began writing again, he and his acoustic guitar began to put 
together the sound that would eventually become Ghost Town. This time the 
songwriters music led him north rather than west. With guitar in hand he 
headed for Nashville. This time he was solo. Playing venues like The 
Bluebird and The Courtyard Serpas began to work the singer/songwriter 
circuit, steadily working his way through the open-mike nights to landing on 
the playbills.

Being in two places at one time was taking its toll and things once again 
began to change. It is here where we start to get back to the beginning.

It had been long-time friend and associate Jeff Oteri who had worked with 
Serpas to put together the demo stuff for Nashville. Wishing to leave the 
solo life for more independent types, Serpas decided a four-piece was the 
future. Naturally it would be Oteri who would head up the rhythm section but 
they still needed a bassist and a guy with the right licks to put the 
finishing touches on the material.

The incidents that would follow would lead one to the conclusion that this 
band, as fate would have it, was meant to be. Serpas had watched George 
Neyrey playing around town and had a gut feeling that he was the right guy 
for Ghost Town. Serpas had even commented prior to that that if he ever got 
a band back together that's the guy he wanted on guitar. Neyrey said yes and 
they placed an ad for a bass player. Not one day after Neyrey gave the nod 
did an old friend and bassist respond to the ad. That's right, the first player to respond 
to the ad was none other than long-time neighborhood buddy, Joe Lincoln. 
"The Joe Lincoln?" Serpas asked as he returned the call.

Thus, the creation of Ghost Town.

In a market rich with R&B, top-40 and classic rock cover-bands it is 
refreshing to hear a band with both songs and a sound that are original. 
Ghost Town puts the emphasis on their originals, with cover tunes to round 
out the sets and to play familiar tunes people can dance to. "Our covers are 
interpretations," explains Serpas. "If you listen to Johnny Cash's Folsom 
Prison Blues compared to our version you'll know what I'm talking about."

Their "sound" sets the originals apart from other popular country music and 
adds freshness to a great cover list. The songs have a rock, riff-based 
tone. Serpas and the rhythm section set up the foundation for Neyrey to lay 
his Fender’s licks on top. Together with catchy lyrics like those in 
"There Ain't No Good In Goodbye" and "That's It, I Quit, I'm Gone" the 
excitement of the musical style is the paradox for a band called Ghost Town.

What's next? According to Serpas the band plans to travel to Nashville in 
November and continue to write songs and develop their sound. "We want to take the spirit of the guys who influenced us and make it into Ghost Town. Every day we want to get a little closer to that," he says.

It seems that for Christian Serpas and Ghost Town things have come full 
circle. From the early days of the neighborhood one could say that the band 
arrives at home again via L.A. and Nashville. Welcome home, boys.

You can catch Christian Serpas and Ghost Town this month at Acme Oyster 
House on Boston St. in Covington at a TAMbalaya Foundation benefit called 
"Acme Oyster House Live." The show is Friday, October 20th at 9:30 PM. 
Listen to WNOE 101.1 FM, K94.7 FM or look in the TAMbalaya Calendar of Events for more details.

TAMBALAYA, September 2000

In October, be on the lookout for one of this areas most up-and-coming music acts. Christian Serpas & Ghost Town have quickly been rising in the music scene, here and on the Southshore. With award-winning performances behind them and a new CD, Christian and the boys will join forces with Acme Oyster House in Covington for another TAMbalaya Foundation benefit show. Proving themselves by opening for Randy Travis and Brad Paisley at UNO Lakefront Arena, this is going to be a show you won't want to miss. 

SLIDELL SENTRY NEWS, Sunday, September 17, 2000

LOCAL BAND TO APPEAR AT WNOE COUNTRY PARTY TODAY

COVINGTON - Christian Serpas & Ghost Town will be performing at the WNOE COUNTRY PARTY 2000 today at Lafreniere Park in Metairie, Louisiana from 1 pm until 1:30 pm.

WNOE and Budweiser are proud to present Country Party 2000 in honor of the 20th anniversary of WNOE. The line-up includes Kenny Chesney, SheDaisy, Steve Holy, Daryl Worley, and Christian Serpas & Ghost Town.

Tickets are $15 before the event and $22.50 at the door. Kids ages 10 and under are free! Doors open at noon, and Ghost Town kicks off the show at 1pm. Bring your festival seating and the whole family for a day of great entertainment. Country Party 2000 is a rain or shine event.

Tickets can be purchased at selected ticket outlets, or at www.ticketweb.com

Listen to WNOE (101.1 FM) for further ticket information and outlet locations.

Ghost Town will be performing songs from their new "ELECTRIC HOEDOWN" cd. The cd, along with Ghost Town "God Bless Johnny Cash" T-shirts will be available for sale at Country Party 2000. T-shirts and CDs can also be ordered from the website (www.ghosttown.org). 

See you there.

Thursday, July 20, 2000 Mandeville Picayune
Spotlight
by Beth Sager

Ghost Town set for Columbia howl

It’s no surprise that Johnny Cash has a big influence on Christian Serpas. Serpas and his band dress all in black. He swings his guitar just like Cash. The biggest giveaway is the back of the band’s T-shirt, which says "God bless Johnny Cash."

Plus, some of Serpas’ best performances are when he and his band do a medley of Cash hits. Serpas and his three partners in music, Ghost Town, have a special show planned for Friday night. They are celebrating the release of their all-original CD, "Electric Hoedown", at the Columbia Street Tap Room in Covington.

When Serpas first came to the north shore about four years ago, he was a solo act. He blew into town from Nashville, Tenn., returning to his roots in New Orleans, where he grew up. What goes around comes around, and Serpas recruited two of his high school musician buddies, George Neyrey on lead guitar and Jeff Oteri on drums, to make up a new group after he decided that solo wasn’t the place to be. He was still short a bass player and put the word out. Another former classmate, Joe Lincoln, who grew up a block away, applied, and now it’s Serpas and Ghost Town.

The members live on the north shore, except for Neyrey, who lives in Metairie. Ghost Town has been contributing to the heat index lately. Many first-time listeners at the Mandeville Seafood Festival this month were impressed with the group. East St. Tammany Parish festival-goers heard Ghost Town at the Freedom Fest in Slidell, and late-night television viewers caught the group on "Louisiana Jukebox," when the group sang three songs from the CD: "Sixty Seconds", "She Won’t Even Miss Me When I’m Gone" and "That’s It, I Quit, I’m Gone", the tune that has become its signature sign-off song. The south shore CD release party was met with success at the Howling Wolf on July 8.

When it comes to covers, the group performs Cash favorites including "Folsom Prison Blues" and "I Walk the Line". At the Mandeville Seafood Festival, requests were coming fast and furious on napkins, bank deposit slips, or anything with a writing surface. Serpas performed Buck Owens’ "I’ve Got a Tiger By the Tail", Elvis Presley’s "Little Sister" and Hank Williams’ "I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry".

When Serpas introduced his band, each player gave a short solo. The crowd sniggered when Neyrey went into his rendition of "In a Gadda Da Vida". Another source of humor is Serpas’ "only Sinatra song." The audience cracked up when the group started the distinct opening for "These Boots Are Made for Walking".

"’Sixty Seconds’ has been receiving some air time," Serpas said. "It’s a powerful song and fits right in with the others on the album. It’s all about lonesome nights and broken dreams." But the songs aren’t all ballads; lost love can be high-energy and rockabilly, especially on "Sixty Seconds" and "That’s It, I Quit, I’m Gone."

Visit the group’s Web site at www.ghosttown.org or e-mail Serpas at cpserpas@cs.com to get on Ghost Town’s e-mail newsletter or to get the snail-mail gig schedule. CDs and T-shirts can be ordered from the Web site.

July 7, 2000 - The Times-Picayune - Lagniappe 

Country Creeps Into Ghost Town

by Keith Spera


After Christian Serpas' rock-star dreams crashed and burned in Los Angeles, he spent a long time trying not to make music. Eventually he gave in to the urge. But the sound of his new band, Ghost Town, is miles apart from that of its predecessor, True Faith.

The five cuts on "Electric Hoedown," the debut, mini-CD by Christian Serpas & Ghost Town, are clean, uncluttered country, drawing on the likes of Dwight Yoakam and Buck Owens. Serpas' lyrics are riddled with the kind of wordplays that mark the most memorable country compositions; witness the title of "That's It, I Quit, I'm Gone" and "There Ain't No Good In Goodbye." The band celebrates the release of "Electric Hoedown" with a free show Saturday at the Howlin' Wolf.

The path that led Serpas to Ghost Town was a long and winding one. He formed True Faith in New Orleans in 1984, drawing inspiration from The Alarm, Big Country and other four-chords-and-the-truth rock bands.

In the mid-'80s, its members moved to the mecca for aspiring rock bands, Los Angeles. The move proved to be their undoing.

"It was a typical story of getting to California and just running out of gas," Serpas said. "We had made a few trips out there and gotten some interest, but we got a lot more attention when we were billed as a band from New Orleans. "

True Faith broke up in Los Angeles in 1989. Disillusioned, Serpas sold all of his gear save a single acoustic guitar and moved back to New Orleans. The lone guitar sat in a closet, untouched, for a year. "I would hear songs in my head, and I would just say that I wasn't going to use them," Serpas said. "But it kept happening."

Unable to ignore them any longer, he finally pulled out the acoustic. Country influences had occasionally seeped into True Faith's music, but Serpas discovered that those influences had moved to the fore in his new songs. "They were the bridge," Serpas said, "between True Faith and Ghost Town."

Emboldened by his new sound, Serpas moved to Nashville and hit the singer-songwriter circuit. But after years with a band, the solo route was unfulfilling. He returned to New Orleans once again, and played his new songs for former True Faith drummer Jeff Oteri. Oteri agreed to help Serpas record them; he also agreed to be the core of a new, country-flavored band. Serpas then recruited veteran local guitarist George Neyrey, a friend from high school who most recently worked with the now defunct modern rock band Joybuzzer. Bassist Joe Lincoln, a childhood acquaintance of Serpas', rounded out the Ghost Town line-up.

Little more than a year old, Ghost Town functions as a full-fledged band, not just Christian Serpas' back-up band. "We tell clubs that if they don't have room to write the whole name, don't just put 'Christian Serpas' -- put 'Ghost Town,' " Serpas said.

Onstage, they'll run through their original repertoire and cover Buck Owens' "Tiger By the Tail," Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison" and Hank Williams' "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry." They hope the new CD becomes a catalyst for more regional touring.

Once again, Serpas is committed to the cause of a band and the songs in his head.

"Now as soon as I hear one, I grab that guitar," Serpas said.

Wednesday, July 5, 2000 ST. BERNARD NEWS

Christian Serpas & Ghost Town release debut CD 


Christian Serpas & Ghost Town will celebrate the release of their debut CD, "Electric Hoedown", at a FREE admission show on Saturday, July 8 at the Howlin’ Wolf, 828 S. Peters St. in New Orleans, 522-WOLF. The show starts at 10 pm.

"Saloon-shaking country" is how Serpas (vocals, songwriter, acoustic guitar) describes "Electric Hoedown", which features all original songs including "She Won’t Even Miss Me When I’m Gone", "There Ain’t No Good in Goodbye" and "That’s It, I Quit, I’m Gone".

Powered by the sizzling guitar work of George Neyrey, and anchored by drummer Jeff Oteri and bassist Joe Lincoln, Ghost Town played their first show in April of 1999, and only four months later they won the New Orleans Jimmy Dean True Value Country Showdown. Since then they have opened shows for country stars Randy Travis, Brad Paisley and Terri Clark, along with performing at festivals and clubs throughout the area. 

Serpas and Lincoln are both from St. Bernard Parish. 

For more information on Ghost Town, visit their website at www.ghosttown.org or contact them at cpserpas@cs.com or (504) 892-6234.

Monday June 26, 2000

GHOST TOWN ON LOUISIANA JUKEBOX TV SHOW

Christian Serpas & Ghost Town will be performing on the Louisiana Jukebox television show, this Thursday, June 29. The show can be seen live in the metro New Orleans area on Cox Cable channel 10 at 10:30 pm on Thursday, and repeats several times during the week.

If you live in the New Orleans metropolitan area and do not have Cox cable, you can see the show on WUPL, channel 54 on Sunday, July 2 at midnight (first thing Monday morning). 

Ghost Town will be performing songs from their "ELECTRIC HOEDOWN" cd, including "Sixty Seconds", "She Won't Even Miss Me When I'm Gone" and "That's It, I Quit, I'm Gone". 

The Louisiana Jukebox show is also broadcast in Baton Rouge, Opelousas, Shreveport, Memphis, Tennessee, Cleveland, Ohio and Austin, Texas. 

Times Picayune   -   Thursday, May 25, 2000
Spotlight
by Beth Sager

Opening for Terri Clark on Sunday is the up-and-coming Christian Serpas & Ghost Town, a bunch of local guys who have been making the rounds. They will be performing many originals off of their upcoming CD, "Electric Hoedown."

 Ghost Town to open for Terri Clark

                   
 Christian Serpas & Ghost Town will be the opening act for country star Terri Clark at      the North 40 Festival in Folsom, Louisiana, on Sunday, May 28. Ghost Town will begin  the show at noon, performing songs from their upcoming "Electric Hoedown" CD. 

 Terri Clark has released three albums on the Mercury Nashville label, including her   platinum selling debut, and spawned several radio hits including the chart topping "Better Things to Do", "When Boy Meets Girl", "You're Easy on the Eyes" and "Emotional Girl".

 For more information on Ghost Town, visit their website at www.ghosttown.org or contact them at cpserpas@cs.com or (504) 892-6234.

April, 2000
Northlake News, Music Beat 
by Roger Kennedy

CHRISTIAN SERPAS & GHOST TOWN

There’s been a haunting sound escaping from the silence of the evening air lately. It’s a peculiar vibration that commands attention yet something about it seems strangely familiar. The southern wind whistles as it politely persuades a lone thatch of tumbleweed to move along. Though the streets may be empty now, it’ll just be a matter of time before the whole place is jumping. You see, there’s a new sheriff in town and he brought along his guitar.

Christian Serpas and Ghost Town have come quite a long way since the success of their first shows performed last April. In one short year, this original country music band has earned the acceptance of very wide and diverse crossover audiences and garnered high media praises for their efforts.

Serpas has been described as "kinda like Dwight Yoakam meets Chris Issak" by one Nashville club owner. Others have coined his music as "heartache with hooks" and "six foot five-inches of well crafted, insightful songs about lonesome nights and broken dreams".

With lead singer / songwriter Serpas fronting this band that includes lead guitarist George Neyrey (formerly with Joy Buzzer), bass player Joe Lincoln and drummer Jeff Oteri, the energy level soars through original tunes like "There Ain’t No Good in Goodbye", "Wait a Minute", "Beginning of the End" and "That’s It, I Quit, I’m Gone".

One local writer notes that ever since Michael Jeansonne split for Nashville, the local country music scene has lacked a breakout original act but that Christian Serpas and Ghost Town may just be the ones to step up and fill that void. You’d get no objection from the judges at last year’s New Orleans Jimmy Dean True Value Country Showdown as the band won top honors and moved on to national competition.

Having performed recently before the Saints / Cowboys game at the Louisiana Superdome and as the opening act for Randy Travis and Brad Paisley at the UNO Lakefront arena, these guys have seized the opportunity to display their talents before thousands of new fans. 

Be sure to catch Christian Serpas and Ghost Town in concert throughout the area. More information can be obtained from their website www.ghosttown.org or by phone 504-892-6234.

Tambalaya magazine - February 2000 

The Taproom starts the weekend of the 18th with Covington’s own long tall rockabilly star, Christian Serpas & GHOST TOWN. You have got to give these guys a listen: you’ll be singing their song "That’s It, I Quit, I’m Gone" for weeks after hearing them. 

New Orleans Times Picayune - Lagniappe, Friday, February 4, 2000

                             New Country Revival
Christian Serpas & Ghost Town breathe new life into the local country scene.

Ever since Michael Jeansonne lit out for the bright lights of Nashville, the local country scene has lacked a break-out act that emphasizes original music.  Christian Serpas & Ghost Town may just step up to fill the void. Consisting of singer-songwriter Serpas, lead guitarist George Neyrey (of the now-defunct modern rock band Joy Buzzer), drummer Jeff Oteri and bassist Joe Lincoln, Ghost Town combines clever, hook-ladened compositions such as "That’s It, I Quit, I’m Gone" and "There Ain’t No Good In Goodbye" with a classic country sound that marries Dwight Yoakam’s twang to Chris Isaak’s echo-y high-lonesome guitar. "Folsom Prison", "Mystery Train", "I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry" and other standards round out their sets.

The band played its first show in April and then won the local competition of the Jimmy Dean True Value Country Showdown four months later. Christian Serpas & Ghost Town perform Thursday at the Howlin’ Wolf with local honky-tonk band The Nudies.
--Keith Spera

Tambalaya magazine - January 2000

Friday, January 14, the Taproom in Covington brings back that long, tall rocker Christian Serpas & GHOST TOWN. Check ‘em out as they run the gamut from whiskey soaked ballads to flat out runaway train rockers.

Ghost Town joined onstage by WNOE's Eddie Edwards

Christian Serpas & Ghost Town were joined onstage by WNOE radio’s morning personality Eddie Edwards of Crazy Eddie and the Breakfast Flakes during their set at the Randy Travis / Brad Paisley concert at UNO Lakefront Arena on Friday, December 3. After introducing the band, Edwards whipped out his harmonica and joined Ghost Town for a scorching rendition of the Johnny Cash classic "Folsom Prison Blues", much to the delight of the crowd. "We had a blast," said Ghost Town drummer Jeff Oteri. The next blast Ghost Town experienced was out of the sky, as their performance at the following days Christmas Extravaganza at the Covington Fairgrounds was rained out. 

Christian Serpas & Ghost Town to open 

                   Randy Travis show

Christian Serpas & Ghost Town will be opening the show at the Randy Travis concert, Friday, December 3 at the UNO Lakefront Arena.

Ghost Town will kick off the festivities from 5 - 7 pm at the WNOE tailgate party on the Jack Daniels Outdoor Stage. Brad Paisley takes the arena stage at 8 pm, followed by the multi platinum recording artist, Travis. Ghost Town will perform all of their original songs, including those from their upcoming debut CD release, along with their revved up interpretations of country classics from Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley. Ghost Town will also be performing at the Christmas Extravaganza at the Covington Fairgrounds the following afternoon, Saturday, December 4, from 1 - 4 pm. Check out their website at www.ghosttown.org for more information on the band, including additional performance dates. 

 Sunday, September 19, 1999 SLIDELL SENTRY NEWS

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