Alerted to the existence of this bunch of alcohol-fuelled degenerates (the centre of their social universe is apparently Saturn Bar on New Orleans St. Claude Avenue, hence the title of the second album) while trying to dig up some hard information about leader Alex McMurray, the concept of a bunch of New Orleans musos playing the likes of Bound for South Australia piqued my curiosity.
And it did that, I must emphasise, before I started digging and discovered that we’re not just using Valparaiso as an interesting place name to throw into an inebriated ensemble that specialises in ribald sea shanties’ moniker.
Intriguing. File under: New Orleans Pastimes
In the music library: Guano and Nitrates The Straits of Saint Claude
Links: Official web site Twitter Facebook Alex McMurray explains the Valparaiso Men's Chorus