Press/Reviews

Note from William Bogie regarding our benefit at Blue Bayou 2007
Bill -
I wanted to thank you and Hurricane Gumbo for playing at the benefit on Sunday. We raised over $2,200! That's good for a benefit that was pulled together as quickly as this one was pulled together. The band was outstanding. Everyone I spoke to had a great time. The Blue Bayou was a fantastic place to have the event and I am so glad you recommended it. I hope that we can do this again next year.
William Bogie

Clip from sonicjive.com 2007Hurricane Gumbo at Grant Park, Taste Of Chicago July 7th, 2007 - Taste Stage

Combine sweltering humidity and temperature, a near-record heat index, over one million people jammed into a one square mile area, and Hurricane Gumbo and what do you get?
A damned good time is what you get.
Sunday July 7th, Taste Of Chicago resembled New Orleans in more ways than one. Record temperatures aside, nothing was hotter than Hurricane Gumbo and their zydeco-based, funkafied fusion of rhythm, blues and soul. With a heat index approaching 120+ degrees, the Taste Stage that afternoon was twice as hot thanks to Gumbo, Inc.In a charged set that included a mixture of originals and cover tunes, Hurricane Gumbo was the highlight of the week. Yes it was muggy, but that’s what water is for. On a day where the band could have literally phoned it in, so to speak, Billy and the boys provided a boisterous afternoon of their usual merriment and good times.

Highlights of the afternoon set included “Turn On Your Lovelight”, “Qualified”, “Zydeco Soul” and “What Is Hip?”. Oh yeah, and then there’s the beads….because every day is Mardi Gras when Hurricane Gumbo is in town.

Their show, to say the least, was downright sizzling, a piquant addition to the fare served up at this year’s Taste Of Chicago.

An added plus……..After the show I got to hang out and have a few beers with trumpet player Eric “Le Lip” Aucoin and then a group of us made our way down to Blues Heaven, the old Chess Records recording studio at 2120 S. Michigan Avenue for the Willie Dixon Birthday Blast. This topped off a great afternoon and a great two weeks of SonicJive entertainment.

To sample some of Hurricane Gumbo’s refreshing Cajun/Zydeco/Blues/Funk pabulum, see their SonicJive profle at www.sonicjive.com/hurricanegumbo or visit their website hurricanegumbo.net.

"Note" from Dr. Gloria regarding our Benefit show at Cubby Bear 2006
Hi Bill-
I am writing this from New Orleans on the second of my four trips here this fall. On my last trip (two weeks ago) we dedicated the Rebuild Center and today our students helped to serve 125 homeless clients at the center. You and the band helped with all of this....and you should all be very proud. We also brought the remainder of t-shirts we had left from the fundraiser and you should have seen the looks on their faces - they appreciated them so much !!! Anyway I hope we can collaborate on another event so we can help them even more - and maybe you will even come with us sometime.
Hope to talk to you soon,
- Gloria
Clip from the "Quad City Reader" 2006
Combining the elements of rhythm & blues, zydeco, jazz, and funk, the eight musicians who compose Hurricane Gumbo may be based in Chicago, but their sound is pure Louisiana. Eric "le Lip" AuCoin, Chris "Brez" Brennan, Matt Daly, Kenny "E" Errant, "Zydeco" Joe Sonnefeldt, Matt Wilfer, Hurricane Bill Thibodeaux, and - a terrific moniker - Jon "Sleepin' Jesus" Richter play both New Orleans favorites and originals with such titles as "Congo Square," "What Is Hip?", and one that seems to fit the group to a tee - "Too Much Fun."

Hey Billy Rosas and crew!!
I've been waiting to get something from you so I could e-mail you back. I tried to post something for everybody to see a few weeks ago but I was having trouble and could not do it.
Thank you SO SO much for coming and playing at my 50th birthday party!! We are still hearing rave reviews from the guests. Steve and Collyn did a fantastic job and you guys rocked!! Everybody had a great time and you surely picked up some new fans that night. We make sure we tell them how much we love you guys and to get out and see a full set.
Billy, you know it's been like 30 years now that we've known each other. Thank you for years of friendship and entertainment. Love you, my friend!!!

We will see you all soon. Keep making that music that makes us all so happy!!
Most sincerely,
Julie Wallin (and Steve and Collyn)