Los Swamp Monsters

From their first record, Look Ma, No Hands! in 2014, the band Los Swamp Monsters has become a legendary fixture in the Southeastern corner of the American music market. Fronted by C. J. Benoit playing guitar, harmonica, accordion, and saxophone (of the 30 instruments he has mastered) the band claims the genre of Gulf Coast Rock n’ Roll. A fiery melting pot of vibrant sounds, including swamp pop, outlaw country, blues, soul, honky-tonk, Cajun, Tex-Mex, and zydeco, this touring band has dominated with a no-set-list approach.

Benoit embodies the country boy persona, with a passion for fishing, outdoor cooking, and collecting antiques, records, and train memorabilia. Devoting time and coinage to Planet Gumbo, a charity benefiting the un-homed, Benoit works closely with Florida Bluesman Bill “The Sauce Boss” Wharton” to bring awareness to the cause. Nicknamed “Brahma Bull” by Roy Parker because playing with him is like riding a rodeo bull, he pulls together the mash-up of disparate sounds in their ever-growing catalog.

With the ease of Benoit’s bilingual ability, the band is steadily developing new songs and refining confirmed ones, while generating dynamic live recordings and playing a mix of punk, doo-wop, and ballads. His gritty, a la Cocker/Seger voice, and rollicking accordion seem to retain a metal feel, while incorporating a gospel resonance; just how many genres can one band command? Oh yeah, Los Swamp Monsters has been referred to as having a “Louisiana punk sound” as well!