Quintron & Miss Pussycat invent swamp weirdness

Voodoo 2009

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By Travis Leeper

Swamp-rocker Mr. Quintron and his puppeteer wife Panacea Pussycat. They might be named like Hanna-Barbara characters, and with live shows characterized by classic cars, rocking Hammond organs, and bizarre, colorful gadgets, they might sound and look like them too. Just know that Mr. Q and Miss P are some of the most creative and dastardly musicians down here in the South, geared up to take you on a ride along the road where industrialized New Orleans urbanity and spooky, kooky, swampy antics meet.

Famous for their live performances, Quintron & Miss Pussycat bring a special brand of retrofitted theatrics to their shows, reminiscent of the rocking '50s combined with modern, homemade instruments, maracas, and madness.

"Smaller is always better," said Mr. Quintron of live shows in an interview with Tiger Weekly. "Festivals are like those suburban mega-churches compared to small night clubs which are like little chapels where everyone knows each other and the pastor sleeps with members of the singles group and causes a bunch of drama with the older ladies.

"That's the way it was in my church," he continued. "I like the drama. I wanna look into your eyes, and I wanna have a beer with the sound man after the show."

Of course, no Quintron show would be complete without Mr. Quintron's vast array of various musical contraptions. Being that he's already tied up with two organs, foot pedals, hi-hats, and more, it's to be expected that Mr. Q needed to invent a few electronic companions to help him out.

"I literally started out in a garage," said Mr. Q. "Just tools and a naked picture of Cher. There was lots of practice and just making stuff that I couldn't afford to buy." 

One such invention, the popular Drum Buddy, is a small, Dr. Seussian device resembling a spinning soup can atop a LED-riddled record player. Tiny electronic sensors embedded in colorful pipes pick up light emitted from holes in the spinning can, creating a simple analog sequencer that, when used right, is capable of nearly infinite patterns of trademark lo-fi rhythms.

Quintron is currently scheduled to play on Sunday at the Voodoo Music Experience in New Orleans. Though you may not be able to stare him in the eyes, he'll be as loud, obnoxious, and awesome as you could ever hope for. And if that's not close enough, both Mr. Quintron and Miss Pussycat will be at the New Orleans Museum of Art in City Park next year, recording in public view for over three months.

 "I'll be installing myself and my entire recording studio into one room and I will record an album in the museum. The final week I have decided not to leave the confines of the park at all, so I will be finishing up by day and living as a wild man by night.  It's gonna be so fun... I hope."

Quintron & Miss Pussycat will be performing at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans at 5:45 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1 at Le Carnival in the Bingo! Parlor.

Originally Published: Issue 821 - October 28, 2009

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