Astro Motel is a group of guys whose passion for music transcends boundaries, and they bring together all types of people for one reason—a great show. 

Astro Motel, which formed in 2014, describes their music as “trash boogie,” a mix of rockabilly, the blues and psychedelic with a little something extra thrown in there.

Astro Motel consists of five members: lead vocalist and guitarist Joel Jordan, vocalist and bassist Jacob Lofton, vocalist and guitarist Tyler Martin, better-known as “Slick Rick,” vocalist and guitarist Asa Stone and drummer Brad McCormick.

They performed as the headliner of this month’s installment of Ouachita Live, which is a a new event for the Twin Cities but one with endless potential.

The concert series is set to run from March to October with a new show on the last Friday of each month. The event is from 5:30-8 p.m., next to Miss Kay’s Sweets & Eats in downtown West Monroe, which gives people the opportunity to get off of work and still make it in time to enjoy live music.

ULM graduate student in exercise science, Seth Posey, said he thought the show was great.

“I wish more people would have shown up, because I’d like to see this become a much bigger event,” Posey said.

The crowd truly adored Astro Motel’s performance. Their cheers were enthusiastic, despite some technical difficulties early on. The band was determined not to let anything stop their performance. Posey said that he enjoyed their choice of covers and also, “really loved their energy throughout the show.”

Songs like the crowd-favorite “Delhi” from their first album, and “Brother Shamus,” a song about a crooked preacher, highlight what’s so unique about Astro Motel—their rough and ragged sound. It is exciting to watch the band play, because the longer they are on stage, the more they let loose. Their passion spread and enveloped the entire audience.

Karen Laban, co-chair of the Downtown West Monroe Revitalization Group, said that their vision in creating Ouachita Live was to strengthen the city’s social and economic vitality by celebrating inclusivity, engagement and accessibility through music.  Each concert will feature a different genre allowing for a varied crowd each month.

The Downtown West Monroe Revitalization Group is a community organization created to stimulate the downtown development and revitalization in historic downtown West Monroe.

“We have been working on Ouachita Live since October 2018. There is currently no free concert series of this length in this area. Our 2020 season will be held in Alley Park, which is currently under construction, and will include food trucks and street vendors,” Laban said.

The kids danced to Astro Motel’s set at the front of the stage, as their parents caught up with old friends. Once the sun began to go down, everything started to come together in a way that can only be described as fate. All that was left to do was sit and enjoy.

The sound was loud but tight, each member delivering on their promise to make this a great show. Jordan even attempted one of his infamous handstands towards the end that had the crowd going wild.

Lofton smiled as he talked about his experience at Ouachita Live after the show. “We are used to playing in bars, so  this is a new experience for us. Some of us have families now, and it’s nice that they can come and enjoy the show.”

Astro Motel will be celebrating college graduates at Enoch’s Irish Pub & Café on May 10 at their “Graduation Pregame” show. The show starts at 9 p.m.—don’t miss out! Ouachita Live’s next event will be on May 31, same time and place.

Stream and/or download Astro Motel’s new album, “Holy Hot Wax” on all major services, including Spotify and Apple Music. Follow their Facebook page for more information on the band and for future events.