Bad Penny Pleasuremakers

New Orleans-based Bad Penny Pleasuremakers, Matt Bell and and Joy Patterson, met on a blind date shortly after Hurricane Katrina and have been playing music and traveling together ever since. Their music is deeply rooted in, and influenced by, their New Orleans community, as well as prewar-era ragtime, acoustic blues, country, and jazz—from Louisiana and beyond. This album is a collection of songs that came together during the pandemic and was recorded shortly after lockdown in several sessions at Bigtone Records. These songs became a lifeline during the long months of isolation and recording them is a celebration of the resiliency of music and life. The Album title, “Hello Bluebird!” is a reference to Josephine Baker’s 1926 recording of "Bye Bye Blackbird,” and represents personal struggle and universal loss, as well as the ray of hope that only music can bring. This is the Bad Penny Pleasuremakers’ first release in a decade, This record would not have been possible without the kind support and encouragement of Jon Atkinson and his family at Bigtone Records. The opportunity to record in a supportive environment on vintage recording equipment is an absolute dream come true.