Augie Rodola Junior - guitar, vocals
Lissa Driscoll - washboard
Tom Ray - upright bass
Randy Torgerson - harmonica
Scott Kirby - piano
Mickey Bones - drums

Stanley Chaisson - executive producer
Marie-Dominique Verdier - associate producer

Engineered by Steve Himelfarb at Southlake Studios, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1991.

Robin Ligon-Gould and Marie-Dominique Verdier - cover design
RL-G - art direction
Susan Taranto - graphic production

Special thanks to: Janice Laffoon, Allen Steinman [cover photo], Bill Chambers, Marie-Hélène Verdier, Michael Pillot, Paul DeCorte, the staff at Southlake, and the rain in New Orleans.

Barrelhouse Records and Productions, Inc. 1991

All songs composed by August Samuel Rodola, Jr, except (Please Send Me) Someone to Love, by Percy Mayfield.

New notes by Jeremy Lyons:

I met Augie Jr when I moved to New Orleans in late 1992, a year and change after this record was recorded. The Big Mess was an established street band that played in the heart of the French Quarter on a daily basis (or at least whenever they felt like it) and had been going for a solid decade. By the time I met Augie, the Big Mess's roster had gone through several changes. Randy, Tom Ray, and Mickey Bones had all left town, to be replaced by other, equally engaging musical characters. The band on Drinker's choice did not include many of the regulars who played with Augie on the street, anyway, but every iteration of the band I ever heard was great, inspired and driven by Augie's magnetic personality (or driven away by it, eventually).  

As great as Drinker's Choice is, it does not do justice to one of the finest blues singers nobody's ever heard of. But I am so thankful that this record was made. Hoboin' still sends shivers up my spine; when I hear Black Train I can see Augie push the band on, stomping his Chucks, Lissa walking a tightrope, pushing the beat on the scrubboard; and Some To Love... oh, man. 

There was no one like Augie, and no one like Lissa. Now they're both gone. It was honor and an education to play with the Big Mess for a few years. I miss it, and them. RIP

-- Jeremy Lyons

Augie Junior and the Big Mess Blues Band - Drinker's Choice

Blues - Augie Jr

Drinker's Choice

(Please Send Me) Someone To Love

Black Train

Down On The Floor

She's Mine

Can't Loose What You Never Had

Nineteen Years Old

Bring It When You Come

Bright Lights, Big City

Augie Rodola Jr. was the leader of the Big Mess Blues Band, a street ensemble that was active for nearly 20 years. I played with them from 92-97. I sat in on a few tunes on Augie's homemade last CD.

Augie Junior - Death Letter (Son House)

The Big Mess Blues Band was playing on the streets of New Orleans from the early 80s to the mid 2000s (sometimes under alternate band names). It centered around Augie Rodola Jr but in his absence was often led by other members, who were an ever-changing group totaling around 50 musicians over the years. Notables included “Washboard” Lissa Driscoll, Pablo Winfrey, Jeff Zima, Butch Trivette, Steve Lewins, Andy Kaufman, Manny Renov, Jerry Barbarin Anderson, Paul Kemnitz, Randy Torgerson, Mickey Bones, Tommy Oliver, Alan Rigg, Tommy Ray, Sarabeth “Wildflower” Peters, Corey Harris, Kenny Holladay, Scott Kirby, Bobby Lewis, John Duff and Jeremy Lyons. Augie died of cirrhosis of the liver in (or around) 2012. Lissa and Kenny have also since passed, as well as several other members. With few exceptions over the years the Big Mess played exclusively on the streets of New Orleans’ French Quarter. Whether this was entirely by their choice or by happenstance is perhaps up to the debate, but the band had a strict philosophy of doing whatever the hell they felt like at the moment. So. Perhaps not completely house trained. This is a tribute account.