Underground Art and Rock in New Orleans
Little Steve Williams – a.k.a. LSW – is in the house
By Joe AlfoneUnderground art and rock music in New Orleans has an impassioned leader. In case you haven’t heard, pop-art punk rock artist (Suplecs, Hawgjaw, the Bills, King Louie, Black Rose Band rock n roll promoter) United Houma Nation member and political activist, philosopher, Little Steve Williams – a.k.a. LSW – is in the house.
Interviewing LSW for this article gave him the opportunity to discuss the importance of the hard-rock music scene in New Orleans and his role and mission to promote it far outside our Louisiana borders. He also explains why it is important for all New Orleanians to be politically active in this never-ending post-K world of ours. Over the past 15 years, LSW has moved up the ranks, having shown and sold his art from the walls of Juan’s Flying Burrito, hair salons, tattoo shops, concerts, even breaking out a sidewalk table at area flea markets. Every September 6th a culmination of the latest work of LSW is on display at the Big Top gallery. The annual “504 What Style Art Circus” has become a hugely successful mesmerizing spectacle with fire-breathers, burlesque dancers, indie-films, stilt walkers, costumed characters, and a monstrous swamp-rock performance by the Suplecs. With his artwork showing up in so many places it is hard to miss the LSW stamp throughout the city. Where Y’at catches up with LSW following his completion of an exhaustive Mardi Gras season.
WYAT – What projects have you been working on lately?
LSW – I finished my new skull costume for my marching crew, for the Krewe d’Etat parade. For a couple years now I have been making these paper mache skeleton skulls and I march in the parade playing a snare drum. I make this elaborate costume called Skullvis that I wear, an Elvis skull with a pompadour. I also make special appearances at parties and concerts performing surf rock music with the Bills, where I sing while wearing my skull creation. I finished work on a float for the Lions Carnival Club that rolls in a couple of parades. I made the new Suplecs Mardi Gras t-shirt design. Every year I make a limited edition Mardi Gras day t-shirt for the Suplecs’ show at Checkpoint Charlie’s. I also just finished a logo and t-shirt design for a concert at the Big Top.
WYAT – How old were you when you knew you were going to be an artist, or that you had artistic skills?
LSW – From what I remember, between 3 and 5 years old, my parents gave me an art set and I just started drawing things. From as long as I can remember I was always drawing something. I especially liked drawing Iron Maiden pictures for friends at school. One thing I remember was when I was a kid I drew a concert scene of KISS on my bedroom wall. I didn’t really know I was going to get into art. When I was younger I wanted to go into the CIA or FBI. When that wasn’t working out around 24-25, I began taking my art career more seriously.
WYAT – Did you have any mentors along the way that pushed your art direction?
LSW – As a teenager I watched the way Al Copeland, Jr. did business and in a way, I was moving up in his company pretty rapidly. Then I left to join the Marines. During the time I lived in California with the Marines I met Steve Stillwell who had a magazine company of hot rod cars. The people I looked up to were Robert Williams, Big Daddy Ed Raw, and all of the custom car culture people of California; they were my influences. Artists like Robert Crumb, Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol, Robert Williams, my father, and any artists that I have met, like musicians. When I first started working for the Suplecs, when I first heard their music, I thought it was awesome. I just felt it and went with it. Any inspirational person just fuels me to want to help them create.
WYAT – You seem intent on promoting the hard rock New Orleans music scene like Hawgjaw, the Bills, Suplecs, King Louie, and the Black Rose Band. What is it about these guys that motivate you to design flyers, posters, and t-shirts for them?
LSW – Most of the local underground New Orleans rock scene bands are not getting looked at. Magazines overlook these bands, as do the local rags in general. The magazines always seem to look at the watered-down Mardi Gras Jazz Fest style, music and culture. The same with me- in the past I got overlooked for my art skills and had to work really hard. I kind of joined forces with these bands; I do design work for them and make them more visually noticeable in the city, where they handle their part of being heard. So I like supporting the underdog of New Orleans. I like to reveal good music. I want these bands to rise above being unknown underground rock bands outside of New Orleans.
WYAT – What would you like for people in other cities to get out of your artwork?
LSW – Having my artwork looked at on the wall while a troubled teen is lying in his bedroom listening to some rock music – that was my initial goal. I would like to do more illustrations for rock and roll or any type of magazines. Every city has their artists in the lowbrow scene. I would like for people in other cities to look at my artwork and say, “That’s New Orleans.”
I want to bring awareness to the city. It seems like the FBI is always here investigating wrongdoings. I have been working on a personal movement that has been underhanded since the Louisiana Purchase. Chapter 6 is recognizing Native American Indian tribes in Louisiana. The United Houma Nation is the tribe I belong to. The Houma Indians were displaced, slaughtered, and moved all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico. And with coastal erosion, the government says, “Y’all should stay down there.” The land is disappearing at an alarming rate and the government does nothing. Houma Indians were not allowed to go to school in Terrebonne Parish until 1968. It is just strange how stories like this don’t get exposed and people are totally unaware. People are too busy living their everyday lives. Trying to have fun, we miss out on the many stories of what the government commits unjustly against fellow Americans.
WYAT – Is your art a reflection of your political ideas?
LSW – I have been making propaganda art along with political cartoons. After the hurricane I designed a logo for the Katrina Warriors chapter at Tulane University, a feminist group that assists battered women. I am proud to be associated with this group. Talk is cheap. People need to organize and mobilize against injustice.
WYAT – What interests you more, creating single pieces or poster art/t-shirt art?
LSW – If I am having a bad day and I am standing in the supermarket and I see some little old lady wearing a 504WhatStyle t-shirt, it puts a smile on my face and makes me feel a little better about myself.
WYAT – What do you want people to think when they hear the words Little Steve Williams, that 504What Style guy?
LSW – It kind of makes me laugh, that bastard. I would hope that people enjoy the artwork I am putting out. I hope that they enjoy the parties that they go to, and that they are having a good time with the artwork, as much as I am. It’s an infamous trail that I am on. I hope everybody enjoys it. I hope they say my name in the positive realm. I would like to work with a larger group of artists, make this grow together, pull off a big production.
Check out www.504whatstyle.com to see more artwork by Steve Williams.