Staff Reporter

LAPLACE - Music is a universal language.You don't have to necessarily understand what is being said to enjoy the rhythm.

So when Hurricane Katrina came through and ravaged the Gulf Coast, LaPlace band Desire Street decided to write a song to help make sense of everything that was happening while also adding a message that everything will be all right.

The final night of New Orleans' historic City Park Celebration in the Oaks was their venue to tell everyone so.

The song, “We Will Survive (An anthem for New Orleans),” was the creation of local married musicians, Ferd and Tracey Gonzales of LaPlace.

Ferd performs a plethora of instruments including guitar, harmonica, accordion and keyboards, while Tracey sings lead vocals and also performs on the keyboard.

Desire Street's rhythm section is comprised of local LaPlace musicians Raymond Boe on guitar, Lenny Martin on bass and Reserve resident R.J. Tamplane on the drums.

Although some were skeptical about the band's intentions following the Hurricane saying that the band was only trying to cash in on everyone's misfortune with the song “We Will Survive,” Ferd denies those allegations completely.

“When we first did the song, basically, me and my wife had no intention of making any money off of it. We wrote it and recorded a rough demo in one night,” Gonzales said.

Much to Gonzales's surprise the song has been quite popular in the local and surrounding areas since Hurricane Katrina.

“I sent a copy of the song to KBON of Lafayette basically just to see if what I had might be something that would be worth playing. I wasn't expecting it to get on the air but they played it,” Gonzales said.

Since then, “We Will Survive” has been the subject of talk from local leaders such as Kenner Mayor Phil Capitano and Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard for the possibility of making it their anthem of choice for the rebuilding process as well.

Even though Desire Street has been receiving some attention, it's still an uphill battle trying to get their music heard, according to Gonzales.

“There isn't as many clubs as there are bands now and it makes it difficult to find places to play,” Gonzales said.

The band ran into some difficulties just prior to playing the Celebration in the Oaks.

By the time Desire Street was scheduled to play on Friday Night there was nobody left to work the soundboard for the band and what was to be their first gig almost didn't happen at all.

“I basically had to beg them to let us play because they didn't want us to mess up their equipment,” Gonzales said.

Ferd just considered it another instrument and worked the soundboard himself in addition to playing guitar, harmonica, accordion, and the keyboard that night.

Ferd was able to get the show going and said it received a good response while selling many of their current album's CDs in the process.

No one can be sure of what the future holds for Desire Street but a second album might not be too far away.

“We've got enough for a second CD right now, but our biggest goal is to be able to play the French Quarter Fest or Jazzfest,” Gonzales said.

Desire Street's current CD, “Going Down to New Orleans,” can be purchased through their website at www.desirestreetband.com