Jason Brettel – Bandleader/Drums

Born and raised in New Orleans, drummer Jason Brettel worked in high school at the acclaimed music venue Rock 'N' Bowl, handing out bowling shoes, setting pins, cooking, and performing many other tasks befitting a teenager. After honing his percussion skills in New York and Savannah, Ga., in an eclectic array of bands including Body Bag Slam, a punk-rap outfit, and The Future Tards of Jazz, Jason returned to New Orleans one month before Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city.

Following Katrina, Jason helped resurrect the beloved Rock ‘N’ Bowl, and founded the Hill Country Hounds. He is also a founding member of Los Po-Boy-Citos. An acclaimed Latin boogaloo band, Los Po-Boy-Citos has won multiple awards and played several stages at The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Fest. Jason also plays drums for the '60s soul revival band, The Essentials, a 10-piece soul band that includes go-go dancers.

Guest Players

Bruce Tyner - Pedal Steel

A native of South Carolina, Bruce Tyner moved to NOLA in 2003 to soak up some of the city's rich musical heritage. Bruce holds a Master's degree in music performance from Winthrop University and is a virtuoso of guitar, bass, pedal steel, mandolin, banjo and piano. Along with the Hounds, Bruce plays with a number of New Orleans-based acts, including The Space Heaters, The F-holes, the Rotten Cores, J. The Savage, Kim Carson, Johnny Dilks, Johnny Angel and Chicken on the Bone.

Tom Marron - Fiddle/Harmonica

Hailing from Vermillion County, Illinois, Tom Marron was a steady band member during the recording of “Hill Country Hounds.” Now appearing with the Hounds more sporadically, Tom has performed with such tour-de-force acts as the Songdogs, Lil Queenie, Leigh Harris, Sonny Landreth, John Mooney and Jimmy Robinson. Tom holds the now-unbreakable record for consecutive-made free throws at the Mermaid Lounge, nestled in the heart of 504.