The Iguanas

"Sad clown of life" is how The Iguanas' bassist Rene Coman once described the band's identity. "A sense of humor, a sense of fun in spite of the danger – those are the two sides of the Iguana coin," Coman said. This New Orleans quartet has been packaging dark, sardonic lyrics in upbeat, root Americana jazz since the early 1990s. The Iguanas may not be a household name, but the band has a dedicated following and boasts collaborations with some of the biggest names in New Orleans music (the late Allen Toussaint among them). Check out The Iguanas at Club Cafe, with Ben Valasek and the Growlers. -Alex Gordon