If you don’t know already: Hi, my name is Terrance Porter and I’m from Shreveport, Louisiana. I lived there from the age of 3 until 23. Since 2013, I’ve been based in the Dallas, Texas-area but I have been back so often it took a while for people to realize that I actually moved. Over the last 2 years, I’ve been traveling down I-20 drastically less and less. This year, I’ve noticed in a lot of my social and professional choices, I’ve been finding more and more inclusive ways to integrate and celebrate my Louisiana heritage. I’ve been Booted Out! It may have to do with the pandemic from stopping, curbing, and closing everything that makes Louisiana special. Thanks to the Panera Bread and the Winter Storm, there was no celebration of Mardi Gras on Fat Tuesday. Miraculously, Float Houses were created in lieu of floats in parades, proving that through anything Louisiana is going to celebrate Louisiana.
AJ Haynes is the frontperson of the Shreveport band, Seratones. The multi-genre collective would be on the road across the country and globe, but 2020 happened. After a socially distanced drive-in concert back in September, Haynes was back on stage in February 2021. As part of the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development’s showcase for Folk Unlocked 2021, Folk Alliance International’s annual conference, the Reproductive Health Advocate performed a solo set at the world-famous Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium that birthed the phrase, “Elvis has left the building.”
I’m off to plan my next Crawfish and Daiquiri outing in DFW and pray that all goes well for the Bayou Classic in my hometown next month and everyone is safe. Y’all Be Safe! Wear A Mask! And remember there’s a difference between Bossier City and Shreveport! I’m talking to all of the travel vlogs and vloggers I’ve been watching on YouTube. Don’t Make Me Leave A Comment! Happy Sunday!