I recently caught up with Bayou boogie guitarist Tab Benoit (ben-wah) who will take his lively blues band to the Gramophone’s stage Thursday. The award-winning bluesman grew up in the smallish town of Houma in South Louisiana, where many of the roads dead end at the Gulf of Mexico. His heritage shines through in his lyrics and his deep Louisiana-flavored voice. Outside of his 200-plus tour dates each year, Benoit heads Voice of the Wetlands, a group working to restore Louisiana’s wetlands. Benoit’s latest CD is a live recording titled, “Night Train to Nashville.”

RC: Did you grow up knowing you would play music for a living?
TB: I didn’t grow up with the idea that it would be a living, so I attended aviation school to become a pilot. But it became apparent after a while that I had to do something with music. It wasn’t encouraged as an occupation, but it was just eating me up. Didn’t play out right away.

RC: What was it like doing stand-up comedy During college?
TB: You’re not going to get any better training than doing comedy. It’s as hard core as it gets, nothing is harder. I got rid of the shyness that was keeping me from expressing myself. It also helps build a rapport with your audience. It’s all about us having a moment together, whether it’s a festival, club or theater. It makes performing interesting and different every day.

RC: Tell me about your wetlands organization?
TB: It’s not just about saving wetlands. It’s about saving a major cultural and musical center. There would be no Beatles without New Orleans. If we destroy the mouth of the Mississippi, we destroy this country. The response to Katrina continues to be an embarrassment.

Tab Benoit
9 p.m. Thursday, Gramophone, 4243 Manchester Ave., $15
http://www.myspace.com/tabbenoitblues