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New Orleans music scene a perfect fit for self-taught musician Larry Warford


Larry Warford checked out the music scene in New Orleans while in town for the Saints' minicamp. Derick E. Hingle/USA TODAY Sports

Mike Triplett
ESPN Staff Writer

METAIRIE, La. -- The New Orleans Saints had a little extra recruiting advantage over the rest of the NFL when it came to wooing guard Larry Warford in free agency: the New Orleans music scene.

Warford, 26, is a passionate music lover who has been teaching himself how to play the bass guitar since college, the electric guitar since his rookie year in the NFL and the drums since last spring.

He even played guitar at a few open mic nights in a local club while playing for the Detroit Lions over the past four years -- though he hasn’t done so yet in New Orleans.

When asked if Saints fans might find him up on stage on a given night if they wander into the right club, Warford said, “They might see me right next to the stage. I don’t know if they’ll see me up on stage.”

Larry Warford checked out the music scene in New Orleans while in town for the Saints' minicamp. Derick E. Hingle/USA TODAY Sports
“I’m hoping that’ll be me, eventually, a couple years down the line. ... I want to get a lot better than what I am right now. I’m not at that level yet,” Warford said, though he was quick to add, “I’m not complete garbage.”

Warford said his focus is on football first, especially since he just joined a new team and a new offensive system in March. So he hasn’t branched out too much in New Orleans yet.

But he said he has been to B.B. King’s Blues Club a bunch because he likes the band that usually plays there, and he has popped into a few “touristy places” here and there.

“And I went to a Blink 182 concert, but that doesn’t count,” Warford said with a laugh.

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Rugby Saint II

Playing well will be like music to my ears. Bring on the Heavy Metal...........or the Blues if you prefer, like I do. I'm a self taught Harmonica player too. I can't play worth a damn but I can play quietly when I'm on stage.

AsylumGuido

You have then listened to my son's original Blues then right?

Cameron Merrell

His first EP with six of his original songs will be becoming out soon on iTunes, Spotify and other sources.

darksoul35

I followed him throughout his whole college career and never knew this. No disrespect to Detroit and I have only been to NO once but he better bring his A game. From what I have seen NO has a lot of musical talent .