Lips & The Trips‘ own brand of rock-n-roll, r’n’b known as “Swamp Throb” is the perfect pairing of Pulse and Sweat, brought back together by popular demand!!! [Thanks be to Carolina & Sister Bunny!]
Celebrating 39 years (Easter Sunday, April 18, 1987) of thrills in the Entertainment World as Leader, Vocalist, Bassist and Songwriter for Lips & The Trips, D. “Lips” Shus, is looking forward to meeting more like-minded individuals in the coming years also looking for fun & frolic.
Before launching Lips & The Trips (through the support and encouragement of singer-songwriter, Sean Walters in Houston, via his Sean Walters’ Songwriters’ Showcase), Lips cut her performing teeth with the quirky vaudevillian talents of Beans Barton & the Bi-Peds. “Beans was (is) a masterful interpreter of Entertainment for both the audience and the performer. I was given a crash course in improvisation which taught me to rely on the mishap for a fanciful stroll through a mind-blow.” From The Fat Chance Comedy Show to Beans Barton & the Bi-Peds, Lips was there to fill out the female side of his kooky characters.
Lips’ husband at the time, Red Dog Redmond had taught her to play bass to play in Dogs CurFew with Drummer Stephan B. Miller. Described by Houston Chronicle Music Critic as a “charming psychedelic rock band,” first gig was a birthday party for a friend at an American Legion Hall. Played Fitzgerald’s small stage Zelda’s (see picture below), and had the privilege of opening up for Fave of all time, Terence Simien when he and the Mallette Playboys played Fitzgerald’s main stage–wherein said Monsieur Simien ran out into the audience and up in the balcony bare-footed, all the while playing!
Photo Tom Callins took of Lips with Dog’s CurFew at Zelda’s (downstairs Fitzgerald’s) c. 1986:
Sean allowed my brand new band L&TT to play at the myriad of clubs with which he was hooked up & we did the circuit, playing a literal hole-in-the-wall Private Property, Cafe L.A., etc. where we met folks with whom we still keep tabs on. Sean was generous with gigs, p.a.s, running sound, running us around in his van–taking us up to a cool spot in North Houston somewhere some time in the late 1980s, early 1990s, he got Jimmy Jones to help us with the sound:
One of our favorite places to play was Market Square Brew Pub. The Great & Gregarious Guitarist Gary Clark is behind the mic in this pic & Johnny Hessel is behind me on the drums. This Pub brewed their own Cherry Wine which made us sound so much better!
John Hessel on the drums:
Gary Clark and I cooked up some tunes 1991 (“The Texas Queen Snake Shake”) and 1992 (“We’re Havin’ A Hot Tub Party Tonight, Y’All, We Want You to Come,”) both recorded at Rock “Dr. Rockit” Romano’s Houston Heights Studio.
Introduced to New Orleans by Fredy Omar‘s pianist, Ralph Gipson, and at once entranced by it, Lips applied to the Cutting Edge Music Festival and played its 1993 version at the Howlin’ Wolf, where Ralph sat in on saxophone [also pictured Guitarist Gary Clark & Drummer Johnny Hessel. I’m the one in the fishnet dress who flirted with Ivan Neville that night]:
In 1994 we played the Festival held at Lafayette Square, where we knocked the speakers off the stage with our vivaciousness! The next year 1995, The Cutting Edge had us play at Checkpoint Charlie’s where Manager Rich asked Lips, “Do you want to come & play once/month?” DO I??! and we did for one year, accompanied by Artists-At-Large Carolyn Coates and Mitch Cohen (WOO-HOO!) until Lips pulled up stakes to move to New Orleans in 1996–carting what would fit in the LipsMobile. Checkpoint’s began her apprenticeship with regular shows there [pictured here with Guitarist Mike “Doc” Densley, photo by famed photog the amazing Barry Kaiser]:
as well as a Thursday night Margaritaville gig, sharing the bill with New Orleans Giant Eddie Bo! T-Bone Stone took me to Bourbon Street with him and we played 711 Bourbon Street, The Tri-cou-cou House for five years starting in 1997. Pictured here are me & T-Bone (Coco used to call him “BONE-STONE”) the night the TWA pilots bought me a bunch of “Sex on the Dance Floor with Lips”–a drink the lovely bartendresses Lisa Hix, Christine Gray & Sharon cooked up, made with Tequila, Razz-ma-taz & pineapple juice:
In 2001, Lips was joined by Johnny J. and Jesse Hall there, and Gary Edwards found us for the Sound of New Orleans label #1058 in 2002:
DANCE BABYS DANCE [Photos: Rick Olivier, Art: Mark Wilkinson] features r-n-r, r’n’b, swing and rockabilly cover songs, produced by & with three songs sung by Johnny J. Recorded in two days in June 2002.
Available on Spotify Apple etc (FYI-with no funds going to L&TT, but what they hey!)
Lips –Rick Olivier 2002
In April, 2002, Lips performed with Johnny J & the Hitmen at the first-ever Red River Jazz & Blues Fest in Shreveport, LA [photo from the Shreveport Times of Ole Pal Eric Gipson & Lips dancing when she went out into the crowd]:
and appeared on “the Louisiana Jukebox” T.V. show that same week.
Lips & The Trips opened up for wrestling-mask-wearing band Los Straitjackets who came out from behind the pins at the Mid-City Rock’N’Bowl in a cloud of smoke! Cool! [pictured here: Johnny J & Lips, photo by Rachel Ruhlen & Iain Davis, Columbia, Missouri]:
In Spring of 2004, Lips toured the Virgin Islands with a band put together with the help of promoter Charlie Campbell: John Lindberg of The Butanes on guitar & vocals. With stops in St. Croix, Tortula, and Charlotte Amalie, and with the able assistance of Michael (who greeted the Vernal Equinox with Lips at dawn in the Easternmost part of the U.S.), “Psycho Frank,” Tommy, Joe and his gal, Donna, Toby, and another woman named Lips (!!!), plus all the wonderful folks “down south,” Lips’ only complaint was sunburned lips.
Following Katrina in 2005, Lips “vacu-vacationed” to Houston and reunited with band members Gary Clark (guitar) and Johnny Hessel (drums), and with assistance from Rock “Dr. Rockit” and other guest guitarists, played at their former home-away-from-home Dr. Poison Zoomak’s (former) Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar and other choice venues like the “Fish-Off” at Jimmy’s on White Oak Bayou, where Lips had the distinct honor & privilege of judging the “Fish-Off” contest– for the younger set.
Back in New Orleans, Lips caught up with T-Bone Stone & Creature to revive her r-n-b-based Swamp ThrobYouLipshusness and continue her Kissulipshus presence at The Kerry Irish Pub and Checkpoint Charlie’s.
Eventually conspiring with Mark B. Fowler and Adriano Piano with Matthew El D’Orazio joining on guitar and drums (not at the same time), and then landing a great spot at a great spot, Mahogany Jazz Hall via owner & great musician Tony Seville (who had hired L&TT to play the Sho-Bar on Bourbon Street 20 years earlier!).
Matthew El D’Orazio & Mark Fowler pictured here July 2016 at Mahogany:
Lips at Checkpoint Charlie’s 11/16/17
L&TT also held court at The Fairgrinds Coffeehouse via owners Robert & Elizabeth (now Ponce).
November of 2018, Lips had the great honor & privilege of once again performing in Beans Barton & The Bi-Peds, re-creating her role as Miranda singing “Pet the Fire” [words & music by Beans Barton & Ms. Sue-Bob] with Beans’ Mighty Art projected on the walls at the Scottish Rite Temple in Houston, it was an immersive event, especially on Chicklettes! Dwarfed here by the Mighty Art of Beans Barton are Vvaroma, Big Skinny, Lips, Beans himself as Jimmy Grotto, & The Bi-Bulb, Noah Ramon:
Due to the perserverance of COVID-19, L&TT lost footing, but not “lips-ing” because in September 2023, Ruth Bailey invited Lips to return to Houston to play at her husband Jeff Bailey’s tres fab JEFFFEST at aforementioned Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar–now minus Dr. Z–but plus a giant outdoor space! Once again, Lips and Guitarist Gary Clark resurrected their 1991, 1992 songs and along with Keith York began the Lips & The Trips Redux-naissance.
When our Ole Pal Mitch Robb (R.I.P.–Rest in Phun!!!) passed and we were honored when Lanie invited L&TT to play 2024’s version of MitchFest at the holy spot of RE:HAB bar on the bayou in March! Beans Barton was back in the mix as he & Mitch were long-time buds. Another Mitch, Mitch Jacobs also honored us with an opening spot for his fantastical band and despite the loss of our Long-Time Pal, celebrated his life with a real LOVEFEST!
Lips Guitarist Gary Clark recruited Drummer Steve Heatherington who, as it turns out, had been recruited by Lips’ brother “Rockin’ Robert” to play in RB & The Hambone Blues Revue back in the 1980s.
Back in NOLA, Lips snagged former Lips & The Trips Guitarist & all-around Celebrity Raphael Bas to play New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic’s Retirement Party Bash for long-time N.P.-Extraordinaire Catherine Lasperches at the Broadside June 2024 where they performed songs they had recorded 20 years earlier at Raphael’s Austin pad/studio.
JEFFFEST 2024 gave Lips a return invite & this time it was held at the extraordinary JSB Music Room, rehearsal studio Jeff Bailey built which now functions as a community learning, sharing & art forum where Ruth Bailey continues her role as Art Queen, bringing together folks from all walks & talks in order to create and commune.
We also got a return invite to Gracie Miller’s hotspot in Hot-Town REHAB: bar on the bayou September 22, 2024 [Lips with Steve Heatherington; photo by Rebecca Bas]:
Lips returned to her dream of being Joan Baez and took up Folk-Singing since her band vanished and she decided to dispense with electricity. Via Porch Concertos and PRC’s Annual Holiday Home Tours, Lips went acoustic seulemente, as well as teaming up with Celebrity friends like aforementioned Raphael Bas, Taz, Aussies Jewels Sidiropoulas & Bayou Billy Ruffle, Steven Raicher, SAlba, Donnie C, Elizabeth IV, and Julie McTaggart!
May 31, 2025, Lips joined former Trips Guitarist Gary Clark and new-Trip, Drummer Steve Heatherington for an ACLU Benefit at the fabuloso JSB Music Room, Independence Heights, Houston. We were particularly honored to be joined by Legend Rock “Dr. Rockit” Romano on guitar (who recorded their EP cassette tapes 1991 “The Texas Queen Snake” & 1992 “We’re Havin’ A Hottub Party Tonite Y’All, We want you to Come.”)
Re:HAB bar on the bayou hosted the new gang on June 1, 2025; see picture below, from L to R: Rock “Dr. Rockit” Romano, Lips, Gary Clark & Steve Heatherington.
[PHOTO BY ROCHELLE YUGA]
where they once again opened up for fantastical Mitch Jacobs! My Mentor Beans Barton introduced the band:
[PHOTO BY ROCHELLE YUGA]
And also in attendance former Bi-Peds Dr. Poison Zoomak (who is also former Emperor of the Heights), former Bi-Peds Drummer John “Guppy” Graham, and former Bi-Peds Vocalist, Violinist, Pianoist, etc. Sue “Sue-Bob” Jackson at Gracie Miller’s hot-spot (recently sold to V-J).
September 2025 Lips & The Trips again played at JeffFest at the JSB Music Room, Independence Heights, Houston & at MitchFest at Re:Hab Bar on the Bayou, opening again for Mitch Jacobs’ always-nailing-it fabuloso band. Beans Barton gave a Testimonial of he & Mitch, as well as his well-storied performance career!
Lips & The Trips (acoustic-style–with Taz & Jody), played Preservation Resource Center’s Holiday Home Tour this December 14, 2025 at the gorgeous Swankienda of the Kecklers at 1439 7th Street. Holiday Cheer & Merriment ensued.
Mark your Calendars for Saturday September 19, 2026, for JEFFFEST ’26 where you will once again have a teeth-rattling to the Joyous Sounds of Lips & The Trips (Houston-Style) with Guitarist Gary Clark, Drummer Steve Heatherington, and Rock “Dr. Rockit” Romano on guitar! LOOKING FORWARD! Maybe we can snag a spot with Mitch Jacobs’ RE:hab bar on the bayou the next day!
Sending a big Thank you all for being with us for upliftment & deedeelightedness — for being the Audience Member you always wanted to be!!! We appreciate you being a part of the Universe’s Effervescent Enthusiasm and Contagious Charismatic Vitality!!!
Lips sans Trips plays Saturdays at about 12noon at Simon’s Art Compound O’Fun & Maria’s Antiques, 1028 Jackson Avenue, across Magazine Street from The Garden District–the South Shore’s mini-version of the Abita Springs Mystery Museum. Also features Mr. D’s Tees & Nick’s healing plants and gadgets.
[ NOTE: SITE STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION A/O MAY 2026 ]
Lips & The Trips 