Kaitlyn Wallace and Parker Lewis
Sushi Ninja
Denham Springs
June 12
Walking into Baton Rouge restaurants/bars on live music night usually means music from the '60s-'70s-'80s: The Beatles, Billy Joel, Bon Jovi, Madonna, the works. Why? Because most people play the music they grew up with, and the performers are generally millennials. But what’ll cover music be like in 20 years?
At Sushi Ninja in Denham Springs, it feels like we got a peek through acoustic duo Kaitlyn Wallace and Parker Lewis, who played the all-you-can-eat sushi, hot pot, and seafood restaurant Friday night. The two performers are 15, and they played mostly songs from the 2000s and 2010s like “Bad Romance,” “Baby,” “Beggin.’”
Wallace and Lewis are two members of a band called Tru Illusion, which plays in different venues across Southern Louisiana. As a duo, they bring the chemistry of familiar performers and friends to the stage. They both have an impressive vocal range, and they adapted to the interesting set up of the venue.
Sushi Ninja is part of a larger trend of new all-you-can-eat Asian restaurants that opened in the last calendar year. You have to order at these restaurants rather than visit a buffet. The limiting factor is often trying to flag someone down to place those orders. It’s not a typical place for live music. The dining rooms are often big, and there isn’t usually a stage area. Sushi Ninja has its set-up right in the front, by the entrance. It’s not a stage. which means that people have to walk by them or even cut in front of them to get to their tables.
It could be a hard venue to play, but Wallace and Lewis brought a crowd. A couple of groups sat front and center, putting in requests, interacting with the performers, and making the big room feel more full. At one point, the duo played a song that required a cowbell, and Wallace asked if there was anyone who knew how to play who would come up and play with them.
Wallace and her bandmates pursue a full performance schedule, playing at least every week around Baton Rouge in different configurations, sometimes multiple times a week. Playing Sushi Ninja is just a small part of the work that they’re doing to grow as performers and together. As Wallace and Lewis sang, it felt like I was seeing the early days of something big. When they’re in their 30s, I can’t wait to see what they’ll be up to.