It's that time again... time for the monthly photoblog.  February was a phenomenal month for music in New Orleans.  And it'll only get better as the festival season approaches.  Featured in this post are: the Derek Trucks Band, Erik Mongrain, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, James "12" Andrews, Revert "Peanut" Andrews, Glen Andrews, Glen David Andrews, Theresa Andersson, MyNameIsJohnMichael, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Billy Iuso, Rob Wagner, Simon Lott, Jesse Morrow, the Annuals, Jessica Lea Mayfield, What Laura Says, Susan Tedeschi, James Hunter, Derek Huston, Flow Tribe, The Revivalists, Hightide Blues, and Funk.Soul.Family.

When it comes to bands on the rise, New Orleans is an excellent place to catch new acts on the brink of breaking through.  The abundance of small venues and a one-of-a-kind atmosphere makes it a great place for them to cut their teeth.  One my favorite up-and-coming acts of the last year has been Kent Ohio songstress Jessica Lea Mayfield.  I first discovered Mayfield a few months back when she opened for fellow Ohio rockers The Black Keys.  There was just something in her plain, rusty twang and heart-wrenching lyrics that struck me.  On Tuesday, February 10th I went out to The Parish – the sister venue to the (larger) House of Blues – to see Jessica along with fellow indie acts What Laura Says and the Annuals (whom most would say have already surpassed the ranks of the up-and-coming).