Juice and Friends, Le Bon Temps

I arrived at Le Bon Temps Roulé on Wednesday February 11th to discover two tents set up outside. In one tent they were offering massages, and in the other, there was a silent auction being held with various photographs and posters of New Orleans musical legends up for bid. My only guess was that this was a fundraiser for the Krewe of Cayne which had a banner hanging over the stage, but I never found out for sure. All I cared about was that George Porter Jr. was hanging out near the tents, as was Billy Iuso, both of whom were on the bill to play that night. A little while later the sounds and songs of Mardi Gras called me inside where I found New Orleans jammers Juice playing a set with George Porter Jr. on bass, Joe Krown sitting in on keys, and Billy Iuso adding guitar to the mix. There were also some guest percussionists and there was even a conga player in the audience – though I couldn’t tell if it was played by an audience member or an invited musician. With the lines between floor and stage-crowd and musician properly blurred, it quickly became clear that Mardi Gras was upon us and everyone there would lend a hand in letting the good times roll. Continue reading for reviews of Groovesct and Gravity A...

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.

Wednesday, February 18th 2009 was tragic day for the New Orleans Music Community.  This day, native New Orleanian and urban blues legend, Snooks Eaglin passed away.  Truly gifted and incomparably talented, the blind bluesman’s magnetic presence and endless repertoire made him one of the most beloved musicians in this city’s long, storied history.  His legacy is sure to live on in the city he loved so dearly.

Thus, it was in a rather somber mood that I approached the final week of the Mardi Gras season.  I sought solace in a sound that Snooks helped to create: Indian Funk – a sound rooted in tribal rhythms, call-and-response chants, and New Orleans funk.  Initially developed by The Wild Magnolias in the early 70s, today, the 101 Runners uphold and enrich this authentic and invigorating tradition.  This night joined by another seminal pioneer of the Mardi Gras Indian sound (former member of The Wild Magnolias and current member of the Golden Eagles) Big Chief Monk Boudreax (who also played a significant role in The Wild Magnolias’ recordings), the 101 Runners kicked off the biggest celebration in the United States at the Maple Leaf.