Showing posts with label jambase. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jambase. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Dumpstaphunk: Greasy Goodness

By: Dennis Cook

Dumpstaphunk by Ian Rawn
Being original at this stage in music is a tough, tough challenge. So many moves are well rehearsed and widely known, and it’s good enough for most to merely replicate well what others have done before. However, there are still artists that innovate even as they move amongst the familiar elements of a genre. Their ears and skilled hands navigate a new way forward even as the old comfortable scenery flies past. Perhaps the greatest single tribute Dumpstaphunk pays to their New Orleans funk heritage is how they’ve made this music their own, echoing the vibe AND creativity of forefathers like Louis Armstrong and Dr. John in a quest for good footin’ music.

“We know what this music is. No one can ever do what they did again, but we can take what we’ve gotten from that and go on with it and take it somewhere else,” says Ivan Neville, Dumpsta’s keyboardist, singer, occasional guitarist and general lightning rod – the man just generates energy and raw charisma each time he steps up. “We’re after it ALL THE TIME. And there’s a tension in that because we want to push ourselves. We know that a lot of groups have tried to do similar stuff to The Meters. We know that’s been done, and nobody’s gonna do that the way they did it. We are capable of doing that stuff but we try to take it to the next level. We honor tradition but, at the same time, we’re trying to push it forward. And we’ve got five voices that are all very opinionated, and that creates some tension but good tension at times. We’re a real band, a democracy, and that’s hard, but that makes the music that much more powerful because we take that little edge into the music.”


READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE HERE.



Friday, February 18, 2011

Contests: New Orleans Jazz Fest Giveaway!

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Saturday, March 6, 2010

Galactic: A Long Time Coming

By: Wesley Hodges

Galactic
These are epic times to be in New Orleans, and that may be the understatement of the young decade. Although Carnival season officially got under way in early January, the full-bore pandemonium that generally commences the last week leading up to Mardi Gras Day got a considerably early start this year as the Saints finally ascended to the pantheon of NFL glory, winning their first Super Bowl in the franchise's 43-year history.

"It's been a long time coming," says Galactic keyboard player Rich Vogel, a comment applying to his band's new album, Ya-Ka-May (released February 9 on Anti Records - stream it on JamBase), and the general feeling of a brighter tomorrow for New Orleans. "[The Saints have] had a lot of good seasons since Katrina and it's been almost like something's been building that's strong, and I think it's a great metaphor for the city."


Now, the time has come to celebrate that achievement and Ya-Ka-May is an excellent soundtrack for fans of the "overgrown rhythm section." With a colorful parade of very special guests like Allen Toussaint, Trombone Shorty, Rebirth Brass Band, Big Chief Bo Dollis, Walter 'Wolfman' Washington and Irma Thomas, the album picks up where 2007's rap-centric From the Corner to the Block left off, providing the rest of the world with insight into not just Galactic's ongoing progression but also the city's revitalized music scene as well.


JamBase: Looking at the track listing and the names of all the special guests, this album feels like it's been a long time coming for Galactic. How was this album finally conceptualized and eventually conceived?

Rich Vogel: It actually has been a long time coming. I think it's an album we've kind of wanted to make for a while. There were some tracks on the last record that kind of hinted at and pointed the way towards this record; I'm thinking of some of the instrumentals that have brass players. On From the Corner to the Block we had Soul Rebels Brass Band on a track, we had Monk Boudreaux [and the] Mardi Gras Indian Chiefs, and those tracks were kind of pointing the way towards this one. It was an album we've always wanted to make to get some of the NOLA artists we've loved and admired over the years like Allen Toussaint and Irma Thomas. Having done this for many years, we've bumped into everyone and gotten to know them. We're at the stage in our career where we can say, "Let's call Allen Toussaint," and he might actually call us back [laughs]. So, we started doing that and one thing led to another and we were so pleased that he came over to our studio one day and listened to a few of our tracks and took them home and wrote some fantastic songs. With Irma Thomas, she came by and we had a tune in mind for her, and she went and learned it and came by and cut her vocals.


At the same time, we wanted to get some [artists] that some people don't know outside of New Orleans at all and kind of bring in some of the talent from the people just playing in the clubs; artists who are famous on the local level and are a part of the late night musical party, which is New Orleans on an almost nightly basis. We wanted to do that and mix it all up in a way that hopefully made sense. I don't know if we were really trying to make a specific point. This is all New Orleans music and we wanted to show the city the way we see it.


JamBase: It's an interesting cross-section of artists you guys were able to work with. Was there any kind of formula as far as crafting these songs with the artists, or did it just depend on the artists and what they arrived to the studio with?


Galactic :: 02.07.10 :: Brooklyn, NY by Dino Perrucci
Rich Vogel: Yeah, it was definitely a case-by-case basis, for sure. A guy like Allen Toussaint, who is the consummate songwriter, we'd have these little demo tracks we liked with a groove and a change and could form the basis for a verse and a chorus, but they were instrumental ditties essentially. We had a couple of these that made us think of him, so he came by and listened to them and was into it. He actually took them home and wrote songs in a more classic sense - wrote lyrics, sung harmonies. It was the kind of thing you would expect an experienced songwriter and arranger like Allen Toussaint to do. On the flip side, we'd have some of the rappers come by and just roll with a rhythm track we'd made and spit as much as they wanted to, sort of a stream-of-consciousness thing like they like to do in the clubs. Then, we'd mix it down, kind of distill it into something we thought was hook-y, find what we thought was the best verse material and sort of build the track up that way. The whole project was a very collaborative effort. It was just amazing to see the parade of people we saw go through our studio over the past year. It was covering a lot of ground, but to us it made sense because it was all New Orleans music with good energy and groove to it. Everybody, even the classic artists, go back to the same thing of playing the clubs, parties and entertaining the party people. It's really the common denominator that binds us as artists down here. Playing the clubs until the wee hours you gotta keep the party going.

It had to be surreal to send a guy like Allen Toussaint home with one of your tracks. It seems to play in really well with the collaborating you guys do out on the road and especially at festivals.


Absolutely, we've always liked to collaborate, because Galactic is, in a sense an overgrown rhythm section. We love collaborating with people we think are special songwriters or people we think have an interesting vocal element.


What is Ya-Ka-May?


We hyphenated to make it kind of look like "Look-Ka Py Py," the old Meters song, which is just an old Mardi Gras Indian term. "Ya-Ka-May" is kind of an alternate pronunciation of a noodle dish we have in New Orleans called Ya Ka Mein that they serve at the corner store or at the second-line. Somehow that led us to Ya-Ka-May, which we thought was cool.


How is it different to tour in support of an album than to just be out there in the grind?


It's more fun and exciting because we have to challenge ourselves. We make a record like this and we haven't really performed this material. All we're doing this week is meeting in the studio, hashing it out and figuring out how we're gonna play this [material]. We're lucky we're gonna have Cyril Neville with us, and he can sing just about anything you ask him to. So, we're gonna work some of the tunes up with him, and we can kind of cover the brass-y stuff because we'll have Corey Henry. I can play some of the horns stuff on the keys and cover that angle of it on tracks like "Boe Money" and "Cineramascope." It's great when you have a new thing to present, new music to play. Sometimes the challenge is good and intimidating when you realize, "I overdubbed four keyboards here," and you have to figure out how to play it.


It was an album we've always wanted to make to get some of the NOLA artists we've loved and admired over the years like Allen Toussaint and Irma Thomas. Having done this for many years, we've bumped into everyone and gotten to know them. We're at the stage in our career where we can say, 'Let's call Allen Toussaint,' and he might actually call us back [laughs]."

-Rich Vogel



I feel very blessed having just moved to New Orleans in late July. It seems like such an exceptional time to be here now with Mardi Gras season under way, the Saints having their best season ever, and each day getting further away from the mess of Katrina. How would you describe the energy of the city right now compared to the last few years?

Galactic
It's definitely at a high point, we had a couple of shitty years there; there's no two ways about it. I think that's why people are particularly enjoying things and are fired up and getting pumped about the Saints. Now we're moving into Carnival season and with each passing year getting further from the past, things slowly do get better, things get rebuilt. It's felt like a slow crawl at times. I live in Mid-City, an area that was pretty devastated, and I think about what it was like in '06 and I just think, "Man, life is good." You just got to appreciate the little things, things you used to take for granted.

Give me a few artists outside of the jazz, funk and New Orleans style that you guys listen to out on the road.


Ben [Ellman - sax] has us listen to a lot more Balkan and Eastern European music than I would have otherwise. He loves blending that stuff with New Orleans music. I listen to a good deal of classical music when I'm home. It gives me a complete departure into a different world. I've always had an interest [in it] on and off. I studied it a little before all my road days.


What have been a few of your favorite moments performing over the last several years as a band here in New Orleans?


Any Jazz Fest; I love that one! First of all, I live near the Fairgrounds, so I get up, have breakfast, walk over, get to play in front of 60,000 people, look out over the Fairgrounds on a beautiful day, go get a soft-shell crab po-boy and walk home.


So, that almost resembles a normal job for you on a day like that?


Yeah [laughs]. When you have a moment like that, you're kind of like, "My job is kinda cool and conveniently located." I kind of miss some of those theatre shows at some of the places that didn't come back because of Katrina, places like The Saenger or The State. I remember the circus [show] we did when we played Bolero, with acrobats performing on and above the stage with trapeze artists. That was a memorable one. There have been so many really.


Try to explain Mardi Gras to people who've never been a part of it. How is music incorporated into the whole celebration?


Galactic
Wow, that's a good question. There are books upon books about that. Mardi Gras comes out of the Carnival tradition and is celebrated in the Catholic traditions and a lot in the Latin American world, and serves as a sort of blowout before the Lenten season when you're supposed to live this life of sacrifice. Of course, Fat Tuesday is Mardi Gras Day and ends the season. Mardi Gras goes way back and New Orleans has a lot of ties to the French and Spanish culture and has those Catholic ties that you don't see in a lot of the more Anglo-Protestant areas of the country. So, that's kind of why it's celebrated here.

The thing about Mardi Gras that I try to explain to people is that there are many Mardi Gras depending on who you're with and where you go. A lot of people think Mardi Gras is just Bourbon Street and people flashing, and that's definitely one part of it. That's something when you're in college and you come down here that you tend to gravitate towards. But, there are a lot of rich, local traditions with the Krewes [and] debutante balls. Then there are the Mardi Gras Indians who go out and parade early on Mardi Gras Day. You're talking about guys that make these incredibly elaborate, beautiful headdresses getting ready for this day. You think about New Orleans and partying late night for the most part, but on Mardi Gras Day it's really about the daytime celebration. It's an incredible party to see if you end up at the right place at the right time. Everybody's out in the streets from Uptown to Downtown. There's an Uptown vibe that's a little more family-oriented and Downtown it's a little grittier, with people partying very hard and less children. It's a huge day of celebration with people everywhere making the most of the day and getting their yee-haws out, if you're a good Catholic, which I'm not... but I pretend that I am.


What has the Saints' success meant to the overall morale of this city?


It's just thrilling for the team to go to the Super Bowl. It's been a lot of fun for a lot of people. It's been fun to watch it build and progress. We've all been working hard and it's nice for everyone to see something built [in New Orleans] that is very successful. Also, the lifelong fans have grown quite cynical through the years from their days wearing bags over their heads.


I'm not from here and I root for the enemy, but it's hard not to take a liking to a team with such a blue-collar feel with stars like Marques Colston, who seemingly came out of nowhere to help lead the team to the Promised Land.


Yeah, guys like Drew Brees, who's not just a great QB but also a great citizen in the way he's embraced the town and given back, and his story of coming here to play and adopting the city as his home [has] been really special. Brees is gonna be the King of Bacchus, he's kind of god in this city and he can do no wrong.


Galactic Tour Dates :: Galactic News :: Galactic Concert Reviews


Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Voodoo Experience | 10.30-11.01 | New Orleans

Words by: Wesley Hodges | Images by: Dino Perrucci & Adam McCullough

Voodoo Experience :: 10.30.09 - 11.01.09 :: City Park :: New Orleans, LA


The New Orleans Bingo! Show - Voodoo 09 by Perrucci
"Worship the music." It's Voodoo Experience's tagline and the sentiment seemed to sum up the New Orleans festival. Referred to as Jazz Fest's "much wilder" cousin by local WWOZ DJ and festival performer DJ Soul Sister, this year, the calendar presented a perfect storm for a spectacular freak show weekend with Halloween falling on Saturday night and All Saints Day hitting appropriately on Sunday. With a heavy lineup curated for thrill seeking rockers, featuring such delectably bizarro acts as Ween, The Flaming Lips, Jane's Addiction, Eminem, Widespread Panic, Gogol Bordello, and KISS, even the casual fan would be hard pressed not to embrace their dark side and celebrate the spirits of the season.

City Park is an ideal natural setting, giving everything "a very beautiful and mysterious looking aesthetic," as Soul Sister put it. The city of New Orleans has a celebrated tradition of embracing all things macabre and doesn't really need an excuse like Halloween to throw a masquerade, but toss in a music festival with a bunch of freaky bands (and fans) and it's on.

Friday, 10.30

The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach welcomed the early comers to Voodoo, appropriately telling us, "Strange times are here," while pouring through a Thickfreakness heavy set. Day one of Voodoo Experience was an orientation of sorts. With many patrons having spent little if any time in City Park, it took a little while to hit the proverbial stride as incessant rain further incited some improvisational re-planning. The oak-laden grove seemed unbothered by the masses of people invading the lush sanctuary, and day one was far and away the most poorly attended, but you didn't hear anyone complaining.


The Black Keys - Voodoo 09 by Perrucci
Walking in the gates, many went straight for wild child artista Janelle Monae, an exuberant and stylin' young artist from the school of Outkast, who put on a dramatic performance as an ominous storm system approached from the western skies. Monae's brash, bouncy style is akin to Santigold and the cosmic production was reminiscent of a Gnarls Barkley show. With her hair coifed into something of a sideways beehive, Ms. Monae didn't look to be an earthling. Musically it would be hard to put in any kind of box, with some tunes rolling well past the six-minute mark. Guitarist Kellindo showed serious range wailing on some Hendrix flourishes while Monae melodically shouted, "Voodoo-doo-doo-doo-doo," during the appropriate opener "Many Moons."

As the skies turned increasingly violent, it seemed like a good idea to head to the big yellow carnival tent we spotted down at the far corner of the festival grounds to check out whoever was playing, just in order to stay dry. Sure enough, within two minutes of getting inside the Bingo! Parlor, the skies opened. Local Happy Talk Band was playing inside and most people only stuck around for a few minutes until the rains subsided. Rain or shine, it was time for The Black Keys, so we high-tailed it back up to the Playstation/Billboard.com Stage to catch the Akron, Ohio blues rock duo. Once again the rains came with a vengeance. Just like it did at Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza this year, the first day of this festival turned into a mud bowl by night's end. Much of the crowd headed for cover as the duo blazed through the old favorites "Hard Row" and "Set You Free" to the scattered hardcore fans before bangin' out a few tunes from their newest effort Attack and Release. Guitarist Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney have developed a nearly unparalleled tightness over the years and manage to impress more and more on the live stage as the years go by.


Preservation Hall Stars - Voodoo 09 by Perrucci
The washy sound coming from the Voodoo Stage certainly didn't help, but Silversun Pickups bored the hell out of me, synthesizing '90s rock into a homogenized, boiled down sound for the lowest common denominator. Bassist Nikki Monninger looked ready for prom night in a flowing green dress flanking lead singer Brian Aubert in a leather jacket, whose smoky voice kind of just bothered me. Maybe the rains had temporarily dampened my spirits, but I found myself asking, "What decade is this?" and "Where are we?" Confused and befuddled, it was time to head elsewhere.

The vendor street is the backbone and spinal center of the Voodoo Experience, adding some local color and the "Voodoo Eats" area was an olfactory overload of Cajun goodness beckoning the streaming crowds to come sample. Nearby local bluesman Little Freddie King was preaching about a bad women who done him no good, so we dropped in for a minute. In a 180 you could only pull off at a festival, after a few minutes singing the blues with Little Freddie, it was time to leave the Preservation Hall Tent to check out the Euro club scene ensuing at

. With lots of smoke and a surprisingly stripped down stage set up (No LED screen, video board, lasers or anything you'd expect at a DJ set) featuring four turntables, the French duo got the weekend going at full speed with "D.A.N.C.E." as massive white balloons bounced around amongst crowd surfers in the notably youthful crowd.


Back at Preservation Hall DJ Soul Sister was spinning classic vinyl, heavy on the Jackson 5, as her Booty Patrol raved on. The nearby WWOZ Stage was affected the most by the rain and was operating on over a half-hour delay. Unfortunately, as a result, Ween did not go on well before Eminem as planned, and the sounds of "3 AM" beckoned us over to catch Shady's first full concert performance in over four years at the Voodoo Stage before Ween had a chance to start.


Fleur De Tease
Voodoo 09 by Perrucci
Rap shows are inherently a hit or miss thing, so it was great to see Mathers flanked by a full band, all dressed in skeleton jumpsuits, rocking around the hi-tech video walls as he spit his way through a hits heavy set spanning his ten year career. His sardonic, acerbic manner is what has made him such a controversial and popular figure throughout his career, and he seemed genuinely grateful to be playing for the good people of New Orleans on the eve of Halloween. D12 supplemented all guest rap spots from the records and contrasted well with Mathers' intense, rebellious style. Shady skipped a lot of verses and let the P.A. do a decent portion of the work, but you gotta know to take a rap concert with a grain of salt, throw your hands up, and just dig it for an hour or so. His presence itself was electrifying and the crowd joined in, rapping along to "Without Me" and bouncing along to a medley of D12 songs. Say what you want about the man, but he's an incredible talent and proved it on this night, showing us who The Real Slim Shady is. After a brief exit, the skeletal band returned to the stage to close down the show with a spectacular apex encore moment, doing an aggrandized version of "Lose Yourself," with a tension buildup before dropping into the intense track, Mathers' most commercially successful single of his still young career.


You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it. You better never let it go
You only get one shot. Do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime


Luckily, Eminem's set ended about 15 minutes early, affording some time to catch the tail end of Ween's set. The sounds of "Roses Are Free" reverberated through the grove and fans sloshed through the mud hurrying to catch a peek. The band legged this one out towards the end and for a moment Ween connected us with the people in Indio at Festival 8, playing their classic that Phish has helped popularize. A cheeky "Fiesta" sent us packing and you could tell fans and band alike both wanted more, but the local ordinance prohibited anything past 11, so it was time to close the books on day one.


More photos from Friday at Voodoo available here.



Saturday, 10.31

Patterson Hood (DBTs)
Voodoo 09 by Perrucci
"All your sanity and wits they will all vanish/ I promise, it's just a matter of time." As Gogol Bordello frontman Eugene Hutz puts it best in "Start Wearing Purple," this Halloween Saturday would be a time to check normalcy at the door and take the day as it comes.

I made sure to head down early to catch K'naan, only to find that he had cancelled last-minute and subsequently axed an upcoming tour with Maroon 5 due to fatigue. I took the schedule change as an opportunity to wander around the vendor avenue, where a huge marching band was coursing through, and do some quality Halloween costume watching; I spied lots of banana costumes, green men, an Old Gregg, milkmaids, and male cross-dressing burlesques among other things.


Mates of State provided a great opportunity to lay in the grass for a moment and take in the likeable husband and wife drums-and-keys duo's chill midday set before easing on over to catch a bit of Irvin Mayfield. Mayfield was cruising through a heavily improvisational version of the Miles classic "So What," allowing each member to take center stage for some impressive soloing. Still obviously peeved over last year's cancellation (festival producers dropped the ball and forgot to provide Mayfield with a grand piano as requested in his rider), Mayfield used the chance to take a cheap shot at producers Rehage Entertainment, sarcastically thanking them for providing a piano this time.


Perhaps the surprise of the weekend, local band MuteMath showed off some serious chops, especially bassist Roy Mitchell-Cardenas, who was dropping some chunky runs on the stand-up during "Armistice" that would've made Colonel Claypool proud. Their brooding synth-heavy sound was well received and the band clearly felt right at home playing in City Park. Lead singer Paul Meany dedicated "Reset" to his recently deceased grandfather, who had joined the band onstage at previous Voodoos, and MuteMath delivered an inspired version in his honor.


MuteMath - Voodoo 09 by McCullough
Gypsy punk warriors Gogol Bordello followed on the Billboard Stage. Always embracing and encouraging chaos, wild man Eugene Hutz rambled around the stage while the uber-talented caravan blasted through "Ultimate" to kick off the dub-heavy set. The set's apex was reached during "Start Wearing Purple," Hutz' anthemic bi-lingual anthem, working the crowd into a mosh-happy frenzy. This is a remarkably talented band that needs to be experiences up close and person to truly appreciate.

After arguably the most fun set of the weekend, it was time to see the new and improved proto-metal revivalists Wolfmother, who were rockin' through the familiar "Woman" when we rolled in. The nocturnal "White Unicorn" got straight Sabbath and gave Andrew Stockdale a chance to showcase his much improved guitar talent. The new songs weren't particularly mind bending, but the band's eponymous debut is a tough act to follow. People were going bananas as the band played "Joker and the Thief."


As the sun set on Halloween, hordes of fans packed into the park by the time Jane's Addiction hit the stage. Dave Navarro's visceral power riffs contrasted in an odd way with Perry Farrell's flamboyant, attention-starved style. Farrell managed to connect with the people of New Orleans, sharing a story about an unfortunate spider bite incident and riling up the crowd talking about the undefeated Saints. Metallic on the edges and danceable at its core, Jane's Addiction put on an aggressive and memorable show that proved somewhat similar to previous festival appearances this summer.


Gene Simmons - Kiss - Voodoo by Perrucci
Back at the WWOZ Stage, George Clinton's noisy space funk collective tore the roof off while the weathered legend groaned into the mic during "Red Hot Mama." It was a sight to behold seeing a band where every member's sole mission is to get funky with it, and the crowd was gettin' down and dirty in the mud pit in front of the stage. Before long, commotion in the distance and bright lights shining in the sky meant it was time for KISS.

It is a truly surreal experience to watch KISS in concert for the first time. I'd always viewed them as one of those iconic, canonized bands that only existed in the movies (and on reality TV) until this show. Perhaps the most appropriate band to ever close Halloween night, the Detroit rock heroes didn't disappoint, with their stage production highlighted by the word "KISS" blazing behind them in big white lights and a generous pyrotechnics display. The band looked great in their classic face paint and leather, though the music was fairly secondary and hard to focus on amongst everything else transpiring onstage. However, the fist pumping ensued as KISS played the hits and laughably played into just about every possible rock cliche with their stage banter. But, I would expect, and hope for, nothing less from my first KISS concert.


More photos from Halloween at Voodoo available here.



Sunday, 11.01

Widespread Panic - Voodoo 09 by McCullough
At 2:15 p.m., The Pogues' lead singer Shane MacGowan looked like he still hadn't turned in from Halloween night. Slurring, incomprehensible and unabashedly brash, MacGowan's drunkenness dragged down the rest of the band and had people in the crowd laughing and confused ("What's wrong with him?" "Is he okay?"). While they pressed on through such songs as "Thousands Are Sailing" and "If I Should Fall From Grace With God," MacGowan took about 10 cigarette breaks, sat down during and between songs, and looked about to incite an inter-band altercation at one point. The closer was appropriate and sadly autobiographical as MacGowan slurred the lyrics of "The Sick Bed Of Cuchulainn," spitting out, "There's devils on each side of you, with bottles in their hands," before calling it a set.

Shortly after The Pogues finished, Widespread Panic picked up where they left off in Austin the previous two nights, playing the kind of to-the-point, no frills rock show fans have come to expect from the Georgia boys. This was not your typical, phone-it-in, jam band festival set, and the guys showed no signs of a post-Halloween letdown at any point. After finishing their marathon Halloween show in Austin a mere sixteen hours earlier and bussing it to NOLA, it would've been understandable if WSP showed weariness, but these guys are consummate professionals and no strangers to the road and festival circuit. Having seen Panic countless times around the country in various arenas, festivals, and theaters, it was extra special to see them playing a midday outdoor set on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. From the first notes of "Thought Sausage" it was clear that Panic was in their mid-tour stride. Songs like the lustrous "Blue Indian" were extra powerful in this setting as the sun beamed down on the band and Voodoo faithful.


Tab Benoit's Swampland - Voodoo 09 by Perrucci
Jimmy Herring added some extra muscle to the always epic Vic Chesnutt cover suite "Protein Drink/Sewing Machine." The overall blue ribbon for the day would have to go to keyboardist JoJo Hermann for tearing through "Greta" on the upper deck synthesizer and delivering a tasty "All Time Low." The final forty minutes or so of the show were particularly heated with a "Driving Song" > "Diner" > "Pilgrims" > "Driving Song" combo followed by a couple vintage Panic covers to close down a monster set. Playing an inspired and fresh-sounding cover is perhaps what Panic does best and their spin on Dr. John's "I Walk On Guilded Splinters" was another example of Panic killing someone else's song while making it all their own. Robert Randolph could be seen watching from the side of the stage towards the end and fans hoped he'd come sit-in for a tune. Also, one of the band crew's three-year-old son added extra entertainment value bobbin' up and down and spinning out of control during "North" in a way-oversized WSP shirt. Finally, the set closer was Col. Bruce Hampton's "Fixin' to Die" as the sun fell on the final day of Voodoo.

With Panic in the books and The Flaming Lips circus about to unfold across the lawn, we took the short walk across the field to the nearby Billboard Stage to see what Mr. Wayne Coyne had in store for us this time. As usual, Coyne floated around the crowd in his hamster ball underneath a full moon, and you could tell that for a large portion of the crowd this was their first Lips experience as evidenced by the sheer number of dropped jaws and "WTFs?!" being uttered around the grounds.


The Flaming Lips - Voodoo 09 by McCullough
Returning to stage, Coyne and the Lips blasted off into a particularly inspired "Race for the Prize," the crown jewel of the band's now-legendary 1999 album The Soft Bulletin as confetti rained throughout City Park for the second straight night. As he's done before, Coyne took a great deal of time to preach and talk to the crowd, whether trying to incite people to "go fucking crazy," sharing a story about chatting with Gene Simmons backstage (who he described as "not usually a very nice person") or continuing to lambaste the 43rd President about Katrina, the war, or whatever else was on his mind. New tune "Silver Trembling Hands" from the Lips' latest release, Embryonic, came shortly thereafter and one of the dancing wild thing chicks stripped down to her birthday suit to dance with Wayne for a moment. The slowed down sing-along "Fight Test" was a snoozer miss, and the same goes for "Yoshimi," as the weary Sunday crowd was not playing along for the most part. It was a shame to not hear the full effect of these two songs, and the stripped down versions just didn't do it for most. It was not until "Pompeii am Gotterdammerung" that the music finally fit in with the spectacle. Coyne genuinely looked moved to the verge of tears while graciously thanking the organizers of Voodoo for having them back. "Do You Realize" was a fitting closer and undoubtedly the most powerful moment of the 75-minute set.

Dog-tired, we walked out of the gates as Lenny Kravitz played a beautiful version of "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over." It would've been nice to stick around for Kravitz as his lights display was amazing and the band sounded great, but it was simply time to hit the dusty trail. Voodoo Experience was a like a three-day vacation in one of our nation's finest cities, and I'm already looking forward to seeing what's in store for 2010. The Big Easy was the place to be for Halloween, and the Voodoo organizers did an admirable job of assembling a wildly diverse, bizarre lineup that'll stick out in the ole memory bank for years to come as one of the zanier, most rockin' Halloweens ever.

More photos from Sunday at Voodoo available here.


Friday, October 30, 2009

In Pictures (& Words): Galactic | 10.16 | Brooklyn

Words by: Alex Borsody | Images by: Rob Chapman


Galactic :: 10.16 :: Brooklyn
In just the past few months, a list of improvisational rock legends have played Brooklyn Bowl. Galactic was the latest band in this historic run. I last saw them two years ago when they were touring to support From the Corner to the Block, where they performed with different alternative rappers who contributed to their album, including Gift of Gab, Chali 2na, and Mr. Lif. Two years later, From the Corner to the Block is still their latest album, but they have stopped traveling with different rappers and returned to playing mainly as an instrumental funk band. For this tour Galactic added Corey Henry of The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, a Louisiana Trombonist who also drops the occasional rap. Opening for this show were the mash-up masters The Hood Internet.

Galactic is one of the most popular bands in the contemporary NOLA funk movement. This has been perpetuated in part by their influential management team, Superfly Productions, the force behind the Bonnaroo Music Festival. Galactic has also been touring incessantly for the past 15 years and their music speaks for itself. The release of their last album has moved the band in a direction with more of an urban appeal, but this show saw the band returning to their NOLA roots.


One great thing about instrumental funk, whether it be an organ trio like Soulive or a full ensemble, are re-worked covers of popular tunes. The first six notes of Jimi Hendrix's "Manic Depression" were instantly recognizable before they went into a loud trombone solo. During a heated jam, saxophonist Ben Ellman took out his electric harmonica, which runs a cable into an effects pedal. The distortion he used had it sounding like an electric guitar at times. The two chord jam segued into one chord, leaving a lot of room for melody and improvisation (think the Allmans' "Mountain Jam").


Corey Henry - Galactic :: 10.16 :: Brooklyn
Corey Henry fits in so well with Galactic it's easy to forget that he's not an official member. Being able to adapt is one of Galactic's unique qualities. They added vocalist Theryl DeClouet (aka House Man) early in their career, returned to an all-instrumental group shortly after, and then went on a tour with various rappers. During the title track off From the Corner to the Block, Henry's dirty New Orleans slang worked the crowd. After gathering the audience in front of him by chanting, "Where my party people at!?!" Henry took a stage dive into the crowd and made his way across the sea of hands. After dropping to the ground, he sprang up and took his swagger back to the stage. He had another try at it later; this time making his way back and forth, safely guided by the trusting hands of the live music community. During "Chris Cross," Henry and Ellman took dual lead solos, passing the music between them as if they were talking to each other. At one point, Henry jumped atop the overhang of a doorway and started playing as the spotlight followed him. He proceeded to strut around the room, working the crowd into a frenzy.

Other highlights from the night include New Orleans native Stanton Moore's solo on "Blackbird Special," a brass band favorite. Bassist Robert Mercurio also took a solo during "Crazyhorse Mongoose" with heavy distortion making the bass sound crunchy, like a metal guitar. Mercurio had his trusty '60s vintage Fender Precision Bass that he plays at every gig. The bass is almost identical to the Motown legend James Jamerson's Funk Machine, and Mercurio pays homage to his soulful forefathers with his timeless style. At one point, a drunken kid dressed in the height of Williamsburg fashion, jumped onstage and started trying to talk to the band, and it took a while before he was finally escorted off. Although he did his best to ruin the vibe, nothing could stop Galactic as they continued to grind away, barely phased.


Williamsburg is both extremely intriguing and repulsive. The streets have some of the most beautiful graffiti and art in all of New York, and it is a lively, safe community. Yet signs of excess and aggressive gentrification are everywhere. The vibe that Brooklyn Bowl brings to the neighborhood is a new and different energy that's humble, exciting, and nostalgic for the golden ages of music while working to create a new one.







Tuesday, May 19, 2009

In Pictures: PBS & Page McConnell | 05.02 | NOLA

(c/o Jambase)

Images by: Robert Chapman

Porter Batiste Stoltz with Page McConnell
05.02.09 :: Tipitina's Uptown :: New Orleans, LA


















See more pictures by clicking on the title link.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Jazz Fest | 04.30-05.03 | New Orleans, LA (c/o Jambase)

Words by: Amanda Anderson | Images by: Adam McCullough & Tamara Grayson

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival :: 04.30.09 - 05.03.09 :: Fair Grounds Race Course :: New Orleans, LA

Jazz Fest 2009 by McCullough
After four straight days of live music in the Louisiana sunshine, sweating among crowds of thousands, swallowing Cajun delights, wandering through booths of cutting-edge visual arts and dancing in the dirt at Weekend Two of the 40th annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, I feel like I've been up the magic beanstalk, adrift in a mystical, all-ages playland. Now that the Fair Grounds, the horseracing track where Jazz Fest is held, is silent again and I've been rudely dumped back onto the ground, I console myself with the knowledge that as a New Orleans local, I can enjoy spicy food and live music any day of the year. My heart goes out to our guests who came for the experience and now leave us, a little looser and a little dirtier. It's never easy to leave New Orleans, and even harder after the senses have been bombarded with all things Louisiana, which encompasses Africa, France and Spain, Voudou, gospel and the Catholic Church.


My predecessor from the first half of Fest did a splendid job at describing this event in a linear fashion; I offer here an alternate approach - flashes from the front lines, a montage of musical moments to simulate the Jazz Fest experience, where you're listening to R&B and can hear Zydeco off in the background, eating a mango freeze while smelling fried chicken, thinking you're still in America but feeling as if you're outside its borders. And you are.



Spirit Everywhere

Fi Yi Yi :: Jazz Fest 2009 by Grayson
You get hexed at the small stages, which usually offer local acts such as Mardi Gras Indians and brass bands. These folks grew up on gris-gris and know how to cast a spell. Mardi Gras Indians, a tradition which started when escaped African slaves found refuge with the local Houma Indians, continue to pay homage to native cultures by hand-sewing full-body suits of feathers and beads, then joining other tribe members in the streets, parading in their handiwork. As their name suggests, Mardi Gras morning is the classic time to see the Indians out in full regalia.


Heavy on the tambourine and bass drum, Indian music drove hard, forcing the audience to chant along to "Wild Man Hurt Nobody." An Indian with the name of Fi Yi Yi (the "i" sounds long, like "eye") danced onstage in his suit of feathers, accented with long bundles of straw hanging down from the sleeves and down the back, like a giant Voudou doll. He wore an African mask under a hat made from sticks, reminding me of Legba, the guardian of the crossroads between the spirit realm and the real world. There might be something to this: it wasn't even noon and I was already caught in the music, unable to leave the stage. We chanted "Hoo Na Nay" as Fi Yi Yi sang of Mardi Gras morning adventures. We stood transfixed as he related a tale of visiting the Lakota in South Dakota, his backup chanting, "I feel spirit everywhere." Later, I stumbled upon Fi Yi Yi being interviewed. He explained how he came up with his name - he just grunted it out one morning and realized it was his spiritual name. He offered it up to all of us to use when we're feeling down. Just say, "Fi Yi Yi," and it all gets better.



Oh The Agony

Aaron Neville :: Jazz Fest 2009 by Grayson
Don't wait until you get hungry to start eating. You do not want to decide between all of the regional delicacies with low blood sugar - the mind needs to be powered up to attempt such a decision. At just one of many food stations offerings included Fried Crab Cakes with Smoked Tomato Jalapeno Tartar, Seafood Mirliton Casserole, Fried Green Tomatoes, Crawfish-Stuffed Puff, Seafood Au Gratin, Spinach Casserole, Fried Eggplant, Alligator Pie, Hot Sausage Po-Boy, BBQ Chicken, Cajun Duck Po-boy and Cochon De Lait. If you don't like fried food, seafood or meat, your choice becomes easier; though you still have to consider dessert choices of Mango Freeze, White Chocolate Bread Pudding, Apple Turnover, Sweet Potato Pie, Hand-Scooped Ice Cream, Cannoli, Gelato, Strawberry Shortcake and so forth. Now, if you don't like dessert, either, not much we can do for you.


I stand by my choice of the Crawfish Beignets. The French version of our donut, a beignet may seem like an odd place for crawfish - nowhere else I know puts seafood inside donuts - but some things simply transcend common sense. Crispy on the outside, the warm nuggets had a dense, doughy middle, punctuated with flavors of hot peppers, onion and, yes, crawfish. A tangy remoulade sauce added the perfect amount of creaminess to the dish, which I ate standing up. Another Jazz Fest phenomenon: most food is consumed standing, not only due to a lack of seating near the food vendors, but because it's too delicious not to shove immediately into your mouth.



Every Shade of Blue

Buddy Guy :: Jazz Fest by McCullough
Day Two started in the Blues Tent with Washboard Chaz, a local musician famous not only for his washboarding skills, but for his namesake music festival. (In its fourth year, Chazfest happens the Wednesday before Jazz Fest Weekend Two, and primarily hosts acts that showcase the breadth of local talent outside the Jazz Fest lineup.) With the tent's overhead misters gently wetting my notebook, I noted Chaz's calm, sly smile as he ran his pick up and down his metal washboard, tapping the tin cans wired to the bottom, accompanied by guitar and harmonica. He played "Don't Leave Me Here," a breezy, rolling melody, and the sort of song that fills the sails for the day ahead.


I'd never heard of Kenny Neal, but his guitar lured us into the Blues Tent to enjoy the full sounds of his two-keyboard band. Swaying with the guitar, he got the whole crowd singing "Since I Met You," then switched to the dulcimer to close with the bouncy "Blues, Leave Me Alone," creating some of the happiest blues I'd ever come across.

It shocked me to hear such a strong and haunting soprano coming out of the wizened, 86-year-old Doc Watson, who picked his guitar for a full-capacity Blues Tent. Fast picking, sweet singing and occasional yodeling marked his set, where he played classics such as "Summertime," "If I Needed You (Would You Come To Me)" and rockabilly versions of "Tutti Frutti" and "Whole Lotta Shakin'." He got two standing ovations.



I sought out Chris Thomas King at the Blues Tent, in time to hear him play "Baby Can't Be Found." Sporting a short Afro, shades and a white-hot suit, he certainly looked the part for the Blues Tent. But, I wasn't so sure about his voice, which didn't have the heft I like in a bluesman. His band was working an R&B sound, and I wondered how they'd do at Congo Square instead. Later that day, I caught a little John Mayall as I cruised by, and it sounded just like the blues should - the notes clean and slow, digging in the chest right between the ribs. You only need a minute walking past to get the real blues.



Although a tent is usually small, Jazz Fest Tents are not. They easily seat a couple hundred people and often pack in more: when Buddy Guy closed the Blues Tent this year, fans took every seat and crowded the aisles. The Chicago guitar man filled up the rest of the space under the tall canvas ceiling, where the air pulsated with emotion. His voice ranged from gravelly to sassy to sweet, as in John Hyatt's "Feels Like Rain," a suitable anthem for an almost-finished Fest. But before we had to leave, he threaded Hendrix and Iron Maiden riffs into a screaming electric jam, the bites of familiar melodies anchoring us to our previous reality, stopping our heads from flying off completely.




Bunk Don't Tip

Jazz Fest Triathlon :: Jazz Fest 2009 by Grayson
Wendell Pierce from HBO's The Wire is in New Orleans working on Treme, an HBO pilot about one of our city's most misunderstood historic neighborhoods. He showed up at Jazz Fest, according to an anonymous source working the beer trailer outside the Blues Tent. I asked my source about his brush with fame, when he sold the man a beer, and he replied: "Bunk don't tip."


Join the Triathlon!

Who knew that there's been an annual Jazz Fest Triathlon (JFT for short) for as long as anyone can remember? Determined to check it out, I found the tri-athletes by the Fais-Do-Do Stage, dancing to Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys. I caught them between Leg One (the bike race to the Fair Grounds) and Leg Two (the mile-long foot race around the horse track), loosely gathered around a box of Coors. For Leg Three, the Bayou Swim, the group plunges in and swims across Bayou St. John after leaving the Fair Grounds.



If that weren't enough locally brewed weirdness, the JFT coincides with the Annual Watermelon Sacrifice, which takes place between sets at the Fais-Do-Do Stage on the Thursday of Weekend Two. Certainly if there were ever a place to sacrifice a watermelon, the Fais-Do-Do would be that place. Cajun for "dance party," Fais-Do-Do hosts the smaller Cajun and Zydeco bands, along with assorted others. Although the ground still held its sod when I was there, usually Fais-Do-Do means dancing in the mud. With a frame painted to look like an old Cajun swamp shack, this stage can bring out the country in damn near anyone - that accordion sound wraps you up like a blanket and don't let go.



Ben Harper :: Jazz Fest 2009 by McCullough
In true New Orleans style, the sacrifice began as a second line, not long after Kenny Bill Stinson & the ARK-LA-Mystics finished their set. Holding up the two-foot-long watermelon, a knot of people began their chant: "Watermelon, watermelon, red to the rind/ If you don't believe, then pull down your blind/ Sell it to the rich/ Sell it to the poor/ Sell it to the woman standing in that do-oh-oh-or!/ In that do- oh -oh - or!" The second line snaked through the Fais-Do-Do area, picking up more people, the chant growing into a scream. They set the melon down, continuing the watermelon song, hands all over the melon, as if in blessing. There was some dirty dancing with the melon, yes, but all with respect. Finally, the big moment came - the inner circle heaved the melon up and down, and then finally hurled it skyward. All backed away momentarily as the giant fruit splattered onto the ground, then all hands plunged in to grab a bit of sweet, red flesh. The ceremony closed with back flips into the melon's sad remains.


Watermelon sacrificed, the tri-athletes could commence with the foot race around the horse track. Pumped from witnessing this oddity in a land of oddities, I decided to run. Tradition dictates that the run begin with participants shotgunning a beer. No one leaves the starting line until they've emptied their beer can. I can't speak for the other runners, but I fear this tradition may have negatively affected my finish time. Though I did get to see both Ben Harper and Emmylou Harris during the same time slot, even if it was at a jog - the track encloses all, which may be why the tri-athletes run it.



The Jazz Fest Paradox

Neil Young :: JF 2009 by McCullough
The field spread out in front of the Acura Stage is not for claustrophobics. The Big Names play Acura, acts which attract people willing to sit in the middle of a field all day long, without shade, just to hear the hits. Since thousands upon thousands of these people come to the Fest, the field morphs into an undulating sea of human bodies, straw hats and canvas chairs. Because finding someone in this crowd would be like spotting a particular seashell on the ocean floor, many groups hoist homemade flags to make the search a little easier. Rainbows, peace signs, blow-up cows and Styrofoam heads fill the skyline, not only helping friends find each other but also giving people something to look at, as most are too far from the stage to actually see the artist playing.

There are screens, yes, but the sea of people flows so far back that you may find yourself in a spot where you can't even see the artist's image on the giant screen halfway deep into the field. This is where I caught the beginning of Neil Young's now-famous set, his first-ever appearance after 40 years of being courted by Jazz Fest. Because of the wind, which blew the sound waves coming from the remote speakers away from the crowd, the audio quality could have been better, yet I got to hear him take to the piano for the rollicking "Are You Ready For The Country?" and back on guitar for the sing-able "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere." He played "Pocahontas" with his full band, who were a little too heavy on the instrumentation. I like the song better stripped-down, more like how he later performed "Needle and the Damage Done" simply with acoustic guitar. Warping the ending to "Cinnamon Girl" into a tidal wave of sound that reverberated through space and time, Young blasted away any doubts that he can't keep his old songbook fresh.



I can only spend so much time pressed up into the armpit of humanity, so I regret to report that I escaped Acura before "Rockin' In the Free World" and the soon-to-be legendary cover of "A Day In The Life," where he mangled his guitar as part of the encore performance. It's the Jazz Fest Paradox - the constraints of time remain the same as in the outside world, yet to truly experience the staggering amount of musical offerings, time must be suspended. How else could I hear Neil Young's encore, catch Los Lobos' Latin-flavored cover of The Grateful Dead's "Bertha," check out Dash Rip Rock and witness Guy Clark singing "Homegrown Tomaters," which all happened at approximately the same time on Sunday afternoon? True, running the track may solve this dilemma, but I'll be damned if I try that again. I'm hoping that for next year, Jazz Fest adds motorized wings to its growing assortment of merch, something for us musical dilettantes too lazy to run from one show to another.



More From the Land of A Thousand Flags

Modeliste & Porter Jr. :: Jazz Fest 2009 by McCullough
I don't want to misrepresent the Acura Stage: it's not always crowded ass to elbow. Thursday afternoon, for instance, I was able to stretch out on the grass and get my Meters on. From the first Jazz Fest lineup 40 years ago, three of the four original Meters played the Acura as The Meter Men (Art Neville renounced his Meter status after their previous reunion in 2006). With George Porter Jr. on bass, Zigaboo Modeliste on drums and Leo Nocentelli on guitar, The Meter Men came to school the crowd on New Orleans funk. They hit "People Say" with aggressive vocals, more shouting than singing, their voices not quite what they used to be. Modeliste made some corny old-man jokes ("I was in diapers when we recorded that one"), but Nocentelli's tight guitar licks were still hot, 40 years later.


Later that day, I returned to the Acura with the tri-athletes to catch the end of Ben Harper's set with his new band, Relentless7. He covered Queen's "Under Pressure," which had most of the crowd and all of the tri-athletes literally jumping from the joy of it - the crashing drums, the singer's earnest scatting.



Bon Jovi played at the Acura Stage, an act that I would skip if it weren't for the 14-year-old living in my psyche. She would hate me forever if I didn't at least try to hear Bon Jovi's voice, so I dragged myself away from The New Orleans Bingo! Show, a local musical cabaret outfit whose instrumentation includes grand piano, bass, drums and saxophone, as well as the megaphone, sirens and metal brushes on an old gas can. Bandleader Clint Maedgen was blowing the notes of "Down By The Riverside" on a glass coke bottle when I tore myself away from their antics.



The New Orleans Bingo! Show :: JF 2009 by Grayson
So, I wandered into a throng of Bon Jovi fans thick enough to block the walkway around the Acura Stage, and my 14-year-old alter ego belted out "Wanted Dead or Alive" along with the aging pop star. When he started in on a tune I didn't know, I surveyed my surroundings: I had ensconced myself into a giant frat party, but without the keg. Though I must report that Jazz Fest has made a huge improvement this year by hiring wandering beer vendors, intrepidly delivering much-needed drink to those of us trapped in the crowd. Even if they do charge $6 for a bottle of Miller Lite, it's an important public service.


Among the thousands of Bon Jovi fans, I realized that I was a part of what may have been the largest concentration of white people in the recent history of New Orleans (at least since Dave Matthews played the Fest in 2001). To confirm my theory, Bon Jovi launched into a cover of "Twist and Shout." Time to go home.

Grease Is The Word

Bonnie Raitt is happy to have stood the test of time. She's also at Acura, and even from a great distance I can spot her shocking red hair. She brings plenty of locals to the stage, playing "A Real Good Thing's About To Come To An End," with Jon Cleary scorching the piano, followed by an old Sippie Wallace tune from the 20s, "Woman Be Wise" with Glen David Andrews on trombone and his cousin James Andrews on trumpet. More locals add an extra accompaniment, the beer vendors clanging cowbells for every person tipping the jar. Even onstage, it was hot in the afternoon sunshine, prompting Raitt to give the Fest's best advice yet: "Get into that grease, honey." She then launched into the lusty "Something To Talk About," which I sang all the way to the next act.



Get The Glaze

Glen David Andrews & Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews
Jazz Fest 2009 by McCullough
More Jazz Fest advice: when the lady at the Marie's Sugar Dumplings booth asks you if you want your sweet potato turnover with glaze, say yes. The pie crust is the perfect balance between flaky and greasy, and filled with sweet potato spiced with just enough nutmeg to cut the sweetness. Top it off with the sugary butter glaze and say yeah.


The Dance Continues

If a dance troupe comes to the U.S. all the way from Africa, I figure they have to be quality. Jazz Fest rarely disappoints, though the Crocodile Gumboot Dancers of South Africa seemed more like an acquired taste. Accompanied by spare guitar and a fiddle repeating its tune in a minor key, the lead punctuated his chanting by loudly blowing his whistle into the mic. All six dancers wore giant black rubber work boots of the gumboot tradition that originated in the goldmines under apartheid. Even without the boots and whistle, the mining connection was made plain through all the kneeling, saluting and crouching during their dance. Percussion consisted of strings of bells around the dancers' boots combined with their synchronized thigh slapping and boot stomping. Though the talent was impressive - not easy to dance while crouching - the overall effect was unsettling with these direct reminders of apartheid and slave labor.



Providing an entirely different experience, the Ori Culture Dance Club of Benin kept a playful quality throughout their performance, which included several acts and costume changes to the accompaniment of African drums and the gourd rattle. In the first act, male dancers brandished stylized silver hatchets as they leapt, spun and thrust themselves about, all knees and elbows. The men danced off stage, followed by three women dancers with their shoulders and upper arms covered in white powder. Starting with subtle arm movements, the women worked up to seductive shoulder rolls, followed by jumping and squat-hops. Then, the men returned, wearing fishing hats and work clothes, each one balancing a boat paddle over his shoulder. Acting out a fishing tale, the male dancers worked those paddles. At one point, they stood behind their paddle and thrust at the audience.



Ori Culture Dance Club & Quint Davis (producer/director of Fest)
Jazz Fest 2009 by Grayson
Just when the testosterone got to be a bit much, the dancers retreated and the lead dancer came out in a hoop skirt and a kerchief. He sidled along the front of the stage, making eyes at the audience. Soon the other men joined him in hoop skirts, waving feathers instead of paddles or swords. It was refreshing to see cross-dressing at Jazz Fest; usually Mardi Gras outpaces it in this regard. They acted out a punishment scene with one of the "women" dancers down on her knees - again, the sort of thing that mostly happens here at Carnival time.


The finale employed a rainbow-colored straw hut, which, after being rubbed with the mysterious powder that the dancers not only ate but also puffed towards the audience, spawned coconuts with paint inside the color of egg yolk. The lead dancer then gobbed the paint onto his fingers and smeared it onto another dancer's bald head before smearing it on his own chest. I confess, this is the sort of culture I like - men smearing paint onto each other!



I was sad to see the act end, but considering how strongly New Orleans is tied to Africa, I wouldn't be surprised if next year's Fest has the Neville Brothers on stage in skirts, decorating each other with coconut paint.



What He Say

Allen Toussaint :: Jazz Fest 2009 by Grayson
Both die-hard music fans and air-conditioning junkies can be found at the Allison Miner Music Heritage Stage, located on the highest level of the Fair Grounds Grandstand. Most of the year, people gather in this space to look out through the wall of glass to see their ponies run. During Jazz Fest, people gather in this space to watch interviews with both famous and lesser-known artists. Usually the seating area has plenty of room, but the Allen Toussaint interview was a standing-room-only affair. One of the most accomplished men in the business, Toussaint has produced everybody and their mama in the New Orleans music scene, as well as established himself as a brilliant composer and pianist.


If that weren't enough, his speaking voice is soft and cultured, a caramel melting on the tongue. When asked if he'd been influenced by the old New Orleans jazz greats like Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong, Toussaint got straight to it: "Not so much. I was too busy tryin' to catch up with Professor Longhair," and treated the audience to a brief Longhair medley. Later in the interview, he confessed that when it came to traveling, he preferred to stay in New Orleans "and never leave. I don't like to leave a shrimp po-boy too far." The audience laughed, of course, but I knew what he meant.



Speaking about his career, Toussaint quipped, "Once you say yes to music, it says yes back to you."


I looked out the viewing area, where I could see almost all of the Fair Grounds and its many stages. It wouldn't be long before the stages and tents disappeared, the out-of-towners gone, and New Orleans resumes its usual rhythms. But as Toussaint continued on, I spent a few moments observing the field of people ahead of me as they moved to and fro, still saying yes to the music after all these years.



Thursday | 04.30.09

Images by: Adam McCullough

Solomon Burke
Robert Glasper
Anders Osborne
Ben Harper
Mark Braud
Kirk Joseph
Little Freddie King
Leo Nocentelli
The Subdudes
New Birth Brass Band
New Birth Brass Band
Paulin Brothers Brass Band
Nicholas Payton
George Wein
Red Hawk Indians

Thursday | 04.30.09

Images by: Tamara Grayson

Second Line Parade
Creole Zydeco Farmers
Emmylou Harris
Mardi Gras Indians
Mardi Gras Indians
Mardi Gras Indian Confrontation
Kone Seguenon
Solomon Burke
Culu Children's Traditional African Dance Company
Ben Harper
Honey Island Swamp Band
Little Freddie King
Alex McMurray
George Porter Jr.
The Melody Clouds
Steve Riley And The Mamou Playboy
New Birth Brass Band
John Rankin
Rosie Ledet
Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes
Theresa Andersson

Continue reading for Friday pics of the Second Weekend at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival...

Friday | 05.01.09

Images by: Adam McCullough

Tony Bennett
John Boutte
John Cleary - John Scofield Piety Street Band
George Porter Jr. & John Scofield - Piety Street Band
Dirty Dozen & Rebirth Brass Band
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Evan Christopher
Julian Marley
Musiq Soulchild
Shannon Powell
Esperanza Spalding
Walter 'Wolfman' Washington
Trombone Shorty

Friday | 05.01.09

Images by: Tamara Grayson

Lady Tambourine
Marcia Ball
BeauSoleil
Tony Bennett
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
John Boutte
Charmaine Neville
Clarinet Woodshed
Kermit Ruffins
Julian Marley
J. Monque'D
Glen David Andrews with Trombone Shorty
Bonnie Raitt
Sugarland
Lars Edegran
Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band
Washboard Chaz
Walter 'Wolfman' Washington

Continue reading for more pics of Saturday Second Weekend at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival...

Saturday | 05.02.09

Images by: Adam McCullough

Dr. John
Buckwheat Zydeco
Zack Smith - Rotary Downs
Irvin Mayfield, Jr.
Bon Jovi
Cowboy Mouth
Deacon John
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
The Pinstripe Brass Band
New Orleans Jazz Orchestra
Midnite Disturbers

Saturday | 05.02.09

Images by: Tamara Grayson

The New Orleans Bingo! Show
Bon Jovi
Dr. John
Dr. John
Bonerama
Ensemble Fatien
Feufollet
The Pinstripe Brass Band
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Bryan Lee
Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole
Kings of Leon
Chris Thomas King
The O'Jays
Gina Brown
Deacon John
Cowboy Mouth
Jason Rhein - Rotary Downs
Zack Smith (Rotary Downs) Fan Club

Continue reading for more pics of Sunday of Second Weekend at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival...

Sunday | 05.03.09

Images by: Adam McCullough

Allen Toussaint
Brother Tyrone
Cedric Burnside
Chuck Brown
John Cleary
Jonathan Batiste
Eric Lindell
Jazz Jam
Jazz Jam
Shamarr Allen
Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars
The Neville Brothers
Aaron Neville - The Neville Brothers
Neil Young

Sunday | 05.03.09

Images by: Tamara Grayson

Crocodile Gumboot Dancers of South Africa
Crocodile Gumboot Dancers of South Africa
Ellis Marsalis
D.L. Menard
Dash Rip Rock
DJ Soul Sister
Big Chief Bo Dollis
Cedric Burnside & Lightnin' Malcolm
Chuck Brown
Buddy Guy
Kenny Neal
Kurt Elling
Lil Brian & The Travelers
Jonathan Batiste
Panorama
Shamarr Allen
Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars
Los Lobos
Charles Neville
Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Young
The rain is comin'