Archive for March, 2011

Local Ska: Local Skank

Local Ska: Local Skank

Montreal, one of our other favorite cities, has an amazing ska scene.  New Orleans, not so much.  We’re not complaining–there’s brass, funk, soul, garage, Russian mafia stuff, all kinds of jams…but we’re thin on ska.  But hope prevails:  We have The Local Skank, an all girl (oops…one guy) band blending ska with punk attitude, created […]


Debauche and Slow Burn Burlesque “do” the Hi Ho Lounge!

A dark night club on St. Claude.  We spit on flash (as we are wont to do) and crank up ISO way past safe.  Debauche, the Russian Mafia band and Slow Burn Burlesque, on a single stage?  Yes!   Yegor Romantsov pouring a devious pepper vodka mixture with fresh ginger slices (free = danger!), people dancing like fire […]


Margie Perez @ d.b.a.!

Margie Perez is from DC, but she’s ours now and you can’t have her back. Margie and her band, joined for a bit by Lady Tambourine (Rosalie Ashton-Washington) played one of the funkiest sets in recent history @ d.b.a.  Singer, songwriter, master of polymer, funky chick, and so sweet!  Check out her CD on Amazon.com:   […]


Lightnin’ Malcolm and Cameron Kimbrough Kill d.b.a.

Exhausted by the blues!  But in a most pleasant way.   Following Cedric Burnside’s recent show at d.b.a., here comes Lightnin’ Malcolm, playing with the grandson, Cameron Kimbrough, of yet another blues legend!  This time we firmly planted our soon-to-be-dancing asses close to the stage and dared to approach ISO 10000 to nail a few shots before the urge […]


Super Sunday 2011

The New Orleans Mardi Gras Indians are an enigma even for New Orleans natives–and we can believe how inexplicable they may seem to non-natives.  There are about 40 Mardi Gras Indian tribes, organized into Uptown and Downtown styles (their costumes, called “suits”, differing in construction materials and technique).  Born of affinity between African Americans and Native Americans […]


Gentilly Groovemasters @ Ogden After Hours

Ogden After Hours recently featured Brian Seeger (guitar), Gerald French (drums), Casandra Faulconer (electric bass), and Brent Rose (tenor sax), aka the Gentilly Groovemasters, for a show and interview (with Seeger).   The players are legend in New Orleans–Seeger has played with everyone from Aaron Neville to Zachary Richard and was part of a great jazz group […]


Sweet Street Symphony

Sweet Street Symphony, a band shrouded in mystery.  Where are they?  There they are!  And why does the skirt look so fetching on the banjo player?  Definitely a band to check out when you’re walking the streets of the Quarter or the Marigny.  Folk meets relatively still caberet, like a miniature Unsettlers.


Strange Roux’s Show at Blue Nile Upstairs

Strange Roux’s “brand” is swamp rock, but more than anything, they’re freakin’ haul ass, tear it down rock-n-roll.  We were out on Frenchmen to catch a CD release party at d.b.a. when our friend Leigh suggested that we stop by the Blue Nile.   Not quite sure what to expect…  WHOA!   With a mossy, darkly lit (thanks guys, really–we shot a […]


BIG FREEDIA w/ Lil Dee, Plane Jane, Know One

In March 2011, Big Freedia, the Queen Diva, played a show at Maison with Lil Dee, Plane Jane, and Know One, showcasing bounce, some old school hip hop, and, not to be missed, “azz everywhere”.  Big Freedia has been at it for over 15 years,   releasing several CDs including Queen Diva, and recently collaborating […]


Voodoo Ballerina 2011!

Pics are finally up!  An outrageous costume party with great live music and tasty cocktails set in a wild warehouse artscape? Yes, please!  This event was one of the highlights of the entire Mardi Gras season.  Walter Wolfman Washington made the night, looking fine and sounding better than ever.  Actually – not sure how this […]


Mardi Gras 2011

Mardi Gras 2011 in New Orleans!