Since 1992, Kynt has been possibly the only New Orleans artist recording and performing electronic house music. A rocky childhood in foster homes compelled Kynt to sneak out at night to dance at gay French Quarter clubs. The music there inspired him toward his own original house compositions, several of which have found their way [...]
Rather than the band’s usual wrestling cartoon cover art, Suplecs has this time chosen a leafless tree dying in the desert. Instead of some fun, goofy title, we are given Mad Oak Redoux. “Stand Alone” bursts from the gates at an Iron Maiden-esque gallop, with an anthemic shouting of the song’s title. It’s one of [...]
Dave Easley is one of the city’s—if not the world’s—most amazing guitarists, with a concentration in pedal steel. You’d assume he’d be first in line for the world’s best gigs, and he does in fact play Swiss festivals. Then again, he also plays the Crazy Lobster restaurant on the Riverwalk. In forward-thinking groups such as [...]
A. Levy is an incredible rapper. He has mic control, breath control, a tight, rapid-fire flow, and his voice simply sounds great on tape. His name is mentioned a lot in and around the monthly Soundclash Beat Battle series, in connection with Levy’s The Hut studios, meaning Levy rolls with the better, smarter local rappers. [...]
On Painted White, his first disc with Missing Monuments, singer and guitarist King Louie Bankston (here credited only as “Loomis”) combines the energy and maturity of a teenager with severe pop songwriting and recording sophistication. Drums sit way back in the mix, but this works as the band strives to create classic garage pop. Even [...]
For those who have been asleep—or maybe just living outside of New Orleans—Big Freedia is a transsexual rapper of “bounce,” a New Orleans-style party music wherein the MC exists almost entirely to tell you exactly how to shake your ass. Freedia’s transexuality matters little outside of the fact that she dresses better than any rapper, [...]
Morella and the Wheels of If are a musical period piece. Their first album, Shipwrecked, recreates a spooky place and time not sepia-toned, but certainly black and white. A period of antique lace, dramatic choral voices and absinthe (which was served every weekend at the group’s longtime Circle Bar residency). Shipwrecked opens with “Carnival Ride,” [...]
Indie-folkish rock band Silent Cinema broke up some time last year, and the resulting splinter bands are all more adventurous and modern sounding. The pallet of guitarist Matt Glynn’s new Big History relies heavily on electronic drums and synths. And now Empress Hotel—Cinema singer Micah McKee’s new band with brothers Eric and Ryan Rogers— has [...]
Local progressive rapper Know One and producer DamNathan have shared a 10-year working relationship that helped beget the Media Darling Records indie hip-hop collective. For the last five years, they’ve bobbed and weaved between various other projects while continuously working on Soundtrack: The Ballad of Know One & DamNathan, a deep and adventurous record. The [...]
The Green Demons’ debut album, Outer Sex, introduces us to the dual guitar and vocals of Todd Voltz and Gwendolyn Knapp. Voltz is a long-haired actor who has appeared in Harold and Kumar go to White Castle, and the Comedy Central staple Waiting among other movies (he played the cook who spit in the food). [...]
