NPR’s “A Blog Supreme” features a slideshow of photos by Michael Weintrob, who manipulated a number of photos of musicians to replace their heads with their instruments. Among Weintrob’s subjects are Uncle Lionel Batiste, Kirk Jospeph, Bill Summers and Big Chief Monk Boudreaux. You can see his work here, and more at Weintrob’s site, where [...]
Back to the Playoffs and 504 Connect
Brian Boyles’ December story on the phenomenon of Saints songs in 2009 started before a game this season when he was DJ’ing at Handsome Willy’s (as he’ll be Saturday afternoon) and played “Saints Anthem” by 504 Connect. I’d never heard it before, and he explained that someone from the group brought in a home-burned CD [...]
People Say Project: Interview with George Porter, Jr. & Dee-1
OffBeat contributor Brian Boyles is one of the organizers of The People Say Project, which puts together artists in the same field to discuss issues associated with culture and money from different perspectives. On December 13, he brought together OffBeat Lifetime Achievement in Music honoree George Porter, Jr. with rapper Dee-1 to discuss lives in [...]
Happening on Canal Street…Rebirth or Not?…and Merry Christmas!
I just got back from a tour of the Joy Theater on the corner of Canal and Loyola Streets. I’ve seen many a movie there, but the theater had gotten pretty dilapidated over the years, and Hurricane Katrina pretty much put it out of its misery. Thanks to a group of developers, the Joy will [...]
‘Tis the Season: Reindeer Games, Porter and More
Christmas is only a week away, but the Christmas music keeps coming. Clint Maedgen and Helen Gillet have teamed up to record “Reindeer Games,” which you can hear and share on Facebook or download here. George Porter, Jr. released Christmas in New Orleans last year, but since we finally got a copy in the office [...]
Police Horse Poppin’ on Bourbon Street: Video
Dip, baby, dip / slide and move your hips —Glen David Andrews, Lil’ Rascals Brass Band’s “Knock with Me, Rock with Me” The latest local video making the viral rounds on social media? A mounted crowd-control police officer (a regular sight in the French Quarter) showing off his horse-riding skills by commanding his steed to [...]
‘Tis the Season: Free from Texas and Seattle
[Updated] For those who prefer their Christmas music as nostalgia-free as is manageable, Austin’s Krayolas and the West Seattle music community are here to help. You can download the rock-oriented Tinselitis: A West Seattle Christmas Album for free here. San Antonio Tex-Mex rock ‘n’ roll band the Krayolas with Farfisa great Augie Meyers have a [...]
Jazz Fest: On the Ledge
Quick response to this year’s Jazz Fest talent roll out: – It feels old to complain about the lack of contemporary jazz at Jazz Fest, but this year’s lineup looks like the jazz bookers threw their hands in the air and quit, opting almost entirely for locals. I see Esperanza Spalding, David Sanborn and Joey DeFrancesco, smooth [...]
‘Tis the Season: Julian Koster and the Saw’s Song
One of the great recent additions to the library of Christmas music is Julian Koster‘s The Singing Saw at Christmastime. It’s hard to imagine that it’s the first album of Christmas songs played on a saw—it seems like someone must have cut such an album for a regional label in 1940s or ’50s—and it’s a [...]
McBride Helps Royal Caribbean Come to New Orleans
For years, my wife and I have wondered if we’re cruise people or not. Could we relax into the rhythm of a few days with nothing that had to be done and nothing we especially wanted to do, or would we drive ourselves crazy? Saturday, we visited the Voyager of the Sea – the Royal [...]
