Wynton Marsalis is a little like Barry Bonds in the batter’s box. Don’t expect him to bunt. Marsalis swings for the fences and when he hits it out, the whole world knows about it. His collaboration with Ghanaian drum master Yacub Addy and the African drumming and vocal troupe Odadaa!, Congo Square, is high art, [...]
Rob Wagner, Hamid Drake and Nobu Ozaki with Kidd Jordan, the Dragon’s Den, June 4, 2007
The trio of saxophonist Wagner, bassist Ozaki, and world-renowned drummer Hamid Drake had played the previous night at the Blue Nile to celebrate the release of their new CD on Valid Records, delivering two varied sets of selections from the album and nicely loose renditions of other pieces from the Wagner book. Anticipation was running [...]
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Republic, June 13, 2007
When Black Rebel Motorcycle Club released its self-titled debut album seven years ago, only “Whatever Happened to My Rock ’n’ Roll” was a strong enough song to get me around the band’s resemblance in mood, hair style and sonic murk to the Jesus and Mary Chain. Live, though, I haven’t had the same issue. With [...]
Manu Chao, Tipitina’s, June 13, 2007
Unity has always been sought, but rarely achieved, between peoples of the world, which is why the Manu Chao concert was important. Before the show, hundreds pooled outside Tipitina’s flaunting their identities. Latinos waved an array of national flags, a Scotsman donned a Union Jack, French filled the air, and locals mocked the oppressive humidity. [...]
101 Runners, Rosy’s Jazz Hall, March 4, 2007
Seeing the 101 Runners, a combination of the funk band Gradoux, big chiefs Monk Boudreaux, David Montana, Roddy Lewis, and percussionists Geechie Johnson and Uganda Roberts might be what it was like seeing the Wild Tchoupitoulas in the 1970s, all funk and chants and the street groove that greases your spine back to another time. [...]
Lil’ Band o’ Gold with Robert Plant, Tipitina’s, February 4, 2007
There was a rumor going around that legendary Led Zeppelin singer, Robert Plant was going to make an appearance at Tipitina’s with Lil’ Band o’ Gold. It seemed incongruent that Plant would be hooked up with a swamp pop band from Lafayette, but curiosity filled the club and there was a buzz of expectation. I [...]
Lily Allen, House of Blues, March 17, 2007
Kicking off her all-ages show with “LDN” and “Nan You’re A Window Shopper” must be Lily Allen’s way of dispelling the pre-show jitters. By “Shame For You” she was slinky, relaxed (although worried she had the flu) and ready to deliver her best song, “Everything’s Just Fine”, (dedicated to “bank managers, mortgage lenders, and fashion [...]
Lupe Fiasco Opening for the Roots, House of Blues, February 22, 2007
An hour after the doors opened, a hooded-figure sauntered on to the stage of House of Blues holding his britches, but this was not the case of same hip-hop act, different name. When the jacket came off, it revealed a Transformer T-Shirt, and it became apparent that his pants were secured by a stuffed-animal that [...]
The Good, the Bad & the Queen, Republic, March 18, 2007
Parents and guidance counselors lied. Smoking is cool, at least the way Damon Albarn and Paul Simonon do it. Then again, Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz) and Simonon (the Clash) were pretty damned cool anyway as they, guitarist Winston Tong and drummer Tony Allen played the album they take their name from in its entirety. The show [...]
Albert Hammond, Jr. and Incubus, House of Blues, January 21, 2007
Mere hours after the Saints lost the final playoff game, several hundred people slowly filled the sold-out House of Blues as Albert Hammond, Jr. (formerly of the Strokes) came on as opening act to Incubus. Voices muttered about the defeat and a sense of shock kept the room from watching the stage. There were no [...]
