December 2011
BackTalk
- Ani DiFranco
Folk singer Ani DiFranco moved to New Orleans approximately eight years ago, but she has entered the city’s musical community discreetly,…
Bookmark
- Tom Piazza, Devil Sent the Rain: Music and Writing in Desperate America (Harper Perennial)
Tom Piazza sits in a car waiting for Jimmy Martin to come out of Jimmy Martin’s house. Jimmy Martin, in case… - Daniel Beaumont, Preachin' the Blues: The Life and Times of Son House (Oxford University Press)
Son House has long been regarded as one of the most authentic Delta bluesmen. His music and performances were as intense…
Cover Story
- Ratty Scurvics' Star Time
Despite living and performing in New Orleans most of his life, composer, pianist and singer Ratty Scurvics refuses to skip to…
Features
- A Busy Year for Curren$y and Fiend's JETS Crew
We begin with your once-every-five-years Fiend update: The ex-No Limit rapper-slash-grizzly-bear-throated drug linguist is still making records—mixtapes, mostly, charming on the… - The Archives of Cajun and Creole Folklore
One of the sonic jewels to be had at this year’s Festivals Acadiens et Creoles was Best of Festivals Acadiens 2002,… - The Music Box in the Bywater: A House in E Major
The dark, ramshackle house at 1027 Piety St. was a haunting presence on the block even before the flood. It was… - Sing a Song of Santa: New Christmas Albums
Listen to Alex Rawls' "An OffBeat Christmas 2011" playlist on Spotify Once upon a time, everybody cut a Christmas song. Country… - The Songs of the 2009-2010 New Orleans Saints
Listen to our Saints Songs playlist on Spotify On the projector screen behind me, Peyton Manning’s mouth twists in puzzled defeat.…
Fresh
- Step-N-Strut Trail Ride: Too Many Steps?
Trail rides were once the best-kept secrets in zydeco. Now, google “zydeco trail ride” and the first result comes from, ironically,… - Punk Lived in New Orleans
UPDATED Local filmmaker Al Champagne is working on a documentary on the local punk scene during the ‘70s and ‘80s. “What… - The Joy Theater: A Time of Joy
Once there were four historic theaters operating in downtown New Orleans: the Saenger, Orpheum, Joy, and Loews State Palace. These establishments… - Yo Gabba Gabba!: Time to Dance
Dave-1 of Chromeo on appearing on kids’ show Yo Gabba Gabba!: It’s crazy because we did that in ’08 and people… - Christmas Concerts
With Thanksgiving in the rearview mirror, the French Quarter is celebrating “Christmas New Orleans Style”. The annual program that encourages tourists… - Back to the Best of the Beat Awards
George Matters. Buttons and T-shirts proclaimed this simple truth years ago, and on Friday, January 27, 2012, OffBeat agrees when we…
Letters
- December 2011 Letters
HALLOWEEN SHOOTINGS This is in response to Jan Ramsey’s blog post “Rotten, Really Rotten Apples” commenting on the Halloween shootings by…
Mojo Mouth
- A Year of Growth
It’s the end of another year; it’s holiday time, so it’s time for a bit of reflection. When I was a…
Obituaries
- Obituary: Billy Diamond (1916-2011)
Billy Diamond, who was instrumental in the launch of Fats Domino’s career, passed away in Los Angeles, October 20 from natural… - Obituary: Kenny Holladay (1957-2011)
I was sitting on one of the benches on Jackson Square, playing with Mickey “Slewfoot” when Kenny Holladay ambled up with…
OffBeat Eats
- Dining Out: Martin Wine Cellar
The holiday season is accompanied by many traditions such as lighting candles, decorating trees, and participating in feats of strength. Perhaps… - Shannon Powell Hits the Spot at Willie Mae's Scotch House
Willie Mae's Scotch House 2401 St. Ann Street (504) 822-9503 How long have you been coming here? For about 20 years… - Boudin or Bust
The heart of boudin country lies two hours west of New Orleans in the flatlands surrounding Lafayette. There, boudin is nearly… - Daiquiri Days: White Russians and Soulja Slims
A crowd formed outside of Gene's on the last hot Friday night of the summer, waiting for their party bus to…
Dining Out
- Dining Out: Martin Wine Cellar
The holiday season is accompanied by many traditions such as lighting candles, decorating trees, and participating in feats of strength. Perhaps…
Photo Op
- Saints Nuns
Photographer: Philip Gould New Orleans was on a high like no other when the city celebrated its beloved Saints…
The Spot
- Shannon Powell Hits the Spot at Willie Mae's Scotch House
Willie Mae's Scotch House 2401 St. Ann Street (504) 822-9503 How long have you been coming here? For about 20 years…
Reviews
- Papa Grows Funk, Needle in the Groove (Funky Krewe Records)
Back in the 20th Century when John Gros was enrolled in the George Porter, Jr. Academy of Funk as a member… - Big History, All At Once EP (Independent)
So, just for fun-shine and joy-bows, indulge me in a hypothetical. Imagine you have the power of a major international media… - Cedric Watson et Bijou Creole, Le Soleil Est Levé (Independent)
Cedric Watson helped make the Pine Leaf Boys stars in the emerging Cajun/Creole “new wave,” recording a CD with the band,… - Camile Baudoin and the Living Rumors, Old Bayou Blues (Threadhead Records)
The band name for the long-time Radiators’ guitarist tells the story. Old Bayou Blues is the sound of friends sitting around… - Corey Ledet, Do You Want More? (Independent)
When Corey Ledet sings about going back home on the freewheeling opening track, one has to wonder if this first generation/Clifton… - Lawrence Walker, Essential Collection (Swallow Records)
Along with Iry LeJeune and Nathan Abshire, Lawrence Walker played an integral part in Cajun music’s accordion revival in the early… - Burke Ingraffia, Jazz Animals (Independent)
“If you want to play it smart / you’ve got to dumb it down,” Burke Ingraffia sings on Jazz Animals, and… - Elespee and Prospek, Quantumetaphysicadillac Music (Guerilla Publishing Company)
Like OutKast’s flagship Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik and Isaac Hayes’ soul odyssey “Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic” before it, Elespee and Prospek’s Quantumetaphysicadillac Music pushes musical boundaries and… - e.company, On (Independent)
On marks the first release of New Orleans’ own e.company, a quintet of young, skilled instrumentalists crafting intricate jazz and funk-steeped… - Steve Cropper, Dedicated: A Salute to the 5 Royales (429 Records)
This is an all-star CD, and most all-star CDs are disappointing. Nevertheless, I couldn’t wait to hear this one. With B.B.… - Big Pearl, Double Faces (Independent)
The band name and cover art are pleasantly misleading. They suggest that this will be more in the Janis Joplinesque mode…
