February 2011
BackTalk
- Krewe du Vieux
“The story starts a million years ago when some caveman in order to impress his woman put on the skull…
Bookmark
- Dave Thompson, Bayou Underground: Tracing the Mythical Roots of American Popular Music (ECW Press)
Gotta be the succulent-est book to feature the Axeman of New Orleans. If you don’t know the Axeman of New Orleans,…
Cover Story
- Matt Perrine and Debbie Davis: The Couple That Plays Together...
Without music, how many would never have fallen in love? Without love, how many songs would have never been written? And…
Features
- Two-Steppin': Married with Music
“You have to want more for the other person than you want for yourself,” says Barbara Menendez. The former member of… - Nine Lives: A Chorus Second Line
“I’m going to Bing it up,” Harry Shearer says. He’s in a vocal booth at Piety Street Recording as his voice… - Blue Lu Barker: Kind of Blue
Her voice was never as buxom as she was. Her husband’s fame outgrew her own. Still, Blue Lu Barker remains an…
Fresh
- Smoke-Free: A Breath of Fresh Air
There’s a new movement in town that has almost no opponents, and it’s driving smokers from their beloved bars and into… - MashUp NOLA: S’Mashing Time
What? The debut of MashUp NOLA party, a mash-up performance featuring local DJs and musicians. Who’s First? Jermaine Quiz, a local… - French Quarter Fest Lagniappe
This year’s French Quarter Festival will start on Thursday, April 7, a day earlier than in previous years. The free festival… - Impulss-ive Parenting: Mr. Mom Radio
Rappers popularized the questionable phrase “baby mama.” But in naming his new WGSO radio talk show about parenting, local rapper Daniel… - Kermit Ruffins: All Aboard the Mother-in-Law Lounge
Kermit Ruffins is set to take over the Mother-in Law-Lounge on Claiborne Avenue in the Treme, saving another endangered landmark on…
Letters
- February 2011 Letters
WALTER PAYTON Regarding the letter from Barry Wratten published in the January 2011 issue. The correct name of the city is…
Mojo Mouth
- Loving Music Until the End
In OffBeat’s pages, we’ve covered the struggles that our musicians face as they age: illness and incapacity to work; bad business…
Obituaries
- Obituary: Dickie Taylor (1940-2010)
Dickie Taylor, a drummer on the New Orleans scene for 45 years, passed away November 30. Taylor grew up in Chicago,…
OffBeat Eats
- Dining Out: Kanno
The numerous watering holes that populate Fat City may be holding on for dear life amidst the current parish ordinance overhaul,… - Sean Hart of Caddyhompus Hits the Spot at Doson Noodle House
Doson Noodle House 135 N. Carrollton Ave. (504) 309-7283 What do you usually order? I usually get the beef pho—pho bo,…
Dining Out
- Dining Out: Kanno
The numerous watering holes that populate Fat City may be holding on for dear life amidst the current parish ordinance overhaul,…
Photo Op
- Musicians' Village Security
Photographer: Zack Smith In my never-ending quest to photograph everybody I know and meet, I photographed WWOZ DJ, documentarian…
The Spot
- Sean Hart of Caddyhompus Hits the Spot at Doson Noodle House
Doson Noodle House 135 N. Carrollton Ave. (504) 309-7283 What do you usually order? I usually get the beef pho—pho bo,…
Reviews
- Shannon McNally, Western Ballad (Sacred Sumac Records)
One of the hallmarks of Shannon McNally’s music is a plasticity. It’s not the only one, but that trait has meant… - Pine Leaf Boys, Back Home (Valcour Records)
After countless stateside and international tours, the Pine Leaf Boys realize that you never appreciate what you have until you leave… - Fredy Omar, Bailando (Mambito Records)
Those who have gotten used to live performances where Fredy Omar con su Banda takes the audience through an extensive catalog… - Tony Joe White, The Shine (Swamp Records)
The formula might seem familiar: older artist strips down to his barest elements, his age injecting a new depth to each… - Sun Hotel, Coast (Independent)
Soon after the release of their excellent Team Spirit EP in early 2010, DIY dudes Sun Hotel became favorites on New… - Yvette Landry, Should Have Known (Independent)
Yvette Landry’s a natural. She played bass for just months before turning pro with the Lafayette Rhythm Devils. That led to… - Generationals, Trust (Park the Van Records)
Generationals are a lesson in balance: serious but not glum or self-important, smart but not clever or brainy, spare but not… - Raphaël Bas, Harmonouche (RRJB Music)
“[The harmonica] has been widely used in blues and pop music but very little in jazz and swing,” notes Raphaël Bas… - John Trahan, My Louisiana (Acadian Records)
A lot has happened since John Trahan’s debut disc 17 years ago, including a career move to Dallas and a recent… - Joe Krown, Russell Batiste, Jr., and Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Triple Threat (Independent)
In a city where Joe Krown, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, and Russell Batiste, Jr. play so many nights for tips, drinks, and…
