Issue Articles — Features
Little Freddie King
Little Freddie King is the undisputed monarch of New Orleans blues, whose down-home, gut-bucket style emerged from the fertile crescent of the Mississippi River.
Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars: Winning Over A Crowd
If NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest handed out medals like at the Olympics, Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars would have taken home the silver as runner-up in 2024. Since then, the former underground seven-piece band led by singer and songwriter Sal Geloso has taken off like a gold medal-winning sprinter.
Seun Kuti: King of the hard-hitting jazz-funk
Seun Kuti is pacing around a London flat as he chats on a video call, taking his laptop with him as he looks for a lighter for something he rolled to smoke. He’s just arrived for a few days of recording, but he’s a bit animated and, perhaps, agitated after a frustrating experience with immigration
Organic: The River Benders’ quirky Americana vibe
What better birthplace could there be for a Louisiana roots music band than the parking lot of a seafood restaurant? That’s where the River Benders first took shape—specifically at Seither’s Seafood in Harahan, when the COVID pandemic kept singer and guitarists Jake Eckert and Aaron Wilkinson from gigging with their regular bands, the New Orleans Suspects and the Honey Island Swamp Band.
LVVRS: Do You Wanna Rock and Roll?
As a great philosopher once said, it’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock and roll. The Lafayette-based LVVRS have every intention of being the next area band to get there. Armed with a stack of anthemic songs and an arena-friendly sound, LVVRS have been a local favorite long enough to have the next level in sight.
Samantha Fish: Slash and Burn
To see Samantha Fish perform live is to not forget her — it takes just once for her electrified live set to set off fire in your brain. Her slash-and-burn approach to her instrument is thrilling, as is the rollercoaster-emotional ride her setlist takes from beginning to end.
Woodenhead: Celebrating 50 Years
Back in 2003 Woodenhead released a CD called Perseverance—a title that celebrated their playing proudly non-commercial music, out of love and against the odds. And here’s the kicker: They chose that title less than halfway through what’s now a 50-year career.
Were You in the Audience When…
There’s just something special about a musical walk down memory lane especially at this time of the year. Taking time to look back and recall certain fond memories do a heart and mind good. For me, it heightens the anticipation of catching both old and soon to be my new favorite performers, sometimes even coming together on stage spontaneously to share their brilliance.
Trombone Shorty: Pays It Forward and Back
Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews is a rock star of rhythm and as solid a person you could meet. No less than the legendary Juvenile praised, “I have a lot of love and respect for him. When I did [NPR’s] Tiny Desk, the whole band thing came from him. He helped me with it.
Bill Frisell: Guitar Hero
To some, jazz guitarist Bill Frisell is known for tastefulness and restraint.
