Issue Articles
Expect the Unexpected: Shamarr Allen keeps it True Orleans
Shamarr Allen is riding high on touring across the country with the imminent release of the True Orleans 2 album, his first in five years. He’s both a son of New Orleans and a U.S. Cultural Ambassador who talks as real as it gets. We sat down in his studio to get the word on his world.
Awesome Energy: The Revivalists’ David Shaw says these are the good old days
The Revivalists are riding high on the recent release of Pour It Out Into The Night. The single “Kid” hit the top of the AAA charts and still holds strong there and on the Alternative charts. Singer David Shaw took time from a coast-to-coast national tour to talk about his journey, the band’s growth, the importance of being here now, and much more.
Dusky Waters: Pass It On (Independent)
Dusky Waters hits the ground running and sets the tone from the beginning with the title track. Jenn Jeffers sings acapella, “Go down, Moses/ Pass it on/ Take your hurts/ Hand them to your son.” After these plaintive lyrics, strings enter, and the rest of the band progressively steps in. By the 3/4 mark, the hypnotic interweaving of all that’s been building levitates to its cruising altitude and takes you home wondering where you’re heading next.
From New Orleans to Kingston and Back Again: Papa Mali’s Shantytown Underground reimagines reggae
A year or so back, evocative flyers for a band called Shantytown Underground began to appear. They mysteriously hinted at a particular sound rarely heard, present day. Jamaican ska, rock steady, reggae, with a New Orleans twist. It took some detective work to find the nucleus was Papa Mali.
Cumbia de Nueva Orleans: Los Guiros brings the beat
Los Guiros is a psychedelic cumbia band whose time has come for New Orleans. Their core sound spans at least the last 200 years with respect for the traditional but is also of the now with electronics and effects. Like three of the best restaurants in our city—Fritai, Queen Trini Lisa, and Bratz Y’all—they fill a gap, are of a uniquely particular region, and have a New Orleans-centric quality.
Once Upon a Time in the Soul Chamber: Soul Rebels’ Lumar LeBlanc from A to Z
Soul Rebels co-founder Lumar LeBlanc opened his mind and his memory for a stunning A-to-Z of New Orleans, influences, loves, learning moments, and, of course, music.
Mystic Shredding: Mikey Coltun of Mdou Moctar – We’re just a loud rock band.
Mdou Moctar, the man, grew up in a rural Niger religious household dead set against his playing music, which led to him discreetly making his first guitar. Mdou Moctar, the band, features a hypnotic hybrid of churning core and his ripping on electric guitar. Mikey Coltun has the key roles of bassist and producer/recording engineer with the band. They had just returned from an Australian tour when he sat down to talk about this most unique of bands.
A Savvy Scribe: Walter Mosley tells the truth
The world is catching up to Walter Mosley. He came out of the gate swinging with “Devil in a Blue Dress” in 1990, introducing us to the now-beloved Easy Rawlins. Mosley has authored over 50 titles since then, including the new “Every Man a King,” the second book in the Joe King Oliver series.
