December 2018

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BackTalk

John Waters talks back
Pink Flamingos, Hairspray, Female Trouble, Polyester, Pecker, Cry-Baby and a dozen more movies, most of which are guaranteed to shock and… – John Wirt

Cover Story

Without the Mask: Jon Batiste busts out of the proverbial box
It doesn’t concern Jon Batiste if some people tend to put him in a particular musical box. “That’s okay, I always… – Geraldine Wyckoff

Features

Music Is Freedom: Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys celebrate 30 years
There was barely room to breathe November 3 at Fred’s Lounge in Mamou, a hole-in-the-wall world-famous for beer drinking and Cajun… – Herman Fuselier
The Fess Centennial: Professor Longhair’s 100th birthday
Henry Roeland Byrd was born in Bogalusa, Louisiana on December 19, 1918. On the 100th anniversary of his birth, the iconic… – Geraldine Wyckoff
I Did Every God Damned Thing Myself: The Dave Bartholomew Century
Dave Bartholomew celebrates his 100th birthday on Christmas Eve, just as New Orleans fetes its own 300th anniversary, a synchronicity that… – John Swenson

Fresh

Germaine Bazzle and Ellis Marsalis to reunite on stage
The Lula Elzy New Orleans Dance Theatre will have a party that can only happen once every 300 years. “It’s All… – Amanda "Bonita" Mester
SOUNDCHECK: Five Questions with Evan Christopher
Evan Christopher will debut his new work “The Faubourg Variations” at the New Orleans Jazz Museum on Sunday, December 9 at… – John Swenson
More than a Music Club: Howlin’ Wolf turns 30
Howie Kaplan had zero experience running a major music venue when he bought the Howlin’ Wolf from Jack Groetsch in 2000.… – Raphael Helfand
Happy Birthday Celebrations including Dave Bartholomew and WWOZ
December is a big month for birthdays, including Dave Bartholomew, who will be 100 years old on December 24, and Henry… – OffBeat Staff
Oh Crap! Debbie Davis’ Christmas
Christmas music has a special place in the heart of Debbie Davis, and she’s now got one of the city’s holiday… – Brett Milano
My Music: Chris Stafford of Feufollet
“I started with piano when I was super young. My mom realized I was interested in music so she put me in… – Dan Willging
SOUNDCHECK: Five Questions with Nick Benoit
Bassist Nick Benoit is booking the Instant Opus Improvised Series, a concept that aims at putting musicians who have never played… – Noé Cugny

Letters

Letters to the Editor: GRAMMY ban, Caesar Vincent and more
The following letter is in response to Dan Willging’s feature article “Getting His Due” [October 2018] about the legacy of Caesar… – OffBeat Readers

Mojo Mouth

Hope for Support: protecting culture producers of New Orleans
I’m writing this pre-Thanksgiving and thinking about the upcoming holiday season. Thanksgiving and Christmas kind of run together for me, and… – Jan Ramsey

Obituaries

IN MEMORIAM: Tony Joe White (1943 – 2018)
Tony Joe White, the singer-songwriter from north Louisiana whose steamy, swampy “Polk Salad Annie” became a top 10 hit, died October… – John Wirt

OffBeat Eats

Restaurant Review: Jack Rose
New Orleanians are super-survivors when it concerns man-made disasters, and it was no different for Emery Whalen and Chef Brian Landry.… – Michael Dominici

Dining Out

A Dream and Hard Work: Saint-Germain gets back to the basics
An unassuming double shotgun sits on a busy stretch of Saint Claude Avenue, between Montegut and Clouet, alongside Red’s Chinese and… – Raphael Helfand
Restaurant Review: Jack Rose
New Orleanians are super-survivors when it concerns man-made disasters, and it was no different for Emery Whalen and Chef Brian Landry.… – Michael Dominici

Reviews

The Revivalists Take Good Care (Loma Vista)
To get the obvious question out of the way: Does the Revivalists’ fourth album have another “Wish I Knew You” on… – Brett Milano
Various Artists, Live at Little Gem Saloon: Basin Street Records Celebrates 20 Years (Basin Street Records)
The beauty of this album is that it’s the real deal, which also accurately describes the musicians as well as Basin… – Geraldine Wyckoff
Tom Hook, "62" (Arbors Records)
Tom Hook’s 62 evokes a night in the American Camelot—Kennedy in the White House, Sinatra at the Sands, Joe Turner in… – John Swenson
Future Cowboys, "Going Kamikaze" (Pantherburn)
Future Cowboys co-stars New Orleans singer-songwriter-actor Jamie Bernstein (Preacher, Scream Queens) and his New York collaborators Eren Cannata and Miguel Oliveira.… – John Wirt
The Wanting, "Dark Road" (Planetary Magnetics)
While Dark Road is their debut release, The Wanting have already garnered considerable attention in their hometown New Orleans with a… – Bill Forman
The Ellis Marsalis Center for Music Jazz Orchestra, "The Silverbook Project Vol. 1" (Independent)
In many ways, this impeccably performed collection of material stands as a tribute to the late Harold Battiste, a saxophonist, composer… – Geraldine Wyckoff
The Quickening, "Begin Again" (Independent)
The Quickening is another in a long line of stellar funk bands to come out of New Orleans, and while they… – Christopher Weddle
Jon Hatchett Band, "Mother Nature Wins Again" (Independent)
A native of Massachusetts, Hatchett’s been kicking around New Orleans since 2009. In 2014, the Jon Hatchett Band debuted at Rock… – John Wirt
Christian Serpas & Ghost Town, "Rockin’ ol’ Christmas" (Independent)
Christian Serpas has always wanted to record a Christmas collection. The rock-and-country singer-songwriter and his band, Ghost Town, finally make his… – John Wirt
'Trombone Shorty' / 'The 5 O'Clock Band' by Troy Andrews (Bookmark)
Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews’ love of music, New Orleans and the Treme neighborhood where he was nurtured, plus his sweet nature,… – Geraldine Wyckoff