Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Just Crazy Enough

Only in New Orleans would a funk band win for "Best Rock Band" at an awards ceremony. Last night at Gambit Weekly's Big Easy Awards, Bonerama beat out Bingo! and Morning 40 Federation. Aren't rock bands supposed to be dangerous, subversive, exciteable, and rebellious? What do those factors have in common with 40 to 50-year-olds who re-hash the (admittedly awesome)hits of yesteryear("Crosstown Traffic, "The Ocean")?

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Domino Sound

I went into the Domino Sound Record Shack for the first time today. It's a relatively new store on Bayou Road(coming from downtown on Esplanade, take a right at Broad and another right at Bayou Rd. and it's in that first block on your left) that specializes in vinyl, local and national. No CD's, and when I asked the owner if they had a e-mail list, he gave me that snotty, "I hate computers" look. I bought a R.E.M. tape for $2 and a "Best of Ric Records" tape for $3. Ric Records was an old local R&B label that put out Irma Thomas, Eddie Bo, and Al Johnson, among others.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Matt Cameron drum solo

Matt Cameron, currently of Pearl Jam and formerly of Soundgarden, is one of my favorite drummers. Click on the title link for the Wikipedia article on him.

Broven's Rhythm and Blues in New Orleans


I'm about 2/3rds of the way through John Broven's Rhythm and Blues in New Orleans. It's pretty good, considering it was published in '73 and written by a British guy. Broven is not a good writer, in that he has no style or eye for transitioning, but the information he passes along is pure gold for anyone wondering about that period in New Orleans history. He gives you knowledge, but he also helps you mold whatever you already knew into a new form with the context he provides. It's funny how things were so much more singles oriented back then. Click on the title link for a short description of the book.

Will Ferrell's "The Landlord"

Cats are magicians, too


Click on the title link for the unthinkable: cats perfecting invisibility.

Why aren't we out-crazying the Japanese?

I'd take soccer demolition derby over Howie Mandel anyday. Watch and enjoy.

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Blonde Redhead


I recommend the new Blonde Redhead album, 23. Click on the title link for the All Music review.

Tin Men, Underrated Albums, and Electric Six


I was on the street Thursday, and a guy passing by stopped me and said he had friends in from out of town. He asked me where he should take them Friday night. I asked him if they had seen Rebirth before, hoping he would say yes. He said no, so I reluctantly told him to take them to Rebirth, knowing that that's the requisite first stop on any visitor's list. But, I really wanted to tell him to go see The Tin Men, because they have more of an eclectic New Orleans sound than most bands out there. What I mean is, "They sound exactly like New Orleans sounds in my head." The amount of genres they mix might be unparalleled locally.


UNDERRATED ALBUMS


Weezer--"Maldroit"
Ben Folds Five--"The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner"
Stephen Malkmus--"Face The Truth"


QUOTE I'M ENJOYING


"Mr. President make a little money, sending people you don't know to Iraq/Mr. President, I don't like you, you don't know how to rock"--Electric Six, "Rock and Roll Evacuation"

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Keith Moore R.I.P.

Keith Moore, son of Deacon John and a local musician, painter, sculptor and trash artist, died yesterday of a gunshot wound. Click on the link below for the Times-Picayune story and on the title link for an old Offbeat story on Moore.

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/neworleans/index.ssf?/base/news-7/1176268304309540.xml&coll=1

I wanna recognize that Keith was a passionate supporter of local electronic music. He and his passion will be missed. Keith's annual Noizefest will be held at Michael Patrick Welch's house on May 6th. Look for MPW's obit on Keith in next week's Gambit.

Free tickets to Electric Six tonight

E-mail your full name to jason@liveneworleans.com for free tickets to Electric Six at the House of Blues tonight.

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

The High Hat Club?


Has anyone heard of or have any info regarding the old Hi-Hat Club? Is this a mission for Blake Pontchartrain?

The Rusty Nail goes acoustic


I'm starting to realize why The Mermaid Lounge was kicked out of its space. I don't think that neighborhood wants music anymore. According to an e-mail sent to me and a bunch of other promoters and musicians, The Rusty Nail, a new venue whose building also housed The Mermaid, will be going acoustic as a result of neighborhood noise complaints. The e-mail sent by owners Todd McNulty and David Brown:

"Dear bands and promoters,

The Rusty Nail is facing forced changes regarding our musical performances. As you all may know by now, we have been strictly monitoring our noise levels due to complaints from our neighbors at the Cotton Mill condominium complex. We have changed the entrance from the front doors to the side door which has not remedied the situation. We will be moving the entrance once again to the alley door which will prevent any inside noise from being directed towards the Cotton Mill. Also, and this is the main point for you all, we will become an acoustic music venue. This means no amps or large drum kits. What we are going for is acoustic instruments, (still to be amplified through the PA when necessary) hand drums or very small kits (3 pc. or less) with brushes or dowl rod (muted) sticks only, upright basses preferred since no amps are allowed, more piano players and solo, duo, or trio acts will be sought. I can't tell you how much I regret sending this, especially to the bands that are booked and can not comply to the new format. I know this will take some time, but if you are booked for a gig already, please let me know if you can make these changes and keep your gig. Otherwise, let me know, also, if you can't and I will apologize profusely. Please understand that we face losing everything we have put into this if we do not take drastic measures at this time.

Our best regards to all of you,

Todd McNulty
David Brown
The Rusty Nail"

Tuesday, April 3, 2007

The Greatest


A couple days ago I started to move backwards through Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums ever. Of course, I'm only gonna be able to check out the ones I can hear on Rhapsody. I've already scared my girlfriend twice. The first time was when I said I was listening to the Eurythmics, and the second was when I said I was listening to Cyndi Lauper. Both times she just kinda paused on the other end of the phone, as if to question my masculinity without saying a word. I had to explain my project, and I even ended up defending Cyndi Lauper's music. How could I have ever thought that I'd be defending Cyndi Lauper, to a girl, no less? Click on the title link for the RS list.

So, the other day I was enjoying ZZ Top's Tres Hombres , and by reading up on the band, it seems like the critics didn't really get them. ZZ Top is a bluesy, boozy, bar band that just happens to include one of the best blues guitarists alive and an impenetrable rhythm section. They're not trying to re-invent the wheel. They're just trying to rock out the boogie, and if you think it's catchy, too, well then that's great. Have you heard "La Grange" lately? If you're in a band, you can interweave the bass and drums, but how can you hope to mesh like the guys in ZZ Top? Man, how awesome would it have been to be in ZZ Top and be able to just roll over audiences with your tightness? ZZ Top is gonna be at Jazzfest this year. Rock!

I met the devil today

As I was putting up posters at Nashville and Magazine today, I was approached by an old woman in a frenzy. The whole encounter was pretty ridiculous from the get-go. She was yelling at me from a distance, which I reacted to by being extra calm. I'm sure it made her look even more crazy, considering I was just standing there, sans emotion, reasonably digesting what she said. This woman had gray, pulled-back hair and seemingly rotten, wooden teeth(she looked like a scourge of Satan). She had a bunch of posters that she had just torn down under her arm, and she was telling me that I was polluting the neighborhood. She was really worked up, which I couldn't understand. Maybe she was nervous because she thought I was gonna give her trouble. I hope that was it, because if she was really that blood boiled about someone putting up posters, then I've lost a little hope for the city. These are the same people that fought against the street musicians in the Quarter and specifically, Jackson Square.

So, this woman said her bit, and I said, "Don't you care about local musicians?," but she wasn't hearing that. She just kept spouting about how it's illegal, to which I said, "It doesn't matter if it's illegal or not." Of course, she countered with, "Right, it doesn't matter if you run a stop sign or a stoplight," but I don't think she got my point. What I failed to say, because I realized she was set in her mind, was that it doesn't matter what's illegal. It matters what is right. Without live music, this town becomes any other town. Who does she think keeps live music afloat here? It's the people that work the publicity, book the shows, put up the posters, write the articles, sweep the venues, etc. She might as well be living in Metairie or Kenner or Covington or LaPlace. I wish she would. We need support here. Not NIMBY'S.

Click here for Louis CK's hilarious take on gay marriage

Monday, April 2, 2007

Fu Manchu. This video is silly, but it rocks. If you want to see a stoner rock version of "We're Not Gonna Take It," then you should watch it.

Fu Manchu playing "Hell on Wheels" live

Fu Manchu tomorrow night at the HOB


311 is kinda like Fu Manchu. Both bands turn out kick ass live shows no matter how many albums it's been since they released your favorite album or hit their peak. I'm listening to Fu Manchu's new album, "We Must Obey," and it sounds fuckin' amazing. The songs aren't groundbreaking or anything better than their last release, but the actual engineering is awesome. The group continues in the same punkier direction, but with the bigger fuzz-on-steroids production, it sounds as if someone forgot the volume was at 5 for the last album and corrected the situation by turning it up to ten for this one. Fu Manchu plays at the HOB Parish room tomorrow night. Click on the title link for an interview I did with drummer Scott Reeder in December 2004.

The least you can do is a buy a 10 speed.


I'm tired of seeing grown men riding children's bikes. Either these guys are going for some sort of stunted growth, low-rider gangsta look, or they just watched "Gleaming The Cube" one too many times. Remember pizza delivery dude Tony Hawk and his rag-tag group of bmx buddies? Yeah, you know what I'm talking about. Either way, cut it out.