Mardi Gras Road Show rolls into town

In keeping with the NOLAFunk.com tradition of bringing the juggernauts of New Orleans music into the city, we've got a pair of incredible shows coming up featuring two of the Crescent City's biggest, baddest talents. The Mardi Gras Road Show features the Rebirth Brass Band and Dumpstaphunk, two genre-defining acts that are each at the very top of the pile when it comes to funk and rock. They're coming into the city on Thursday, April 1st to rock the Highline, and then sticking around to play that Friday (the 2nd) at Sullivan Hall. Either of these acts coming up to NYC is plenty of reason to get ready to party. Both in one night? Unbelievable. Get ready for a unique night of really killer funk.

Rebirth was one of the bands at the forefront of the revival of New Orleans brass band music. Along with the Dirty Dozen, the Rebirth Brass Band rose quickly to the top due to their open-minded approach and unquestionable talent, and have stayed there quite comfortably ever since, with a huge and ever-growing fan base that spans generations. Always staying fresh, never resting on their laurels, the Rebirth is one of the most energetic funk shows out there. Need to be convinced? Here:



Dumpstaphunk, formed in 2002, is a much younger institution, but it was always destined for greatness and has already become a staple in Saints territory. Founded by two New Orleans Nevilles (Ivan and Ian Neville, descended from members of the Neville Brothers and The Meters, respectively), the lineup was something special from the beginning, and it's turned into the new standard-bearing act for New Orleans funk music. Their sound is loud, raucous, gritty and dirty, and it mixes together just about every sort of sound out there that makes you dance. If you haven't heard them yet, check them out in this video from a past appearance at Sullivan Hall:



Any fans of New Orleans music shouldn't miss this one. This is as good a funk show as you will ever see, period.
By the way, if you can make it out to both shows, there's a discount for getting the tix together...

Both shows (the 1st and 2nd of April) get underway at 8 p.m. The Highline is 16+, and Sullivan is 18+. Tix are $35 per show, although you can get the two-show pass for $65.

Joe Krown Trio at Sullivan Hall!

This Thursday we've got a killer trio from New Orleans coming up to play at Sullivan Hall. Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Joe Krown, and Russell Batiste, Jr, are each major artists in their own right, but since 2007 they've been playing a regular weekly gig together at the famous Maple Leaf Bar that's become an institution in town. The level of groove these three guys can put out together is just unbelievable. Check it out:



In case you don't already know these guys, here's a (VERY brief) history:

Walter “Wolfman” Washington is best known as a virtuosic guitarist in a bluesy vein, although he mixes in jazz, funk and various other influences. Originally a successful sideman, notably with Lee Dorsey, he started working as a singer in the '70s and has seen further success fronting his band, the Roadmasters.

Joe Krown covers B-3 organ duties here. Widely known for his decades-long tenure as the keyboardist for the legendary Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown's band, he's highly regarded for his work with his own organ combo. Fluent in jazz and in funk, he's a force to be reckoned with.

Russell Batiste, Jr., the son of NOLA jazz titan David Batiste, is probably best known as the drummer for the Funky Meters (the reincarnation of classic funk band The Meters, and for his work with the groove heavyweight combo Porter Batiste Stoltz. He's also played stints with artists from Maceo Parker to Harry Connick Jr.


Any one of these legends is plenty of reason to come on out to a show. All three coming together and forming a band is something fans of New Orleans funk should consider ourselves lucky for. This will be a memorable night.

The Joe Krown Trio hits Sullivan on Thursday, March 11th. Doors are at 8 am. Honey Island Swamp Band opens. Tix are $15 in advance or $18 day-of-show. PS—look out for a pair of upcoming Rebirth Brass Band / Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk shows at the beginning of April!

Mardi Gras Continued: Trombone Shorty and Eric Lindell

Now that we're all recovering from the Mardi Gras Ball (and getting ready for the Fat Tuesday party over at BB's), NOLAfunk.com has even more amazing shows on the horizon for your enjoyment. This Friday, one of New Orleans's most distinguished brass players will be at the Highline to funk your face; the next day, a lion of blues and rock guitar will melt it at Sullivan Hall. All in all, between Trombone Shorty and Eric Lindell, your face will have an interesting weekend.

Trombone Shorty, pictured above at Voodoo Experience 2009, is the sort of musician that everybody can respect. He has ridiculous jazz chops on both trombone and trumpet, but he puts them to use in a wild blend of funk-rock that both salutes his hometown and blows minds. His site has an amusing anecdote regarding Bono and The Edge dancing on tables during a night he was headlining a NOLA club at age twelve. If you don't know his music already, I suggest you check him out.

Eric Lindell is a singer-songwriter based in Cajun territory; he's released his last three albums on the legendary blues and rock label Alligator Records to acclaim. The dude plays all over the world for sellout crowds, and we're lucky to have him here. I couldn't locate the video of him performing on Conan, but here's a pretty nasty one from Skipper's Smokehouse in Tampa.

Trombone Shorty plays the Highline Ballroom at 9 pm this Friday; tix are $30 in advance or $35 at the door (if it doesn't sell out), and the Ryan Montbleu Band opens.

Lindell plays Sullivan on Saturday; show starts at 8 with Clinton Curtis and The Roof Walkers, and tix are $20 in advance or $22 at the door.

Mardi Gras in NYC, 2010!

UPDATE--Just added: DJ Cochon de Lait will be rocking the Ball, spinning greasy Nola funk and soul in between sets.

It's that time again. Next Saturday, Nolafunk.com is hosting the fourth annual Mardi Gras Ball, one of the biggest New Orleans music events of the year in NYC. We've been putting on this show every year for the past four years, and we can say from experience that it's a great time. Traditionally, in addition to getting some of the best music New Orleans has got to offer, we get the place decked out in real Mardi Gras style and, of course, bring copious amounts of throw beads.This year's party returns to Le Poisson Rouge (on Bleecker & Thompson), and the lineup features three classic New Orleans heavy hitters: Bonerama, the brass rock band described by Rolling Stone as “the ultimate in brass balls” (video from the Late Show w/ OK Go's singer below); Big Sam's Funky Nation, the powerhouse funk machine led by Big Sam Williams, formerly of the world-famous Dirty Dozen; and Tab Benoit, one of the top blues and roots musicians to emerge from Cajun country in generations.

All signs point to this year's Ball being the best one yet. Tickets have been going quickly, & we sold out early last year, so don't wait around to pick yours up. Wear your Mardi Gras costumes, too—we will be.

The Mardi Gras Ball is Saturday, February 13^th at (Le) Poisson Rouge. Doors open at 8. Advance tickets are $30, and you can get 'em here. Tix at the door will be $35 (if they haven't already sold out!).

P.S.—we've got tons of other great music coming up from Whodat territory. If you can't wait for Mardi Gras to celebrate, we'd recommend you check out E.O.E. at Sullivan Hall next Tuesday, February 9^th. Future upcoming shows include Trombone Shorty on 2/19 and Eric Lindell on 2/20. For more keep checking back here (we'll be updating regularly now, I promise!) and at www.nolafunk.com.

Funky Slivovitz Jam!

For those observing Passover, bring your Slivovitz to this one!

April 6 and April 7 11:30PM
Post-Beacon Allman Brother's Jam

Featuring
LEO NOCENTELLI (THE METERS)
CYRIL NEVILLE (NEVILLE BROS.)
MATT ABTS, DANNY LOUIS + ANDY HESS (GOV'T MULE)
BRANDFORD MARSALIS

@ BB King Blues Club

Big Sam, Terrance Simien and some great links

I was lucky enough to catch Big Sam's Funky Nation at the Knitting Factory Tap Bar on a very cold December Friday. Coming from the 22 degree weather outside at 2am, I walked into a very dead lobby of the Knitting Factory. The main stage was closed. I walked out of NYC and into New Orleans as soon as I stepped foot in the Tap Bar. This was one of the funkiest shows I've seen in a long time. Jamie McLean (formerly of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band) and John Scofield's drummer Adam Deitch were sitting in with the band. Big Sam is one of the most compelling front men of any genre. He'll be at the Lion's Den on January 19 with Circus Mind, a great funky band from New York who play in the New Orleans tradition. The early show that night is Terrance Simien and Zydeco Nation who I'm really looking forward to seeing. From what I've heard on his most recent CD, he is a genre-bender who defies the 'Zydeco' classification.

Some totally random links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSsrZunDcLs - For those aware of the only funny SNL skit in about 5 years "D**k in the Box", here's Umphrey's McGee's take on it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWfYew3s_Nw - This is a great video of Jerry Garcia sitting in with Reuben Blades while a very young Marc Quinones (Allman Bros. Band) plays conga.