Street Sounds of N’awlins
One of my favorite parts of New Orleans was the bands performing on the street. We ran into a couple of them several times in different parts of the French Quarter.
Check this out:
Upon inquiring, the musicians informed me that the band is named the “West Coast Ragtime Trash Hounds”.
This band is named “Yes Ma’am”. 5-0 was enforcing them to move from the street. I love how they just kept on playing.
Alabama Shakes
I am totally diggin’ this new band from Athens, Alabama. Their self-titled EP was dynamite and their debut album, “Boys and Girls” is due out April 10th on ATO Records. Lead singer Brittany Howard has got a soulfulness that cannot be ignored and the band is tight! They tore up the Conan show on Tuesday night.
Check it out.
Buddy Guy, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones: @ the Keswick
Tonight:
November 16, 2011
Buddy Guy with special guests Indigenous and Michael Williams Band!
The four-time Grammy Award winner who inspired Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix & Stevie Ray Vaughan – high-energy guitar histrionics & boundless stage energy, along with his uniquely-tortured vocal style nearly as distinctive as his incendiary, rapid-fire fretwork!
Tomorrow:
Thursday November 17, 2011
Bela Fleck and The (Original) Flecktones
The Original Line-Up
Bela Fleck * Howard Levy * Victor Wooten * Roy “Futureman” Wooten
plus Marco Benevento
Touring in support of their just-released Rocket Science album – the totally unique quartet that melds jazz, bluegrass, classical, funk, country, world & more into sounds that defy description!
Buy Tickets at:
David Wax Museum
If you haven’t yet heard of David Wax Museum, take the time to find out. These guys are the real deal. The duo put on a high-energy, raucous show at Johnny Brenda’s in Philly last friday. The packed crowd was very appreciative as the band rolled through a great set of music.
Their sound is wonderfully interesting, fusing mexican folk music and entertaining, hopeful lyrics. Upon first sight and sound, it is instantly evident that they set themselves apart, most notably because they play cool Mexican instruments. A donkey jawbone makes several appearances and provides an oddly pleasing rattling sound. That’s right. A donkey jawbone, more specifically called a quijada. If thats not cool, I don’t know what is….
David studied Latin American history and literature and spent a lot of time in Mexico’s La Huasteca region. After graduating he traveled once again south of the border and quickly became immersed in the music.
“As a foreigner, I quickly discovered that music is the great connector,” Wax said. “In Mexico, folk [music] is such a communal experience – it’s very joyful, very inclusive, and very inspiring.”
Its not surprising that he then set his sights on being proficient on the Mexican jarana and mastered three forms of Mexican sons (sounds): son jarocho (think, “La Bamba,”), the made-for-dancing son huasteco, and the fiddle-driven son calentano. David Wax (guitar, jarana, vocals) and his musical partner Suz Slezak (fiddle, quijada, vocals) take this novel musical genre, dubbed Mexo-Americana and create an exciting, entertaining experience that should not be passed up.
Catch the Museum if you can.
Joe Cool…..So Cool.
I came across this tune whilst watching Charlie Brown and The Great Pumpkin this year. Great movie. Some great tunes in there as well. Vince Guaraldi and his trio have really done some great instrumental work with all of the Charlie Brown and Snoopy cartoons.
Vince also sings a couple of them. Here’s my favorite from “You’re Not Elected, Charlie Brown”, with Vince Guaraldi on vocals:
BB King also did a version of the song for one of the Charlie Brown anniversaries: