Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Written by Dege Legg
ROADBURN
After years of independent music growing increasingly genteel, mannered, and estranged from its punk rock roots — having more in common with car commercials and Gordon Lightfoot than seminal underground bands that paved the DIY highway — it’s a good sign that the flame of indignation still burns on in the millennial generation of bands like Wildfires. Wildfires are back with a new split EP (with Mississippi’s crustoleum heads Moose) and preparing to go on a nine-day southern tour of MS, TN, AK, and TX, coming back around to play a show on June 25 at Sadie’s with This Horrible Machine and the Obelisk - who, from what I hear lately, traffic in certified metal badassery. Facts: Wildfires rock. And they don’t like breakdowns. I asked Max: dude, why no breakdowns? “Like anything else that has been watered down over time, breakdowns have gone from being a moderately used song to a metal staple consisting usually of all the instruments locking up in a sort of staccato unison,” says Max. “We’ve never been very into the idea of doing what every other band is doing.” Go see them June 25.
THE GUNSLINGER
Mamou Playboy’s guitarist Sam Broussard is a badass of the highest order and he’s got a gang of cool guitar tricks up his sleeve. Broussard plays an exclusive solo set at Barnes & Noble’s Beat the Heat summer series on June 25 with country singer James Dupre opening the show. Bust it.
FLOWER POWER
The Acadian Orchid Society hosts an orchid show & sale on June 26 and 27 at the Ira Nelson Horticulture Center in Lafayette. Right off Cajundome Blvd. There’ll be judging, exhibits on Friday and more displays on Saturday with additional plant life for sale. Orchid Society members will be on hand to answer questions and offer cultural information. The show runs roughly 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. each day. Admission is free.
VAGABOND
Don’t forget about Vagabond Swing! They’ve been making the rounds, doing their thing gypsy jazz, ragtime folk & roll thing. Pulverizing the innards of the universal time machine and honking it backing to life with Lazarus-like magical lunazy of the highest order. Hell yes. Vagabond Swing brings the tarantella overdrive jam to the Blue Moon on June 26 with Happen-ins.
KID MIDI
He’s the Digital Don Juan. He’s the Casio Casanova. And his name is Kid Midi. His binary boogie rock comes to Artmosphere on June 26 with El Domania on the bill. If you didn’t already know, Kid Midi music busts kaleidoscope runs into the digital playground of the MIND, exploring neon romance, grey light / black heat adventure, and cardiopulmonary aerobicize. Do now. 
ETC
Kevin Sekhani is back in town and teaming up with litarary songster Rex Moroux for a double bill that brings roots, rock, and power pop to the Blue Moon on June 23…The Forum for Equality presents a one night exhibition, on June 25 (8-11:30 p.m.) at the Alamo on Simcoe of works from local artists who support LGBT equality. Food and wine will be served. Plus live music…On June 27, Marty Christian, The Acadias, and Sean Bruce play Artmosphere…On June 24, Lafayette Catholic Service Centers’ throws their St. Joseph Diner Grand Opening at 2 p.m. with an invocation by Bishop Michael Jarrell, followed by a keynote speech by Sheriff Mike Neustrom… On June 23, Myka Relocate, The Mid Summer Classic, and Twin Killers play Sadie’s…and on the following night Blast Rag, Dude Nukem, and Chattie Cathies play Sadie’s on June 24… Lost Bayou Ramblers rock The Shed BBQ on June 26.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Written by Dege Legg
ROCK CAMP
Kids want to rock. Period. Parents might want them to learn classical music or polka, but the kids almost overwhelmingly gravitate toward the black chowder of rock & roll. Angus Young, Jimi Hendrix, and Keith Richards all had to start somewhere. Acadiana School of the Arts is giving kids the chance to get started. The school is holding their Summer Rock Camp 2010 for kids ages 9 to 17. It’s their ninth go around with the Rock Camp and each year it gets bigger and better. Kids learn vocals, keyboards, guitar, bass or drums. In most cases, no experience is necessary. The camp is held every year at East Bayou Baptist Ministry Center on Kaliste Saloom Roa. The rock camp runs from June 21 – 25 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. At the end the week, the kids throw a rock show in the East Bayou Grand Auditorium that parents, family, and friends can attend. Registration for the camp is $325/child. Kids also receive a free Rock Camp T-shirt and a DVD of their performance. To register, call 984-1478.
FIGHTS + FUNTIME = DANCE PARTY
FIGHTS may have a tough name – in all UPPERCASE – but more importantly they like to have fun, or more specifically a “happy funtime without the rigamarole of a bar,” as stated by Fights member Dallas Griffith. “Invent your own funtime! Combine your own funtime with your friends’ funtimes!” Combination happy fun-times? HELL YES! FIGHTS are avoiding the bars for this special night to bring a dance party fueled by their fun rock sounds. It all goes down at The Shilling Shack (located at 444 Refinery Street, Lafayette) on June 19.
TADDY PORTER
If Paul “The Voice” Rodgers from Bad Company were still alive, he’d dig Taddy Porter. Actually, Paul Rodgers ain’t dead, so scratch that. He’d still dig it, though.
Oklahoma band Taddy Porter play Southern-fried, 70s influenced rock and roll. The jeans are faded, the hair is long, the love beads are strong, and so is daddy’s whiskey. So drink it up and soak it. If skinny jean rock strikes you as a little too whiney and Gaylord and you long for the days when Golden Gods roamed the earth, riding by limousine and Lear Jet to sing songs about Vikings through Marshall stacks, then you will dig Taddy Porter. Hell, they’re even from a town named Stillwater, OK. What else do you want? Taddy Porter play Artmosphere on June 18.
DAX MAN
Dark romance poet of the ghostly serenade, Dax Riggs brings himself and his new backing band to the Blue Moon Saloon on June 18. If you didn’t already know, Dax is one of the Louisiana underground’s favorite sons. Undisputed. Blessed with a voice that blows away 90 percent of the crap you hear on the radio, his new record Say Goodbye to the World comes out on Fat Possum Records next month. Bust it.
COLONA + LANDRY
Wendy Colona and Yvette Landry have been knocking out shows, twanging, banging, and slanging out the killer tunes as of late. On Saturday they hook up for a double bill at the Blue Moon. Bonsoir, Catin bassist Yvette Landry has been exploring her inner singer-songwriter with a batch of alt-roots and proto-country tunes. Wendy Colona celebrates the release of her new CD We Are One. According to her bio, her music is “a savory gumbo of southern soul and poetic lyricism borne of her rich Gulf Coast heritage. Her voice ignites both memory and desire.” Memory and desire? NICE! I need that. Bad. Sometimes I just get the memory. Other times - just the desire. But if I could get both in one package, I would be “eternally elated like an autumnal leaf gently wafting on the winds of time.” I made that last part up. It’s called poetry, jerk! Google it! This bill invades the Blue Moon on June 19. Bring your dingo boots, the handmade blade, and the child’s balloon.
IRMA
Since her first single in 1960 “(You Can Have My Husband But) Don’t Mess with My Man,” The Soul Queen of New Orleans, Irma Thomas, has been steadily banging out the tunes. She’s still doing it. And does it again at the Paragon Casino’s Mari Showroom on June 19 at 9 p.m. Doors will open at 8 p.m.
STEVEN COHEN
Steve Cohen is one of the unsung musical treasures hiding round every corner in Lafayette. Like a journeyman songsmith, he’s been banging on the iron of roots, blues, and honky tonk for the past two decades plus. It’s some choice gun slinging. He brings the swamp blues train to Bella Notte on June 17. It is important that you go to this show, now!
ETC
Astronomers play Artmosphere on June 16…New local band 80 Proof play Artmosphere on June 21 with Ryan Brunet & The Malfecteurs…Steve Riley plays the Atchafalaya Club on June 20…On June 18, Johanna Divine plays Barnes & Noble bookstore for the Beat the Heat Series… On June 19, the Pine Leaf Boys play Lake View Park in Eunice…Any way you want it? That’s the way you need it! On June 18, Frontier: a Journey Tribute Band play Nitetown… Brandon Moreau Avec Pain Perdu play Vermillion on June 20… Saint Cecilia play ’70s, ’80s and ’90s acoustic music at The Sound Factory on June 18…Radio Alert! New 88.7 show called SoundClub Radio Programme. It airs every Friday at midnight on KRVS. Peep it out. They do water, outer space, and invisibility, among other themes. Nice. Listen on 88.7 FM. Also, archived here: SoundClubRadio.blogspot.com. Speaking of which, The Viatones and Bird City play Frankie Burger on June 17.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Written by Dege Legg
BONERBORNE
Anders Osborne + Bonerama = Anderama. Or Bonerborne. You decide. Freedom of choice. It’s America, baby. Good music is good music. Grant Street hosts a night of New Orleans music. Grammy-winning songwriter Anders Osborne was a traveling troubadour from Sweden, hankering and twanging in his mind on a mountain when he somehow ended up in New Orleans, playing anthem-worthy roots rock — New Orleans-informed, but with a quasi worldwide scope of sorts. Bonerama play the fatback funk and bacon crusted groove crunk. Funk, jam, or rock, whatever you want to call it — when Bonerama play a lot people tend to show up and throw down. Anders Osborne and Bonerama play Grant St. on June 10. And Geno Delafose plays the following night on June 11.
NATHAN RICE
Musician, skater, metalhead, offshore worker. What else can you use to describe Nathan Rice? How about “flamenco guitarist?” Yeah! Dude fooled around and fell in love with the whole flamenco style around 2005. Since then, he’s been messing around, mixing up the rumba with the rasgueado of fast strumming and BOOM…out comes a new monster with Nathan’s name on it. It’s like magic. “I have yet to find anyone else besides myself playing this style in Lafayette and hopefully I can inspire other guitar players out there to learn the flamenco,” says Rice. “I have big plans with this music.” He just recently started playing out, so go catch Nathan Rice with Rex Moroux at Artmosphere on June 14.
12 STONES
12 Stones and It’s Alive at Nitetown on June 13. Crank it up! You know what I mean. Rip off the sleeves, pulverize the brains, eat the mash potatoes, and go out to Nitetown to catch the mod-rock of 12 Stones and It’s Alive.
MISSISSIPPI HILL COUNTRY
Cedric Burnside and Lightnin’ Malcolm are both itching with the Mississippi hill country blues stuff. Cedric, the grandson of R.L. Burnside, has been called “one of the greatest drummers in the world.” He’s deep in the pocket. Lightnin’ Malcolm is a slide player from Missouri. They teamed up around 2005 and are going on their third release of pork chop, ham hock, greasy backwoods blues. Go see them at Blue Moon on June 10.
ETC
Check it out. Lafayette’s got roller derby now! Nice. Acadiana Good Times Rollers play Alexandria Cenla Derby Dames at Top Shelf in Youngsville on June 12. Doors open at 6 p.m. Go to goodtimesrollers.org…Ann, Wilson and Joel Savoy play Café Des Amis on June 9… Lafayette’s Spank the Monkey plays Mickey’s at Cypress Bayou Casino on June 11…The Viatones and FeuFollet bring their magic to Artmosphere on June 11… On June 12, Danny Devillier brings back the 54321 Sessions to Artmosphere with Bright Light Social Hour also on the bill…Don’t miss the infamous A.C. on June 11 at The Bar in Metairie.
AVEC
The madman of the Cajun fiddle and his band Beausoleil return for another triumphant, yet suitably chilled, yet substantially massive, yet extremely tasteful and inventive freeze-dried set of tunes at the Blue Moon on June 4. Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet pretty much invented the archetype for the modern, touring Cajun band. Everything else has followed to one degree or another. Take amazing players, write some classic tunes, put a few spins on it, play a zillion shows, and then do it again for a few decades.
TORNADO HOUNDS
In their bio, Tornado Rider describe themselves as a “bird band of swirling goat god victory that lurks in the spooky forest regions and yells out over the mountains, glicking the gunt of Nairobi into the fortress of Norwegian butt-death.” Very nice! Well played. What do they need me for if they’re going to come up with killer descriptions like that for their band? My work is done. Utilizing cello, bass, and drums, Tornado Rider hammers, blends and purees through tunes that reside somewhere between Tuvan throat singing, Voivod and The Ramones, mushing it all up into a kosher stew of meaty by-products. Do it. Be there. And ride the wind, my sons. Tornado Rider plays Blue Moon on June 3.
HAGGARD & CASH
Question: What’s the next best thing to the real thing? Answer: regular dudes who aren’t the real dudes, playing the real dudes’ thing. Acadiana Center for the Arts presents Music of Legends: an Evening with Johnny, Merle, and friends. That would be Cash, Haggard, and some more dudes. It’s a tribute to country music icons on June 5 at 7 p.m. at Acadiana Center for the Arts.
ETC
This week’s installment of In Your Own Backyard by The Center for Cultural and Eco-Tourism is hosted by KATC meteorologist Rob Perillo. Hear him dish on “Wind, Water and Survival: Hurricane Stories” at the Vermilionville at 6:30 p.m. on June 8...The Melvins play at the Spanish Moon in Baton Rouge on June 8...Tipitina’s Co-op is hosting “From LA to L.A.” workshop with Renee Bennett at 5:30 p.m. on June 2. Renee Bennett is a writer, organizer, and co-foundeder of the Children’s Museum of Acadiana...The Hulinator! TK Hulin plays the Atchafalaya Club on on June 6 with guests Percy Sledge and Wayne Toups.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Written by Lanie Cook
DIRTY OLD ONE MAN BAND
Country music. Gee-tars. Trucker hats. Beer. These things are elemental to the Texas way, and Austin native Scott H. Biram — the self-proclaimed “Dirty Old One Man Band” — takes all these typically hillbilly ho-hums (hats and beer included) and throws ‘em on a raw, rock and roll roots blues sound, all by his lonesome. Check him out with the Freetown Hounds — along with the first post-tour Lafayette performance from our very own Brother Dege — Saturday, May 29 at Grant Street Dancehall.
GET FUNKED UP
Multifaceted in nature, the word “funk” has numerous meanings: a crummy mood (“He’s been in such a funk since his old lady gave him the boot”); a bad smell (“Put those shoes back on; your feet smell the funk!”); the guy who discovered vitamins (Casimir Funk, 1884-1967); or — more relevantly — the dirty blend of soul, jazz and rhythm and blues tunes that brings feel-good vibes and body-movin’ grooves (James Brown, Sly Stone and — lucky for you — the Funk Club jam sessions at Sadies Downtown). Get up offa that thing and join members of Uma Zuma, Bimora, The Good Captain, The Botanist, Spontaneous Comphunktion and Prodigies of Peace as they milk the funk Friday, May 28.
CHEZ GISELE
A colorful, elegant woman born of a privileged Parisian upbriging, Gisele Carriton married a Cajun soldier after World War II and settled in Lafayette, where she eventually stirred up controversy and criticism by opening the first gay cabaret nightclub in the area — a challenging feat that eventually resulted in the death of one of the club’s employees. Playwright Dennis Ward remembers and re-creates this forgotten moment in Lafayette history in his drag musical comedy-noire, Chez Gisele, which opens at Cite des Arts Thursday, May 27, and runs through June 12.
OH MY DEAR GIVERS GOODNESS
If you haven’t been to a Givers show yet, take advantage on May 28 when the Lafayette music darlings play to the masses at this spring’s final installment of Downtown Alive!
ETC.
The folksy, bluesy tunes of The Viatones come to Blue Moon Saloon on May 30, and you can catch them again with the funky boys of Machete at Sadies on June 1... Artmosphere’s got your Memorial Day Party at the Rain or Shine BBQ & Cheap Beer Deck Party with bands all day on May 31... Have your cheeseburger and fries with a side of Bird City/Giant Cloud/The Cavemen when they play at Frankie Burger on May 29... Vagabond Swing plays with Research Turtles May 28 at Blue Moon Saloon.
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