SIMPLICATED/COMPLIFIED

Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Written by Lanie Cook

SIMPLICATED/COMPLIFIED
Times are fast these days. Technological communication puts people on constant standby, and long gone is the need for tangible, real-life interaction as entire social environments are now carried in pockets and purses. Moods, emotions and atmospheres have largely transformed into bits and blurbs of text — a sea of zeros and ones soaring through the digital realms of time and space — and we are constantly in touch in the most out-of-touch way. Simplicated/Complified combines the work of visual artist Marla Kristicevich and choreographer Paige Krause to explore this new era of communication, one that’s transformed — in a matter of years — from slow and intimate to increasingly rapid and sometimes complicated. The on-site performance will take place in Freetown Field on the corner of Gordon and Main Streets and will bring together the visual arts with the art of movement, all in a public, interactive setting so as to foster a greater community involvement. Performances are on May 21-22 at 8 p.m. Bring five or ten bucks for a donation and support the local arts.

ONE-EYED DOLL
She sings about love. She also sings about child abuse, serial killers, social injustice and hypocritical America. If the mere look of her isn’t intriguing enough (it’s like a hybrid between an anime heroine and a rag doll come to life), guitar-wielding Kimberly Freeman of Austin’s One-Eyed Doll plays music loud and twisted — although the kooky rock darling has a voice surprisingly sweet (in direct contrast to her apparently out-of-control stage antics). One-Eyed Doll brings its sound to Caffe Cottage — along with SILVAS, The FireMaiden From Outerspace and Foul Stench of Youth — on May 21.

SUN HOTEL
Their music is folksy and warm, with haunting choruses that resonate as though echoed through a lonely summer night’s cigarette haze. Combining a not-so-typically-New Orleans sound with a very New Orleans mood — they’re even sure to include the familiar images of boats, plantations and “loose women” — Sun Hotel brings its brand of self-described “swamp” indie from the Crescent City to Artmosphere on May 19.

RIDE OF SILENCE
Gas prices. An economical slump. Reignited desires to live actively. The city of Lafayette was awarded a plaque for tracking the most DUI arrests last year. Whatever the reason, bicycling seems to have caught on in this town, forcing drivers to reconsider roadways typically shared only with other motor vehicles. In efforts to boost this awareness, cyclists will take to the roads May 19 as part of the National Ride of Silence, a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while trekking on public roadways — namely Robert Himel and Michael Saucier, who were both killed in 2009 while riding bikes in Lafayette. Meet at Parc San Souci at 6:30 p.m. to pay homage.

SAVE THE BABIES
With more than 1,400 babies born prematurely every day, March of Dimes works tirelessly to fund research that prevents birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Courtesy Automotive Group pairs with Steve Riley and The Mamou Playboys this Saturday at Grant Street Dancehall for their annual March of Dimes Benefit. Money raised at the event helps fund education, community services, advocacy and research for infant health. Donate $10 at any Courtesy location for tickets and support the health of babies.

ETC.
Mike & Trey’s Exploratory Funk Rocket plays Artmosphere May 21… Bluesman Marty Christian hits Blue Dog Café May 22… Acadiana, Change Today! and Wildfires at Sadies May 20…

Cajun and Creole Folklore Preservation Party

Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Written by Lanie Cook

CAJUN AND CREOLE FOLKLORE PRESERVATION PARTY
What better a way to raise funds for preserving the rich cultural heritage of South Louisiana than by combining food, music and bon temps in support of the cause? On May 15, a minimum donation of $10 grants admission to the 7th Annual Archive Aid Fundraiser at the Blue Moon Saloon, where local musicians Joshua and Claire Caffery, Kelli Jones and the Giants, Cedric Watson and Daniel Coolik, Carol Fran and David Egan, and Feufollet will take the stage while Broussard’s Cajun Cookin’ fills your belly with a hearty serving of red beans and rice. Mais, dat sounds like a good time, cher! Proceeds from the benefit go toward the preservation, management and presentation of delicate historical materials for current and future generations and will also go toward upcoming CD projects that include some of the rare recordings found in the Archives of Cajun and Creole Folklore at UL. The event kicks off at 5 p.m. Saturday.

MUSIC BY ROBOTS
San Francisco, 1990s: After repeatedly dealing with the sloughs of ego-damaged drug-dependants plaguing his field, musician Jay Vance abandoned the concept of a traditional, human-based band and instead created a team of instrument-playing robots to back him musically. But in a rare twist of fate, the robots — fearing their creator to be THE antibot — captured him, renamed him JBOT and installed a chip in his brain that now forces him to humiliate himself in front of crowds all across the country ... or so the story goes, anyway. Captured! By Robots features three robots, three “headless hornsmen,” two stuffed apes and only one human that comprise a full-fledged band that tours the country and has played previously with the likes of Public Enemy and A Flock of Seagulls. You haven’t seen a band of robots rock like this since your fifth birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese (if Chuck were to have his intestines gutted and his eyes gouged, that is). See it to believe it Thursday, May 13 at Artmosphere.

SLEDGE TO SET THE MOOD
In 1966, country-soul pioneer Percy Sledge’s “When A Man Loves A Woman” exploded onto the charts, sending lovers swooning and hearts a-raging. Forty-four years later, many folks can thank Sledge for their mere existence. Sledge and Louisiana’s Aces Band head to Cowboys Friday, May 14.

ANGELMAN SYNDROME
WALK-A-THON
Angelman Syndrome (AS) is a largely unknown genetic disorder affecting more than 1,300 North Americans, with thousands more suffering from the disorder who remain incorrectly diagnosed or undiagnosed completely. On May 15, Lafayette joins 22 other cities in the National Angelman Syndrome Foundation’s Annual Walk-A-Thon. “For the past few years, we have been blessed by the support of our family members and friends in our efforts to raise money to support the work of the foundation and to raise awareness about this rare condition,” says Michelle Fontenot, parent of a child with AS, and site coordinator for the Lafayette walk. “The ultimate goal of the Angelman Syndrome Foundation, and ours as well, is to find a cure for AS; and we are confident that a cure will be found during our son’s lifetime.” Registration for the 1.25 mile walk through Girard Park begins at 8:30 a.m. For more information, including registration instructions, visit www.angelman.org or call (800) 432-6435.

ETC.
Horace Trahan & the Ossun Express “do that butt thing” at Downtown Alive! May 14... Locals Black Feratu join with California’s Obelisk and Philly’s Stinking Lizaveta May 14 at Sadies... 80s hair band rocker Randy Jackson of Zebra plays a solo acoustic set May 13 at Blue Moon Saloon... Cali groove-rockers Still Time return to Artmosphere May 16 for an encore performance of last month’s packed-house show... The Molly Ringwalds play Nitetown May 14...

Richie Havens

Written by Dege Legg
Wednesday, May 5, 2010

RICHIE HAVENS
He’s the unspoken king of Woodstock. Folk singer and guitarist Richie Havens opened the legendary 1969 festival with a marathon three hour set of acoustic folk tunes. When he ran out of material, he began improvising songs on stage. One of the improvised tunes was the celebrated song which came to be known in later years as...

Crouchstock

Written by Dege Legg
Wednesday, April 28, 2010

CROUCH STOCK
Suicide ain’t no way to live. Fast, slow, or mid-paced, hara-kiri, self-destruction, self-immolation, and the like are not cool. Each week over 100 young people take their own lives in the United States. Thus it is good that we have The Jacob Crouch Foundation raising awareness about the devastating reality...