Friday, April 18, 2008

Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?

And the concert joy just keeps coming! On Wednesday night, the intrepid Sally and I headed off to the Barns at Wolf Trap, where the Preservation Hall Jazz Band was performing. I had spoken with the band's musical director, Ben Jaffe (hey, along with the guy from Honeyhoney, that makes two Ben Jaffes in just over one week!) for a Post preview. And, if I can say so myself, it's one of my favorite articles in a long while, so I'll give you the link again.

I've been to New Orleans only once, years before the hurricane horribleness. Hearing this joyful noise, played by a mix of old-timers and young turks who obviously love each other and what they're doing with near-religious (in the best way) fervor, I vow to get back there again soon.

(press photo)

The band's manager graciously invited us backstage during intermission to meet Jaffe and some of the band, which was a kick. We talked about Polaroid film, set lists, and a great character in N'awlins who prefers to do his sets after he cooks BBQ for the audience.

The second half kicked it up to a level of celebration worthy of Mardi Gras, with sing-alongs, great solos and a band stroll through the crowd which resulted in a bunch of us creating a second line that went up onto the stage. Sally and I stood right behind/between the drummer and the piano player, looking out over the on-their-feet dancing crowd and "shaking our things." Fun, fun stuff.

Time to get cracking on the O/CD Tally, so here are a bunch of discs that came to me as potential concert previews, but didn’t make the cut:
1. The BIG SLEEP – Sleep Forever (Frenchkiss Records)
2. ROBBIE FULKS – Revenge! (Yep Roc)
3. HAALE – No Ceiling (Channel A Music)
Pronounced as in “halle-lujah or jale-peno," this Iranian-American singer/songwriter is going for a Persian mystic vibe, but the near-dour tone gets kinda drone-y.
4. SECONDHAND SERENADE – A Twist in My Story (Glassnote/East West)
For those who need another Dashboard Confessional (one’s enough for me), singer/Songwriter John Vesely of Menlo Park, CA became MySpace's #1 unsigned artist for 7 months at the end of 2006 and sold over 20,000 copies of his self-produced, debut album before making a record deal. But I feel like I've heard it all before, and better.
5. AUKTYON – Girls Sing (Geometriya)
John Medeski and Marc Ribot are two of the hot players in this “Russian bohemian-rock band.”
6. HOT CHIP - Made In The Dark (Astralwerks /DFA Records)
Unlike a lot of electro-dance traxx, this album was informed by two years of touring, so the music is meant to be performed live and has a beating human heart (metaphorically speaking) audible in the mix.
7. CHATHAM COUNTY LINE – IV (Yep Roc)
Produced by Chris Stamey, of Yo La Tengo, Alex Chilton and dBs fame.
8. JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE – The Good Life (Bloodshot)
Justin Townes (named after Van Zandt) is the son of Steve Earle, and a chip off the smart block. Fired from his own dad’s band for what his press kit calls “some very bad habits,” he’s cleaned up his act and upped his songwriting game, citing influences as varied as Kurt Cobain, Jimmy Reed, Ray Charles and the Pogues in narrative tales that reflect shades of acoustic blues and country-tinged folk.
9. WINK KEZIAH & DELUX MOTEL – Working Songs for the Drinking Class (Great South Records)
10. KEVIN DEVINE – Put Your Ghost to Rest (Capitol)
Devine is no longer with the label, but he's got a voice like Ben Gibbard's, a writing style akin to Josh Ritter, and a bright, smart sound, so it's their loss.

YTD O/CD Tally: 63

Add to your own tally -
Tomorrow (Saturday, April 19th) is Record Store Day - go to a real music store and buy some real music!

No comments: