A Halloween extravaganza, a fishhead stroll, a bluesman appears, and three, count them, three second lines. Here are my picks for your weekend’s musical choices.
Friday night, fans of the Radiators will be ecstatic. Four of the five original members of the band that broke up last year after 33 1/3 years together, and thousands of shows are playing on the same street.
Ed Volker, the band’s main songwriter and keyboardist, is playing an intimate gig at Oak Wine Bar and Bistro on Oak Street in uptown New Orleans. He has only played sporadically around town since the break up, so this should be a special night. He begins at 8 PM.
After Ed’s performance, fishheads will make their way down the block to the Maple Leaf Bar for a rare set by Raw Oyster Cult. This group features the two guitarists for the Radiators, Dave Malone and Camile Baudoin, and Frank Bua, the Radiators’ drummer. Bassist Reggie Scanlan is out of town with his new band, the New Orleans Suspects.
Saturday’s activates at the New Orleans Healing Center on St. Claude Avenue are part of a five-year-old festival called Anba Dlo, which is Haitian Kreyol for “Beneath the Waters.” It’s part concert, part party and big time fun.
There are three stages of live music. Among my favorites scheduled to perform are George Porter, Jr. and the 101 Runners featuring Big Chief Monk Boudreaux. Here’s the full schedule. There’s also a parade!
Also Saturday night, Jimbo Mathus returns to New Orleans to perform at Chickie Wah Wah. TVD just gave away a copy of his new EP, and I am happy to report that the winner will be in the house.
Finally the second lines! The Black Men of Labor traditionally paraded on the Sunday before Labor Day—a brilliant idea since most of the club members could rest on Monday rather than go to work. But since they got rained or hurricaned out so many times, they moved their parade to Saturday. It starts at 3 PM at Sweet Lorraine’s on St. Claude Avenue.
On Sunday, the Men and Ladies of Class throw their annual second line, but if I were you I’d head to Tremé to witness the united second line, which starts after the 11 AM mass ends at St. Augustine Church. Expect to see members of the Black Men of Labor, the Tremé Sidewalk Steppers, Sudan Social Aid & Pleasure Club, the Original Big Seven Second line Club, the Dumaine Street Gang, the Divine Ladies, the Money Wasters, Keep-N-It-Real, the Young Men Olympian, the Original Prince of Wales, the Lady Buckjumpers, Nine Times and the Valley of Silent Men Social Aid & Pleasure Club. The Rebirth, To Be Continued, Tremé, and Hot 8 Brass Bands will provide musical accompaniment.
See you there!
