R.I.P Dr. John

Another New Orleans music legend has passed away.  Malcolm John Rebennack better known to the world as Dr. John passed away today from a heart attack at the age of 77.

Most of the world know him for his hit song "Right Place, Wrong Time"

To call him a one hit wonder would be selling the six time Grammy Award winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted artist short. He also received an Honorary Doctorate from Tulane University.

"Such A Night"

"There Must Be A Better World Somewhere"

"Craney Crow"

He will be missed!

Battle of the Bands Results: Staying in New Orleans, Blueberry Hill

Shutouts happen in the Battle of the Bands. To shut out Led Zeppelin and the Glenn Miller Orchestra you must be a legend in your own right, and Louis Armstrong is a legend. You are probably wondering what drugs I am on putting a battle featuring these three artists together in a Battle of the Bands. No drugs here my mind is just that musically twisted. The shutout is great because Fats Domino and Louis Armstrong have New Orleans in common.



We celebrate winners on this blog.

When you win it's a "Wonderful World"

It is kind of like "The Bare Necessities"

"When the Saints Go Marching In"

Well I'll go marching into whatever else is next and return here with a new post soon!

A to Z Challenge: D is to Dumpstaphunk

A great thing about the A to Z Challenge is that is gives you a chance to write about some of your favorite things. Yesterday I wrote about one of my favorite musicals and today I am going to post about one of my favorite bands of this millennium.

Today's post is about Dumpstaphunk, a funk rock band out of New Orleans. You may not of herd about them, which is fine I certainly will introduce the to you. The band features two generations of one of the best known musical families from New Orleans the Neville family. The band was founded by Aaron Neville's son Ivan Neville who has played with Neville Brothers, The Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, and more. Ivan has his cousin Ian playing guitar with Dumpstaphunk.

Sometimes you just have to "Put it in the Dumpsta"..

Here the are the first time I saw them performing James Brown's "Camel Walk"..

Let's "Turn This Thing Around"...

Here is some fresh Funk, featuring the talented Trombone Shorty

Hope you enjoyed my funky little post and stayed tuned for an exciting E post coming soon!

Word of the Day is Loss: R.I.P Marvin "Word" Day

It is not every day that the death of a waiter is a trending topic on facebook. Not everyday that a waiter's death makes headlines if only locally in a major city. The news hits you a little different hen you realize you have been to the restaurant and you have seen the waiter in action. Hits you a little more when you remember Marvin Day announcing the word of the day and knowing you received a fist bump from the man.



(Picture from Wikiedia)

Like the picture above I remember waiting inline to eat at The Camellia Grill in New Orleans. It was well worth the wait for a fabulous omelet.  I was amazed that the waiters would just call out the orders. That amazed me as they were busy but nothing was written down and the orders all came out perfect.

Mr. Day wasn't our waiter but I do remember him walking through sharing the word and fist bumps. The wait staff was very energetic.

I'm sure the regulars miss Marvin Day. I'm certain he was something special in lives he had developed relationships with. I'm glad our paths crossed.

The City of New Orleans mourns him, the staff at The Camellia Grill certainly miss him and I am sure his family and friends miss him as well.

Happy Birthday Dr. John!

Today is Dr. John's birthday. He was a participant in my first battle of the bands post this month which you can revisit here.

He turns 74 and with a long career that means a lot of great music. This is how we celebrate!

This song is probably my all time favorite Dr. John song..

I want to dig deeper maybe pull a clip of Dr. John playing with some Louisiana All Stars called The Voices of the Wetland All Stars featuring Tab Benoit, George Porter, and Cyril Neville...

Here Dr. John performs "There Must be a Better World Some Place"..

Happy Birthday! I hope you enjoyed your visit!

Battle of the Bands Number 8: When the Saints Go Marching In

I'm back for my eighth installment of Battle of the Bands. Here is how it works:

Listen to the song clips in the blog post. In the comment section vote for the one you like the best. Feel free to explain why you voted the way you did. The battles take place on the first and 15th and winners will be announced on the 7th and 21st. I will normally post the winner in the comments. Of course have fun and enjoy!

If you are still looking for more musical fun after you vote, you can check out these sites for more battles:

Far Away Series

Your Daily Dose

DiscConnected

Tossing It Out

STMcC Presents "Battle of the Bands"

A Writer's Life in Progress

Curious as a Cathy

The Creative Outlet of StratPlayer

The Sound of One Hand Typing

Alex J. Cavanaugh In

This rounds song:

Since today is All Saints Day I thought I would choose "When The Saints Go Marching In." The precise origins of the song are unknown, the song originated as a hymn. Louis Armstrong is credited for the first recording of the song as he made it more of a jazz standard.

First Challenger:

Starting off  Dr. John because in this competition you have to have someone representing New Orleans...

Second Challenger

It would have been too easy to pit two great brass bands against one another. I want contrast! New Jersey is quite different from New Orleans. Bruce Springsteen is quite different from Dr. John. 

Ladies and Gentleman The Boss...

Anyway these are my picks for this competition. Vote in the comments! Happy All Saints DAy!

BP: Another Oil Spill

British Petroleum once had a great solar energy program. I once believed they cared about this planet. I know their offices in Frederick, Maryland closed a few years back. Those offices worked on the solar energy stuff. I am sure there are a few people working for BP who care about the environment and the planet.

However, I watch them say the gulf is fine and now four years after their disaster oil still finds its way to the shores of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. Probably Texas and Mexico too. I see them try to weasel out of doing more, for taking responsibility, and perhaps it is a disaster that can't be made right. It is business and BP wants more funds going to their profits than going to clean up projects. Most companies would do the same thing.

Our government sames to want to let them off the hook. I didn't like the way Bush handled Katrina and I don't like the way Obama handled the oil spill in the gulf. I want the gulf cleaned up at least as cleaned as it was before the spill. New Orleans appears to have healed from Katrina but I would like the levees improved to help the city survive the next Katrina. Maybe I have too many I wants.

I want to enjoy the salt life, the bayou life, the swamp life instead of making due in the crude life. Then if I think things might be getting better there is the news of another oil spill by BP. It is a smaller spill but it stings a bit knowing they haven't cleaned up their big spill.

As I teach my daughter how to fish the waters of the gulf, something I am learning as well, I wonder when she has children will she be able to teach them?

Happy Birthday Fats Dominos

Fats Domino turns 86 today. Who I was going to write about today (or at least who I was going to write about first) was not easy. He had some competition. However, he is someone it fun to write about and more importantly share music.

I think everyone knows "Blueberry Hill" but Fats is far from a one hit wonder.

 

.

Above is another classic "I'm Walking." I could go on and on. Don't worry he has more classics like this one..

What is your favorite Fats Domino song?  I am glad he is still alive. I am thankful for the songs he has created. Maybe I like him for his New Orleans roots, his great songs, his soulful voice..it is hard to pinpoint it.

Voices of Wetlands

I had been wanting to catch Tab Benoit's Voices of Wetlands All-Star Band for sometime. Well the last time I was in New Orleans my friend Eric mentioned they were playing later in the month. I didn't know if I could make it since my hours at work were changing. Well things worked out.



Well the lineup for the band changes quite often. Being the guitar fan that I am I wanted to catch Tab playing with Anders Osborne another great guitarist living in the New Orleans area. My wish was granted! Truth be told I wold have made the trip just to see Tab play.

It was a bonus that the proceeds of the free concert series was going to help the hungry in New Orleans. It sames like everywhere there are hungry and homeless. A good cause, beautiful weather, a good friend, and great music. That's what I call a super mid-week get away.



There was a third guitarist in the band this time around, he was Tom Malone. He was in a local band called The Subdudes and has played with a bunch of greats. The band also consisted of Waylon Thibodeaux on fiddle and Johnny Sansone on harmonica and accordion both musicians were a real treat and added a lot of Louisiana culture to the show.

Here they play "Let it Go" from that show..

Here they perform "Poor Man's Paradise" from that show..

Really you can't beat that for a free concert in a city park! Obviously I enjoyed the show and thought I wold share.

All Saints Day

In honor of All Saints day and being pretty close to New Orleans I thought I would dedicate my post to "When The Saints Go Marching In."


Here is a classic version by Louis Armstrong...

From a jazz great to a blues great here is B.B. King's version...

Here is the funk master James Brown with his Motown version...

Bringing it back to New Orleans with Dr. John...

Maybe a royal version by the king himself Elvis..

and I'll end with The Dirty Dozen Brass Band giving a great brass, funky, New Orleans version of the great song..

Enjoy your All Saints Day and enjoy the music!

Gretna

My last day in New Orleans was quite different from the previous one. Still started with a delicious breakfast this time cooked by my host Eric, who is a writer and long time friend. His energy level did not meet that of the waiter at The Camellia Grill where we had breakfast the day before. However, that waiter could have been a motivational speaker and I don't think many people could match that energy level.

On this day there would be no costumes. A good thing. Another good thing was instead of the scheduled tropical storm we were treated to a beautiful day. We headed out across the Mississippi River to a strip mall to catch a shuttle bus to the last day of the Gretna Heritage Festival.The Festival already had the likes of Chicago, Marcia Ball, Blood Sweat and Tears, and Earth, Wind and Fire. Almost anywhere else it would have been considered a major festival in the New Orleans area my friend told me it was just another weekend.

I was sold on going to the show when my friend told me Tab Benoit was playing. After all Eric had turned me on to Tab on my first trip to New Orleans too many years ago. As a blues fan I don't think it gets much better than listening to the blues on the banks of the Mississippi. If I had a bucket list I would be checking it off.

Tab Benoit on stage,,,



Here is a taste from his set...

They do like their football in NOLA. Tab's set was during the Saints game. Tab had the game on the big screen instead of the band to oblige the fans.

I took in the sights of Gretna, the historic Court House, the Spirit of Louisiana steam train on display, the arts and crafts. I took in the sounds of the other bands playing on the different stages. While the Ben Miller Band was more Americana than blues it was still neat to hear and see Cigar Box guitars and electric spoons played while sitting on a levee.

The day's headliner was ZZ Top.Here the little old band from Texas plays "Catfish Blues" t the festival.

Marie Frank reviewed ZZ Top's September Wolf Trap show for DC Metro Theater Arts and you can read her review of that show here. Since it is on the same tour to get an idea of what I experienced. If you want to read another point of view of my adventure in New Orleans check out my friend Eric's blog here. He calls it "My Year of Mardi Gras" and Eric blogs about almost everything related to New Orleans. Including writers, music, adventures and more.

A view o New Orleans from across the river in Gretna...

That is how I spent the first weekend of October! Good friends, fun times, and then topped with some great music. 

Return to New Orleans

No I didn't arrive in New Orleans by train like Arlo Guthrie sings above. I arrived via interstate 10. New Orleans had gone through out a lot since the last time I visited her charms. Battered by hurricanes and dumped on by oil. My life like the city had gone through a bunch of changes as well, some good and some bad. New Orleans didn't need me, but I needed the Big Easy. I missed the feel of a city, live music, arts, and the company of a good friend.

No the city wasn't the ruin of me. It was a needed fix of live music. The first day I had a fabulous breakfast served by a waiter who could pass for an inspirational speaker. I soaked up the sights of this up town area which was quite different from the French Quarter I visited in the past. I topped my visit off with a great day packed with football and music.  Will blog about that later. However, it was safe to say I found my musical fix to stop my withdrawal.

Happy Birthday New Orleans

New Orleans was founded on May 7, 1718 by the French. I had the privilege of visiting the city 12 years ago, give or take. What can I say I loved the city. I stayed in the French Quarter. I was in town for Jazz Fest, formally known as the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Being a music fan it was a musical heaven. Yes part of the fun was hanging out with good friends.However, being turned on to new music at least to my ears was fantastic. I ate local. I loved the courtyards. I loved being able to dart in from the hustle of Bourbon Street to sit in a quiet courtyard. I loved the local market and the hidden gem of a record store.

The music in that city seeps into almost everything I listen too. Being a blues fans, stretching out to jazz, and of course rock. The influence on folk and Jimmy Buffett. I could go on and on. It is all there. The city is not all like this...

but music is everywhere....

I want to go back. I want to go to Jazz Fest again. There are so many famous clubs I want to visit. I want to see how the city is now after Katrina and the oil spill.

Anyway Happy Birthday New Orleans!

Snowed Out and Mardi Gras Week

Ok, we are having a heck of a winter. I like snow but I think I like things in moderation. Too much snow so I can't get my car out means no skiing and playing in the snow. We got dumped on and I live on a hill. We lost power for 12 hours one day and our roads have been barely passable by 4X4's. I have front wheel drive, my wife has a jeep. So, we have been staying at friends house who have power lines underground, and have been having an endless slumber party. I was finally able to get my car out yesterday. My laptop also crashed. So, needless to say I have been away from my computer for a while.

I published a few articles early this month. I haven't published anything new in almost 2 weeks so I do need to get on the stick (or at least the keyboard).

Well, it hasn't been all bad as Valentine's Day, me and my wife ended up going to the Tab Benoit show in Falls Church. He is a very talented musician. One of the best guitarists from New Orleans. Big Sam's Funky Nation was a fun opening act who also jammed with Tab during his set. It was a  great show and a great way to kick off Mardi Gras week. A little taste of New Orleans. Then Monday and even Tuesday were ordinary days. But hey ordinary days aren't all bad. I hope everyone had fun on Fat Tuesday.

Reflecting back to Katrina

Gustav's track is giving everyone a chance to reflect back on Katrina. Gustav is gaining strength, and expected to be at Cuba Saturday night. Right now Gustav is scheduled to hit between east Texas and extreme western Florida. Looking at the projection New Orleans could once again be facing a mighty Hurricane.

Katrina flooded the Big Easy and brought with her plenty of destruction to Louisiana and Mississippi. New Orleans wasn't ready for Katrina. The question now is will New Orleans be ready for Gustav?

Katrina did unite the country to help. I was living in Hagerstown at the time. Our minor league team the Suns had a night to raise money to help with Katrina relief, my church sent over a mission trip, and the local Boys Scouts sent supplies to replace what Boy Scouts had lost in the Gulf Region. Many other communities also helped like Hagerstown did. Celebrities helped too. Raising money, awareness, and literally pitching in to rebuild hard hit areas. I made several donations through the Episcopal Relief Fund which raised money around the nation to help the victims.

It was the right thing to do. It felt good to help. It felt sad to see the destruction. Hopefully, where ever Gustav decides to hit land, those areas will be prepared. Hopefully people will reach safety and property damage is minimal. If the communities that get hit need help, hopefully the nation will rally to provide that help. Hopefully, the Government will act quickly. Hopefully we are better prepared for Gustav.