The Revivalists @ NolaFunk NYC 8/14/14

With a temperature of 76 degrees at 8 pm, the sun was setting on the west side of Manhattan Island while the nightlife was picking up at the South Street Seaport on the east side. The Watermark Bar is set on a pier over the East River with a view of all three bridges that connect Manhattan and Brooklyn. As harbor cruise ships, water taxis and speed boats navigated the river, NOLAFUNK was underway in NYC, and it was almost time for The Revivalists to take the stage.

The Revivalists are a seven piece band out of New Orleans, throwing down funk and rock rhythms, creating an almost spiritual fusion of harmonies, horns and raising-a-little-hell vocals. Not a band to concern themselves with conforming to their own mold, The Revivalists are a free-form life force, ever creating and ever changing.

Why bother to slowly set the mood when pumping the crowd from the first song is such a better option. As David Shaw’s distinctive vocals began the set with “Stand Up,” the rest of the band immediately kicked into high gear as they drew the crowd into the music. Full of energy, and frenetic at times, Shaw is a mesmerizing frontman, with arms in constant motion and hair that moves to its own tempo.

For the rest of the review and more photos, please click on The Revivalists @ NOLAFUNK NYC 8/14/14  at OnstageMagazine.com

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the subdudes @ BB King's NYC

The date was entered into the iPhone calendar as soon as it was announced. The original subdudes were back together and would be playing BB King’s in NYC.

In March of 1987, three members of the Continental Drifters and another musical friend got together for an acoustic show in New Orleans. That for-one-night-only show started what has been an on and off partnership for over twenty-five years. Over that time the subdudes made a few changes in the band, have been on hiatus, have regrouped, and now are on tour with the original lineup.

Much like the blend of food their old hometown is known for, the music of the subdudes is a gumbo of zydeco, folk, roots, and a lot of swamp thrown in. It is based on sweet harmonies, lots of squeezebox melodies and, the absence of a drum kit. It is subdued… to a point.

For the rest of the review please jump over to onstagemagazine.com by clicking on this link: 

the subdudes @ BB King's NYC

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Mardi Gras. Letting the Good Times Roll on Fat Tuesday

Fat Tuesday. Yep, the last day of fun before forty of not so much. At least for those observing Lent. So if you are observing Lent and if you will be abstaining and repenting and all some shit like that, today and tonight until midnight marks the last taste you will have to "laissez les bons temps rouler" for quite a while.

While I have no say in just what types of gluttony, lasciviousness, or general debauchery you may engage in over the next 16+ hours, I do have a say in how best to get your feet moving.

Sugar Boy Crawford - "Jock-A-Mo"

Queen Ida - "Jambalya"

Neville Brothers - "Fire On The Bayou"

Buckwheat Zydeco - "Throw Me Something Mister"

Professor Longhair - "Go To The Mardi Gras"

And how could you not finish it off without Satchmo...
Louis Armstrong - "When The Saints Come Marching In"

Grab some beignets, a plate of crawfish and experience a little 'joie de vivre' for the last time, for a long time.

Iko Iko...Get Those Feet Moving

Who hasn't heard this song?

There's a reason why everyone knows it...even though guaranteed we don't know the right words. The reason we all know it is because it's just a great, infectious tune and it really doesn't matter if you know the words or not. All you need to sing is "Iko Iko," and your feet start moving and your face brightens as a big grin comes across it.

The story about Iko Iko goes something like this. In the 50's a New Orleans musician named James "Sugar Boy" Crawford, wrote a tune called "Jock-A-Mo" which eventually morphed into Iko Iko. The story of the song centers on the confrontation of two different "tribes" or Mardi Gras Indians. Crawford used many of the phrases used by the tribes in the song, but in the end it has always been the feeling and melody of the song which has kept it a favorites of bands even today.

A few tastes of "Iko Iko"

Possibly the first recording was by the Dixie Cups...remember "Chapel of Love"? Legend has it they were at a recording session when they began singing "Iko Iko", accompanied only by a bit of percussion. Priceless.

Belle Stars " Iko Iko"
For the Deadheads and you know who you are..the Grateful Dead "Iko Iko"

My personal favorite version, Dr. John "Iko Iko"

The hurricane's coming, might as well dance til it gets here.

"If your feet ain't tappin', baby you're dead."

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"Write This Down"...but what is it?

So, as happens from time to time, 'the uncle' calls me up in the middle of the day and says "write this down." So I do.  Now 'the uncle' drives a cab these days and as with the rest of his life, he has too much free time on his hands. But he also has a free ear, so when he hears a song or a band he thinks I might like..well I get the phone call.

Our taste today is the result of one of those calls. Now because he might be driving when he hears something interesting, I don't always get all the information about it...like if it's the name of a band or the title of the song. Such was the case with this selection. However, in researching it, a band with a great sound was discovered.

The band is the subdudes and the song was "Papa Dukie & the Mud People."  Out of New Orleans, the subdudes have been playing together off and on since 1987. Blues-Americana roots based...throw in some cajun-zydeco influence with some rock and soul...what you end up is a joyful blend of voices and instruments.

Take a listen.

"Papa Dukie & the Mud People" ...was it a band or a song. well, it's one real good song

And, a  few more tastes to enjoy.

"Late at Night"
"Need Somebody"
"Street Symphony" 
"Standing Tall"

Good stuff to start the day, rock out for lunch or make the evening go just right.

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