Night Shows
Top Picks of Shows to check out after the Fest
By Staff Music WritersSuperfly Presents: The Radiators
Riverboat Creole Queen
Friday, April 25th, 7:30PM
Full Steam Ahead
January past was a monumental moment in the history of New Orleans music. With January of this year came the thirtieth anniversary of a New Orleans sensation known as the Radiators. The Rads, nicknamed so by their saturated fan base, is one of the only bands in history that has played for thirty years without ever losing a member or breaking up at some point in their career.
The band’s music is in a category all to itself called “fish head” music. Fish head music is the invention of the king fish himself, lead singer, songwriter, and piano man Ed Volker. Volker, guitarist Camille Baudoin, and drummer Frank Bua were in a band during the late seventies called the Rhapsodizers. The band subsequently split up after a historic five-hour jam session with guitarist Dave Malone and bass player Reggie Scanlan. The easy five became the Radiators in January 1978 and have been full stream ahead ever since.
The Rads music is so unique because of the slippery combinations of blues, R&B, jazz, country, zydeco, soul, swing, and gospel that are all brought together and fused into hardcore rock n’ roll with a twist. That twist would be the Rads’ own spin that they put on the tunes that are played. When the band starts to play, it’s as if the music drips from their instruments, slowly filling the room until everyone in the room is swimming in it. If you don’t swim, you will sink.
“We literally create our own atmosphere,” said guitarist Dave Malone, “There is a thickness to our sound that can overwhelm some people, but the people that want to swim in it, the ones that can actually swim and are willing to hold their breath, will have a kick in the ass ride.”
Aside from performing at the French Quarter Festival, Jazz Festival, and a never-ending list of tour dates, the Radiators are compiling an eclectic set of greasy tunes that have never been recorded. The tunes will go as far back as 1978 and will commemorate their past anniversary.
“The thirtieth retrospective won’t even be a ripple in the ocean of Rads tunes,” said Malone. “We’ve had two thousand more good songs that we’ve learned and forgotten than most bands ever learn.”
The retrospective will only be volume one of a lot more fish head music to come, and it is hoped to be out in time for Jazz Fest this year.
Although New Orleans is the home of the Radiators, the band has developed many other homes away from home. Radiators fans have come together in their own communities and formed Rads Krewes. These krewes of Radiators fans come together in states such as Colorado, Florida, and California, and put on shows.
“It was specifically based off of M.O.M.’s ball,” said Malone. “It’s the same desire and feeling of letting the music take you to a place where all the worries of your life go away and the music becomes what you live in and not the life that is kicking your butt currently. And it’s the same attitude that caused those guys to start the 501 Club, which became Tipitina’s. It’s that same love of music and the realization of how powerful music is that can make your life better. People experience that at M.O.M.’s ball. You can’t go there and not see it or else, goddamn, you better check your pulse. Those experiences are then taken back to their hometowns where they are shared with friends that look at them like a dog that hears a high-pitched noise. It’s these people that form these Krewes and recreate their experiences so that all of the people they know finally see a version of it, maybe a watered-down version, but still a version of it.”
Catch the Radiators at one of their five Jazz Fest night shows, one of which is on the Creole Queen Riverboat. There is nothing more fitting than hearing the Rads on the River. They will also be closing out the Jazz Festival on the second Sunday on the Gentilly stage. For an entire list of tour dates go to www.theradiators.org. –Floyd Falcon
Dr. John
House of Blues
225 Decatur St., 529-BLUE
Friday April 25 9:00 PM
To not have Dr. John play a night show during Jazz Fest season would be a travesty. Luckily, the legendary New Orleans musician will be playing House of Blues the first weekend. Also playing April 26 at Jazz Fest, fans will be able to really enjoy his authentic New Orleans sound. His fun and charismatic persona as Dr. John the Night Tripper makes his shows the perfect blend of psychedelic rock and Creole roots music. His passion for music continues to draw huge crowds of avid fans. As a much-loved musician whose talent continues to grow and whose appeal never wanes, this show is sure to impress and get you dancing. Get your tickets now and get to the show early. –Erica Stevens
Blind Boys of Alabama
Tipitina’s
501 Napoleon Ave., 895-TIPS
Saturday, April 26, 9:00 PM
Four-time Grammy winners Blind Boys of Alabama, in the midst of a worldwide tour in support of their new CD Down in New Orleans, stop by Tipitina’s this Jazz Fest season for a night of optimistic roots and soul music. Formed in 1939 at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind, these veterans of gospel put on a memorable celebration every time they hit the stage. With three blind lead vocalists and a blind drummer -- plus an amazing and inspired sound -- the band has been able to withstand over six decades in the industry. Recently and spontaneously joined by Prince on stage in Hollywood, the Blind Boys of Alabama sing with the perfect mix of soul, surprise, and sass for this year’s Jazz Fest season. After they stop by the city that inspired the new album (their first one recorded here in New Orleans), they head off to Norway, then Ireland, then through Canada to spread the sounds of hope we know and love. Make sure you see this (in)famous group as they continue their international tour. –Erica Stevens
Bennevento Russo Duo
The Preservation Hall
726 St. Peter St.,
Saturday, April 26, (Late Show-12:00 AM)
It would be unfair to say that the Bennevento Russo Duo fits into any musical category aside from the one they have created for themselves. “Limiting yourself leads to new discovery,” says Bennevento. This is the reason that the band has remained a duo since their conception in 2002. These guys are literally trying to push things past the limit with only two players. The band was labeled with a bunch of titles in the beginning due to their musical entrenchments in jazz, rock, indie, and improvisation, and are known for jamming out their songs for twenty minutes- which is kind of jazzy, but also admired by the jam band community. This is the only gig that the Duo is listed to play during Jazz Fest, and it is an acoustic show, which you do not see them do too often.
–Floyd Falcon
Big Sam’s Funky Nation
Tipitina’s French Quarter
233 N. Peters St., 566-7095
Saturday, April 26 10:30 PM
A performance from Big Sam’s Funky Nation will have you on your feet from start to finish! Big Sam Williams, Calvin Johnson, Andrew Baham, Adam Matasar, Casey Robinson, Houg Dietrich, and Alvin Ford know how to start a party and get people shaking their butts, with songs like “Funkin’ at the Butt.” Beginning in 2005, Funky Nation has been known for their high-energy performances and feel-good tunes. Big Sam, a New Orleans native, renowned musician and the former Dirty Dozen Brass Band trombonist is responsible for igniting a musical frenzy with his talented, jazz-trained brass band. He began playing trombone in his high school marching band, an instrument Big Sam had not even heard of prior to joining the band, and hasn’t looked back since. Between the soulful solos, the animated street-dancing, and optimistic personality of the group, Big Sam’s Funky Nation revitalizes the New Orleans spirit when performing. Their most recent CD, Peace Love and Understanding (2008), somehow manages to capture the vivaciousness of their live performances. –Sarah Yazdian
The Benjy Davis Project
Tipitina’s French Quarter
233 N. Peters St., 566-7095
Saturday, April 26 10:30 PM
For a night of soul and Southern music, The Benjy Davis Project will be featured in the “Backbeat Jazz Fest Concert Series 2008” at Tipitina’s in the French Quarter. The Baton Rouge-based band has shown the ability to move the audience during their vibrant performances, and Benjy Davis has said he wants to touch them in some way. This is obvious in all of their shows when they deliver their soulful, folk-rock music, which is heavily influenced by the Southern sounds they grew up with. Their sincere lyrics are just as significant as the instruments used as a backdrop. Written and recorded spontaneously, The Benjy Davis Project poignantly captures the true emotions felt by the band members. In fact, Bassist Brett Bolden admits “ferociously fighting the urge” to cry when he hears some of the songs from their latest album, Dust. Because of their honesty and emotion, combined with years of experience, Dust may be the album to raise the band to even greater heights. –Suzanne Pfefferle
Stanton Moore Trio CD Release Party
Blue Nile
532 Frenchman St., 948-2583
Saturday, April 26 9:45 PM
The Stanton Moore Trio, featuring Will Bernard on guitar and Robert Walter on keyboards, come together through the drumming sensation of Stanton Moore himself, along with special guests Big Sam, Eddie Roberts, Jonathan Batiste, and Topaz to promote the trio’s latest CD, Emphasis (on parenthesis). Stanton and the guys will enchant you with some of their latest material including “(late night at the) Maple Leaf” and “Wissions (Of Vu),” a personal favorite. Be sure to chug down a favorite energy drink since these guys won’t get started until 9:45 pm, and they’re known for playing into the wee morning hours, especially during Fest time. Needless to say, their musical works celebrate the classic New Orleans style and groove, but with an edgy twist, making fans want (the rhythmic arsenal from) Moore and his trio even more. –Sheri McKee
Groovesect with Eric Krasno
The Blue Nile
532 Frenchman St., 948-2583
Monday, April 28 10:00 PM
Groovesect is getting together with Soul Live guitarist Eric Krasno for the Boogalooin at jazz fest concert series going down at the Blue Nile. New Orleans has loved having local boys Groovesect home from their most recent tour, which included time shared on the stage with the great Fred Wesley. Inspired by the syncopated beats and jazz rhythms of New Orleans, Groovesect lays down their own language of funk. The voice is hard and has a mind of its own. It will be interesting to see how Krasno plays into it. The new Groovesect album is called On The Brim and can be purchased on their website or at the Mushroom. The CD is produced by John Snyder and features Fred Wesley on 3 tracks.
–Floyd Falcon