Mardi Gras Music Guide: Clubs heat up for the season

By Wesley Hodges of Nola Live Music Blog for NolaVie

The recent onslaught of steady spring weather coupled with a late Carnival have undoubtedly helped stoke the general electricity in the air this time of year. Now, with Mardi Gras just two weeks away, that powerful and intangible energetic force should translate to more emphatic, electric and extended performances in the clubs around town. If you made it out to last Saturday’s parades and the 101 Runners Krewe de Vieux after party or Donald Harrison’s “New Sound of Mardi Gras” show at Tip’s, chances are you’ve already hit your Carnival stride. Even out-of-towner Grace Potter made mention of how special it is to be able to swing through the Big Easy on her tour schedule this time of year.

As per usual, the bar, clubs, theatres and parades will be filled with a diverse array of local artists and internationally touring visitors for the next two weeks. And if that’s not enough, the 2nd Annual Foburg festival on Frenchmen Street is slated for the weekend after the madness has cleared (although as we know, it never really goes away altogether). Here is a schedule of notable concerts including some of the can’t-miss shows this Mardi Gras season. With the world’s #1 DJ Tiesto on Lundi Gras at the CAC (from 10-4 a.m.), the always spectacular Anders Osborne this weekend at Tip’s, metal supergroup Down at the Hangar next Friday and many more in addition to those mentioned below, it’s time to buckle up for an overload of excellence the next couple weeks on the live music scene. Get out there.

Friday, February 25th – The Get Together Featuring Guitarist Leo Nocentelli (The Meters) With Very Special Guest Art Neville plus Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band – 10 p.m. ($15)

Also on Friday – Rough 7 @ Le Bon Temps Roule – 10 p.m. (local Garage-Gospel band)

Saturday, February 26th – Anders Osborne plus Lubriphonic @ Tipitinas – 10 p.m. ($15)

Anders Osborne (Live)

Sunday, February 27th – Dr. John and his Mystical Magical Mystery Band @ The Howlin’ Wolf – 9 p.m. ($25)

Dr. John – Let The Good Times Roll

Tuesday, March 1st – Hot Tuna Blues featuring Hot Tuna, Charlie Musselwhite and Jim Lauderdale @ House of Blues – 8 p.m. ($25)

Hot Tuna – Bowlegged Woman (Live)

Wednesday, March 2nd – Aquarium Drunkard Presents The Walkmen and The Head and the Heart @ One-Eyed Jack’s – 9 p.m. ($15)

The Walkmen – Louisiana (Live)

Thursday, March 3rd – The Radiators and Alvin Youngblood Hart @ Tipitina’s Uptown – 10 p.m. ($20)

Radiators – River Run (Live)

Friday, March 4th – Down, Cavalcade & Ponykiller @ The Hangar

Also on Friday: Kermit Ruffins and the BBQ Swingers and Anders Osborne @ Howlin’ Wolf – 10 p.m. (FREE)

Saturday, March 5th – Galactic and T-Bird & The Breaks @ Tipitina’s – 10 p.m. ($30)

Galactic – Heart of Steel (Live @ Tipitina’s w/ Cyril Neville)

Sunday, March 6th – Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk @ The Howlin’ Wolf – 10 p.m. (FREE)
Also on Sunday: Soul Rebels Brass Band @ Le Bon Temps Roule
Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue @ Tipitina’s – 10 p.m. ($30)

Monday, March 7th – Tiesto @ Contemporary Arts Center ($35)

Tiesto @ London O2 Arena (Live 8.8.08)

Also on Lundi: George Porter Jr. & the Runnin’ Pardners plus The Revivalists @ Howlin’ Wolf – 10 p.m. (FREE)

Lundifest @ Republic New Orleans featuring Juvenile and Rebirth Brass Band – 9:30 p.m.
Karl Denson, Fishbone and Slightly Stoopid Mardi Gras SuperJam @ House of Blues

Black Lips, Quintron, and Miss Pussycat @ One Eyed Jacks – 9 p.m. ($15)
Galactic and Orgone @ Tipitina’s Uptown – 10 p.m. ($30)
Gravity A @ Dragon’s Den

Tuesday, March 8 – Main Line and The Fessters @ Blue Nile