Nola live music letter for the week

Editor’s Note: There is so much live music in New Orleans, and sometimes it can be rather overwhelming to know what to hear, where to go, or what to do. Writer and music lover Wesley Hodges is giving weekly previews of the live music happening in New Orleans as well as some sneak previews into what is coming up. For a full view of Wesley’s suggestions, check out his facebook page.

Photos provided by: Wesley Hodges

A couple of big weeks coming up as the year winds down and many artists are wrapping up their final national runs of 2016. Ever since seeing him perform a decade ago at Bonnaroo 2006, I’ve been intrigued and itching to catch Seu Jorge play again and tomorrow night NOLA gets the chance as the Brazilian singer-songwriter and actor brings his Life Aquatic Bowie tribute tour at the Civic. Have heard nothing but raves about this show from friends who caught him over the past couple weeks in other towns.

Also, had a chance to check out The Music Box over the weekend when Lost Bayou Ramblers were performing. If you haven’t been yet, make plans to get down there for a show. The ‘music village’ the NOLA Airlift folks have created is a truly spectacular and entirely unique performance space. and I’m really looking forward to seeing the types of artists they are able to attract and how different acts approach it. Gypsy punk madmen Gogol Bordello will be holding it down there for four shows over two nights this weekend.

Photos provided by: Wesley Hodges

YEAR IN REVIEW

Speaking of David Bowie, I culled down some favorite tunes from 2016 into a “30 from 16” Spotify playlist (led off by the Starman’s emotionally wrought and masterful send off tune “Lazarus“) that you can check out and follow here.

Reflecting back on this insane year, one of the major silver linings has been the overload of quality music we have been gifted. We got phenomenal final records from Bowie and A Tribe Called Quest, a top notch Radiohead LP, the long overdue and highly anticipated Avalanches album (which didn’t disappoint) and the Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir released an excellent collection of ‘cowboys songs’ (on top of the ridiculous motherlode we were given on the Day of the Dead covers compilation). New (to me) artists from 2016 I really enjoyed discovering include Kikagaku Moyo, Chris Cohen, Whitney, Takuya Kuroda (experimental jazz fans take note), Car Seat Headrest (who’s been around for awhile now), The Lemon Twigs and Louisiana’s Seratones (do not miss them live). The NOLA shows that stick out most this year have been Dungen at One Eyed Jacks, Deerhunter at the Civic, Flight of the Conchords at the Saenger, Beck at the Saenger, Kikagaku Moyo at Gasa Gasa and the entirety of the secondSunday at Jazz Fest (Aaron Neville, Punch Bros, BB King tribute, Toussaint tribute, Neil Young, etc.). In the words of R. Scully’s Rough 7, in many ways, “The Good Outweighs the Bad“.

Have a great week folks.

THIS WEEK
Kongos at House of Blues (12/5)
Seu Jorge A Life Aquatic: A Tribute to David Bowie at Civic Theatre (12/6)
Lupe Fiasco with The Boy Illinois at House of Blues (12/6)
PJ Morton at Blue Nile (12/6)
Rebirth Brass Band at Maple Leaf Bar (12/6)
Cracker with The Whiskey Gentry at Gasa Gasa (12/7)
Tony Bennett at Saenger Theatre (12/7)
The Fixx at The Joy Theater (12/7)
Simple Play presents Tinnarose, Bantam Foxes and Ben Millburn at Gasa Gasa (12/8)
Bill Summers at Three Keys at Ace Hotel (12/8)
MSTRKRFT at Republic New Orleans (12/9)
Gravy at Gasa Gasa (12/9)
Kermit Ruffins at Blue Nile (12/9)

Gogol Bordello at The Music Box (12/9 & 12/10 – TWO SHOWS PER NIGHT)

HAMP Fest featuring Morning 40 Federation, Debauche and The Cole Williams Band at One Eyed Jacks (12/9)

Dragon Smoke at Tipitina’s (12/10)

Big Freedia at The Art Garage (12/10)

The Afghan Whigs with Mark Lanegan, Ani Difranco and Morning 40 Federation at The Civic Theatre (12/10)

Naughty Professor at The Maple Leaf Bar (12/10)

NEXT WEEK
MainLine at d.b.a. (12/11)
Nick Waterhouse at One Eyed Jacks (12/12)
NIck Waterhouse (12/12)
PJ Morton at Blue Nile (12/13)
Mars Williams at Cafe Istanbul with James Singleton, Helen Gillet and Jeff Albert at Cafe Istanbul (12/13)
Ed Williams at The Maple Leaf Bar (12/14)
Billy Iuso at Chickie Wah Wah (12/15)
Zebra at The Civic Theatre (12/16)
The Jesus and Mary Chain at The Joy Theater (12/16)
Ghost Note at Blue Nile (12/16)
Barghest with Mysteriarch and Thou at Gasa Gasa (12/16)
Chris Mule Band at The Maple Leaf Bar (12/16)
Ghost Note with Nigel Hall at Blue Nile (12/17)

Anders Osborne Holiday Spectacular at Tipitina’s (12/16 & 12/17)

Merchandise with Gun Outfit at Siberia (12/17)

Little Freddie King at The Little Gem Saloon (12/17)

JUST ANNOUNCED: Jim James with Twin Limb at Civic Theatre (12/17)

Home for the Holidays with Cyril Neville, David Torkanowsky, Herlin Riley, Irma Thomas, James Andrews, James Singleton, Khris Royal, Rebirth Brass Band, Stanton Moore Trio and Robin Barnes at House of Blues (12/22)

Marc Broussard at Southport Hall (12/23)