| May 9, 2010 | Calendar | Archives |
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Re-entry. Life in Maine after two glorious weeks in New Orleans. The May Mix is like a walk around the track with stops at Fais Do Do, Congo Square, Jazz Tent and ending in the Gospel Tent. A stop at Louisiana Music Factory filled in some gaps of things I missed because of the rain. My theory that there are only about 5 bands in New Orleans, that they just reconfigure constantly, is borne out by trying to keep all my sousaphone players straight. Here they are and the bands they play with. Matt Perrine -- Bonerama, Galactic, Nightcrawlers, Tin Men Kirk Joseph -- Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Treme Brass Band Edward Lee -- Soul Rebels Philip Frazier -- Rebirth Brass Band As you can see Matt Perrine is the best and the busiest. We heard an all women's brass band called Fleur de Ladies; they have real potential. They had a tuba. If they are around next year, I expect they will be sporting the big bell. Trombone Shorty's band has a bass guitar instead of a sousaphone. They also have a Jewish nerd saxaphone player. Since Elaine pointed out that to me, I'm seeing nerdy sax players in a lot of bands.
We are all green and leafed out here, the peas are in, but it's still chilly. I've started booking inquiries for shows in the fall. I'll be the risk taker again and that is good. I check the schedules for venues a few hours south of us to find artists I want and then inquire about availability surrounding those dates. Or I check the touring schedules of the artists I really want. I am watching with some fascination the nomination process of Elena Kagan, a traditionally built woman, for the supremes. I am watching with great angst the unstoppable oil spill in the gulf. I am watching the company I work for figure out how to be a national player instead of a Maine mom and pop operation. I am watching those tightly packaged peony buds form. |
At our own theater in Unity, it's back to mostly celtic from the maritimes, a mixture of Scottish and Acadian. Lots of fiddlers. The best of them is Richard Wood who played here Thursday. Virtuoso is not a word I use often. The guy had some amazing moves.
Looking forward to hearing Darol Anger's Republic of Strings next Friday. So I can check him off my list. I've checked a bunch of things off lately.
Dereck Trucks & Susan Tedeschi, check. Willie Mae's Scotch House, check. Martin Sexton, check. New Orleans Nightcrawlers, check.