Festivals and CD Release Parties
This week's Milk Run looks forward to the French Quarter Festival, SouthSounds Festival, CD-release parties for Los Po-Boy-Citos and Dave Jordan, and stand-up comedy with Neal Brennan and Jason Russell.
This weekend, the French Quarter Fest is in New Orleans, SouthSounds Festival's in Mobile, and Los Po-Boy-Citos and Dave Jordan celebrate new albums.
Friday: Dee-1, K-DeL, Kris Baptiste, Lex, Neji Vibez, Jenkins, DJ Lephare of Monstabeatz, 10 p.m., The Howlin' Wolf: Rapper Dee-1 went on tour with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis just as "Thrift Shop" was hitting and his own The Focus Tape had just come out. His new The Psalm of David pulls together tracks from his recent mixtapes to provide a clear portrait of a guy with a sense of purpose. It opens with what could be his mission statement, "3's Up" - "Be real, be righteous, be relevant." (tickets) Also on Friday: Naughty Professor, Sexual Thunder, 10 p.m., One Eyed Jacks (tickets); AraabMuzik, Giraffage, 10 p.m., The House of Blues' Parish (tickets); Esben and the Witch, Heliotropes, 10 p.m., Circle Bar
Saturday: Super Water Sympathy, Luxley, The Dash Between, 10 p.m., The Howlin' Wolf: The anthemic Shreveport-based modern rock band with big-voiced singer Ansley Hughes will release its new album, Hydrogen Child April 23. (tickets) Also on Saturday: Coyotes, Rotary Downs, The Kid Carsons, 10 p.m., One Eyed Jacks (tickets); George Strait, Martina McBride, 7:30 p.m., New Orleans Arena (tickets); Dave Jordan CD-release party, 10 p.m., The Maple Leaf
Sunday: Angry Samoans, Swingin' Dicks, Die Rotzz, Patient Zero and the AIDS Monkeys, 7 p.m., Siberia: In "Metal" Mike Saunders, The Angry Samoans have one original Samoan, but since he was one of the prime movers behind the punk band when it started, that counts. This is a night of old school play-hard, play-fast punk with a snarky sense of humor. (tickets) Also on Sunday: Tower of Power, 8 p.m., House of Blues (tickets); Meschiya Lake and The Little Big Horns, 10 p.m., One Eyed Jacks (tickets); Cyhi Da Prynce, 10 p.m., The Howlin' Wolf (tickets); Bleached, 10 p.m., Circle Bar
Monday: Dick Dale, Dr. Sick & This Stunted Sextette, 9 p.m., The Howlin' Wolf: The surf guitar legend probably values technique more than you do, but when it produces an awesome version of "Miserlou," you'll be a believer - at least for the night. (tickets) Also on Monday: Pac Div, 10 p.m., House of Blues' Parish (tickets)
Wednesday: James McMurtry, Johnny Burke, 10 p.m., One Eyed Jacks: The poker-faced McMurtry sets hard truths about life and politics in his songs, with enough music to give the words life, not so much to distract from them. (tickets) Also on Wednesday, Son Volt, 9 p.m., House of Blues' Parish (tickets); Widowspeak, Dominique LeJeune, My Father's Rifle, 10 p.m., Circle Bar
Thursday: Los Po-Boy-Citos CD-release party, 10 p.m., d.b.a.: On Hasta, the band's third album, they broaden they remain true to the boogaloo that helped them find an audience, but they've broadened their Latin reach as well. They first got attention by adapting New Orleans R&B to boogaloo; by now, they're confident enough in their originals that they've put that trick back in the bag. Also on Thursday: Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Lee Irion, Grayson Capps w/ Corkey Hughes 8 p.m., Chickie Wah Wah
Other Events
In its 30th year, there's no denying the success of the French Quarter Festival. It's idiosyncratic, ranging from five stages on the first day to 19 on Saturday and Sunday, but it presents a fairly comprehensive overview of the rank and file musicians who work weekly in New Orleans (with the notable exception of hip-hop and indie rock - something to work on for 2014). Friday and Saturday should be beautiful festival weather, so expect serious crowds along the riverfront.
For those more interested in indie rock, Mobile's SouthSounds Festival presents music from across the region. Louisiana will be represented by Lost Bayou Ramblers, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Sam Doores + Riley Downing and The Tumbleweeds, Baby Bee, Gashcat, Luke Winslow King, Andrew Duhon, Gold and The Rush, and Engine.
Friday night, comedian Neal Brennan shoot a Comedy Central special at the new Civic Theater. Tickets to the 7 and 9:30 p.m. shows are free, but you can only get them via email. Go here for details. On Thursday, comedian Jason Russell will play The House of Blues on its comedy night, and comedy show host Leon Blanda will open.
