BLACK SHEEP CHRISTMAS BALL
Are your relatives starting to get on your holiday nerves? Is your dad still hassling you about getting a real job? Are you ready to get blasted and blowed-out with your crazy brother-in-law? Then the Black Sheep Xmas Ball is the place you need to be.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Written by Dege Legg
BLACK SHEEP CHRISTMAS BALL
Are your relatives starting to get on your holiday nerves? Is your dad still hassling you about getting a real job? Are you ready to get blasted and blowed-out with your crazy brother-in-law? Then the Black Sheep Xmas Ball is the place you need to be. It's not only the best game in town on Christmas night; it's the ONLY game in town. It's a party for everyone - black sheep, loners, losers, winners, stoners, exiles, titans of industry, those separated from family and whoever else you can think of. Public invited. Come throw down Christmas night at the Blue Moon Saloon for the one and only Black Sheep Xmas Ball. This year's illustrious host is DJ Judd Kennedy. A long time fixture in the Lafayette music scene, Kennedy has been working his magic in one form or another, both as nightclub owner, DJ (Nitecaps, Renaissance, Sadie's), and tireless live music superfan for the past two decades. Since the untimely closing of Sadie's, Kennedy has been doing what he does best, which is spin records - keeping people moving and entertained. DJ Judd Kennedy keeps the holiday party rolling on Dec. 25 at the Blue Moon Saloon for the 2010 Black Sheep Christmas Ball. If you're looking for an excuse to get out of the house, this is it. Be there. Show runs from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. to whenever. The Brethren open the show.
BRASS FOLLET
Feufollet has been all over the place this year. Their album En Coulers has been nominated in the Best Cajun or Zydeco category for the 2011 Grammy Awards. They've been getting killer reviews and pats on the back. Boom, life is great. What's to complain about? Even Elvis Costello is into it, chiming in with, "I love the album En Couleurs by a group called FeufolletIt's one of the most beautifully melodic records I've heard all year." Their hybrid of indie pop-laced Cajun music goes over well with a lot of people. Brass Bed ain't no slouches either. Fresh off a fall tour in support of their latest CD, Melt White, this crew of indie pop rockers continues cranking out tasteful, quirky, mellow and raucous rock & roll tunes for the college crowd. Integrating everything from doo-wop surf hop to post-mod chop shop, they keep it class, but eclectic. Feufollet and Brass Bed team up on the double to play the Blue Moon Saloon on Dec. 23.
LEAP OF FAITH
The Destiny of Faith Music Ministry is putting on an Christmas show. "The Real Meaning of Christmas" will include a full choir with special guest appearances from Cupid, Marc Broussard and Roddie Romero. Show starts at 7 p.m. at Destiny of Faith Church in Lafayette near Four Corners.
ETC HOLIDAY EDITION
On Dec. 23 DJs Bobby Novosad and Scoop host Ladies Night at Nitetown DJ Super Dave kicks off The Beat with 94.5 KSMB on Dec. 25The Wayne "Blue" Burns Band plays The Shed BBQ in Scott on Dec. 26T Ray & Sam play Picante's Restaurant on Dec. 23Larone Ruben plays Charlie G's on Xmas Eve, Dec. 24Charles Ventre plays Mickey's at the Cypress Bayou Casino on Dec. 25The Viatones play Artmosphere on Dec. 22Kid Midi's Stepping Party goes down at Artmosphere on Dec. 27The Nouveau String Band plays Café des Amis on Dec. 22Geno Delafoses & French Rockin' Boogie play Whiskey River Landing on Dec. 26
POSTHASTE WITH
DJ Judd Kennedy
History of Judd Kennedy in 3-5 words. Do unto others.
What the hell happened to Sadie's? The politics of downtown Lafayette in conjunction with a massive demographic shift in the same year didn't fair well with my alternative nightclub and live music regulars. Sometimes it is best to move on and accept the changes happening around you.
How long was Renaissance/Sadie's open? March 1999-October 2010
What's the hardest part of running a club? Working with your best friends and family is harsh. We managed pretty well for an over a decade though.
Biggest A-hole to ever play one of your clubs? Sir Mix a Lot is a joke live and in person.
Which is harder to handle on a busy night, a metal or a hip-hop crowd? The hip hop crowd by far is harder to handle. Metal nights are about a love for an aggressive outlet whereas a hip hop night is about being aggressive.
What are you up to nowadays, post-Sadie's? I have more time to set things on fire with my family. Where I'm from, setting the woods afire is a nightly tradition. Also I have been working seven days a week on random jobs: chainsaw and logging-style work, sound system maintenance and electrical updates at various locations by day. At night I'm doing a mobile DJ service called J & M Mobile DJs. We have been doing weddings, Christmas parties, private events, Sundays at Artmosphere, booking, promoting and running sound for band shows at Frankie Burger's courtyard and prepping for the Black Sheep Christmas gig on Dec.25 at Blue Moon.
Best DJ Judd K gig ever? The Dark Side radio show back when Nitecaps was an alternative music club.
Worst DJ Judd K gig ever? At an after-hours biker bar between Eunice and Rayne that was in a foreclosed Baptist church. 3 stabbings, 1 guy got run over, and guns were being shot every 20 minutes. Trying to read and please that crowd was a challenge I was not ready for.
No offense, man. You're a small-framed guy? How do you use your size to your advantage? Many have assumed they had a physical advantage over me because of my size. Knowing this and accepting it an early age taught me that 9 times out of 10 the bigger person's guard is down due to misperception. One must never underestimate the powers of a hairless monkey ninja with a Calcasieu River swamp background.
What is the future of electronic/dance-based music? Bands that truly possess raw energy live and whose members collaborate with well-versed DJs acting as co-producers and remixers is a trend. On a local level it's happening due to respect for each other's art forms. On the regional level indie labels and websites like rcrdlbl.com are noticing this. Raw youthful expression through electronic controllers with live instrumentation and singing has no classification or set genre yet. What I do know is once it gets "classified," it's the end and time for the next generation to have an open forum of expression.
Name one thing nobody knows about Judd Kennedy? My eardrums are flat instead of being curved. I can hear what's said at 20 feet away better than what is said at three feet away