BACK WHEN I HAD NO BRAINS
Funny how the older you get the more country music and jazz make sense. Not all of it. But some of it. After a certain age, you're, like, "This crap doesn't sound as bad as it did when I was 19, had no brains, hated everything and wanted to beat people with bats." Times change, huh?
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Written by Dege Legg
BACK WHEN I HAD NO BRAINS
Funny how the older you get the more country music and jazz make sense. Not all of it. But some of it. After a certain age, you're, like, "This crap doesn't sound as bad as it did when I was 19, had no brains, hated everything and wanted to beat people with bats." Times change, huh? The blood mellows. The testosterone rolls off. Some of the hair jumps ship. You have to pay taxes and take your lady out to eat at a nice restaurant once in a while and act normal. Next thing you know - BOOM! - you're a jazz hag, feeling those horns and nodding your head, thinking, "I now know what this music is saying. Its saying I lived a hard life; I took some hits, but I didn't kill anybody on the way up. And most importantly nobody killed me (even though the bastards tried!) I made it through, baby, and I've earned the right to be refined and mellow on occasion. I can sip wine and make polite conversation with people I don't know. And I can occasionally dig jazz and country music.'" Strange how the dice roll. Kevin Anthony returns to the Blue Moon on Jan. 20, to play his country music along with the Cajun-country roots of Grammy nominee Al Berard and The Berard Family Band.
DEATH > RAY
New band alert. Featuring ex-members of The Transmission, Foul Stench of Youth and others, Not a Death Ray forge a Frankenstein-like version of their previous bands, mixing power pumper garage with punk, alterno-rock and an energetic live show. Not a Death Ray even tosses in vocal harmonies like some Louisiana version of 80s hardcore titans D.I. Not a Death Ray plays Artmosphere on Jan. 15 with The Botanist and El Domania.
PHOENIX RISING: FUNDRAISER FOR NUNU'S
Nunu's burnt. Not cool. They're going to bring it back. But they need your help. On Jan. 16, Casa Azul Gifts in Grand Coteau hosts a poetry gathering where writers of poetry and prose will read and share their works in an open mic setting. Participating writers include Darrell Bourque, Clare Martin, Patrice Melnick and many others who have been involved with Frederick L'Ecole Des Arts. Everyone is invited to attend and/or read their words.
All proceeds go to rebuilding Nunu's. The event takes place from 1 3 p.m. at Café Azul, 232 ML King Dr., Grand Coteau. The cover is a $5 suggested donation.
LIL BUCK
The "gentle giant" of the guitar returns to the Blue Moon Saloon to play his birthday bash. Ain't nobody can do it and play like Lil' Buck. And no one ever has. In a world where many blues masters have been unjustly relegated to the dust-filled oblivion and television-friendly pretenders to the throne are rewarded with cash and contracts, it might do the soul good to pay tribute to one of the living masters like Lil'Buck while he's still around doing it like no other. Lil'Buck plays his Birthday Bash at the Blue Moon on Jan. 14.
BROWN CHOWDER
Tired of being Mr. Mellow, go see some bands plow through some brown chowder riffage on the back patio at Frankie Burger. On Jan. 17, California's Gypsyhawk comes to town, pounding down the iron and steel, sounding like Motorhead in a barbecue pit with Judas Priest and some flammable unnamed liquids. Green & Wood and Wildfires open the show.
BUBBA BOUDREAUX
T.K. Hulin, G.G. Shin, Jamie Bergeron, River Road and Charlene Howard get together to raise some fundage for Bubba Boudreaux at the Atchafalaya Club in Henderson on Jan. 16.
RAMLBING MENS
The Lost Bayou Ramblers have a ground-breaking record in the works. Soon to be released in 2011. You can hear them pound out a bunch of them live along with all their other killer tunes. Telling you, nobody can hang with these dudes live. Lost Bayou Ramblers play Blue Moon on Jan. 15.
ETC
The Racines play Blue Moon on Jan. 13The Pine Leaf Boys play Barnes & Noble's Come in from the Cold series on Jan. 13The Mamou Playboys Trio play Café des Amis on Jan. 12 Blaine Roy plays Cowboys on Jan. 15The world famous and appropriately named Diddley Squat plays The Shed BBQ in Scott on Jan. 15.