Music
The Revivalists, City of Sound (Independent)
The Revivalists seem to be the next up-and-coming rock ‘n’ roll band from the Crescent City. Their live shows have an inviting energy, and they have a new recording, City […]
The Louisiana Music Factory at 20 Years
When it started, it was a long, rectangular room with a couple wooden racks for records and CDs on a section of North Peters street that had very little going […]
Ani DiFranco, Which Side Are You On? (Righteous Babe Records)
The new Ani DiFranco record is the latest entry in DiFranco’s musical and lyrical view of the world and current events. Over the years, she has perfected her sound, and […]
Kidd Jordan, On Fire (Engine Records)
The art of listening, whether on the bandstand or in daily life, is a highly underrated skill. As Kidd Jordan continues his formidable yet underappreciated career, his playing shows more […]
Ruthie Foster, Live at Antone’s (Blue Corn Records)
Ruthie Foster has a cult/fanatic following. People either have never heard of her or they think she has one of the best voices of our time. Her new CD Live […]
Sun Ra, This Planet is Doomed: The Science Fiction Poetry of Sun Ra (Kicks Books)
Few people know that Sun Ra, besides being an avant-black futurist big band leader, was also a poet. He and his band would recite chants and poems during and between […]
Best of the Beat Heartbeat Award: Mary Howell
For more than three decades, attorney Mary Howell has been at the frontlines of police misconduct and civil rights litigation in New Orleans. She has represented plaintiffs in the Algiers […]
Daniel Beaumont, Preachin’ the Blues: The Life and Times of Son House (Oxford University Press)
Son House has long been regarded as one of the most authentic Delta bluesmen. His music and performances were as intense as music gets, and his influence stretches from Robert […]
Jimbo Mathus, Confederate Buddha (Memphis International Records)
At first this is a far cry from Mathus’ recordings with the Squirrel Nut Zippers. There was a tight stateliness to the Zippers, even when they were playing at their […]
Kenny Brown, Can’t Stay Long (Devil Down Records)
Blues music can generally be divided into two categories. There are the rock-informed blues with polished, clichéd solos, going- through-the-motions vocals, and obnoxiously loud and pummeling versions of everything from […]
