December 2017

Buy Now

BackTalk

George Clinton talks back
From doo-wop to the P-Funk Mothership, George Clinton has led his funky voyage through the musical universe and beyond. The journey… – John Wirt

Cover Story

Hot Like the Sun: The Revivalists celebrate at home
When do you know that your band is really making it? When strangers at the airport start pointing you out? When… – Brett Milano

Features

Web Exclusive: Doin' Something Different – Ivan Neville’s NOLA nites
Ivan Neville has reach. So there's a good chance if he calls a musician up for a gig and they're free… – Geraldine Wyckoff
Web Exclusive: Remembering Fats
I was friends with Fats for the last twenty and a half years of his life, and I am still amazed… – David Lind
Seasonal Affective Disorder: A Louisiana Christmas with Loose Cattle
Rod Hodges walked into the Music Shed in mid-August to cut tracks for Loose Cattle’s Christmas album, Seasonal Affective Disorder, and… – John Swenson
Tricky Repertoire: The Soul Rebels step out of the box
Since the late 1990s, the Soul Rebels brass band has forged its own brand of New Orleans music. The eight-piece outfit… – Amanda "Bonita" Mester
Antoine “Fats” Domino Jr. (February 26, 1928 – October 24, 2017)
Antoine “Fats” Domino Jr., arguably the greatest ambassador of New Orleans music, one of the founders of rhythm and blues, as… – Jeff Hannusch

Fresh

Fats Vault, 1998: Rick Coleman, author of "Blue Monday: Fats Domino and the Lost Dawn of Rock ’n’ Roll"
Rick Coleman, author of Blue Monday: Fats Domino and the Lost Dawn of Rock ’n’ Roll, contributed these simple tributes for… – Rick Coleman
Cats on Fats
In April 2015 OffBeat writer David Kunian asked New Orleans piano players three questions: What is your favorite Fats Domino tune… – David Kunian
The Fats Domino Starter Mix
Nobody should have to settle for ten Fats Domino songs, since the man left us such an embarrassment of riches (and… – Brett Milano
Papa Grows Funk history explored
Full disclosure: I’m interviewed in this documentary. And it’s impossible for me to be objective about Papa Grows Funk. I watched… – John Swenson
Five Questions with Amy Dailey Williams, Executive Director, New Orleans Photo Alliance/PhotoNOLA
What is the mission of PhotoNOLA? PhotoNOLA is a program of the New Orleans Photo Alliance and its mission is to… – Frank Etheridge
Echoes of Laurel Canyon: Susan Cowsill's new series
Susan Cowsill is usually associated with two cities: Newport, Rhode Island, the original home of her singing family, and New Orleans,… – Brett Milano
Celebrating 30 Years Of OffBeat: “Backtalk with Earl King,” 2002
OffBeat Magazine is celebrating 30 years and reached that milestone with our November 2017 issue. To mark the anniversary, OffBeat will… – Jeff Hannusch
My Music: Keiko Komaki
“Piano was my first instrument. I started to play when I was five years old; my mom wanted my older sister… – Frank Etheridge
Soundcheck: Five Questions with singer-songwriter Jake Bugg
In early 2012, then eighteen-year-old Jake Bugg released his first United Kingdom hit, the folky, buoyant “Lightning Bolt.” Later that year,… – John Wirt

In The Spirit

In the Spirit with Sam Perez/Piscobar (at the Catahoula Hotel)
“I picked Irma Thomas for a lot of reasons. Sentimental value, I guess. Almost 10 years ago—I grew up in Slidell—Irma… – Elsa Hahne

Letters

Letters to the Editor
Voodoo Fest The following letters are in response to Rory Callais’ November 2017 feature, Voodoo Music + Arts Experience: Is It… – OffBeat Readers

Mojo Mouth

Where's the Petition?
What Louis Armstrong was to jazz, Fats Domino was to all of New Orleans music. He leaves an everlasting mark. Mr.… – Jan Ramsey

Obituaries

Wendell Albert Eugene (1923 – 2017)
When Wendell Eugene was 13 years old, his brother, Homer, gave him his first trombone. By the time he was 15,… – Geraldine Wyckoff

OffBeat Eats

Dining Out: Herbsaint
To some, Donald Link is best known for the urbane Cajun delicacies served at the pork-centric Cochon and the wood-fired seafood… – Peter Thriffiley

The Spot

Kelcy Mae hits the Spot
What brings you to Parkway? I often come here right before a trip or a tour, because you can’t get a… – Elsa Hahne

Reviews

Kari Sjöstrand, "Frost Blossom" (Karisma Music)
If music is the product of the environment it comes from, then it’s no surprise that some of the original compositions… – Stacey Leigh Bridewell
Ledisi, "Let Love Rule" (Verve)
Ledisi, a New Orleans native who moved to California as a child, gets right to the heart of her peace and… – Geraldine Wyckoff
George Lewis and his New Orleans Stompers, "1943" (American Music)
True fans of clarinetist George Lewis and New Orleans traditional jazz should rejoice at the release of this two-CD, 25-cut product… – Geraldine Wyckoff
Valerie Sassyfras, "Blast Off! A Cosmic Cabaret" (Independent)
For nearly 30 years, Valerie Sassyfras has cultivated a loyal following with her unique and quirky musical performances. Equal parts theatrical… – Ivory Jones
Kat Walker with Amasa Miller, "Torch Songs" (Independent)
It’s all right there in the title: Kat Walker’s Torch Songs is a collection of jazz and old popular ballads with… – Nick Benoit
Chris Thomas King, "Hotel Voodoo" (21st Century Blues)
“American Man (In the Key of Free)” is one of many surprises on Grammy-winner Chris Thomas King’s first studio album in… – John Wirt
Uncle Nef, "Blues" (Ropeadope)
First off, the leaders representing Uncle Nef are drummer and vocalist Shannon Powell and guitarist Darren Hoffman. Okay, that explains that though… – Geraldine Wyckoff
Delfeayo Marsalis, "Kalamazoo" (Troubadour Jass Records)
The beauty of jazz, or as trombonist/producer Delfeayo Marsalis likes to call it, jass, is articulated on this live recording, Kalamazoo,… – Geraldine Wyckoff
Henry Gray and the Creole Cats, "92" (Independent)
Singer-pianist Henry Gray performed in Chicago and toured from the city from 1946 to 1968. During the golden age of Chicago… – John Wirt
Paula and the Pontiacs, "Seventeen" (Independent)
Paula and the Pontiacs’ latest release, Seventeen, culls tracks from three prior releases dating back to 1994’s Cadillac Love, 30 by… – Christopher Weddle
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, "The Emancipation Procrastination" (Ropeadope)
The provocatively and thought-provokingly titled The Emancipation Procrastination stands as trumpeter/composer/producer Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah’s third album of his Centennial Trilogy.… – Geraldine Wyckoff
The Saint Roch Syncopators, "Working Men" (Independent)
There is an unbuttoned charm to this first album from traditional jazz band The Saint Roch Syncopators. It feels like they’re… – Stacey Leigh Bridewell
Mykia Jovan, "Elliyahu" (Independent)
Most would agree that Mykia Jovan’s debut album, Elliyahu, is good stuff. From the first you can tell it’s hip, what… – Stacey Leigh Bridewell
Saràyah, "Feel the Vibe" (Basin Street Records)
New Orleans is known for the diverse cultures that comprise the pulse of the city. That diversity transfers over to the… – Ivory Jones
Jamaican Me Breakfast Club, "Brewed in New Orleans" (Independent)
Reggae-infused popular music has it precedents. Think Dread Zeppelin taking on the rock gods of Led Zeppelin or the Easy Star… – George Ingmire
Brass-A-Holics, "Word on the Street" (Independent)
The Brass-A-Holics is a well-oiled machine running red hot. Throughout Word on the Street, which was recorded live at the Blue… – Geraldine Wyckoff