September 2022
Cover Story
- Up From The Swamp: Swamp pop hero Tommy McLain returns to the studio
Tommy McLain is having a moment—a bright moment in the classic swamp pop singer’s long life of golden ups and disastrous…
Features
- My Music with Jamey St. Pierre
Jamey St. Pierre, a New Orleans singer-songwriter with a soulful voice, has been active on the music scene, performing at multiple… - A Frozen Refuge: Storied music venue Siberia returns to Saint Claude Avenue
After closing its doors in 2019, Siberia has reopened three years later under partly new ownership. It was converted into Carnaval… - Champion: Earl Falconer and Matt Doyle of UB40
The legendary British reggae band UB40 is coming to town—one version of it is, anyway. Bands evolve and change over time,… - Music Quest: Vintage vinyl treasures are out there for the scoring (Episode 18)
Double-record live albums were the way to go back in the day for what usually was a break in the pricing… - Things Happen That Way: A conversation with Dr. John’s oldest child, Karla R. Pratt, on her father's final album
Like Allen Toussaint, his fellow New Orleans music master, Dr. John left a parting gift. In June 2016, seven months after…
BackTalk
- Ruthie Foster talks back
There likely aren’t many artists who have done versions of both Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” and the standard “Fly Me To…
Fresh
- Good Karma: Baton Rouge’s Karma and the Killjoys make their New Orleans debut
For convenience’s sake, Karma and the Killjoys call their music “piano rock.” But that easy-to-digest label belies the female-led band’s bold… - Pushing Their Comfort Zone: PUP’s Stefan Babcock on coping with mental illness and the band’s return to New Orleans
It’s no surprise Stefan Babcock, frontman of PUP, works through mental illness by writing songs and making fun of himself. But…
Dining Out
- Dining Out: Costera
Since 2019, Costera has been serving coastal Spanish cuisine. Owners Reno De Ranieri and chef Brian Burns add their own twist…
Bookmark
- Scott Billington, Making Tracks: A Record Producer's Southern Roots Music Journey (University Press of Mississippi)
Long before Scott Billington became a staff member at Rounder Records in 1976 and ultimately became the label's successful producer, he…
Obituaries
- In Memoriam: Classie Ballou (1937–2022)
Classie Ballou, once described as a “bearish guitar slinger,” died on July 27 in Waco, Texas. He was 84. Just a… - In Memoriam: Carlo Nuccio (1961–2022)
Carlo Nuccio, drummer and singer-songwriter, died at his home in New Orleans of complications related to liver cancer on August 24.…
Reviews
- Alex McMurray, The Recent Future (Diphthong Records)
“A good songwriter writes good songs. A great songwriter writes overarching poetic narratives. The songwriter as lyric poet doesn’t just turn… - Leroy Jones, March of the Toddlers (Independent)
As the title suggests, trumpeter, vocalist and composer Leroy Jones focuses March of the Toddlers on children, though there's plenty of… - Andy J. Forest, I Don’t Wanna Work - Modern Vintage Blues (Appaloosa Records)
Andy J. Forest has been around for as long as I can remember, playing his idiosyncratic blend of harmonica blues and… - Motel Radio, The Garden (Single Lock Records)
Growing up in rural places, I knew many farmers, gardeners and ranchers. A common through line between all these folks was… - John Saavedra, Swingin' with John Saavedra (Independent)
Guitarist and vocalist John Saavedra looks back to the 1930s, ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s for material, including a range of jazz… - Tyron Benoit, Waitin’ on Friday (Independent)
Tyron Benoit’s debut is without doubt the best swamp-rock album ever to open with a Cure cover. His version of “Just… - A Spike Perkins Connection, Up in Carrollton (Independent)
Spike Perkins is a journeyman bass player and has remained active on the scene in New Orleans for decades. He is… - Dave Easley, Byways of the Moon (Big Ego)
The best way to approach this one is to forget everything you knew about how a pedal steel is supposed to… - Renée Gros, Temporary Love (EP) (Independent)
After regularly singing with both Russell Batiste around town and Billy Iuso at Jazz Fest, Renée Gros, a 26-year-old singer-songwriter born… - The Dirty Rain Revelers, Live From the Porch (Independent)
When I described one of last month’s reviews as being one of the first pandemic-inspired records that had crossed my desk,… - Dustin Dale Gaspard, Hoping Heaven Got a Kitchen (Independent)
Dustin Dale Gaspard, under various configurations, is no stranger to Lafayette’s robust roots-centric music scene. The funky soul sextet DG &… - Old Barstools, Wishing (Independent)
I really like the chords that the Old Barstools use to create their appealing blend of country and rock ’n’ roll.… - Dash Rip Rock, “It Ain’t a Party ’Till Somebody Dies” (Single) (Independent)
Dash Rip Rock hasn’t done an outright party record in some time, usually putting their serious roots-rock side up front on…
