You won’t be hearing The Rolling Stones live at Jazz Fest this year, but fans of the iconic rock band’s music will still have a unique opportunity to celebrate its discography.
On Saturday, May 18, local musicians who helped foster the New Orleans rock scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s will put on a reunion show featuring the music of The Rolling Stones. It’s been dubbed “Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out” and aims to hearken back to a time when venues like the original Howlin’ Wolf, Carrollton Station and Jimmy’s Music Club were popular.
Organized in part by Scott Aiges and Rob Savoy, the event will be a Last Waltz-style reunion. According to Aiges, the idea came to them while hanging out at a Pat McLaughlin show a few weeks ago. “All the old heads were there from back in the day,” Aiges says. “And Rob says, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if we could have a reunion of all the folks who hung out in the late ’80s and early ’90s at the old Howlin’ Wolf, Carrollton Station and Beach Ball Benny’s? And I said, ‘Yes, that’d be awesome. But if you want folks to show up, don’t call it a party. Tell them it’s a gig and that you want them to play.’”
As such, there will be a bevy of performances from a house band and special guests. The house band includes lead singer Skeet Hanks (of The Beaten Path, who will have a reunion too); Jimmy Robinson, guitar; Jimmy Messa, bass; Chris Luckette, drums; Steve Chyzyk, guitar; and Brian Rini, keyboards. So far, special guest performers include Lenny Zenith, Rich Collins, Jonathan Freilich, Caleb Guilliotte, Settly Smith, Billy Schell, Robert Johnston, Tony Green , Sam Price, Rhoades D’Ablo, Jim McCormick, Steve Watson, Phil DeVille, Michael Paz and more to be added.
Also reuniting at the concert will be the Boondoggles, which includes Robert Johnston, John Malone and Billy Schell.
Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out goes down at the Howlin’ Wolf (907 S. Peters St.) at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance and $ 25 at the door. All proceeds benefit Son of A Saint, the nonprofit that provides support services for fatherless boys.
