August 17-23, 2012
What to do in the week ahead, starting with seeing me.
Friday: Black Mass Rising, Shazzula vs. Quintron, 8:30 p.m., Mudlark Theater: A screening of the experimental, psychedelic film with the soundtrack by Shazzula, who'll also perform with Quintron as part of the show.
Also on Friday: The Breton Sound, Danny Burns, Mason Briggs, 10 p.m., One Eyed Jacks (tickets)
Saturday: Lindsey Buckingham, 10 p.m., One Eyed Jacks: Fleetwood Mac has become an object of semi-ironic, semi-nostalgic fascination, hence the release of Just Tell Me That You Want Me, a tribute album. Though the Mac could be a little lush and Californian for punk tastes, Lindsey Buckingham has always worked a subversive dimension into the most mainstream albums. These days he tours on his own, but his last solo show at the House of Blues demonstrated that his songs hold up when rendered with just guitar and voice. (tickets)
Sunday: The Love Sessions Trumpet Battle: Irvin Mayfield vs. Kermit Ruffins., 8 p.m., Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse: Mayfield and Ruffins bring out the best in each other in good-natured competitions such as this one, which benefits New Orleans Haitian Relief Task Force. They'll duel nightly through the 24th with another non-profit benefiting each night. (tickets)
Also on Sunday: Spencer Bohren and the Whippersnappers, 8 & 10 a.m., Snug Harbor (tickets)
Monday: Fang Island, Adebisi Shank, 9 p.m., House of Blues' Parish: The recent Major shows this Rhode Island trio learning a little restraint, but only a little. They still make big rock with lots of everything - energy, hooks and playing. (tickets)
Tuesday: Joan Rivers, 7 & 9:30 p.m., Cafe Istanbul: I can't imagine there's any way of getting near these shows if you don't already have tickets, but Joan Rivers is a genuine comedy icon who never took the easy road. She's made show biz her subject matter, but she doesn't just comedically tsk-tsk it; she attacks it with a rusty shiv, checks its pockets for money and kicks the corpse as she walks away. (tickets)
Wednesday: Willie Nelson, 8 p.m., House of Blues: Willie shows always pay off, whether small ones that show off his remarkably nuanced phrasing and sympathetic guitar style, or big, communal ones that celebrate the American folk song tradition. Sometimes the legends are best remembered and enjoyed on CD; Willie's not there yet. (tickets)
Also on Wednesday: Curren$y's Jet Lounge, 11 p.m., House of Blues' Parish (tickets); Gruff Rhys from Super Furry Animals, Archanimals, 10 p.m., One Eyed Jacks (tickets)
Thursday: A Celebration of Southern Music: The 15 Southern States in Song with Matt Lemmler's New Orleans Jazz Revival Band, 6 p.m., The Ogden Museum of Southern Art: Lemmler will celebrate southern music with a band that includes Kim Prevost, Brian Blade, Jason Marsalis, Bill Summers, John Ellis, Steve Masakowski, David Pulphus and more.
Also on Thursday, comedian Doug Stanhope, 10 p.m., One Eyed Jacks (tickets)
BLACK MASS RISING movie (Official Trailer) from shazzula on Vimeo.
OTHER STUFF
On Friday, the Saints are at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Dome. We'll see at most a half from the starting offense, but really, what I want to see is what our base defense can do. If we can get pressure with four or five guys on raw talent and technique, this could be a promising season.
On Saturday at 10:30 p.m., I'll be the guest storyteller at The New Movement for its Megaphone Show. I'll tell stories and the cast will use them as the starting place for a series of comedy improv sketches. The one I saw was very funny, so if I don't mess them up with sucky stories, this should be good.
Also on Saturday, The Fair Grounds will have an unusual card of racing with ostriches, camels, sports teams' mascots and horses, with live zydeco music as well. Racing starts at 6 p.m.
On Sunday and Monday, there are once again free movies on St. Claude Avenue. Sunday night, Siberia will show Anvil: The Story of Anvil and This is Spinal Tap starting at 9 p.m., and Monday night at DJ Soul Sister will host a screening of the first hip-hop movie, Wild Style, at 7 p.m. at Cafe Istanbul.
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