Soul and Thunders
This week's Milk Run looks at what to do this week in New Orleans, including a tribute to Johnny Thunders, stand-up comedy, Anthony Hamilton and a benefit for Jimmy's.
This week's highlights in New Orleans include Anthony Hamilton, stand-up comedy, George Porter Jr. and a tribute to Johnny Thunders.
Friday: George Porter Jr. & His Runnin' Pardners, Mia Borders, 10 p.m., Tipitina's: I've always admired any funk band that Porter's a part of because they all feel so democratic. Whether through verbal communication or signs too subtle for us to pick up, he makes sure that the moment is about the group, not a collection of individuals. (tickets) Also on Friday: Appetite for Destruction, Red White & Crue, Poison'd, 8 p.m., House of Blues (tickets); The New Orleans Bingo! Show, 10 p.m., One Eyed Jacks (tickets); Andi Coll's Pretty Witty Comedy Variety Show featuring Andi Coll , Vicky Illk Maggie Maye Zetta Gagliano, Cassie Coll, 10 p.m., The Howlin' Wolf (tickets)
Saturday: Walter Lure and The Waldos, The Backstabbers, F.F.N., Lonely Lonely Knights, DJ Matty, 10 p.m., Siberia: Johnny Thunders of The New York Dolls and The Heartbreakers made the spectacularly bad decision to move to New Orleans to kick heroin and ended up dead, OD'ed shortly after. Lure, a bandmate in The Heartbreakers, pays tribute to Thunders Saturday night. (tickets) Also on Saturday: 101 Runners, Yojimbo, 10 p.m., Tipitina's (tickets); Dax Riggs, Evangelistas, 10 p.m., One Eyed Jacks (tickets)
Sunday: St. Cecilia Asylum Chorus, 11 a.m., Preservation Hall: The St. Cecilia Asylum Chorus is tailor-made for Easter Sunday in Preservation Hall, where the vocal group can sing songs of celebration with nothing between them, their voices and the audience but a few feet. Also on Sunday: Easter Jam 2013 with Meek Mill, 2 Chainz, Wale, Juelz Santana, 8 p.m., UNO Lakefront Arena (tickets); Easter Sunday Eggstravaganza with "The Holy Trinity" featuring Big Freedia, Sissy Nobby, and Katey Red plus Cheeky Blakk, Magnolia Rhome, and more, 10 p.m., The Howlin' Wolf (tickets); Helen Gillet's Wazozo Zorchestra, 10 p.m., d.b.a.
Monday: Moshe Kasher, Natasha Leggero, Chris Trew, Ariel Elias, 7 p.m., One Eyed Jacks: Chelsea Lately has become one of the places for stand-up comedians to be seen, and both Moshe Kasher and Natasha Leggero have spent quality time on the show's roundtable. The New Movement and Hell Yes Fest present what should be a good night of stand-up comedy. (tickets)
Tuesday: The Allah-Las, Summer, 10 p.m., Circle Bar: Every generation discovers garage rock, and they should, as its retro sounds and emphasis on attitude over precision feel more like rock 'n' roll than anything that's been on the radio since it was. Here's a jangly version from Los Angeles with a singer who's got a good sneer. Also on Tuesday: The Expendables, acific Dub, The Scorseses, 8:30 p.m., The House of Blues' Parish (tickets)
Wednesday: Anthony Hamilton, 8 p.m., House of Blues: There's nothing "neo-" about Anthony Hamilton. He's a classic soul singer with classic songs that deal with classic soul themes. (tickets) Also on Wednesday, Wax, New Renaissance, 8 p.m., The House of Blues' Parish (tickets)
Other Events
The Louisiana Derby will run Saturday at the Fair Grounds, and on Saturday the track will open the infield for the day for the Louisiana Derby Infield Festival. Flow Tribe will play at 2 p.m., the Louisiana Derby will run at 5:45, and Cowboy Mouth will perform after the race.
How New Orleans' city government relates to music in residential neighborhoods has been in issue in the last year, and this year's Tom Dent Congo Square Symposium on Thursday will address it. Speakers include Councilperson Kristin Palmer, former mayor of Charlottesville, Virginia Maurice Cox, former mayor of Charlottesville, as well as urban planners, academics, sound engineers from around the country to consider how other cities have have managed the tensions between cultural expression and quality of life. The symposium takes place at The Old US Mint from 6-9 p.m.
I've written about the crazy hyperbole embedded in the name, "Don't Kill the Music Festival," which starts on Thursday to support Jimmy's Music Club's efforts to get a liquor license. It will run through the weekend, with Dave Ferrato and Tchoupazine, The Bucktown Allstars, John Autin, Paula and the Pontiacs and the J. Monque'D Trio performing.
