Twas the Week Before Christmas ...
... and New Orleans' nightlife is winding down. Still, Home for the Holidays, Kool and the Gang & Cheap Trick, Debbie Davis and Matt Perrine's Christmas party, and WWOZ's anniversary are reasons to get out and see live music.
Friday: WWOZ 34th birthday with Davell Crawford, Ivan Neville, 10 p.m., Tipitina’s: Davell and Ivan will lead two appropriate tributes, Crawford to James Booker and Neville to the Neville Brothers. (tickets) Also on Friday: Kermit Ruffins’ 50th birthday bash, 8 p.m., House of Blues (tickets); Bounce XLIV: Holiday Edition feat. Big Freedia, DJ Jubilee, Walt Wiggady, BJ So Cole, DJ Lil Man, 10 p.m., The Republic (tickets); Ray Boudreaux with Roddie Romero, 9 p.m., One Eyed Jacks (tickets)
Saturday: Little Maker presents a tribute to The Last Waltz, Pt. 2, 10 p.m., One Eyed Jacks: The Last Waltz is an ironic point of celebration as it brought together so many stars of the late ‘60s to make a movie and concert replete with ‘70s bloat. Still, it features a lot of great songs, and creates a context of a good night. And like the original, expect special guests. (tickets) Also on Saturday: Brasstravaganza, 9 p.m., The Howlin’ Wolf (tickets); Tank and The Bangas, 10 p.m., Chickie Wah Wah; Pine Leaf Boys, 11 p.m., d.b.a.; Flow Tribe’s Christmas Crunktacular, the Original Pinettes Brass Band, 10 p.m., Tipitina’s (tickets)
Sunday: “Oh Crap, It’s Christmas” CD-release party, 7 p.m., Cafe Istanbul: Debbie Davis and Matt Perrine have made Christmas music their thing, recording it and playing Christmas shows like Harry Shearer and Judith Owen’s in recent years. This year, they’ve finally recorded a full album with help from friends, and they’ll all get together for a night celebrating the variety of holiday experiences. (tickets)
Other Stuff
The R.L. Carrier New Orleans Bowl pits University of Nevada against University of Louisiana-Lafayette Saturday in the Superdome. Friday night, organizers will throw a free kick-off party with Kool and the Gang and Cheap Trick in Champions Square. (information)
Monday night, the House of Blues will host “Home for the Holidays,” the annual benefit for the Daniel Price Memorial Fund that helps aspiring artists at NOCCA. This year’s show includes Irma Thomas, Kermit Ruffins, John Boutte, Big Freedia, Rebirth Brass Band and the NOCCA All-Stars, which includes Trombone Shorty, Jonathan Baptiste, Big Sam Williams and Joe Dyson. (tickets)
