Spencer Bohren (above) has been an important part of the music community in New Orleans and an internationally known troubadour of the blues for decades. He was recently diagnosed with cancer. As he undergoes treatment, a wide range of his musical friends are gathering at Tipitina’s Thursday night to raise money and help defray the living expenses of this hard-touring musician.
The benefit, dubbed, “Singing for Spencer,” is being organized by his son, Andre, and features two of his bands, Rory Danger and the Danger Dangers and Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes, as well as the Anders Osborne/ George Porter Jr./ Johnny Vidacovich Trio, Sweet Crude and Raw Oyster Cult with special guests Mike Doussan and Tommy and Darcy Malone.
The event is clearly a family affair as all of the musicians involved have played with and/or are related to one and other. Rory Danger & the Danger Dangers is a rockabilly band of sorts, fronted by saxophonist Aurora Nealand as her alter ego, Rory Danger. Marc Paradis, aka Johnny Sketch, is also in the band.
If you have never seen them perform, they are a hoot to say the least. Though the 45 minutes they are allotted as the first band on the bill won’t be long enough for one of their elaborate productions which often include costumes and spoken word segments, it will be a chance for them to rock out.
George Porter Jr. and Johnny Vidacovich are two of the busiest musicians in town and have made a cottage industry of recruiting a third musician to play what is essentially improvised music. I have not seen this unique trio set up with Anders Osborne, but I’m sure it will be well worth checking out. They start at 9 PM.
Since this benefit is an intergenerational one, it’s nice to see Sweet Crude on the bill. This francophone band plays indie pop with a Cajun twist and will have everyone up and dancing. They hit at 10 PM.
Raw Oyster Cult, featuring four of the five members of the Radiators, is set to play at 11 PM. I recently saw the 2.0 version of this band with keyboardist and vocalist Michael “Mikey B-3” Burkhart filling the chair long-held by John Gros. He sang one of my favorite Rads songs, “Never Let Your Fire Go Out,” and given the circumstances of this benefit, I expect we will hear it again. “You might be living in fear and pain and doubt, but never let your fire go out.” Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes will bring it all home at midnight with special guests.
There will be a silent auction as well as a whole pig roast outside. Come out and support this great musician who has done so much to keep the blues alive.
Doors are at 7 PM. Tickets are available here.
