(Editor’s note: the Mike Dillon Band will not be playing Friday night. The James Singleton/Doug Belote/Brian Haas Trio will appear at 10:30 PM)
On Friday night, the fine listening establishment on Canal Street will feature two separate shows of eclectic music. The Bluerunners will appear at 8:30 PM and the Mike Dillon Band will follow at 10:30.
The Bluerunners burst onto the national scene from Lafayette, Louisiana in 1991 propelled by a seamless blend of frenetic cow-punk originals and traditional Cajun music. Their eponymous major label debut earned the group rave reviews in rock circles and an important niche in the rich musical history of Louisiana.
Mark Meaux, the band’s longtime leader, is one of the best songwriters to emerge from Southwest Louisiana. He plays guitars (lead and rhythm), while the agile accordion work of Ade Huval underscores the band’s Cajun identity. Longtime bassist Cal Stevenson and drummer Frank Kincel provide the “impeccable pocket.” Newcomer Jason Harrington plays harmonica, mandolin, and fiddle.
Mike Dillon has been a force of nature on the vibraphone and various percussion instruments for decades. His collaborative approach to music making has pushed him to the forefront of the New Orleans music scene. He plays with virtually everyone in town; has a new recording coming out on Royal Potato Family Records (more tomorrow), which features Johnny Vidacovich, James Singleton, and Brian Haas—and his band has become an incubator of young talent.
The current lineup of the Mike Dillon band features three young stalwarts of the jazz and creative music communities—bassist Nathan Lambertson, drummer Paul Thibodeaux, and guitarist Cliff Hines.
