PHOTOS: DENNIS McDONOUGH | The Radiators’ keyboardist, singer and songwriter Ed Volker has long indulged in side projects going back to the early days of the Rads in the 1980s. His latest venture, a reconstituted version of Jolly House, played two sets on Friday at the SideBar, New Orleans’ newest, most intimate venue.
For this gig in front of a small but enthusiastic crowd, Volker left his keyboard at home and played the show with just his familiar percussion rig. Without a chordal instrument, bassist and Radiators’ bandmate Reggie Scanlan had his work cut out for him. Of course, he rose to the occasion while staying seated.
Saxophonist Joe Cabral and percussionist Michael Skinkus, longtime partners in Volker’s various solo projects had no problem filling out the sound as Volker presented some Radiators’ chestnuts including an old fan favorite, “Rainbow,” which segued into “Take Me to the River” along with his inimitable versions of classic blues and R&B tunes like Earl King’s “Trickbag.”
