The acclaimed soul shouter will headline two concerts this weekend, January 10-11, 2014. The Gaunga Dyns, and Lonely Lonely Knights support. The first show is at Siberia on Friday night and the lineup returns on Saturday at the Freret Street Publiq House.
Barrence Whitfield burst on the scene in Boston, Massachusetts in the early 1980s and quickly developed a stellar reputation for over-the-top live performances in the mode of Little Richard and other soul shouters. After a period of inactivity, Whitfield reconstituted the band and released Dig Thy Savage Soul on Bloodshot Records in September 2013.
The Gaunga Dyns were a virtually unknown 1960s-era psychedelic band from New Orleans until they were resurrected for the 2013 roots music showcase known as the Ponderosa Stomp.
The band’s sensational performances were the highlight of the annual event and were praised by audiences and critics alike. What began as a one-off performance set the stage for a full-blown revival. The band has been performing again regularly and is recording new material.
Lonely, Lonely Knights are a New Orleans-based garage band that takes its cues from the iconic sounds of early 1960s rock ‘n’ roll. They formed to act as the backing band for B.B. Cunningham, a celebrated vocalist with a 1967 hit, at the 2007 Ponderosa Stomp.
The band eventually developed into an act that is on the radar of crate diggers across the city. They mine a wide range of musical influences including New Orleans R&B (the band’s name references “Those Lonely, Lonely Nights,” a hit for the great Earl King), blues, proto punk, and sounds of the British Invasion.
Ira “Dr. Ike” Padnos, the mastermind behind the Ponderosa Stomp, will spin vinyl records between acts and serve as the Master of Ceremonies for both concerts.
