A big event for Baby Boomers, something for the indie hipsters, a rare jazz performance, and our favorite instrumental rock band from Baton Rouge returns. Here are my picks for the first weekend of the fall.
The American Association of Retired Persons has been trying to get me on board since I hit the big 5-0 last year. Those mailings are rather annoying since I’m a “young fifty.” Now their publicists are getting into the game. While I won’t be attending their convention, Life @50+, this weekend, I must say they have some serious good taste in music. The Soul Rebels, Kermit Ruffins, Grandpa Elliott (of “Playing for Change” fame) and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band are all scheduled to play at the Ernest Morial Convention Center. Click here for details.
The big show is at the New Orleans Arena Saturday night. Stevie Nicks (pictured) headlines with Gladys Knight and Melissa Etheridge in support.
Another publicist who is doing a great job hipped me to Agent Ribbons. This female duo is playing the Circle Bar Saturday night. Though the press description is bit over the top—“Agent Ribbons isn’t just a band–it’s a tree house club of post-feminist dreamers trying to find their place in the scheme of things, like a hand-sewn and lovingly-crafted garment in a modern, disposable world. Listening to everything from Eartha Kitt to The Velvet Underground and taking notes from bands like The Shaggs, The Boswell Sisters and The Zombies, they miraculously reconcile seemingly-unrelated genres, sounding something like Girls in the Garage doing the Three Penny Opera.” I must admit they write some catchy songs.
Tonight, Hiroshima (June Kuramoto of the band is pictured below on the koto) plays a rare New Orleans show at Café Istanbul in the New Orleans Healing Center. This band was way ahead of their time when they burst on the scene in 1974. Some people suggest that they are a smooth jazz act, but that sells the group way short. They play textured pieces that evoke nature and speak to fans of world music.
Finally, Rondo Hatton plays the early set at Checkpoint Charlie on Saturday night. My pal “Baton Rouge” Bill Boelens, a live music maniac and radio deejay, has been championing this band for a while. They play all kinds of instrumental rock including surf music and sounds inspired by the spaghetti western film genre. Check ‘em out from 7-11 PM. See you there!
