With Foburg 2012 taking over many of the downtown venues, it’s hard to believe there are any other shows happening that are not connected with the indie rock festival. But New Orleans is just that kind of town. Here’s a look at two funk options for tonight, and a jazz show and a big reunion gig tomorrow night.
Grant Green Jr. does not ride on the coattails of his legendary father though he did follow in his footsteps by becoming a guitarist. Tonight, he plays a rare New Orleans set at the Blue Nile with Ike Stubblefield on organ and Terence Higgins on drums. Ike has been tearing up local stages since he has become a semi-resident. Higgins doesn’t get enough time away from his day job playing with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, so this should be a special gig.
Speaking of day jobs, Jeff Raines and Robert Mercurio are founding members of Galactic. But they have a great side project, Good Enough For Good Times, which is playing at D.B.A. tonight. So, you have two choices for funk on Frenchmen Street.
The last time I saw the drummer Herlin Riley, he was playing at Snug Harbor with the aforementioned Ike Stubblefield. Tonight he returns to the premier Marigny jazz club with his own quartet. The shows are at 8 and 10 PM.
Uptown at Tipitina’s, two of the most legendary Mardi Gras Indians this town has ever seen are reuniting for the first time since management troubles derailed their decades-long partnership. Big Chief Bo Dollis of the Wild Magnolias is one of the most powerful Indian vocalists of the modern era. His sound is rooted in the carefree traditions of the Indians and he always makes the listener forget his or her troubles in the Bacchanalian spirit of Carnival.
Big Chief Monk Boudreaux of the Golden Eagles brings deep spirituality and mysticism to his vocal approach. I once witnessed him cause it to rain at the Jazz Fest bringing much-needed cooling air to the overheated masses.
Together, the two chiefs are a formidable duo that brings earthy passion and heavenly grace to the stage. Their partnership will go down in New Orleans musical history. Don’t miss this show especially since Dollis has been in ill health lately.
Photo of Monk and Bo by Charles Silver
