Flow Tribe HOLLA!WEEN!

As we all know, Halloween in New Orleans is not your typical American holiday. Sure, you've got your trick-or-treaters, your haunted houses, your candy and what not- but just like everything else in the Crescent City... YO' DIFF'RENT HERE. The festivities are not just for the kiddos and if you're caught without a costume, you're out of the loop.

Of course, Frenchmen Street was hoppin' with hooligans and Galactic rocked it at Tip's, but there was one helluva hootin' hollerin' halloween on Oak Street that night. The Maple Leaf bar hosted one of our favorites, Flow Tribe, as well as Cha Wa for one funk fest never to be forgotten.

The whole shebang started at 8:00pm (yeah, we meant business) with a pre-party featuring free beers from Nola Brewery as well as tasty schnackz brought to you by the Funk Babies. Pictures were snappin' for the costume contest and fun was flowin' like a funky chocolate river. Cha Wa kicked it off around 10:00pm, which got the crowd prepped with some good old New Orleans classics, tambourines and all.

Flow Tribe, dressed as Robin Hood- Men in Tights, rocked the house next. With a full stage of fabulous musicians, they played their original fan-favorites as well as some killer covers that we all know and love. Needless to say, things got a little sweaty in the chill of October... face paint and fake blood meltin' off like butter!

But, that didn't stop and excellent turn out for the costume contest. Some super fly get-up these folks had... and a big congrats to our winner, Ragan Wicker, with this killer look:

To see more pics from the night, check out this link:
MORE PICS, PLEASE!

Stay tuned for more grooves!

Forever in funk,

NFB

Naughty Professor and Victor Wooten; Howlin' Wolf 10/3/12

I'll tell ya somethin': Wednesdays are nothing but a good thing in this city. For some reason unknown to my mortal soul, hump days are not only doused in daiquiris but also seeping with moments of musical magic.

 October 3rd was no exception. Mia Borders cast the first soulful spell at Wednesday At The Square, followed by a pretty darn wild set from Anders Osborne, Dave Malone and the Bonerama Horns. If ya wanna talk magic moments, seeing these guys do a cover of Neil Young's "Down By the River" was downright wizardry. An eerie autumn breeze, three shiny horns plus two guitars coming to life and having a conversation on stage?Abraca-freakin-dabra.

Can't stop there. It was time for some Victor Wooten and hollerin' at the Howlin' Wolf. Opening up for the Grammy Award winning bassist was Nola's own Naughty Professor- a six pack of dudes strirrin' up some serious grooves. Since 2010, this diverse collection of drums, guitar, bass, trumpet and two types o' saxes has been crankin' out the sauciest of tunes- an alchemy of brass kickin' jazz and good old rock n' roll. It's kinda like when you first realize you can add peanut butter to chili flavored ramen noodles... mind-blowing and life-altering. Although they've got an enchanting sound as a group, it's always mesmerizing to see each of these talented musicians take their solos at the end of their set. For that, as well as making an awesome opening act for Mr. Wooten, it is easy to see why these guys have made such a splash in the local music scene. We can only expect a lot more spellbinding stuff from this funky group.

Naughty Professor, The Howlin Wolf 10/03/12

And finally, Victor himself. A full band with a buncha bass was enough to melt my face. But why not add a sexy sorceress with pipes of gold? Needless to say, this was quite the show, and an excellent opportunity to see one of our local bands shine with the big boys.

Victor Wooten feat. Krystal Peterson, The Howlin Wolf 10/03/12

Musical magic, for sure.
No surprise Halloween is on a Wednesday.

Be sure to check out Naughty Professor at The Maison October 20th.

LINKAGE:
http://naughtyprofessormusic.com/

Forever in Funk,
NFB

Oh, and in case you thought I was pullin' your leg on the ramen thing, check it out:

• 1 package chili flavored ramen noodles
• 1 or so tbsp soy sauce
• 2 or so tbsps chunky (I prefer chunky, but you can do creamy) peanut butter
• 2 (or MORE) tsps sriracha
• chopped green onion (optional) 

Directions: Get drunk and make ramen as usual. Add other ingredients and stir violently until noodles achieve a nice, think, dreamy and creamy consistency. Consume, then ask yourself how you ever really lived before, and end with cartwheels of joy. Repeat.

Whetherman & Rachel Murray @ The Neutral Ground 9/25/12

Terrible Tuesday, Tuesday Bluesday, or Too-much-to-handle-I'm-so-tired Tuesday. Whatever you like to call it, we've all been there. Work is accumulating, projects are failing and all you want to do is evaporate into the weekend. 

Yep, that was my day yesterday. 

Until about 10:30 p.m. when I arrived at the Neutral Ground Coffeehouse. The scene was set: comfy couches instead of hard desks, dim lighting instead of fluorescent beams and delicious coffee instead of the crap we drink to keep us from nodding off in a lecture.

To satisfy the last, and most important of my tired senses was the soulful sound of Jacksonville, Florida's Nicholas Williams (The Weatherman) and his lovely partner Rachel Murray. The duo returned to New Orleans this Sunday after over a month long tour along the west coast, soothing listeners with their soulful acoustic tunes from San Francisco all the way to Portland. 

Murray, a New Orleans resident, is happy to be home; Williams lives in Jacksonville, but the two are recording their next album this fall. All of their songs are all available on iTunes as well, so give them an ear! It might just fix your Tuesday blues... 

As always, linkage to prevent musical shrinkage:

http://www.facebook.com/Whetherman

http://www.whetherman.net

Forever In Funk,

NFB

COYOTES 9/6/12

In a jungle traditionally dominated by brass monkeys, jazz cats and funk foxes, there lives a pack of wild animals ready to make their mark. With members originating from L.A., Chicago, and Austin, Coyotes create a sound that is not only refreshing to the New Orleans music scene, but the entire Gulf Coast.  The guys have been in the city going on four years now, vigorously bouncing around smaller venues and building up an energetic, loyal fan base that proudly sings along with each song and skips around to their infectious beats.  Coyotes have taken on the challenge of standing out as an Indie band in a city known for r&b, blues and funk, and risen to the occasion. 

When writing their music, lead guitarist and vocalist, Duz Mancini, focuses on the quality of each song- aiming for a lasting impression both musically and lyrically. Mancini has been playing harmonica and guitar from a very young age and names Bob Dylan, the Beach Boys, and mostly his family as his biggest musical influences,  "A good song is honest and authentic," he says, "it should reveal something at the end." 

Coyotes Stage Set-up, The Prytania Bar 9/6/12

Coyotes have been busy playing a slew of live shows, including a sold out performance during this year's Mid-Summer Mardi Gras at Carrollton Station. Upcoming gigs include The Circle Bar September 15th, a show at One Eyed Jacks on October 12th and a highly coveted spot at the 2012 Voodoo Music Experience Halloween weekend. Clearly, they're filling up the folk rock wagon with eager followers, paving some new ground in the local music scene. Check the NFB Facebook for details on a brand new single a show near you!

Here's some linkage:
Coyotes Facebook
Coyotes Band Camp

Forever in funk,
NFB

ISAACAPALOOZA

Artfully crafted to-do lists.
Prospective shows to attend.
Fridges stocked with shrimp and hard cider.
Mama's ready for you, fall!

But, just as that fall ball was about to get rolling, in came Isaac, stopping us all in our happy little tracks. Friends began skipping town, headed north to the alleged mead and honey. Water, and more importantly Miller High Life, began flying off the shelves. And as the song "Should I Stay or Should I Go" played on repeat in your head, you packed a bag.

Okay, picture of my dog. I'll need that.
One pair of gym shorts. (Big mistake).
Yahtzee. Duh.

You make the executive decision to stay, unwilling to be deprived of the so-called hurrication- the fabulous idea revolving around porch-culture: excessive drinking, mindless eating and unified sweating. As the storm approaches, you wonder what the funk they were talking about- blue skies and a beautiful breeze. Soon enough, you're trapped with the wisely chosen individuals your started with, waiting out the tremendous powers of nature. And, it's a hoot.

The aftermath of spending 2.5 days in hurrication nation is as such: great memories of storm stories, uncontrollable perspiration due to lack of power and the loss of that beloved shrimp in the fridge. But one thing remains beyond the empty wine bottles, and that's solidarity. We all got crapped on, together, folks. We all had to miss a few shows and a little bit of Southern Decadence. And we're all a bit behind.

But hey, September's lookin' might fine so far. So let's take a whack at those to-do lists, hit those shows and pound that cider.

More coming soon, pals.

-NFB

Daria and The Hip Drops: The Maple Leaf 8/11

Searching for some new groove tunes to shake that funk out? Try a little Daria and the Hip Drops, you just might like it. 

Hailing from Tallahassee, Daria Dzurik and her main partner in crime, Graham Robinson, boogied on over to New Orleans with the hopes of cooking up some new musical concoctions. A lethal combination of Daria’s background in vocals and piano, Graham’s abilities on bass and their shared jazz influences, the duo was well on their way to some deadly dance jams. Describing it as “funk and R&B with a little world-inspiration”, Daria’s music aims for both versatility and “dancibility”. 

Daria and the Hip Drops, The Maple Leaf; Saturday, August 11^th, 2012. 

 

“I want people to be able to sing back,” she said. “I want it to be stuck in your head.”

So, if you’re looking to snag a saucy sample, Daria and her krewe of funky fellows will be at The Maison this Friday night with The Scorseses. Lace up your dancing shoes and head on down!

Forever in Funk,

NFB

Royal Teeth Dangerbird Records Signing Party Feat. Mississippi Rail Company, Coyotes & Big History

You know you're a lucky little funk baby when you find yourself at the House of Blues on a steamy, sweaty, Saturday the 2nd of June. Time after time, you can count on this icy emporium of music to offer Miller High Lifes that are larger than life, the occasional foot-long corndog, and of course, great tunes from all over. Well, this evening was all that and a bag of chips... make that four, fantastic, local bags of Zapp's Voodoo Barbeque! The crowd was graced with performances by Mississippi Rail Company, Coyotes, Big History, and finally, Royal Teeth who were celebrating their recent signing with Dangerbird Records. This diverse shmorgishborg of local music was like eating a fancy four course meal of original Nola flavor that left each person feeling mighty fine.

Mississippi Rail Company was the first to tantalize the crowd. Like a stiff cocktail before dinner, the raw and rustic sound of this bluesy-folk three-piece primed us all for what we were about to experience. It didn't take long for the simple, yet hypnotic rhythm of the piano and drums to get everyone on their feet to stomp about and sing along. They played many songs from their new album, titled "Coal Black Train", which hooked us all like a rusty nail. To be frank, the old-time feel combined with powerful elements of rock 'n roll was exactly like taking a shot of good whiskey; it certainly went down smooth, but left us all with a warm, hot feeling inside. And, of course, made us dance. 

Next on the plate were Coyotes, who were nothing short of a captivating collection of energies on stage. Watching each individual band member perform with such intensity all to collide and create a perfect sound was comparable to the perfect summer salad. Lettuce, cranberries, candied walnuts... it's all delicious, but no ingredient was overpowering the rest. The result? A flawless folk soul with a zesty songwriting spirit, doused with a whole heck of a lot of talent and, of course, contagious energy that fostered wide-eyed fans.

After two rounds, things really picked up and we were ready to keep this ball of fire burning. Big History did just that. In fact, they pretty much sprayed the already lit fun, folk-y fire with some freakin' kerosene. This solid, full sounding band was further accentuated with two lovely leading ladies in the front, one killin' it on a tambourine and keys, the other melting faces with a deep, gorgeous set of pipes. Taken together, Big History's robust and powerful aura was a knock-out, like a good casserole with just as much fresh veggies as there are meaty chunks of funk.

By this time, you'd think the crowd was full and ready to call it quits. Welp, friends, it was quite the opposite. Although we had all been members of the "clean plate club of music", thoroughly enjoying each band to precede, us funk babies were not ready to throw in the towel just yet. Bring on the ice cream sundae of local tunes... Royal Teeth. It was a colorful explosion of beautiful noise, a pure expression of emotion through music. Start with the ice cream, the cold creamy combo of the bass and ultra fun drums; add a little guy on the computer, who, like hot fudge, provided an element of contrast which worked so perfectly in all the right places; the colorful crunchy sprinkles of the two guitars; and finally, the cherry on top known as impeccable harmonies between the two lead singers. Royal Teeth took the audience from complete silence during a quiet duet all the way to the ultimate "woah, oh my god, holy crapola" at the very end with a raging finale. Almost as good as Creole Creamery.

So, as the confetti fell, we took our last bites of the musical buffet.
 It was all so delicious. So very, very delectable.

 Hungry for more? Here's some linkage. Bon Appetit!

Mississippi Rail Company: http://www.mississippirailcompany.com/
Coyotes: http://coyotes.bandcamp.com/
Big History: http://coyotes.bandcamp.com/
Royal Teeth: http://royalteethmusic.com/


NFB