Year In Review: NOLA Music News

Dr. John || Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2011 - Photo by LMB NOLA

News: The Year In New Orleans Music:

** Dr. John inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March.

Coco Robicheaux (1947-2011)

** The passings of the legendary Pinetop Perkins at age 97, drummer Herman Ernest at age 49, rapper Tim Smooth at age 39, Isaac Bolden, Coco Robicheaux, Wardell Quezergue at age 81 and Maleckar Bear.

The Radiators @ Tipitina's - 1/21/11 || Photo © Jimmy Grotting

** The Radiators call it a career after 33 years following a three-night run billed as The Last Watusi at Tipitina’s Uptown.

The Meters @ Voodoo Experience 2011 || Photo © Jimmy Grotting

** The return of the Original Meters to the American festival circuit. The legendary progenitors of New Orleans funk first appeared for a special, once-in-a-lifetime performance alongside Dr. John and Allen Toussaint at the 10th Annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, where the band performed the festival’s namesake LP Desitively Bonnaroo in its entirety. The Meters would also go on to appear at San Francisco’s Outside Lands festival for a pair of shows and capped their year with a joyous Sunday set at this year’s Voodoo Experience.

Rebirth Brass Band - Nominated for a GRAMMY for Best Regional Roots Music Album

** 2012 GRAMMY nominees Rebirth Brass Band are joined by other New Orleans-linked artists including Lake Charles resident Lucinda Williams, Ledisi (3 nominations), frequent Jazz Fest performer Marcia Ball, local zydeco artist C.J. Chenier and Louisiana music mainstays Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys.

Win Butler of Arcade Fire @ Jazz Fest 2011 || Photo © Jimmy Grotting

** Grammy-winning artists (Record of the Year) Arcade Fire headline the 2nd Friday of this year’s Jazz Fest.

Stanton Moore and Daughter @ Jazz Fest 2011 || Photo © Jimmy Grotting

** For the first time in 12 years, Jazz Fest experiences 7 straight days of sunshine, leading Festival Productions CEO Quint Davis to reflect the day after, saying the 2011 festival was “as good as it can get.” We concur.

SKRILLEX @ The Sugar Mill - 9/30/11 || Photo © Jimmy Grotting

** Electronic music takes over the warehouse district (and the world) as monster DJ’s Skrillex, Bassnectar, Girl Talk and Pretty Lights all include New Orleans on their 2011 tour schedule.

Shamarr Allen and the Underdawgs - 504-799-8147 (Album Cover)

** Notable Album Releases: Trumpeter Shamarr Allen releases an album titled 504-799-8147 (his phone number). Papa Grows Funk releases Needle In The Groove (produced by Allen Toussaint and Tom Drummond), Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue dropped For True in September, an album featuring Ledisi, Kid Rock and Jeff Beck among others. Flow Tribe put out a self-titled LP this fall. Rebirth Brass Band put out Rebirth of New Orleans nationally in April, their first release for Basin Street Records. Big Freedia made waves with her Scion-released EP this summer. Eric Lindell released West County Drifter for M.C. Records, Kermit Ruffins put out Happy Talk, George Porter Jr. and the Runnin’ Pardners released Can’t Beat The Funk, a collection of Meters deep tracks, earlier this fall. Garage A Trois (with Stanton Moore on drums) released Always Be Happy, But Stay Evil this Spring

** Coming in 2012: Soul Rebels Brass Band have Unlock Your Mind slated for a 1/31/12 release, Galactic’s Carnivale Electros will be out Mardi Gras Day and Dr. John is reportedly at work in Nashville with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys on a new album. Also, Anders Osborne reportedly has a new record coming in 2012.

The Joy Theater @ 1200 Canal Street

** The Joy Theater on Canal Street reopens on December 29th, 2011 with three nights of concerts starting with Irma Thomas and Lance Ellis.

Kermit Ruffins

** Kermit Ruffins announces his quasi-retirement from late-night gigging.

** The 2nd season of the HBO series TREME once again features cameos from a number of local musicians and frequent visitors including: Anwan Glover, Big Sam, Coco Robicheaux, Deacon John, Dr. John, Elvis Costello, Galactic, John Boutte, Kermit Ruffins, Lucia Micarelli, McCoy Tyner, Michiel Huisman, Paul Sanchez, Steve Earle, The New Orleans Jazz Vipers, The Rebirth Brass Band, Trombone Shorty, June Yamagishi, George Porter Jr. and More.

The Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama

** Thousands of locals flock to Gulf Shores, Alabama in May for the 2nd Annual Hangout Music Festival, held May 20-22. The sophomore festival was an overwhelming success, selling out it’s allotment of 35,000 tickets and drawing overwhelming praise from attendees and a mountain of press, firmly establishing the Spring festival as a major player on the American festival landscape.

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival || Photo by Swagland

** The 2012 Jazz Fest lineup is unveiled on December 13th, 2011. The Beach Boys will kick off their 50th Anniversary Tour with a show on the festival’s opening day on April 27, 2012 and will be joined by other headliners Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, My Morning Jacket, The Eagles, Foo Fighters, Zac Brown Band and more.

About the author

Wesley grew up in coastal Georgia and is a former resident of The Music City and The Big Easy where he helped get LMB NOLA off-the-ground after launching in January 2011. Over the past few years, he has also contributed steadily to JamBase and Relix Magazine. Recently, Hodges moved on to L.A. where Abita Beer is hard to find, costs about $6 if located and impromptu parading in the streets will most likely get you arrested on the spot.

 

Tags: allen toussaint, Arcade Fire, Big Freedia, C.J. Chenier, Coco Robicheaux, Dr. John, Eric Lindell, funky meters, George Porter Jr., George Porter Jr. and the Runnin' Pardners, Jazz Fest, Kermit Ruffins, Ledisi, Lucinda Williams, Marcia Ball, Pretty Lights, Rebirth Brass Band, Shamarr Allen, Skrillex, Soul Rebels Brass Band, Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys, The Radiators, Trombone Shorty, Voodoo Experience