Louisiana

Song of the Day: “Animule Ball” by Squirrel Nut Zippers

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Squirrel Nut Zippers (Photo courtesy the artist)

Since 1995, the Squirrel Nut Zippers have sacked and plundered the old, weird America then sailed off to further distant lands. They have used New Orleans as their hideout and base of operations. Jean-Lafitte-like the hide in the lee side of barrier island, receiving goods and masking dark back channel deals; hiding in cellars or in plain view.

On Sept. 25, fans will be able to gaze into the tea leaves that make up their brand new album: Lost Songs of Doc Souchon to see if they can discern their own destiny. The first single from the album “Animule Ball” was originally recorded back in 1938 by Jelly Roll Morton.

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Livestream Preview: Jason Marsalis Marsalis Quintet @ Facebook Live, 6/12/20

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Jason Marsalis (Photo by Dwayne Hills)

The Jason Marsalis Marsalis Quintet will perform “The Music of My Father” for the next installment of the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park’s interactive Facebook live stream series, “Golden Hour,” hosted by Nick Spitzer of the public radio program American Routes — in conversation with Jason and band between tunes.

Tune in on Friday, June 12, via Facebook Live!

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Live Review: Tank & The Bangas @ The Anthem — 2/29/20

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Tank and the Bangas - The Anthem DC - 02.29.20 3Tank and the Bangas performs at The Anthem on Feb. 29, 2020. (Photos by Casey Vock.)

There’s something invincible and miraculous about a musical act that never really fit into a specific genre and probably never will.

But it’s tough to understand where a record store clerk might slot albums from the Grammy-nominated Tank and the Bangas, an inexplicably fascinated posse of musicians who about eight years ago in the birthplace of jazz — the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans — and have become one of the hottest acts on tour today.

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Preview: Tank and the Bangas @ The Anthem, 2/29/20

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Tank and the Bangas (Photo by Gus Bennett Jr.)

Last year, Tank and the Bangas made their major label studio debut with Green Balloon. The band quickly blew up, scoring a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. The R&B group is now on tour opening for The Revivalists, and you should arrive early to see them when they perform at The Anthem on Saturday, Feb. 29.

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Live Review: Sonny Landreth and Cindy Cashdollar @ City Winery — 11/7/19

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Sonny Landreth (Photo by Robley Dupleix)

Americana is often looked at as a singer-songwriters’ genre, but any number of fantastic instrumentalists have contributed to the field. Two of the best guitarists in Americana, Sonny Landreth and Cyndi Cashdollar, brought the audience at City Winery to a hushed reverie recently with a set of electric/acoustic duets. Sonny paired his electric guitar, as well as his vocals, with Cyndi’s dobro (a form of resonator) and lap steel guitars, for a performance that was, as Cyndi said, “just like in your living room.”

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Live Review: Big Freedia w/ Low Cut Connie @ 9:30 Club — 10/29/19

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Big Freedia performs at 9:30 Club on Oct. 29, 2019. (Photo by Will Colbert)

What’s more New Orleans than a crawfish boil and king cake? Bounce music! The uninhibited twist on hip-hop is as beloved in NOLA as Go-Go in the nation’s capital. Freddie Ross, Jr., better known as Big Freedia (pronounced “FREE-da”), recently showed a packed 9:30 Club why he’s the “Queen of Bounce.”

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Snapshots: Kevin Gates @ Echostage — 10/27/19

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Kevin Gates performs at Echostage on Oct. 27, 2019. (Photo by Chris Castillo)

Kevin Gates released his sophomore album, I’m Him, in September via Atlantic Records. Several weeks later, he embarked on a 32-date I’m Him Tour, and one stop on that tour was DC’s own Echostage. Chris Castillo shot some pictures of the Baton Rouge rapper.

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Snapshots: Lloyd @ Howard Theatre — 10/26/19

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Lloyd performs at the Howard Theatre on Oct. 26, 2019. (Photo by Chris Castillo)

R&B singer Lloyd Polite, Jr., known best as simply Lloyd, last year released Tru, his fifth studio album, via Young Goldie Music and Empire Distribution. Lloyd dropped by the Howard Theatre recently for an unplugged show, and Chris Castillo was there to get some pictures.

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