225BatonRouge.com - Blogs

This past Friday, I started out with a string of brilliant homespun art openings on Christian Street. The strongest work there was the sumptuous, surrealist portraits by John Norris (of Harlan) and David Baird’s house/workspace down the street. It was a cool enough scene that I dropped around the idea that they reclaim the neighborhood, formerly known as Zee Zee Gardens, as DUPRO (Down Under the Perkins Road Overpass) – everyone knows that the first step in cultural success is a good acronym. SOHO is short for South of Houston, after all.

The night continued with an excellent showing by Bones at Spanish Moon. This time the band, which reinterprets their material for each show, has had The Rolling Stones’ Beggars Banquet on heavy rotation, given the Jagger swagger with which Mike Miller was infusing the material. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for much-heralded New Orleans sensation Quinton: underwhelming keyboard drones over a rather uninventive drum machine (that I understand is a light activated contraption Quinton has invented, but still, it sounded like keyboard presets.) They came off like (minimalist new wave pioneers) Suicide performing the Grease soundtrack. Maybe I just don’t get camp anymore. Maybe I didn’t have the right intoxicant cocktail going (it was 4/20, after all) but they didn’t make me believe the hype.

Blues week is in full swing this week: checkout their jam-packed calendar here. It’s time to get to know where the rock ‘n’ roll came from.

Wednesday, April 25:

Lighthouse Gospel Singers at the Manship Theatre

Dixie rose and James Johnson at Teddy’s Juke Joint

Elvin Killerbee at Slippery Pete’s

Mike Got Spiked and Jack Fate at Spanish Moon

Michael Foster Project at Chelsea’s

Galactic at Varsity Theatre

Thursday, April 26:

Linda Hopkins and the Herman Jackson Quintet at the Manship Theatre

Chicago Al at Slippery Pete’s

Harvey Knox Band and Lil Ray Neal at Phil Brady’s

Simon Lott’s Galactic Collaboration at Chelsea’s

Jason Boland & the Stragglers at the Varsity

Friday, April 27:

Mose Allison at the Manship Theatre

Deacon John and the Ivories at Hollywood Casino

Mem Shannon at Teddy’s Juke Joint

Larry Garner and the Bluebirds at Phil Brady’s

Secret Annexe has their CD release at Spanish Moon

Hi-Five CD release party at Red Star, with Terror of the Sea in tow.

Lee Boys at Chelsea’s

Leslie and the Lys at North Gate Tavern

Saturday, April 28:

Big Al Carson and the heavyweights at Teddy’s Juke Joint

Henry Gray and Rudy Richard at Phil Brady’s

Band Fest, Mike Foster Project and Palo Viejo at Spanish Moon

Funky Fiesta at Chelsea’s

Code Duello’s CD release party with justinbailey and Thou at North Gate Tavern

Sunday, April 29:

Sundanze and Teddy’s House Band at Teddy’s Juke Joint

Monday, April 30:

Glossary and Elsah at Chelsea’s

Foolproof and For Karma at North Gate Tavern