Norah Jones has recently announced that she will make a stop in southern Louisiana this fall during her world tour. Jones is set to perform at the Mahalia Jackson Theater in New Orleans on October 23rd at 8:00pm. The tour features her fifth studio album, Little Broken Hearts, which has garnered much critical acclaim; It has been described as the “most dramatic and rewarding departure she’s made in her career” by American Songwriter Magazine.
Tickets will be available on Friday, May 18th at Ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets may also be purchased by phone by calling 1-800-745-3000.
HBO’s Treme and The Wire will engage in a musical matchup of massive proportions on May 11 in a Battle of the Bands hosted by Tipitina’s Uptown. Galactic and the Stooges Brass band will take on Baltimore’s Lafayette Gilchrist and Washington D.C.’s Anwan Glover & The Backyard Band in the charity fundraiser.
“Who brings music to New Orleans?” said producer of both series, David Simon. “Who comes here and throws down against badass outfits like Galactic or the Stooges?” Familiar with New Orleans’ music scene, Simon is convinced the evening will be an epic contest. “I tried to warn them about New Orleans, I tried to hold ‘em back. But Lafayette and Big G won’t be told. They’re coming. They’re ready to cut.”
New Orleans native Wendell Pierce will be the frontman for Treme’s side, while actor Michael K. Williams, formerly “Omar” on The Wire and currently “Chalky White” on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire will back their opposition. “I’m predicting something epic, something with blood on the floor. I’m just thankful that Michael can’t get his sawed-off shotty past the TSA,” said Pierce, who also played “Bunk Moreland” on The Wire.
The New Orleans performers are set as the favorites at a five-to-three line, however the east coast musicians and fans are optimistic for an upset. “If Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers are the equivalent of the Dirty Dozen,” explains D.C. native George Pelecanos, a Treme and Wire writer-producer, “then Big G and the Backyard Band are the Rebirth. These guys are go-go royalty.”
The event is set to take place at Tipitina’s Uptown on Friday, May 11. Doors open at 8:00 p.m., and the show will last until 2:00 a.m. General admission tickets are $20, with $100 VIP tickets available for fans who want an up close experience with the musicians and Treme and Wire actors in attendance. All proceeds from the event will raise money for The Tipitina’s Foundation and The Roots of Music.
“It will not be pretty,” says Treme executive producer Eric Overmyer, greatly familiar with the New Orleans music community. “The rules of engagement are no rules. Prisoners will not be taken. The wounded will be shot.”
The Southern Louisiana sextet Royal Teeth has signed with independent record label Dangerbird Records, joining some of indie music’s elite including the Silversun Pickups, Fitz and the Tantrums and Minus the Bear.
The band is based in New Orleans, becoming an electro-pop staple of the area with their energetic live shows, catching the eye of Dangerbird founder and CEO Jeff Castelaz. “I love New Orleans. My wife, Jo Ann Thrailkill, is from there, and we spend a lot of time in the city. For years, I’ve wanted to sign a band from New Orleans — to raise the Dangerbird flag there, to show our solidarity with the city.” says Castelaz. “On Halloween night, we got invited to see this band Royal Teeth at a little venue just outside the French Quarter. As soon as they hit the stage I got that special feeling inside, and I knew they were the band that would allow us to put our stamp on the city’s musical lineage.”
Catch Royal Teeth on their first extensive US tour when they return to New Orleans to play a celebratory show June 2 at the New Orleans House of Blues. Tickets are available at www.houseofblues.com.
You may have noticed our love for film. It is the industry that birthed Scene Magazine, after all. Though we lovingly cover music and fashion, and anything that entertains, film is who we are. Yet, noticeably absent from our family of publications are film reviews. You’ll see a few of those here. Also absent from our editorial planning are album reviews, so you’ll see a few of those here too. I’ll also include anything that gets left our for one reason or another. Sometimes there’s great information or an amazing photo that just doesn’t make the cut.
For the most part, though, everything here will simply be things that have earned my favor. Great movies, great music and great experiences. I’m leaving comments open, so please feel free to join me.
Some of my musings will warrant front page exposure (with the noted exception of this admittedly poor introduction). To view the entire blog, you can find the link in the menu bar under “Film” or click here.
Sincerely,
Micah Haley
Editor-In-Chief
Scene Magazine
editor@scenelouisiana.com
Roddy Chong is Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s resident rock violinist. “I’ve been with them for five years. The group has been in existence for thirteen years,” he says. “It was birthed out of the rock band called Savatage and it was Paul O’Neill’s vision as our creator, producer, lyricist and composer. He’s kind of like our Walt Disney.” On March 7, Chong arrived in Baton Rouge for one of the many stops on the show’s Spring Tour. We spoke about what drives his career over lunch at the original Raising Cane’s on Highland Road near LSU.
“I originally toured with this band called Jars of Clay and I had a great experience with them,” says Chong. After leaving the tour, Chong headed to the music mecca of Nashville to continue his career. “In my dark, depressed time driving in my car, I heard a song at two in the morning. It was a girl singing about the one she loved who was in love with somebody else. I usually like rock music, but as I was listening to this song, I actually started to cry and it really just moved me. I kind of had this convicting thought in my mind that, ‘Someday you’re going to play that song with that girl you heard on the radio.’ So I went down to Tower Records – which sadly doesn’t exist anymore – and I sang the song to the cash register guy. He took a wild guess that it was Celine Dion. It was called ‘To Love You More’ on a CD called Let’s Talk About Love. I learned the song just in case.” Continue reading…
The Trans-Siberian Orchestra is hitting the road on their Spring Tour, Beethoven’s Last Night, running from March 3 to May 13 with two stops in Louisiana–Bossier City tonight and Baton Rouge tomorrow.
The album originally hit the shelves in 2000 and was the first non-holiday themed release for the group. Now it’s being expanded into a two-disc deluxe edition that will include the complete narration from the live performances of the album for the first time.
Certified gold by the RIAA, Beethoven’s Last Night recounts the fictional tale of how, on the last night of his life, Ludwig van Beethoven (aided by Fate and her son Twist) unwittingly tricked Mephistopheles and was allowed to keep his soul.
Paul O'Neill
“This is how I have always envisioned the story being experienced. Where the listener can relax, close their eyes and within minutes be wandering the streets of 1800′s Vienna with Beethoven on the last great adventure of his life,” said Trans-Siberian Orchestra founder Paul O’Neill.
Beethoven’s Last Night will be available for purchase at the concert and exclusively at Walmart on March 13, and will be released digitally on April 17.
The show at the Baton Rouge River Center kicks off at 7:30 p.m. on March 7. For tickets, visit www.brrivercenter.com
New Orleans born rapper, Lil Wayne, is about to add another endorsement to his already astonishing list of accolades. He has recently revealed plans to endorse a signature sneaker, and not one that is part of his already established Trukfit streetwear line.
On Monday, Lil Wayne spoke to Vibe magazine and revealed he is about to sign a contract with a “well-known company” to endorse a shoe. Although he would not discuss the company that will be producing the shoe, the public can eliminate two popular brands from their guessing game as he confirmed, “it’s not a Nike or Reebok. The rapper has yet to “sign on the dotted line;” however, this revelation is proof positive the endorsement is happening.
This endorsement simply adds one more accomplishment to Lil Wayne’s four Grammys, nine albums, 13 years of music and countless mix tapes.He has proven he is a force to be reckoned with in the music industry, let’s see if his status holds up in this endorsement arena as well.
WHO: Louisiana-based models. Men and women over 18 years old who would like to be considered for Scene’s upcoming photo shoots and events. No experience necessary. Physical fitness requested. All heights encouraged to submit. All ethnicities desired. Please know your sizes. Current headshots and bodyshots may be submitted in advance to fashion@scenelouisiana.com. If you do not currently have a headshot or body shot, photos will be taken at the casting call. All applicants must appear in person to be considered. Disclaimer: Coming to this open casting call, does not guarantee you will be cast.
WHEN: Saturday, February 25, 2012. 10am to 5:00pm.
WHERE: Scene Magazine Corporate Offices, Raleigh Studios at the Celtic Media Centre, 10000 Celtic Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70809
WHY: With a groundbreaking number of fashion events and editorial photo shoots planned for 2012, Scene Magazine is casting for the entire year at once.
Project Runway alum Anthony Ryan Auld will also be present, casting for a large fashion event to be announced shortly, presented by Scene Magazine.
The ska-punk band Fishbone has been playing their energetic brand of music for a quarter century. Now the California natives are coming to Louisiana to round out Mardi Gras. Their series of shows will begin in Baton Rouge February 18 at the Manship Theater. From Baton Rouge, the boys will move on to NOLA to play on February 19 at Tipitina’s and Blue Nile. The shows will round out in Lafayette with a show at Feed & Seed.
Fishbone recently appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live and their documentary Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone is available on DVD February 21. Check out their performance on Jimmy Kimmel below.
Norah Jones has recently announced that she will make a stop in southern Louisiana this fall during her world tour. Jones is set to perform at the Mahalia Jackson Theater in New Orleans on October 23rd at 8:00pm. The tour features her fifth studio album, Little Broken Hearts, which has garnered much critical acclaim; It has been described as the “most dramatic and rewarding departure she’s made in her career” by American Songwriter Magazine.
