VooDoo Festival, part 1 of 2
The Tenth Ritual proves the voodoo spell is still pure and loud in the
Crescent City. With multiple stages of music accompanied by bands ranging from jazz, to hip hop, to noise pop, to rock, Voodoo Fest is a diverse music experience with something for everyone. Located in City Park under a vast array of weeping willow trees, clear skies, yard long daiquiris and a sea of music fans, I was painted into the portrait of this audio indulgent gumbo.
After a brief security check point at the gates, I rushed into the Bingo tent to check out the Zydepunks. It was announced onstage by the MC as "the best zydeco punk band on the planet." The Zydepunks draw a large crowd and have built a reputation not only in the local underground, but also in the national & international eye. They have
shared the stage with Los Angeles pub crawlers Flogging Molly & ska sensations Citizen Fish. The 'Punks also kept busy touring the
United States, Europe, and Belgium prisons within the last 3 years. The crowded Bingo tent irrupted into a Cajun dance hall, as members Denise (violin, vocals), Juan (Accordion, fiddle, Vocals), Joe (drums, vocals), Scott (Bass, Vocals) and Eve (Accordion, Melodica, Vocals) charged the stage. In support of their October 21st release, Finisteree, the Zydepunks showcased their world to the festival audience. Irish stomps and folk intensity delivered with songs of evacuation, Slavic melodies and zydeco slam covered in 3 languages.
I pulled myself from the pit and headed over to the NooMoon
stages, which happened to be my favorite spot of the entire festival.
NooMoon's experience, Land of NOD, is an artistic venture which brings
painters, poets, writers, dancers, musicians and performers of the underground direct in front without a warning. In the background of these two stages, art displayed draped over fences, glass welders, costumed mystics and gypsy dancing can be found. This is a community brought forward by the love of the craft, bringing together the Marigny/ Bywater, Jackson Square, and the surrounding neighborhoods that make New Orleans such a beautiful place of which to be a part. And let's not forget they brought the best in out of town acts to New Orleans too.
On the second stage that afternoon, in your face, and throwing politically correct rock out the window was Mad Mike and his band.
Mad Mike, "the hippie bum" as he is dubbed, has a quote on his
Myspace page and it goes as follows: "He's a post-punk pre-apocalyptic
slacker Buddha!" I can not think of a better way to sum up this persona. I first got my taste of the mad one at Checkpoint Charlie's one quiet Monday night having beers. This venue was the first to book my own band when I moved to New Orleans. A few songs that stood out were the ones where he poked fun of "animal relations", and a song dedicated to his sexual desires of Mrs. Bush. Mad Mike kept the crowd nodding and laughing, re-assuring all of us how fun expression is. And what the hell, its just music! Mike ended his set with his classic motif, "I love the devil" and screamed "vote Obama" to the sun bathed crowd.
Next on the main NooMoon stage was "The White Bitch", a reputable and
sometimes solo electro R&B rock band. This day, however, he was accompanied by his band of New Orleans bohemians, including the notorious Ray Bong, delivering ambient noise twisted through filters and knobs. The songs ranged in influence from such artists as Dinosaur Jr, and Shudder To Think, with very strong Prince overtones.
High pitched vocal ranges and R&B grooves, with Sonic Youth chunky guitar solos drenched in feedback and delayed effects, really sounded good. Also added to the group's potent mojo was a Moog synth from which the singer would ferociously attack bass lines. The group led the voyage on the sexy dance excursion while taking moments to dive into psychedelic jam sessions. The group is currently supporting their new album Prey Drive.
Ray Bong's set, the Psychedelic Guru & President of the United States
of Bonnaroo, noise toy guitar techno, and onstage whip-it inhalation,
marked with Hunter S. Thompson's spoken word imagery, seemed all to appropriate for Voodoo Fest and at the same time managed to puzzle a few on lookers in the process.
Next in line this afternoon was one of my favorite bands of the entire
festival, the one and only Hurray For The Riff Raff. Formed in the summer of 2007, they could be described as an eruption of arrangement, profound and unbound, like a Waltz through the darkness of a humid bayou dream. D.i.y. folk with the beautifully played accordion, banjo, upright bass & auto harp, were, to quote the tenth ritual, "the perfect soundtrack to your southern gothic romance, a junebug serenade." This was my first experience in seeing this band play live, and one that I will never forget, along with the fans who camped out in front, dressed in Fedora hats, tattered suit jackets, and cabernet striped stockings. The only disappointment was the technical difficulties by the sound board creating a lack of volume. But the inspired danced on!
I took some time after this set to see the art of Kelly Israel.
Those who have ventured down Decatur and Frenchman may be familiar with the beautifully decorated 1981 Cadillac Hearse, displayed under the haunting trees of city park, with the mosaic mediums and skulls wound in a morbidly enticing delight.
I ventured off the beaten path to the Bingo Parlor, where the screeches of a Theremin rang from the circus tent. The Marshal amps screamed distorted harmonies from a black and white flying V guitar. Greeted by face paint, trapeze, destruction, and terror, this could only be
the creepy stage antics of The New Orleans Bingo Show! This multimedia
experience displayed old black and white film, clowns, circus acts, bingo games, and its ringmaster, Clint Maedgen's soaring vocals.
The crowd was loving the darkness of this twisted sideshow spectacle.
For those who are seekers of thrill and life's oddities of art, I encourage all to check out this jazz organ sinister musical.
As the sun began to set over the horizon, I made my way back to NooMoon. Acoustic blues performer, My GraveYard Jaw, took to the stage, showing attitude is still personality in this solo gritty folk universe. Stix Duh Clown, a.k.a My GraveYard Jaw, made his start in a true pioneer's story of heartache, travel, and wisdom. In the beginning, as a clown for The End of the World Circus, and later acting as a clown for the New Orleans Bingo Show, Stix begun writing music and performing these songs in his train hopping days. He strummed passionate southern ensembles, keeping the rhythm with a suitcase bass drum, and adding accents to the beat while the other foot hit a tambourine. Mr. Clown had a CD release party at the infamous Saint bar in Nola's uptown area. Located on 961 St. Mary street, and once owned by Sean Yseult (White Zombie, Rock City Morgue), the Saint is now under new management with Defend New Orleans founder Jac at the helm. It remains a local hot spot for the Louisiana music scene. The first day showcased many great acts, but unfortunately I could not witness them all. I made my way with our photographer to see the Colorado act Devotchka. There will be more to come on this thrilling event, with Saturday's debauchery.
Please follow the links below for more information on these bands and events including tour dates and mp3's.
www.zydepunks.com
www.myspace.com/madmikethehippiebum
www.myspace.com/thecreamywhitebitch
myspace. com/raybong
www.myspace.com/hurrayfortheriffraff
www.theneworleansbingoshow.com
www.myspace.com/stixduhclown ( my graveyard jaw)
www.noomoonlandofnod.com
Crescent City. With multiple stages of music accompanied by bands ranging from jazz, to hip hop, to noise pop, to rock, Voodoo Fest is a diverse music experience with something for everyone. Located in City Park under a vast array of weeping willow trees, clear skies, yard long daiquiris and a sea of music fans, I was painted into the portrait of this audio indulgent gumbo.
After a brief security check point at the gates, I rushed into the Bingo tent to check out the Zydepunks. It was announced onstage by the MC as "the best zydeco punk band on the planet." The Zydepunks draw a large crowd and have built a reputation not only in the local underground, but also in the national & international eye. They have
shared the stage with Los Angeles pub crawlers Flogging Molly & ska sensations Citizen Fish. The 'Punks also kept busy touring the
United States, Europe, and Belgium prisons within the last 3 years. The crowded Bingo tent irrupted into a Cajun dance hall, as members Denise (violin, vocals), Juan (Accordion, fiddle, Vocals), Joe (drums, vocals), Scott (Bass, Vocals) and Eve (Accordion, Melodica, Vocals) charged the stage. In support of their October 21st release, Finisteree, the Zydepunks showcased their world to the festival audience. Irish stomps and folk intensity delivered with songs of evacuation, Slavic melodies and zydeco slam covered in 3 languages.
I pulled myself from the pit and headed over to the NooMoon
stages, which happened to be my favorite spot of the entire festival.
NooMoon's experience, Land of NOD, is an artistic venture which brings
painters, poets, writers, dancers, musicians and performers of the underground direct in front without a warning. In the background of these two stages, art displayed draped over fences, glass welders, costumed mystics and gypsy dancing can be found. This is a community brought forward by the love of the craft, bringing together the Marigny/ Bywater, Jackson Square, and the surrounding neighborhoods that make New Orleans such a beautiful place of which to be a part. And let's not forget they brought the best in out of town acts to New Orleans too.
On the second stage that afternoon, in your face, and throwing politically correct rock out the window was Mad Mike and his band.
Mad Mike, "the hippie bum" as he is dubbed, has a quote on his
Myspace page and it goes as follows: "He's a post-punk pre-apocalyptic
slacker Buddha!" I can not think of a better way to sum up this persona. I first got my taste of the mad one at Checkpoint Charlie's one quiet Monday night having beers. This venue was the first to book my own band when I moved to New Orleans. A few songs that stood out were the ones where he poked fun of "animal relations", and a song dedicated to his sexual desires of Mrs. Bush. Mad Mike kept the crowd nodding and laughing, re-assuring all of us how fun expression is. And what the hell, its just music! Mike ended his set with his classic motif, "I love the devil" and screamed "vote Obama" to the sun bathed crowd.
Next on the main NooMoon stage was "The White Bitch", a reputable and
sometimes solo electro R&B rock band. This day, however, he was accompanied by his band of New Orleans bohemians, including the notorious Ray Bong, delivering ambient noise twisted through filters and knobs. The songs ranged in influence from such artists as Dinosaur Jr, and Shudder To Think, with very strong Prince overtones.
High pitched vocal ranges and R&B grooves, with Sonic Youth chunky guitar solos drenched in feedback and delayed effects, really sounded good. Also added to the group's potent mojo was a Moog synth from which the singer would ferociously attack bass lines. The group led the voyage on the sexy dance excursion while taking moments to dive into psychedelic jam sessions. The group is currently supporting their new album Prey Drive.
Ray Bong's set, the Psychedelic Guru & President of the United States
of Bonnaroo, noise toy guitar techno, and onstage whip-it inhalation,
marked with Hunter S. Thompson's spoken word imagery, seemed all to appropriate for Voodoo Fest and at the same time managed to puzzle a few on lookers in the process.
Next in line this afternoon was one of my favorite bands of the entire
festival, the one and only Hurray For The Riff Raff. Formed in the summer of 2007, they could be described as an eruption of arrangement, profound and unbound, like a Waltz through the darkness of a humid bayou dream. D.i.y. folk with the beautifully played accordion, banjo, upright bass & auto harp, were, to quote the tenth ritual, "the perfect soundtrack to your southern gothic romance, a junebug serenade." This was my first experience in seeing this band play live, and one that I will never forget, along with the fans who camped out in front, dressed in Fedora hats, tattered suit jackets, and cabernet striped stockings. The only disappointment was the technical difficulties by the sound board creating a lack of volume. But the inspired danced on!
I took some time after this set to see the art of Kelly Israel.
Those who have ventured down Decatur and Frenchman may be familiar with the beautifully decorated 1981 Cadillac Hearse, displayed under the haunting trees of city park, with the mosaic mediums and skulls wound in a morbidly enticing delight.
I ventured off the beaten path to the Bingo Parlor, where the screeches of a Theremin rang from the circus tent. The Marshal amps screamed distorted harmonies from a black and white flying V guitar. Greeted by face paint, trapeze, destruction, and terror, this could only be
the creepy stage antics of The New Orleans Bingo Show! This multimedia
experience displayed old black and white film, clowns, circus acts, bingo games, and its ringmaster, Clint Maedgen's soaring vocals.
The crowd was loving the darkness of this twisted sideshow spectacle.
For those who are seekers of thrill and life's oddities of art, I encourage all to check out this jazz organ sinister musical.
As the sun began to set over the horizon, I made my way back to NooMoon. Acoustic blues performer, My GraveYard Jaw, took to the stage, showing attitude is still personality in this solo gritty folk universe. Stix Duh Clown, a.k.a My GraveYard Jaw, made his start in a true pioneer's story of heartache, travel, and wisdom. In the beginning, as a clown for The End of the World Circus, and later acting as a clown for the New Orleans Bingo Show, Stix begun writing music and performing these songs in his train hopping days. He strummed passionate southern ensembles, keeping the rhythm with a suitcase bass drum, and adding accents to the beat while the other foot hit a tambourine. Mr. Clown had a CD release party at the infamous Saint bar in Nola's uptown area. Located on 961 St. Mary street, and once owned by Sean Yseult (White Zombie, Rock City Morgue), the Saint is now under new management with Defend New Orleans founder Jac at the helm. It remains a local hot spot for the Louisiana music scene. The first day showcased many great acts, but unfortunately I could not witness them all. I made my way with our photographer to see the Colorado act Devotchka. There will be more to come on this thrilling event, with Saturday's debauchery.
Please follow the links below for more information on these bands and events including tour dates and mp3's.
www.zydepunks.com
www.myspace.com/madmikethehippiebum
www.myspace.com/thecreamywhitebitch
myspace. com/raybong
www.myspace.com/hurrayfortheriffraff
www.theneworleansbingoshow.com
www.myspace.com/stixduhclown ( my graveyard jaw)
www.noomoonlandofnod.com
Article by: Ryan McKern for Neworleansmusicians.net
Photographs by: Alas Vera for Neworleansmusicians.net
Comments
Post a Comment
Questions? Kudos? Comments? Leave yours below!