Sweating The Small Stuff: Son Seals @ The Lone Star Café
Chicago blues legend Son Seals could break a sweat and shred a solo, and one night in New York he impressively showed how to do both at the same time.... Read More
Dumpstaphunk “United Nations Stomp”
Dumpstaphunk is the next-generation funk band we need right now. And when it comes to what makes a funk band funky, they've got twice as much as anyone else... Read More
Louis Cole “F It Up” (2018)
Giving literal meaning to the term "home studio," Louis Cole's unusual full band was as funky as he was foul-mouthed.... Read More
New Orleans Playlist
Today is Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras Day, 2020. A day of parades, of history, of culture, of camaraderie, and, well yeah, of some of the most outright debauchery known to mankind (but in a good way)..... Read More
The J.B.’s “Pass The Peas” (1972)
The J.B.'s, James Brown’s inimitably funky band, put out numerous stellar albums during the ‘70’s era when they weren’t backing the Godfather of Soul on stage and on record, including this culinary crowd-pleaser..... Read More
Ohio Players “Fire” (1974)
Funk. It’s not just the notes and it’s not just the rhythm. It’s the feeling. When you’re listening to a band or a song, you shouldn’t have to do too much thinking to tell if it’s got the funk. You’ll feel it. And if it’s got the funk, ipso facto, it is funky. Funk bands...... Read More
Average White Band “Work To Do” (1974)
It’s Labor Day, which means the end of the summer, which for someone like me who so looks forward to the warm weather and so hates the cold, I can honestly only say, fuck that. But, in addition to its significance as a marker on the seasonal calendar, it is..... Read More
Li’l Queenie & The Percolators “My Darlin’ New Orleans” (1981)
Their recording output was exactly one record. Not one album, mind you, but one song – a 45 single. And yet, last week Leigh Harris, aka Little Queenie, was inducted into the... Read More
The Wild Magnolias “All On A Mardi Gras Day”
It’s Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras day.
So accordingly, here’s my favorite Mardi Gras day song,... Read More
Trombone Shorty “Here Come The Girls” (2017)
He’s James Brown with a horn. Really, with two horns – because despite his name, Trombone Shorty is equally adept at blowing both the trombone and the trumpet, and ever since the first time I saw him perform live I was completely blown away. In a city where... Read More