See you in Tennessee!

Looking at my posting over time, there’s a noticeable spike a year ago when Hurricane Katrina blew through New Orleans and the American psyche. A year later, the Gulf Coast is still in tatters, tens of thousands have still not returned home, and several American corporations are several billion dollars richer thanks to to no-bid contracts. But as always in the Crescent City, the music has continued.

Out this week was a new release by The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, a group I had the pleasure of meeting and working with during my time at XPN. They’ve been making classic New Orleans R&B since 1975 with 2 drummers and a whole bunch of horns. And I’m a sucker for horns. Their new album is a cover of the Marvin Gaye classic 1971 record, What’s Goin’ On. With guests like Chuck D, Bettye LaVette, Ivan Neville, G. Love, and the sampled voice of NO Mayor Ray Nagin, the Dirty Dozen have created a mournful and fitting eligy to the people of their home town. Like Gaye did during another time of war and upheaval, it cries out against the insanity of our times. It’s a great album.

Give it a listen.

Yeah, I say that every year. Click any of the shots to see larger versions or view the entire set.

Laura having fun in the fountain.

So much glass.

Watermelons?

I got the whole world, in my hands.

The main entrance to Centeroo with the What Stage in the background.

Mini-hippie.

A backstage pass: the only way to fly. This is moe.

A view of the crowd from the What Stage during moe.

HUG ME.

Saturday, September 9, 2006
North Six
Brooklyn, NY

Marah
Slo-Mo
The Shalitas
Adam & Dave’s Bloodline
Christine Smith

And it’s not just a party, it’s a contest too.

This isn’t going to be just another show. You know, great music, dancing, laughter, sweat…no no no…it’s much more than that! We’re getting YOU involved this time.

Here’s the dealy: A Contest.

The winner will make up the 15-song set list for Marah at this September 9th show!!!!

Now this may cause a few problems as the Iggles kick off their season the next day, at 1 pm, in Houston, TX — a game that will most likely not be on in New York. This phan will be a bit hungover, but regardless, I’ll have my Donny jersey on in front of a satellite TV somewhere in Williamsburg.

Now who’s comin’ with me??

Nine (9) minutes of Jabar Gaffney highlights from last year with the Texans. The man doesn’t mind catching the ball over the middle and taking a hit. Also note, Carr takes a 3-5 step drop and gets rid of the ball as fast as possible due to his horrendous O-Line. On every play. The only read seems to be his first read. So, Gaffney seems to be relegated to short out routes and slants.

He’s also got a link to a 15 minute highlight video of Reggie Brown, our presumptive #1 receiver in 2006, from last year.

For your Friday listening pleasure, I’ll recommend my picks from this week, Built To Spill’s You In Reverse and the tremendous At War With The Mystics by The Flaming Lips. You should be able to click either of those links to listen to the albums for free on Rhapsody.com (though you may have to install the plugin).

Once you’re done that, and you’ve become a converted Sufjan fan (soof-yahn), you’ll be excited to find out that he does not have a child on the way, but he does have a new album coming out this summer. It’s b-sides and reworked material from Illinois, but based on his previous work, this will be a unique and original record judged on its own merit. Like tmrly, I’m excited for Chicago (Adult Contemporary Easy Listening Version).

In even more fantastic music news, the best band in Rock and/or Roll is touring this summer with multi-night stands planned in Montreal, Toronto, Philadelphia and Chicago. Party anyone?

And it’s Friday, which would normally mean a Random Ten, but isn’t Episode 3 of DoubleSpeak, featuring Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and AmericaBlog‘s John Aravosis even more fun? Check it out.

WFMU, independent radio from New York, has a fascinating little clip of someone scanning the FM dial that night. It’s really an incredible snapshot of a moment in time. Go listen.

via digg.

1. Phish – Esther
2. Toots & The Maytals – Bam Bam
3. Nil Lara – Sinking In All Your Senses
4. Ween – Drifter In The Dark
5. Steely Dan – Fire in the Hole
6. Ben Folds Five – Brick
7. Mos Def – Got
8. Joey Arkenstat – Birthington
9. White Stripes – This Protector
10. The Meters – You’ve Got To Change (You’ve Got To Reform)

Favorite Song: Esther. I’m a sucker for any Junta-era Phish.
Least Favorite Song: Brick. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big Ben Folds and BF5 fan but I never liked this song and it got played into the ground for me about 10 years ago.
Most Interesting: Joey Arkenstat. This guy doesn’t actual exist. Don’t believe what you read online because he’s an artificial creation of the Cactus from another planet, Mike Gordon.

Currently Listening: Marah, Kids In Philly – Point Breeze.