Big Chief Bo Dollis @ Tipitina's, New Orleans - 4/24/09 || Photo © Dino PerrucciReview by Scott Kushner New Orleans is easily distracted. While eating at world-class restaurants, we talk about our next meal. During cherished celebrations like Jazz Fest and Mardi Gras, we continuously compare it to past years' events to display our keen [...]

Twelfth Night (January 6) has passed; and Carnival season is rolling. Even though the Saints' season is now officially and regrettably past tense, it's time to shake it off and play some appropriate music for the seasonal partying that will be running all the way up to March 8, Fat Tuesday, this year. While most any feel-good music with some funk and/or fun up might do, there are, of course, the Mardi Gras standards that come into play year after year. With today's tracks we revisit the original version of one of those, plus a [...]

The summer concert season is upon us and the Hidden Track staff know that it's virtually impossible for us to afford every show we want to hit, and still be able to pay our insanely expensive New York City rents. Luckily for us, there are a plethora of fantastic free concerts throughout the summer that don't cost a dime. We decided to weed through all the listings and present to you our 3rd Annual NYC Free Summer Concert Picks. Let's take a look… HT Recommends: She & [...]

Well, it's way past time for more Carnival tunage up in here. The HOTG webcast is streaming music of the season 24/7 through Mardi Gras Day, too. So, hit that anytime for more fun. But, right here, right now, I'm posting a track each from the Wild Magnolias and the Wild Tchoupitoulas for our holiday festivities; and, in between, we'll have intense, live Mardi Gras Indian-influenced funkitude from Professor Longhair, plus a pretty obscure seasonal groove offering that owes an obvious debt to Fess. So, prepare to loose that Who Dat! [...]
Sounds good to us - see their Web Site . An excellent lineup including Allen Toussaint is an amazing pianist. Lots of talent. He is from Fitz's home state of Louisiana. Winard Harper is a drummer. Greg Abate is an excellent sax player. The Wild Magnolias are [...]
The Wild Magnolias - (My Big Chief Has a) Golden Crown* Photo by dsb nola.

Not much to say today: it's Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras day, and it's the final big blowout before the period of fasting and sacrifice called Lent. Feel free to party as you please; here's some music to help you on your way. Play 'em loud, play 'em often, and play 'em all year - make every day a Mardi Gras Day. Don't forget: You can tune in to real-time live webcams for your window on some Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans. NOLA webcams MP3: "Second [...]

Mardi Gras' coming and it won't be long. . .so let's get further in the mood right now with some more Mardi Gras Indian-related music. . . . "Two-Way-Pock-A-Way" (H. Fedison-B. Hawkins-J.Johnson-R. Hawkins) The Dixie Cups, from Riding High , ABC LP 525, 1966 LISTEN New Orleans bandleader, talent scout, producer, promoter, [...]

This Date Appropriate Song , Compare & Contrast , Party Tunes Tuesday track is special because today is Mardi Gras / Carnival . Listen: The Band ~ Life Is A Carnival The Wild Magnolias ~ Life Is A Carnival Phil Lesh and Friends ~ Life Is A Carnival (live) Bonus song: Stan Getz ~ Manha De Carnival More: Date Appropriate Songs More: [...]
We're going back in time-way back-today with The Wild Magnolias . A lesser known soul-funk-roots outfit from New Orleans, The Wild Magnolias sure do know how to lay down those phat beats. Distinctive in sound, dynamic in instrumentation, and damn good in vocals (I had to keep the alliteration going), The Wild Magnolias are sure to delight you. So with that, go and get Life is a Carnival . Listen to " New Kinda Groove " ( 4.8/5 ) Listen to " Handa Wanda " ( 4.8/5 )

Carnival season 2008 is now upon us, it officially starts on Twelfth Night, the Epiphany, January 6, and runs through Shrove Tuesday, or Fat Tuesay, Mardi Gras Day. The following day, Ash Wednesday, marks the start of Lent, the 47 day period of austere atonement (more or less) that ends with Easter. That's supposedly why everybody is blowing it all out to beat the band up until then. Got to get all the excess in you can. Got that? I thought not. Mardi Gras and Carnival are wrapped up in Catholic and pagan [...]

After Atlantic's interest in Willie Tee faded with his record sales around 1965, he made a few more records for Nola and related labels * (Hot Line and Bonatemp) that achieved almost instantaneous obscurity. His inability conjure hits certainly wasn't due lack of talent, but I think had to do with his jazz influenced, more musically sophisticated style of soul that was somewhat ahead of its time. Added to that, the poor distribution of his releases and scant promotion did not help maintain his profile with record buyers and radio. The marketplace at the time was much more friendly [...]