The Ponderosa Stomp "Insane Rock n Roll" Fest in New Orleans (plus the J & H Fest)

I missed it again. Flamin' Groovies reunion for the 1st time in decades with the A-Bones and YLT's Ira Kaplan. I keep trying to get DC clubs and the Kennedy Center to book these folks but have had no luck. There are NYC shows scheduled for July

Here's Jon Pareles in the NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/01/arts/music/01pond.html

http://www.lincolncenter.org/asc_load_screen.asp?screen=LCF_Ponderosa_Stomp Coming to NYC in July

i saw roy loney sing a song with the a-bones on monday night. it was neat, though the sound was terrible. yo la tengo opened up and played a great set of covers, none of which i recognized. i dig the whole loving spirit of the stomp but the garage rock aspies freak me out.

Ha. Yea I guess they would be out in force at something like this

NYC shows start tonight.

On Thursday night at Damrosch Park (175 W. 62nd St.), "The Get Down" is a night of soul and R&B featuring William Bell, Harvey Scales and the Bobettes, with the Bo-Keys, and Friday's "Best Dance in Town" brings a rockabilly night to Damrosch Park with the Collins Kids, Carl Mann and Joe Clay, with Deke Dickerson and the Eccofonics. Both shows start at 6:30 p.m., then Sunday night, the Stomp and Lincoln Center present "A Tribute to Wardell Quezergue" 9(pictured) at 8 p.m. at Alice Tully Hall (1941 Broadway). Performers celebrating one of the architects of New Orleans music include Mac Rebennack, the Dixie Cups, Robert Parker, Jean Knight, Dorothy Moore, Tammy Lynn, Tony Owens, Zigaboo Modeliste, Michael Hurtt and Wardell Quezergue's Rhythm & Blues Orchestra

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/21/arts/music/21wardell.html?ref=arts

Jon Pareles on A Tribute to Wardell Quezergue, one of the Ponderosa Stomp in NY events

Change is Good: Ponderosa Stomp Announces a New Season and
the First Round of Headliners for a Tremendous 2010

There is much to celebrate as the 9th Annual Ponderosa Stomp Festival kicks into action in 2010 with a new fall weekend to present another rocket-fueled cavalcade of American music stars. After eight years of spring events, fans are marking their calendars on the 24th & 25th of September in 2010. Fans hitting the Crescent City that weekend will take in the Stomp’s legendary musical performances, in addition to the 3rd annual daytime American music history conference, film series and record hop!

“We feel strongly that moving the festival away from April will have a positive impact,” explained founder Ira “Dr. Ike” Padnos, “The move to a weekend allows more local and regional music fans to attend, without having work looming the next day. For national and international attendees, costs are significantly cheaper in the fall. The move helps establish the Stomp as a destination event in its own right, allowing for its continued growth and success.”

The Ponderosa Stomp throws down in its 9th year with an incredible array of performers and the first six headliners are official! Stand back: DUANE EDDY, SUGAR PIE DESANTO, THEE MIDNITERS, RED SIMPSON, JOE SOUTH and THE TRASHMEN will grace the stage in 2010! Representing American music’s Grand Canyonesque range of genres, from twangy guitar genius to bold, sassy R&B, Chicano rock, truckin’ anthems, soulful southern songwriting and primal garage, fans would be hard-pressed to witness talent this heavy and diverse anywhere else.

The Stomp doesn’t just blow minds in the evenings, au contraire, by day there is the American music history conference, presented in partnership with the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame & Museum and the Louisiana State Museum, at the beautiful Cabildo in Jackson Square, in which the great producers, iconoclastic performers, journalists and notable music figures speak on panels and oral histories. There is a film series and a record hop for those inspired to add to their collections. That isn’t all: the wonderful exhibit, curated by The Ponderosa Stomp Foundation, “The Secret History of Louisiana Rock ‘n’ Roll” is on display at the museum as well.

Duane Eddy’s reign as King of Twang took off with the album “Have Twangy Guitar, Will Travel” which went to #5 on the charts in 1959. His sound came from his collaboration with a then DJ named Lee Hazlewood, driving hits like “Rebel Rouser” “Peter Gunn”, “Cannonball”, “Shazam” and “Forty Miles of Bad Road” and helping to popularize electric guitar. In 1994 Eddy was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.

Sugar Pie DeSanto’s career began at a talent show when Johnny Otis spotted her talent (she won) and offered her a contract on the spot. She joined his revue and he nicknamed her Sugar Pie. While she is best known for hits like “I Want to Know”, which hit #4 on the R&B charts in 1960, “Soulful Dress” in 1964, and duets with Etta James on “Do I Make Myself Clear” and “In the Basement, Part 1”, she is a songwriter whose songs have been recorded by Fontella Bass, Little Milton, Minnie Riperton and The Dells.

Thee Midniters were one of the first Chicano rock bands to emerge from East LA in the 60s, paving the way for bands like Los Lobos. Their cover of “Land of A Thousand Dances” and the instrumental “Whittier Boulevard” put them on the map in 1965, but they became politicized and were early to write about Chicano themes, in songs like “Chicano Power” and “The Ballad of César Chávez”. They integrated horns and diverse percussion producing a funky big band sound. Make no mistake; Thee Midniters are a stomping band with equal measures of soulfulness and booty-shaking rhythm.

Red Simpson is a giant in the wonderful world of truck driving music, contributing classics like “Roll, Truck, Roll”, “Give Me Forty Acres”, “I’m A Truck”, “Diesel Smoke, Dangerous Curves” and “A Tombstone Every Mile”. He started his career as a piano player in Bakersfield and surrounding towns, before being approached by Capitol Records producer Ken Nelson to record some trucking songs (Merle Haggard had declined). He was an immediate hit and created some of the greatest songs in the genre, inspiring younger bands like Asleep at the Wheel and Junior Brown.

Joe South is a incredibly prolific southern songwriter who gave us hits like “Down In the Boondocks”, “Hush” (a hit for Deep Purple & Kula Shaker), “Walk a Mile in My Shoes” (for Vegas era Elvis) and “I Never Promised You a Rose Garden”, a guitarist who played on Aretha Franklin’s “Chain of Fools” and Dylan’s ‘Blonde on Blonde’, a performer who had hits with “Don’t It Make You Wanna Go Home” and “Games People Play”. In the 70s South retreated to Hawaii to live in the jungle, but became active in music again in the 90s. This is a rare public appearance by a legend.

The Trashmen’s deranged proto-surf rock launched in 1964 with “Surfin’ Bird”, later recorded by a gamut of bands, from The Cramps and The Ramones to Silverchair and thrash band Sodom. It makes perfect sense that one of the most stupendous surf bands would come from Minneapolis, thousands of miles from the nearest beach!

For more information on Ponderosa Stomp in 2010 visit:
http://www.ponderosastomp.com/ponderosa_stomp_9.php

The PS is awesome and kind of overwhelming but Dr. Ike is kind of an odd duck to deal w/.

Oh. Maybe that's why they use a publicist now and a Gambit contributor to assist with programming.

Anybody at the J & H Fest? I'm not there but schedule for the first weekend has the usual good brass bands, zydeco acts, Andrews family, John Boutte, etc.

Weather sounds like it could be better.

Greetings From Overcast, Er, Rainy New Orleans

by Patrick Jarenwattananon

The Gentilly entrance to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. (Patrick Jarenwattananon/NPR)

Hello! from a ... well, fair-to-middling opening day at the New Orleans Jazz And Heritage Festival 2010, weather-wise.

As I type, a bolt of lightning has just struck somewhere in the area and rain showers are pouring down. And enthusiasm on the fairgrounds -- that is, the massive horse racetrack complex here in New Orleans -- has dampened somewhat.

But for an overcast moment, the lawn chair armada did get a chance to decamp, the cozies to fill with Miller Lite cans, the flags and regalia to unfurl, the peanut vendors to stroll about, and the bands to play. Updates from music that Josh Jackson and I have caught so far, soon to come.

And as you know, you can follow @blogsupreme (me) and @checkoutjazz (Josh) on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates. Now, back out into the damp and the music.

2:52 PM ET | 04-23-2010 | permalink

My Dad sent me this, not sure where it is from.

http://www.nola.com/jazzfest/index.ssf/2010/04/despite_forecast_mud_is_only_w.html

http://photos.nola.com/4500/gallery/third_day_at_the_new_orleans_jazz_fest_sunday_april_25_2010/index-3.html

Better weather Sunday apparently

http://www.nola.com/jazzfest/index.ssf/2010/04/treme_brass_band_gets_day_off.html

The Treme tv show gets the Treme Brass Band a bigger crowd

At one end of a Fairgrounds still sodden by Friday's downpour, folk titans Simon & Garfunkel ended their 90-minute reunion by bringing on jazz greats Terence Blanchard and Michael White and zydeco king Rockin' Dopsie, Jr. for an impromptu jam session on the coda Cecilia which was reminiscent of the world-music sound of Simon's classic Graceland album.

At the far other end — geographically and musically — Louisville's My Morning Jacket capped their 90-minute set of dreamy, theatrical, 21st-century white country-soul songs by introducing New Orleans' venerable Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The ultra-traditional ensemble, whose recent benefit album features My Morning Jacket lead singer Jim James, backed him here on uproarious versions of Mother-in-Law, It's Carnival Time and the Curtis Mayfield classic Move On Up.

And sandwiched in between those two stages, Canadian rap star Drake offered a heart-felt shout-out to incarcerated New Orleans rapper Lil' Wayne, calling him "my big brother" and launching into his hit I'm Going In. http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2010-04-25-jazz-fest-new-orleans_N.htm?csp=obinsite

http://alisterpaine.info/2010/04/21/new-orleans-jazz-heritage-festival-part-i/

I remember one year (of the 4 times I've been) having to deal with lots of mud at Jazzfest.

jazz greats Terence Blanchard and Michael White
Michael White?!?

Oh I see.

The New Orleans musician and jazz historian Dr. Michael White

From Wikipedia:

Dr. Michael White was living in a one storey home in the Gentilly district of New Orleans, near the London Avenue Canal, before the catastrophic flooding of most of New Orleans due to the Federal levee failures during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. White was a substantial collector of jazz artifacts and history in New Orleans for 30 years, but lost nearly everything in the flooding. He had owned the original sheet music of Dead Man Blues by Jelly Roll Morton, a clarinet mouthpiece by Sidney Bechet, and had a collection of an estimated 5,000 records and LPs. He lost it all in the flooding.

Ponderosa Stomp is bringing Detroit to New York City this summer

27TH ANNUAL ROOTS OF AMERICAN MUSIC
Ponderosa Stomp presents The Detroit Breakdown
The Gories
Motor City Soul Revue featuring Dennis Coffey, Melvin Davis,
Spyder Turner, and The Velvelettes with The Party Stompers
Eddie Kirkland
Hearst Plaza/
Barclays Capital Grove

Sat July 31
6:30
27TH ANNUAL ROOTS OF AMERICAN MUSIC
Ponderosa Stomp presents The Detroit Breakdown
Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels
? & the Mysterians
Death at
Damrosch

Hey, didn't notice Death before.

One of the main guys passed away in that group, but I did not realize that the reunited version was touring.

Did not listen to WWOZ or peep any reviews of the 2nd weekend of the J & H. Did anybody here go?

http://www.ponderosastomp.com/ponderosa_stomp_9.php#stomp2010

Music at night, and panels and movies during the day

I think some ilxers are there

Non-ilxer Ann Powers (LA Times writer whose writing I'm not crazy about) is tweeting from New Orleans this weekend as she's on a panel

http://twitter.com/annkpowers

How was it? An ILE poster said he/she was going.

http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2010/09/ira_padnos_moves_the_ponderosa.html

Read lots of raves about Sugarpie Desanto. Plus Ronnie Spector's surprise guest appearance.

If you missed this year's Ponderosa Stomp, you'll get a second chance to hear performances by the Trashmen, Duane Eddy, Ronnie Spector with Barbara Lynn and more. American Routes and the New Orleans House of Blues joined together to record this year's Ponderosa Stomp concert, and American Routes will broadcast highlights around New Year's Eve.

from offbeat.com

Anyone going to J & H Fest this year? Starts today or tomorrow, right?

http://offbeat.com/2011/05/01/jazz-fest-a-z-schedule-guide/

Wish I was there to see the local artists mostly of course (plus a few out-of-towners)

Hmmm, should I go to J and H this year? Same ol' artists mostly but I like the local ones even if I have seen moste of 'em. Irma doing Mahalia Jacksson would be nice. Or I should finally make it to the Ponderosa Stomp in September; or both!

No Stomp this year I think, they're going to focus on interviewing and building their archives and return with live shows next year.

Jazzfest is always a great time to me, I just avoid the big stage and stick to mostly local stuff.

That said, some of the Acura stage stuff was even less appealing to me than most years.

Wasn't going to go this year, but am considering it now for the first weekend if I can find lodging for 2 and plane fare at a rate that does not kill my budget.

Still trying through friends to find lodging and then have to get a flight. Ugh, it's expensive, but I haven't been in years.

Too bad there's no Stomp this year.

Had fun at 1st weekend of jazzfest(Irma Thomas singing Mahalia Jackson, brass bands, zydeco, Cajun, jazz and more) and maybe these below links will let me enjoy the 2nd weekend from afar

http://www.jambase.com/Articles/91779/New-Orleans-Jazz-Fest-Announces-Webcast-Schedule

http://www.youtube.com/jazzfest

http://www.bestofneworleans.com/gambit/thursday-may-3/Content?oid=1997203

Today's schedule. Week 2 goes from Thursday to Sunday

Ponderosa Stomp is returning October 3 to 5th 2013. Details tba

But no details yet

http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2013/03/ponderosa_stomp_announces_line.html

some obscure to me names in the list

Last month around Mardi Gras I was listening to Lynn August's "Sauce Piquante" cd on Blacktop (good record btw) and kinda wondering if he was still performing, or even still alive. Didn't research at the time, but it turns out he has a website:

http://www.lynnaugustnow.com/

Had no idea Maxine Brown was still active either. This song is so beautiful:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1lB9LcK4V2c#!

I like her. Lynn August used to come to DC a bunch a decade or so ago. Baby Washington still does, and Bobby Parker lives here and plays regularly. I need to google some of the names like Richard Caiton.

The 2013 Ponderosa Stomp Concert Line-Up:

Maxine Brown

Baby Washington

Chris Clark

Richard Caiton

Charles Brimmer

James Alexander

Lynn August

George Perkins

The Sloths

The Standells

Guanga Dyns

Ty Wagner

Gino Parks

Spencer Wiggins

Sonny Green

Bobby Parker

Bobby Crown

Eddie Daniels

Charlie Gracie

Boogaloo

RIP George Perkins.

Ponderosa Stomp is doing a few things down there over the next 10 days.

Anyone going to Jazzfest this year?

http://www.ponderosastomp.com/music-conference.php

Some great panels

Hudson Marquez, who found Professor Longhair, is so very entertaining.

Saw video footage of the Sonics at the Stomp. They sounded great. I loved the bright red suit Eddie Daniels had in the footage of him that I saw. His music was pleasant enough. I read rave takes on Ty Wagner and the Standells but haven't checked out footage of them yet