Fleetwood Mac, Oliver! and Galactic among this week’s best bets in New Orleans
by Keith I. Marszalek, NOLA.com
Monday June 15, 2009, 3:53 PM
Fleetwood MacNew Orleans’ own Galactic headlines “Wednesdays in the Square,” the CAC hosts a night of “Bourbon and Burlesque,” Tulane’s Summer Lyric tackles “Oliver!,” and Fleetwood Mac rock the New Orleans Arena.
All this and much, much more in this week’s installment of “Hittin’ the Town,” on NOLA.com.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Jake Smith
Mid City Lanes Rock and Bowl, 6 p.m.
3016 S. Carrollton Avenue, Uptown
Tickets: Donations accepted
Resources: Rock and Bowl’s website | Jake Smith’s website
Rock ‘n’ Bowl hosts a benefit for the Second Harvest food bank with singer-songwriter Jake Smith.
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Bob French and the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band
Irvin Mayfield’s Playhouse, 8 p.m.
Royal Sonesta Hotel, French Quarter
Tickets: Free
Resources: More on Irvin Mayfield’s play house
Traditional Jazz drummer, band leader and WWOZ DJ Bob French continues his reign atop the Monday night band stand at Irvin’s Playhouse along with the cast of usual suspects and special guests.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
The Pfister Sisters
Jimbeaux’s on Frenchmen, 6 p.m.
623 Frenchmen Street, Marigny
Tickets: Free
Resources: The Pfister Sisters’ website
The trio of female Jazz vocalists set up shop in what was formerly known as the Spotted Cat early to belt out their 1930s best.
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New Orleans Jazz Vipers
d.b.a., 9 p.m.
618 Frenchmen Street, Marigny
Tickets: Free
Resources: d.b.a.’s website | The New Orleans Jazz Vipers
Frenchmen Street’s Gypsy/Traditional Jazz standar bearers the New Orleans Jazz Vipers swing out to a room of very happy dancers and music lovers every Tuesday night. If you’re looking to cut the proverbial rug without the commitment behind attending an official “Swing dance,” here’s your chance.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Galactic
Lafayette Square Park, 5:30 p.m.
500 block of St. Charles Avenue
Tickets: Free
Resources: Galactic’s MySpace page
Homegrown Funk, Rock and Hip Hoppers Galactic are this week’s featured band for “Wednesday’s at the Square” outdoor music series.
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“The Mind’s Eye” with George Roland
The New Orleans Museum of Art, 6 p.m.
1 Palm Drive, City Park, Mid-City
Tickets: Contact museum
Resources: The New Orleans Art Museum’s website
Curator of Prints and Drawings George Roland will lead a look inside the Museum’s new exhibition of abstract prints and drawings, The Mind’s Eye: Without Subject Matter, What Does the Artist See? The exhibition features more than 100 works by celebrated 20th-century artists including Josef Albers, Alexander Calder, Max Ernst, Stanley Hayter, Howard Hodgkin, Fernand Leger, Joan Miro, Robert Motherwell, Bridget Riley and Andy Warhol.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Matt Perrine’s Sunflower City
d.b.a., 10 p.m.
618 Frenchmen Street, Marigny
Tickets: Free
Resources: d.b.a’s website | Matt Perine’s MySpace page
The man who garnered the cover of this month’s Offbeat brings his larger than life persona (and instrument) to the stand at Snug Harbor. Perrine will undoubtedly feature cuts from his latest release Sunflower City. The CD is a tribute to those who helped Perrine (and other local musicians) return to New Orleans after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
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Oliver! (through Sunday)
Dixon Hall 8 p.m. (2 p.m. Sunday)
Tulane University
Tickets: Contact box office
Resources: Tulane’s Summer Lyric website
Oliver! is one of the most beloved British musicals (currently running to great acclaim in London’s West End), vividly bringing to life Dickens’ timeless characters with its ever-popular story of the boy who asked for more. It will engage you with its pathos and drama, while delighting everyone with its outstanding musical numbers. The sensational score is full of Lionel Bart’s irresistible songs including “Food, Glorious Food,” “I’d Do Anything,” “Where is Love?,” “Consider Yourself,” “As Long As He Needs Me,” “Who Will Buy,” and “Reviewing the Situation” and many more.
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Siddhartha
The Contemporary Arts Center, 7:30 p.m.
900 Camp Street, Warehouse District
Tickets: $5 – $8
Resources: The CAC’s website
The CAC and New Orleans Film Society present monthly screenings of independent films and shorts you otherwise won’t see in New Orleans. This month’s feature is Siddhartha, the English-language classic based on the best-selling novel by the Nobel Prize winner Herman Hesse, featuring astonishing cinematography by the great Sven Nykvist.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Reverend Horton Heat
The House of Blues, 8 p.m.
225 Decatur Street, French Quarter
Tickets: $22
Resources: House of Blues event info | Horton Heat’s website
Craving that weekend dose of tinnitus to carry you through? Well step right up boys and girls, the right Reverend Horton Heat is back in town, ready to proselytize to the masses through his legendary psycho-billy sermon.
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Valley of the Dolls, (Thursday – Sunday)
Le Chat Noir Cabaret, 8 p.m. (Sundays at 6 p.m.)
715 St. Charles Avenue, CBD
Tickets: $21 – $26
Resources: Info from Le Chat Noir
One part homage, one part parody, Running With Scissors’ version of the camp classic follows three very different young women as they enter the treacherous world of show-biz, a WASPy good girl in search of true love, a knockout model with seriously bad luck and a crass cutie who’d crawl over her own mother for a starring role-or a stiff drink. A cavalcade of characters stands between these three and their dreams-nosy secretaries, invalid lounge singers and a particularly blousy Broadway babe.
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Johnny Vidacovich with Shannon McNally
Tipitina’s, 10 p.m.
501 Napoleon Avenue, Uptown
Tickets: Free
Resources: Tiptina’s website | Johnny Vidacovich’s website | Shannon McNally’s wesbite
Tipitina’s continues its “Free Fridays” summer music series with drummer Johnny Vidacovich and roots rocker Shannon MccNally. Vidacovich deftly combines second-line street beats, straight-ahead jazz, funk, and the beatnik aesthetic into a brilliant, singular art form. Vidacovich a co-founding member of the modern jazz quintet Astral Project and has created signature grooves on a vast array of recordings with artists including Professor Longhair, James Booker, Mose Allison, and Johnny Adams.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Fleetwood Mac
The New Orleans Arena, 8 p.m.
1501 Girod Street,
Tickets: $43 – $123
Resources: The New Orleans Arena’s website | Fleetwood Mac’s website
What’s left of 1960s rockers Fleetwood Mac play the New Orleans Arena Saturday night. The current lineup features Stevie Nicks on vocals, Lindsey Buckingham on guitar, vocals, John McVie on bass and Mick Fleetwood on drums, percussion.
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Bourbon and Burlesque
The Contemporary Arts Center, 8 p.m.
900 Camp Street, Warehouse District
Tickets: $25 – $60
Resources: Official event information
The CAC’s now annual fundraiser, “Bourbon and Burlesque” features the best of both worlds; Members from several New Orleans burlesque troops will perform while a number of Bourbon companies share their wares to what is sure to be a room full of thirsty cocktail lovers.
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The South Pacific Sing-a-long
The National WWII Museum, 6 p.m.
945 Magazine Street, Warehouse District
Tickets: $10
Resources: The National WWII Museum’s website
Don your grass skirts and join us for the first-ever South Pacific Sing-Along. This classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, set in the Pacific Theater of WWII, features the timeless tunes “Some Enchanted Evening”, “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair” and more.
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“Them Funk ‘n’ Indians” featuring Big Chief Monk Boudreaux
Tipitina’s, 10 p.m.
501 Napoleon Avenue, Uptown
Tickets: $10
Resources: Tipitina’s website
The Mardi Gras Indians of New Orleans have had a huge impact on New Orleans music-especially funk and R&B. Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, the most important living link to this tradition, delivers soulful vocals and evocative lyrics over hypnotic grooves
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Alex McMurray
d.b.a., 10 p.m.
618 Frenchmen Street, Marigny
Tickets: $5
Resources: d.b.a.’s website | Alex McMurray’s website
Alex McMurray, the gravely voiced vanguard of New Orleans acoustic singer/songwriter roots-rook scene plays the late set at d.b.a. Saturday. If you’ve yet to hear McMurray, his delivery and dulcet tones have been likened to Tom Waits over the years. His recent sea shanties collaboration, (well the collaboration was not too recent, but the release of the CD is) is a favorite amongst locals.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Jonny Lang
The House of Blues, 8 p.m.
225 Decatur Street, French Quarter
Tickets: $38.50
Resources: House of Blues event info | Jonny Lang’s website
Back in the day, the axe-wielding Blues man’s name was just “The Kid,” and at 13, he had already become the premier blues act in the Upper Mid-West. Years later, Jonny Lang is all grown up, and his following is a bit more diverse than those calling Fargo home. Hes traveled the world on his six strings, and released a number of CDs that display wisdom far beyond his years. He’s currently on tour promoting his latest release, Turn Around.
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Los Po’boy Citos, Chef Steve Hesse
Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits, 5 p.m.
600 Poland Avenue, Bywater
Tickets: Free
Resources: Bacchanal’s website
Chef Steve Hessey of the soon to open Lemon Tree restaurant is this week’s featured chef at Bacchanal’s weekly evening soiree. The Bywater wine store teams local chefs and musicians together in their courtyard. Music will be provided by Latin ensemble Los Po’Boy citos.
Simply Burlesque 
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