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 By Andy Argyrakis |
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Weekend Report: Second weekend of Jazz & Heritage Festival just as spicy
Friday, April 30, 2010 Now that the second weekend of New Orleans' Jazz & Heritage Festival is in full swing, the Crescent City is more than warmed up and getting ready to expand the musical gumbo all the more. Friday night features a headlining slot by "The Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin, alongside other soulful selections from gospel greats Kirk Franklin and Take 6. Latin favorites the Gipsy Kings and Jose Feliciano also appear, along with local favorite Allen Toussaint. The tides turn towards rock n' roll with headliners Pearl Jam packing plenty of grungy power into Saturday's line-up. The legendary Jeff Beck also turns in a blistering set of guitar-charged tunes,  while the bill also features additional diversity from Teena Maria, Galactic, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Sonny Landreth.Though the Neville Brothers are technically the top of Sunday's line-up, the most interesting act will likely be The Dead Weather (featuring Jack White of The White Stripes fame). The card also includes B.B. King, Van Morrison, The Radiators and Maze featuring Frankie Beverly. (Bet your life - Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Fair Grounds Race Course- New Orleans, LA: www.nojazzfest.com). |
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Street Week: Melissa's free again, Courtney's coming back
Monday, April 26, 2010 Now that Melissa Etheridge is a single lady once again, she sounds like a free woman who's rocking harder than ever before on Fearless Love (Island). If the lead single is any indication, expect an affirming record about starting over again, doused with plenty of power chords and one of the most anthemic choruses she's ever written that falls right alongside her Yes I Am breakthrough era when it comes to contagiousness. She didn't really make it as a solo star, but Courtney Love had no trouble staying in the headlines since the last Hole record. And after a dozen year absence, she gets the band (or perhaps more accurately brand)  back together on Nobody's Daughter (Mercury). Love describes the album as a lyrical merger of "greed, vengeance and feminism," alongside production from Michael Beinhorn, Billy Corgan and Linda Perry.It would be unfair to compare any of Peter Frampton's recent albums to his guitar god status of the 1970s, if only because he's tried to shy away from those psychedelic sounds in favor of a more modern rock n' roll flavoring. Though he certainly makes a valiant attempt to strain any of his undeniably extraordinary riffs from having a dated component throughout Thank You Mr Churchill (A&M/New Door/UME) his voice lacks the gusto those chords possess and make much of the album sound tired or uninspired. |
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