We arrived in town in time for the Thursday Zydeco Night at the Rock and Bowl aka The Mid City Bowling Lanes. This is my third visit in three years and many of the same people have been dancing there each time. There has been a different band each time. This year it was Chris Ardoin. He played non-stop Zydeco. I have never seen a band take a break there. I remember Mid City Bowling Lanes as only a bowling alley in the 50s when I went there with my friends. They even had pin boys when I first went. You can still bowl while you listen to the music. It is located at 4133 S. Carrollton Ave. 504-482-3133. The Rock and Bowl is on the second floor of a strip mall that is still closed from Katrina damage. Luckily it was high enough to escape this damage. The parking lot is always full on Thursday nights.
The next night after dinner we went to the Maple Leaf Bar. We saw a young blues singer with guitar, Lynn Drury (2007 Big Easy Music Award Nominee – Roots Rock). She started with only her drummer until the rest of the band, two guitars, showed up. The audience seemed to be mostly college students, many who knew her. She seemed like a younger and funkier Bonnie Raitt. I have been there a few times before, including once where Clifton Chenier sat in with a local zydeco band right after he won a Grammy and shortly before he died. Tuesday nights are packed with The Rebirth Brass Band's regular set. New Orleans Bands.net says, “The Iguanas play every Sunday when they're in town.” Do not miss the Iguanas. I saw them here in Somerville and bought two CDs, very smooth and danceable country blues with many songs in Spanish. The Maple Leaf is located at 8316 Oak St near where I used to go to the movies in the 50s. 504-866-9359
Sunday afternoon I always go to the Cajun dance at Tipitina's with the Bruce Daigrepont Band (2007 Big Easy Music Award Nominee - Cajun). Tipitina's was created in the mid-1970's. The place gets a lot of headliners in blues, zydeco, funk, and other New Orleans styles. It takes the name from a woman in one of Professor Longhair's songs. Tipitina's Sunday Cajun dance party is 18 years and running. Bruce did not disappoint this trip. He did very long sets. The entrance to Tipitina’s is pictured on the left. There was a food truck with low cost Cajun food parked in front.
Three afternoons we walked over to the outdoors Gazebo Bar in the French Market. It offers live music. Jimmy Ballero played each day. We also saw him last year and bought two CDs. You can see him below on the right. Gazebo had fresh boiled crawfish. They are featured in the center picture below with an Abita Amber. It is located at 1018 Decatur St, (504) 525-8899
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