Thursday, April 13, 2006:

The Roots Canal: The Iguanas

The Iguanas -- Flame On
Bad news! I can't believe it. What am I going to do?

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival finally came out with its daily schedule. The way Jazzfest works is there are 10 different stages and tents, each with more or less continuous music (except for breaks) from 11am to 7pm. Once you pay the general admission, they're all free. Just walk from stage to stage and tent to tent, and see what's going on.

The problem comes when there are two different acts you want to see at the same time. Then you've got to choose. You can split your time and see part of each act, but then you walk into the middle of the set and you're probably going to find a lousy place to sit.

Wouldn't you know it? Not just two but THREE of my favorite New Orleans groups are playing at the same time. On Saturday the 29th, the subdudes are playing the Acura Stage (the biggest one) from 3:40pm to 4:40pm. Luther Kent & Trick Bag are playing the Southern Comfort Blues Stage (the second biggest) from 3:40pm to 4:55pm. And the Iguanas are playing Sheraton New Orleans Fais Do-Do Stage from 4:05pm to 5:15pm (immediately following Eddie Bo so you'll know where to find me then, Tuwa). Believe it or not, Herbie Hancock and Hugh Masekela are also on two other stages at the same time. Are they nuts, or what?

I'm totally devastated. For me, going to Jazzfest is about catching the great local bands as much as hearing the big national acts. (Not to mention the food!) What can I do? Right now, I'm leaning toward Luther Kent. Or maybe splitting my time. We'll see. I have plenty of time to make up my mind.

I've already posted songs from Luther Kent and the subdudes. Here's one from the Iguanas. They're an eclectic Louisiana-based band with a unique style that blends rock, country and blues with a strong strain of their Mexican heritage. They put out a breakthrough album a couple of years ago with Plastic Silver 9 Volt Heart. I call it a breakthrough album because it was the first one I heard of. (It's all about me, right?) Each song on the album is different. Flame On is a relatively hard rocker with a catchy hook. Zacatecas, about one of my favorite cities in Mexico, is more bluesy. The First Kiss Is Free is a little new age-y. The Liquor Dance is kind of tongue-in-cheek retro. Machete y Maiz is more Mexican-influenced. (I don't know enough about Mexican music to tell you what kind of music it is.) Et cetera.

Man, this is getting tougher by the minute. The more I listen to all three of these bands, the harder it is to decide.

[Plastic Silver 9 Volt Heart]
Comments:
you gotta jump..... it's all about hittin whatever's hot that day


yay

what else you goin ta see

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