New Orleans’ 2023 concert season kicks off this week, with several touring acts making stops at some of the city’s biggest venues.
LEGENDZ OF THE STREETZ: RELOADED
Friday, Smoothie King Center
Exactly one year ago, the 2022 edition of the “Legendz of the Streetz” tour stopped at the Smoothie King Center with a half-dozen middle-class rappers who rose to prominence in the 2000s: Rick Ross, Jeezy, 2 Chainz, Gucci Mane, Trina. and Fabolous. On a cold night in a half-filled arena, their revue-style no-show was a complete mess, with more than one act failing to connect with the crowd. One of last year’s highlights was Jeezy, the snowman. The barrel-chested Jeezy suffered in a way that most other male rappers didn’t, his gruff voice matching his swagger as he strutted on stage.
Gucci Mane performs on the Legendz of the Streetz Tour at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Friday, February 4, 2022. (Photo by Brett Duke, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
Jeezy is back for the 2023 “Legendz of the Streetz: Reloaded” tour, along with 2 Chainz, Gucci Mane and Trina. They’ll be joined by TI, Jadakiss and Cam’ron at the Smoothie King Center on Friday, along with guest local favorite Juvenile. Only the arena floor and lower bowl will be open for this reduced-capacity show, which starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $90 and up plus fees.
Modern rock band Death Cab for Cutie in a 2022 promo photo.
DEATH CABIA FOR CUTIE
Friday, Orpheum Theater
Death Cab for Cutie formed in Bellingham, Washington in the late 1990s as an indie rock band with a melodic and melancholic bent. The tone of Ben Gibbard’s voice sometimes reminds me of Jon Anderson of Yes. But Gibbard and his bandmates are short, sometimes propulsive, sometimes poignant songs. 2005’s platinum-selling masterpiece “Plans” featured “Soul Meets Body,” “Marching Bands of Manhattan” and “I Will Follow You Into the Dark,” Gibbard’s solo acoustic meditation on a relationship that endures beyond death. Such meditations came alive in Death Cab for Cutie’s tour de force show at the Orpheum Theater in 2019, and the sunlight also came to life on the Gentilly Stage at the 2022 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Touring in support of “Asphalt Meadows,” Death Cab for Cutie’s 10th studio album, the band returns to the Orpheum on Friday. Mom will open the show at 8pm Tickets from $48.50.
Incubus singer Brandon Boyd is performing at Champion’s Square in New Orleans, La. Wednesday, August 2, 2017.
INCUBA
Saturday, Fillmore
After two albums that touched nu metal and other styles but failed to connect with a large audience, Incubus returned to work and created “Make Yourself” in 1999. He created the “Make Yourself” group. Featuring singer Brandon Boyd’s lighter, more melodic, less heavy sound, “Make Yourself” yielded three hit singles – “Drive,” “Pardon Me” and “Stellar” – and sold 2 million copies. This success was followed by the album “Morning View” and his “Wish You Were Here”. The momentum finally slowed down. But Incubus’ music has aged well, and the band, still anchored by Boyd and Mike Einziger on guitar and José Pasillas on drums, has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years. Only resale tickets are available for the band’s Saturday show at the Fillmore.
Malcolm “Papa Mali” Welbourne performs outdoors with Marc Stone at the Broadside in New Orleans, Friday, March 12, 2021. It was the first night modified under the city’s Phase 3 restrictions.
CELEBRATION OF INTERNATIONAL CASH DAY
Tuesday, Chickie Wah Wah
A couple of Chickie Wah Wah’s new owners, along with a significant number of New Orleans musicians, are big fans of the Clash, the pioneering British punk band. Inspired by Seattle radio station KEXP’s annual International Fight Day broadcast, Chickie Wah Wah has launched her own live-action version. For 24 hours on Tuesday—starting from midnight on Monday until midnight on Tuesday—the club will have deejays, live radio streams, and on Tuesday at around 7:00 p.m., a crab boil and a live performance will be hosted by guitarist Papa Mali. Scheduled performers include CC Adcock, Tommy McLain, Amanda Shaw, Paul Sanchez, Preservation Hall’s Ben Jaffe, Meschiya Lake, Alex McMurray and more. Deejays Rusty Lazer and C’est Funk will handle the graveyard shift from midnight to 6am. Advance tickets are good for all 24 hours, including the crab boil and the Tuesday evening “Radio Clash Show” finale, $70 in advance, $100 day of show. Tickets good until 6pm Tuesday $20 in advance, $27 day of show.
OTHER NOTABLE SHOWS
Drummer from New Orleans Wayne Maureau, Mia Borders, Ricci/Krown Trio, Soul Project, Soulful Three, John Mahoney Big Band and, for the past 13 years, Walter “Wolfman” Washington’s Roadmasters, celebrates the new CD release of his jazz trio. , “On the Water’s Edge,” Thursday at 8:00pm and 10:00pm at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro. Tickets are $20.
The main Preservation Hall Jazz Band Tipitina’s headlines Friday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30.
Americana group A thousand dollar car Frenchmen Street’s dba enters Friday at 8pm ($10).
The Charmaine Neville Band Plays Friday at 8pm and 10pm at Snug Harbor ($25).
The Original Pinettes Brass Band performs on the Louisiana Fish Fry Stage during the second day of the French Quarter Fest in New Orleans, Friday, April 22, 2022.
Drummer Scotty Graves He celebrates the release of his album “Here at the End of the World” at the Maple Leaf Bar on Friday at 10pm ($15 in advance, $20 at).
A group of 10 teams from Haiti RAM Snug Harbor pops up for its annual Krewe du Vieux party from 9pm to midnight on Saturday. Advance tickets start at $10; this show is standing room only.
The The Original Pinettes Brass Band It’s on at dba on Saturday at 10pm ($20).
Musician and singer Bruce Daigrepont He hosts his monthly Cajun fais do-do at Tipitina’s on Sunday evenings starting at 5:15 ($10).
comedian Chris D’Elia brings his Don’t Push Me Tour to the Saenger Theater on Sunday.
RAM Plays “Haitian Voodoo rara music” at dba Monday at 9pm ($15).
Esteban Sanchez performs a sold-out show at the Toulouse theater on Tuesday.
Keyboardist Jon Cleary performs a solo show at Chickie Wah Wah Wednesday at 8pm ($20 in advance, $27 day of show).