Newsletter - March 08

I’ll start the news with some friends’ stories:  Happy Birthdays to Chris LeBlanc, Jennifer Donovan, and Jenny Dixon – all great buddies to me.  I hope they have happy days.  Thoughts and prayers go to Tracy Thompson and Laurie Hough, both suffering with medical conditions, and relatives of my best friends.  I’m thinking of you guys – hope God grants you all strength and peace of mind, and relief to those in pain.  My good pal, Clay Jenkins, heads to Afghanistan for another tour of duty.  He and many in his unit came by Spanky’s on Sherwood last month and we said good luck – come back safe, Sarge.  This month, Stacie Glorioso and Jered (Scooter) Norton get married in New Orleans.  They basically fell in love in front of me at my old Bulldog gigs on Magazine Street.  And Matt (my long-time favorite musical side man) and Michelle Doran had their third child on March 4, 2008.  You can catch Matt with me at Superior Grill on the 8th, along with old friend, Lindsey Spiller, on drums. 

     Here’s some 411 on happenings this month, as the wonderful time of year begins:

Daylight Savings Time begins on March 9

St. Patrick’s Day Events:

1. St. Patrick’s Day Parade (French Quarter) – Fri., Mar. 14 www.mollysatthemarket.net
2. Irish Channel Parade (New Orleans) – Sat., Mar. 15 www.irishchannelno.org
3. Baton Rouge St. Patrick’s Day Parade – Sat., Mar. 15 www.paradegroup.com/Irish
4. St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Old Metairie) – Sun., Mar. 16
5. Parasol’s St. Paddy’s Block Party – Mon., Mar. 17 www.parasols.com

Oyster Festival – Amite – Mar. 14-16  www.amiteoysterfestival.org
World Championship Crawfish Etouffee Cook-off – Eunice – Mar. 30 www.eunice-la.com
Crawfish Etouffee Cookoff – Ville Platte – Mar. 30 www.evangelinetourism.com
Crawfish Festival – Chalmette – Mar. 28-30 www.visitstbernard.com
Tennessee Williams Literary Festival – New Orleans – Mar. 26-30 www.tennesseewilliams.net
Smokin’ Blues and BBQ Challenge – Hammond – Mar. 28-30 www.hammondbluesandbbq.com

First Day of Spring  March 20
Good Friday  March 21
Easter Sunday  March 23

     There are so many more things going on, but there is a start for you.  I made a quick run to Memphis last month, and hit some new spots in a town I’ve been to many, many times.  My new favorite BBQ joint will be Jim Neely’s Interstate BBQ.  Down home and in the hood, the ribs were moist and slightly wet - in between Rendezvous (too dry and challenging to get off the bone) and Blues City (totally slathered and falling off the bone, but not as good as they used to be).  The baked beans were amazing, with lots of meat added in!

 

     Just a couple of blocks away, I went to Stax Records for the first time – thanks Gerard for that recommend.  Amazing museum and fun - too much info, and too many musicians and stories to take in on one visit.

     No trip to Memphis is complete without several visits to The Flying Saucer.  This bar has hundreds of beers, and I’m working on getting my own saucer on the wall of fame – it takes 200.  I’m 5% vested!  They also have great food and music, and I saw The Dempseys there one evening.  Still probably the best bar band I’ve ever seen – talent, showmanship, energy, interesting songs. 

     Though it’s impossible to see, in the band shot above, the bass player grabbed the guitarist’s guitar, the guitarist grabbed the upright bass, and the bassist climbed up on the upright bass and played a solo!  Their show is always full of flash and silliness, but they are badass players.  See the saucers up on the wall?  My goal!

     Of course, I had a Huey’s burger – still incredible, but it has gone up in price.  I also found a local Mexican joint, Molly’s La Casita.  I had a delicious, creamy, original dish called Camarones con Hongos a la crema.  www.mollylacasita.com  While on my trip, Selena and Polly went to see Michael Buble in New Orleans, and they had a great night out!  Selena sent me a live concert shot, and I missed her. 

     On to business.  I’ll be at Superior Grill, with my old buds on March 8.  I’ll be back at Serrano’s Salsa Co. on March 12 – doing some more of those patio gigs in the spring.  I’ll play a rehearsal dinner party, in New Orleans, for Jered and Stacie on March 21.  Other gigs are listed on the schedule page.  I’ll be returning to Monjuni’s on Jefferson in April, for more patio time.  I appreciate your support at the various joints. 

     We’ve lined up live music at both Spanky’s locations on Wednesdays, now.  Go check out all my good and talented friends who I’ve booked at those spots.  Also, Spanky’s Block Party lineup is complete.  The event is May 4, 2008 – all day.  Artists will be David Borne with Brett Smith, Chris LeBlanc Band, Long Neck Society, Spank the Monkey, and The Benjy Davis Project.  Live music will start around 3pm and go until 11pm. 

     I hope spring is beginning in your worlds.  I’m still stuck in winter, but hope to bloom soon!  I’m ready to smell the crawfish pot and visit every festival food booth, sit in the sun with a beer, and gab with friends. See you there. 

Kirk

P.S.  How the hell did we end up with these Presidential contenders?  I’m so unbelievably unimpressed and depressed by it all.  I’m not ready to discuss it here, but it is stunningly awful, in my opinion.  Maybe you can help me understand it.  I like my life of working hard, earning what I can and trying for more, paying my way, and feeling safe.  I’m so sad that all these candidates think the US is a place that needs so much change and government interference and intervention.  Just get out of our way, and protect us from the outside.  If someone fails on their mortgage, that is their fault.  Shoot, maybe I am ready to discuss…..