Urban Llama

Ray Manzarek, Keyboard Player of The Doors Dies

Posted on May 22, 2013 by theurbanllama

Ray Manzarek, keyboardist and co-founder of The Doors, died Monday in Rossenheim, Germany, after a long battle with bile duct cancer. He was 74.

The Doors are one of the more controversial rock acts in history, due mostly to singer Jim Morrison’s bizarre poetry and their unpredictable live performances.

I continue to spin Doors’ discs, especially the live ones, because there is this level of performance art that goes along with the visual storytelling, psychedelia and barroom blues, that has never returned since.

A Doors concert is akin to conjuring up a spirit. You get Morrison cranked up on the right night with the right drugs and there really is no telling where the show may lead. There is this expectation that anything could happen, and regardless it will be memorable.

A big part of making that happen was Ray Manzarek and his organ playing. If there were to be a soundtrack to The Doors, it would start with Manzarek. His organ at the beginning of several songs lured listeners inside the looking-glass.

Few rock bands would attempt forgoing the addition of a bass guitar. It sets the low rhythm and gives the music its thump. The Doors flipped the traditional sound by substituting Manzarek’s organ. He still played bass lines but used his Vox Continental combo organ instead, putting the low-end much more up front.

This lent a carnival atmosphere to the music of The Doors, like a demented carousel was backing Morrison’s dark sexual musings. It remains a wholly unique sound.

[The Doors | Back Door Man|Five To One | Hollywood Bowl 07.05.68]

“There was no keyboard player on the planet more appropriate to support Jim Morrison’s words,” said John Densmore, drummer for The Doors. “It was like we were of one mind, holding down the foundation for Robby and Jim to float on top of. I will miss my musical brother.”

Manzarek was born on February 12, 1939 in Chicago. After graduating from DePaul University with a degree in economics, he came to California. From 1962 to 1965 he studied cinematography at UCLA. This is how he met Morrison.

After film school had ended in 1965, the two parted ways, but a few weeks later Manzarek ran into Morrison by chance at Venice Beach in Los Angeles. Morrison sang him a rough draft of the song “Moonlight Drive,” and The Doors were formed.

The name is taken from the title of Aldous Huxley’s book “The Doors of Perception,” which itself was a reference to a William Black quote, “If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite.”

The band’s lineup was filled out after Manzarek met Densmore and guitarist Robby Krieger at a Transcendental Meditation lecture.

After starting out at the London Fog club on Sunset Strip in L.A., The Doors became the house band at the Whisky a Go Go in 1966 and signed with Electra Records. Their self-titled debut album came out in January 1967, and the ride didn’t stop until Morrison’s death in July 1971.

Manzarek could sing and play guitar as well, and added vocals to The Doors’ 1971 release “Other Voices,” and “Full Circle,” from 1972, subsequent to Morrison’s death.

The Doors from L to R: Ray Manzarek, John Densmore, Robby Krieger and Jim Morrison.

The Doors officially broke up the following year, but not before they became the first American band to accumulate eight consecutive gold LPs. Total, they are credited with 19 Gold, 14 Platinum and 5 Multi-Platinum album awards in the U.S. alone.

The band’s popularity has persisted and according to the Record Industry Association of America, The Doors have moved another 32.5 million certified units in the U.S. since their recording career ended. Overall, they have sold over 100 million albums worldwide.

In 1993, The Doors were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Manzarek continued playing music, co-founding Nite City in 1977, and collaborated with the likes of Philip Glass, Echo & the Bunnymen, X, and Iggy Pop. In 2002, he began touring again with Robby Krieger as The Doors of the 21st Century.

He wrote three books, including his 1998 memoir, “Light My Fire: My Life with The Doors.”

[The Doors | Texas Radio|Love Me Two Times | Europe 1968]

Manzarek is survived by his wife, Dorothy Fujikawa, who he met at UCLA as well. They were married in Los Angeles on December 21, 1967, with Jim Morrison and his companion, Pamela Courson as witnesses. Manzarek remained married to Fujikawa until his death, and they had a son, Pablo.

For anyone looking for new releases of live music from The Doors, I highly recommend the Bright Midnight Archives. All of these releases have been spectacular. Of the newer available ones check out: The Pacific Coliseum-Vancouver 1970, Live at the Matrix-San Francisco 1967, or Boston Arena 1970. Of the harder to find releases, either of the Aquarius Theatre shows are immaculate, as is Cobo Hall-Detroit. They will not disappoint.

These really showcase what The Doors were capable of delivering when motivated and focused. There is a vitality and electricity that gives a listener pause to appreciate what it must have been like to be in a room with Jim and the boys.

Rest easy Ray – No doubt you were one bad MoFo!

Posted in Music | Tagged Jim Morrison, John Densmore, Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, The Doors, Whisky a Go Go | Leave a comment

“American Sniper” by Chris Kyle

Posted on May 19, 2013 by theurbanllama

“American Sniper” is the autobiography of Chris Kyle, who was the deadliest sniper in U.S. military history.

From 1999 to 2009, Kyle recorded 160 confirmed kills, with another 95 unconfirmed, earning him the nickname: al-Shaitan Ramadi or “the Devil of Ramadi.”

Kyle learned his trade as a Navy SEAL, arguably the most elite specials forces soldiers on the planet. If you have truly fucked up on a global scale, it is the Navy SEALS who will come knocking to administer justice.

Kyle was on SEAL Team 3, and served four combat tours of duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he was shot twice and survived six IED attacks.

For his bravery, he was awarded two Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars with Valor, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and one Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.

This was an impressive career by any standard, even considering the human carnage, but what drew me to reading “American Sniper” was Kyle’s murder in February at the age of 38.

To survive the training and combat, along with the personal sacrifices, only to come home and be killed by another soldier was tragic, so I wanted to see what this humble Texas was all about.

“As a SEAL, you go to the Dark Side,” said Kyle. “You’re immersed in it. Continually going to war, you gravitate to the blackest parts of existence. Your psyche builds up its defenses – that’s why you laugh at gruesome things like heads being blown apart, and worse. Growing up, I wanted to be military. But I wondered, how would I feel about killing someone? Now I know. It’s no big deal.”

Kyle delivers his prose in an aggressive, shotgun style. Little is left to interpretation. It’s to the point and plainly spoken.

Occasionally, his wife, Taya, is given a few paragraphs to express her feelings, but the words tend to fall flat in written form.

It’s the SEALS who are the story here. They are the ultimate tough guys, superheroes walking amongst mere mortals. They don’t feel pain like the rest of us. Instead Navy SEALS grin and ask for another.

These guys choke each other out for fun. That their personal lives are unstable, sadly, is a preconceived expectation.

Kyle kills a lot, which sounds strange, but it’s his job and he approaches it that way. The tools of his trade just happen to be a rifle, scope and camouflage.

Chris Kyle set up in an improvised sniper hide, using a baby crib.

The man was an artist at concealing his sniper position inside buildings. What floor he chose, which side of the building, how far back he positioned himself into a room, the field of view below, all came into play.

He studied his enemy to be able to pick out the slightest behavioral patterns that could be recognized through the scope of a rifle 15-football fields away. That provided him a millisecond advantage, enough to take lethal action under the “Rules of Engagement.”

“It was my duty to shoot the enemy, and I don’t regret it,” said Kyle. “My regrets are for the people I couldn’t save: Marines, soldiers, buddies. I’m not naive, and I don’t romanticize war. The worst moments of my life have come as a SEAL. But I can stand before God with a clear conscience about doing my job.”

Outside Baghdad is where Kyle got his longest confirmed kill, 2,100 yards away, on a guy with an RPG aimed at an American convoy.

He tends to refer to some of his results as luck, but a great deal of the outcome has to do with his preparation and instincts. He made choices others missed. That can’t be taught.

The pressure these guys operated under on a daily basis is extreme and impressive, but something I found notable that rose out of Kyle’s storytelling was the general cavalier attitude the entire military assigned to human life.

I get these guys are deployed to fight, but if Kyle is going to bemoan injuries to his friends, it seems inappropriate to treat his enemy’s deaths as if they were nothing more than video game kills.

The fraudulent nature of the Iraq War itself undercuts a chunk of the noble sentiment Kyle wishes to express. The U.S. invaded Iraq without provocation, against the recommendations of weapons inspectors, and our civilian leaders lied to the U.N. and to the American people.

Certainly hostile parties were engaging U.S. soldiers, but these so-called “insurgents” are what we would call a militia in America. Imagine the response in the United States if a hostile country invaded our shores.

Kyle chooses to mock the insurgents for their simplistic strategies and poor execution, but it should be remembered they did not ask for this fight. It’s disrespectful to talk so lightly about killing those whose country we invaded unlawfully.

If Kyle was so disturbed about seeing his friends die, perhaps he should have raised questions about the mission and demanded better transparency from the White House.

George W. Bush and Dick Cheney will be lucky if a few years further down the road, as more documents become declassified, that they aren’t brought up on war crimes charges.

“I signed up to protect this country,” said Kyle. “I do not choose the wars. It happens that I love to fight. But I do not choose which battles I go to. Y’all send me to them.”

For the longest time Kyle thought he had a golden shield around him and couldn’t get hurt. But if you keep going back into the field eventually the law of averages catches up with everyone.

It took double knee surgery, a fourth deployment, and getting shot twice to realize he wasn’t superman. He could be killed and the idea of being vulnerable was a problem.

After the gunshots his blood pressure went through the roof. The more he tried to relax the worse it got.

It was time to go home. Yet going from combat one day to suburban America the next is no easy transition.

Kyle displaying the Punisher-styled emblem of Craft. Int. on his hat.

He had some issues with excessive alcohol consumption, but then got his head back on straight and started a sniper school called Craft International. Its motto: “Despite what your mama told you, violence does solve problems.”

He got into working with the Lone Survivor Foundation, Troops First, and America’s Mighty Warriors, organizations that help soldiers and their families once they’ve returned home.

Kyle became a staunch voice for getting help to those who served, whether that was counseling, job training or shelter.

“There’s no reason someone who has fought for their country should be homeless or jobless,” said Kyle. “I’m not suggesting we give vets handouts – what people need are hand-ups, a little opportunity and strategic help.”

Sadly it was this work that led to Kyle’s untimely death.

On Saturday, February 2, 2013, Kyle and a companion, Chad Littlefield, took a fellow veteran to the Rough Creek Lodge Shooting Range in Glen Rose, Texas, to help ease his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Eddie Ray Routh, 25, shot and killed them both. He remains in custody awaiting trial.

Ultimately, “American Sniper” is a cautionary tale. Even if you think you are doing the right thing it can go sideways. Watch for the big screen adaptation of Kyle’s exploits, as Steven Spielberg has signed on to direct, with Bradley Cooper starring as Chris Kyle.

Posted in Reviews | Tagged American Sniper, Chris Kyle, Craft International, Navy SEALS | 1 Comment

19 Shot at Mother’s Day Parade in New Orleans

Posted on May 14, 2013 by theurbanllama

A shooting victim is attended to at the Mother’s Day parade in New Orleans.

In New Orleans it doesn’t take much to get a parade going, and Sunday The Original Big 7 Social Aid and Pleasure Club put together a Mother’s Day parade to honor that most revered of Southern figures.

Then the gunmen showed up.

New Orleans, for all its faults and missteps, is all about family and friends. The city is thick with generations of relatives, because to be from New Orleans is to be born in New Orleans. Not many people leave. There just isn’t anywhere else that has the culture and feel of the Crescent City.

The neighborhoods are full of musicians. You get a trumpet playing outside and others join in and suddenly we’re all walking down the street and dancing. It’s called a second line, and it happens for funerals and for celebrations. It’s an “only in New Orleans” kind of happening.

Unfortunately, anymore you go to a second line or a parade, and there’s a 50/50 chance shots will be fired.

Police officers were interspersed with the over 400 marchers who stretched over three blocks, but that failed to prevent 19 people from being shot Sunday, including two children. Mostly they were graze wounds.

Still, lying on the asphalt in a pool of your own blood is no way to spend a Sunday, whether it’s life threatening or not.

The FBI deemed this incident, “strictly an act of street violence.” There were no indications that this shooting was an act of terrorism.

Akien Scott, 19 is wanted by NOPD in connection with the Mother’s Day shootings.

Seriously?!? Those boys would be lucky to spell terrorism down in some of those neighborhoods. But these kinds of attacks and mass shootings amount to domestic terrorism for those stuck in this wash of continuing violence.

It’s gunshots every night. A bullet has no allegiance – wrong place, wrong time and down you go. So folks hit the deck when the sound of pop-pop-pop echoes.

That’s a hard way to live day in and day out. It takes a toll.

I get why these kids are pissed. They have seen three or more generations of white people exploit the African-American population for financial gain and left them to ruin.

New Orleans is a place where a sizable amount of the population literally can’t read or write. But folks can get by working in the hospitality industry, working in a kitchen, playing music or doing odd jobs.

The kids see this. They know their schools suck. You can imagine the teachers they get in these places. Some are devoted, but how do you turn around 100-years of injustice?

Employment options are few, as are role models, and these kids have a life expectancy of around 17-years, so why not live fast, loose and violent.

Ka’Nard Allen, 10, continues to heal from his bullet wound on the cheek Sunday. | Photo Kathleen Flynn, Nola.com

For example, I read about Ka’Nard Allen, 10, who is not having an easy year. At his 10th birthday party last May 29, his 5-year-old cousin, Briana Allen, was fatally shot and Ka’Nard took a bullet in the neck. The man accused of this crime was arrested last month, along with 14 others and they are being indicted on gang racketeering charges.

In October, his father, 38-year-old Bernard Washington, was fatally stabbed in eastern New Orleans by his stepmother after Washington allegedly choked and beat her. She has been charged with manslaughter.

Then he gets grazed by a bullet 19-days before his 11th birthday.

How fucked up is that kid?

He has to be walking around thinking eventually a bullet has his name on it.

A story in the Times-Picayune says he’s doing OK overall. Ka’Nard is getting some counseling and mainly wants to ride his mini four-wheeler around the neighborhood.

Well shit yeah, I’d want to have some fun too after getting shot twice at the age of 10. At that age my biggest annoyance was homework and chores cutting into my cartoon watching.

It’s hard to see how the police can make a convincing argument that they can adequately protect Ka’Nard or others like him that are just showing up at public events.

New Orleans Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas.

I take my hat off to New Orleans Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas. The man has done a fantastic job since coming on board in 2010.

He is a stats guy, and can often be seen carrying around binders full of data. In his former job, as Nashville’s chief of police, Serpas was successful in bringing gang violence under control by having a fluid police force that was deployed strategically into high crime areas.

New Orleans historically has had one of the most corrupt police forces of any major city, but that isn’t the case these days.

Credit the Serpas hiring to Mayor Mitch Landrieu, who was elected in 2010, and recognized serious change was needed to get this hurricane-ravaged city back moving in the right direction.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu.

Decreased crime would be a key element in getting Nola’s population back to its pre-Katrina days, and would entice more visitors, businesses and conventioneers. It also would be an indicator that the schools were better and jobs were available.

Landrieu and Serpas should both get high marks for making all these things happen, yet crime remains a serious problem.

The mayor and police chief face the same stumbling block as the teachers. How do you reach kids whose families have been disenfranchised for multiple generations in order to change the culture of violence?

What Landrieu and Serpas are going up against in these neighborhoods is a bit like what the U.S. military faced in Vietnam and Iraq. It’s a decentralized form of guerilla warfare.

You would think the locals would want what the officials are offering – an end to violence and a possible pathway to a better life.

We’re not dealing with philosophical differences as severe as Communism versus Capitalism, or Islam versus Christianity, but for the kids in these neighborhoods they have lives and value systems that are radically out of step with anything the police can comprehend. Plus the government has no street cred. These kids don’t believe them, nor should they – yet.

Street gangs, or “crews” as they are referred to in New Orleans, operate within the neighborhoods, from street to street. They’re nothing as elaborate as the Bloods or Crips, but it’s the same idea: representing your neighborhood, keeping other crews out of it, respect, and an element of belonging.

Having an affiliation with a crew is a reason to live in an otherwise miserable circumstance.

These lost boys have a unique set of norms, dialect, clothing, and language. Their whole support mechanism is in the streets, independent of government or corporate America.

No amount of technical data or enhanced police hot spots is going to matter; these kids see the police approaching from adjoining neighborhoods, and while they may be warring factions in the streets, they all will let folks know when the Po-Po are approaching.

Any criminal enterprises are shut down and moved before the cops even arrive. They’re gone and set up elsewhere in no time, leaving the police to find out where in the next batch of stats.

In New Orleans Lo-Fi still works.

The criminal element can get over on the police and the government by keeping it simple, so finding a solution to the crimes and the killings is a tough nut.

It’s like playing chicken. One side is going to have to front something with no guarantee of reciprocity.

Otherwise the bodies will just keep falling.

Posted in Events, News, Travel | Tagged Akien Scott, Ka'nard Allen, Mitch Landrieu, Mother's Day shooting, New Orleans, Ronal Serpas | Leave a comment

Grad’s Dream of Teaching Comes True

Posted on May 13, 2013 by theurbanllama

SHE’S HEADED TO ARKANSAS FOR JOB WITH PRESTIGIOUS PROGRAM

New graduate Michelle Hanvey, and proud mom, Susan Arvin Hanvey.

Since her student days at Western Hills High School, Michelle Hanvey has known she wanted to be a teacher.

After her graduation Saturday from Northern Kentucky University she’s now on her way to that goal through the Teach for America program.

With her bachelor’s degree in English in hand, Hanvey has been selected to participate in the highly competitive program and will be headed to Pine Bluff, Ark. for her teaching assignment. The Teach for America program places high achieving graduates into low-income communities in an effort to eliminate educational inequalities.

“I’m in a mixture of denial it’s actually happening, and really excited to be done (with college),” said Hanvey.

For those who know Michelle, 22, it’s not surprising success has come her way so early.

“Michelle was singing the alphabet song back to me before she was even 1-year old,” said Susan Arvin Hanvey, Michelle’s mom. “Before pre-school she was bitterly angry that she couldn’t read, so I sat her down and taught her using phonics in about an hour – she was at a high school level in elementary school.”

At NKU Hanvey has achieved recognition in numerous campus activities and got her start in the career she plans to pursue.

“I joined Phi Sigma Sigma my sophomore year because I wasn’t as involved on campus as I wanted,” said Hanvey. “This was a gateway for me – it provided motivation and support, and a pathway to gain leadership and achieve change.”

She represented her sorority on one major campus committee, shepherded potential new sorority members through recruiting, and found Greek life a good preparation for her future.

The sorority also led her into community service, including volunteer work with Big Brothers Big Sisters in her sophomore year. That allowed her to begin mentoring an 11-year old fifth grader in an area elementary school.

The vulnerability Hanvey noticed in middle school children left a lasting impression upon her. The experience made her believe that if she set a good example it might leave an impression for such children when they grew older and had hard decisions of their own to make.

After applying for selection to Teach for America last August, Hanvey decided she would be a more competitive applicant if she had more personal experience with children. This led to another mentoring and tutoring position through the Boys and Girls Club of America at Tichenor Middle School in Erlanger, Ky.

“Michelle has developed relationships that have forged bonds with the kids that is something that can’t be taught in a classroom,” said Jodi Disselkamp, Michelle’s supervisor at Boys and Girls Club.

Hanvey will begin her two-year Teach for America stint in June when she goes to Delta State University in Mississippi for an orientation session. She starts her actual classroom teaching experience in Pine Bluff on July 19. The school will pay Hanvey’s salary, plus she will receive a $10,000 education grant upon completion of her TFA obligation.

“I loved the selection,” said Hanvey. “I immediately looked up the school, and it uses a rigorous academics model, but also offers a focus on art infusion.”

It’s precisely the type of location desperately in need of enlightened scholars to teach its next generation of children. Some might look upon this journey with trepidation, but Hanvey feels prepared and is excited by the challenge.

Michelle is unsure where her future may lie, except her conviction that it will be somewhere in education. Long range, she may pursue advanced degrees and eventually teach at the college level.

But for now she’s looking forward to beginning her life in the real world of teaching.

“I don’t know where I’ll be in 10 years, hopefully doing something extraordinary,” said Hanvey. “I think my dad said it best, ‘I don’t know how to fail,’ and that’s true.”

# # #

See also: For Michelle Hanvey A Career Awaits After Graduation | Urban Llama | 05-10-13

Published by: The State Journal | Frankfort, KY | 05-13-13

Posted in Events, Family | Tagged AmeriCorps, Lighthouse Charter School, Michelle Hanvey, NKU, Northern Kentucky University, Pine Bluff, Susan Arvin Hanvey, Teach for America, Tichenor Middle School, Western Hills High School | Leave a comment

SHOWTIME UPDATE

Posted on May 12, 2013 by theurbanllama

SHOW ALERT:

* The Presets @ The Vogue in Indianapolis TONIGHT

* Gin Wigmore @ Radio Radio in Indianapolis TONIGHT

* Insane Clown Posse @ Bogart’s in Cincinnati MONDAY

* Black Rebel Motorcycle Club @ The Vogue in Indianapolis MONDAY

* Metz @ Radio Radio in Indianapolis MONDAY

* Rodriguez @ Ryman Auditorium in Nashville MONDAY

* Metz w/Young Widows @ Zanzabar in Louisville TUESDAY

* Foals @ Bogart’s in Cincinnati TUESDAY

* The Breeders @ The Cannery Ballroom in Nashville TUESDAY

* Foals @ Newport Music Hall in Columbus WEDNESDAY

* Drivin’ N Cryin’ & The Whigs @ Headliners in Louisville THURSDAY

* The Killers @ The Shoe in Cincinnati THURSDAY

* Todd Rundgren @ LC Pavilion in Columbus THURSDAY

* JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound @ Buster’s in Lexington FRIDAY

* Of Montreal @ Madison Theater in Covington SATURDAY

* Todd Rundgren @ Bogart’s in Cincinnati SATURDAY

* Clutch w/The Sword @ The Vogue in Indianapolis SUNDAY

CHECK OUT COMPLETE LISTINGS UNDER THE TAB: LlamaShows

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LOUISVILLE, KY

BROWN THEATRE | 315 W. Broadway | Louisville, KY | 502-584-7777

Tibetan Freedom Concert feat. Ben Sollee w/Nawang Khechog | Mon. May 20 | $25

* * * * *

THE FORCASTLE FESTIVAL | Fri. Jul. 12-Sun. Jul. 14 | $165 (3-Day Pass)

The Black Keys; The Avett Brothers; String Cheese Incident; Flaming Lips; The Alabama Shakes; Jim James; Animal Collective; Grace Potter & The Nocturnals; Old Crow Medicine Show; Bob Mould Band; Big Boi; Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings; Dawes; Purity Ring; The Joy Formidable; EL-P & Killer Mike; Moon Taxi…

* * * * *

HEADLINERS MUSIC HALL | 1386 Lexington Road | Louisville, KY |502-584-8088

Drivin’ N Cryin’ & The Whigs | Thu. May 16 | $15

Ice Cube | Sun. Jun. 02 | $40

Tallest Man on Earth | Sat. Jun. 08 | $17.50

Japandroids | Sat. Jun. 15 | $15 | Doors 20:00

* * * * *

HORSESHOE CASINO | 11999 Casino Center Drive | Elizabeth, IN | 866-676-7463

Dwight Yoakam | Fri. July 19 | $47.50-$85.50

* * * * *

IROQUOIS AMPHITHEATER | 1080 Amphitheater Road | Louisville, KY | 502-368-5865

Gregg Allman | Wed. Jun. 26 | $29.50-$55

Garrison Keillor | Sat. Jul. 20 | $50-$80

The National w/Frightened Rabbit | Fri. Sep. 13 | $35

The Dark Side of the Wall | Sat. Sep. 14 | $29-$54

* * * * *

THE KENTUCKY CENTER | 501 West Main Street | 502-562-0100

David Byrne & St. Vincent | Whitney Hall | Tue. July 2 | $35

* * * * *

KFC YUM! CENTER | One Arena Plaza | Louisville, KY | 502-690-9000

Eagles | Jul. 6 | $36 – $190

* * * * *

LOUISVILLE PALACE | 625 S. 4th St. | Louisville, KY |502-583-4555

The String Cheese Incident | Sat. Jul. 13 | $42 | After Forecastle Special @ 11:59 PM

Steely Dan | Fri. July 26 | $39.50-$135

Alex Clare | Thu. Aug. 01 | $29

Joe Bonamassa | Tue. Nov. 5 | $69-$99

* * * * *

ZANZABAR | 2100 S. Preston Street | Louisville, KY | 502-635-9227

Metz w/Young Widows | Tue. May 14 | $10

Woods | Parquet Courts | Mon. Jul. 22 | $10

* * * * *

LEXINGTON, KY

BUSTER’S | 899 Manchester Street | Lexington, KY | 859-368-8871

JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound | Fri. May 17 | $10

* * * * *

COSMIC CHARLIE’S | 388 Woodland Avenue | Lexington, KY | 859-309-9499

The Men | Tue. Jun. 04 | $10 adv-$12 dos

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band | Tue. Jun. 25 | $15 adv – $20 dos

* * * * *

LEXINGTON OPERA HOUSE | 430 W. Vine Street | Lexington, KY | 859-233-4567

Buddy Guy | Fri. Jun. 21 | $65.50

Randy Newman | Fri. Aug. 09 | $69.50

* * * * *

LYRIC THEATRE | 300 E. 3rd Street | Lexington, KY | 859-280-2201

The Wailers | Tue. May 21 | 34.50

* * * * *

CINCINNATI, OH

BOGART’S | 2621 Vine Street | Cincinnati, OH | 513-872-8801

Insane Clown Posse | Mon. May 13 | $27.50

Foals | Tue. May 14 | $20

Todd Rundgren | Sat. May 18 | $25

* * * * *

THE SHOE @ HORSESHOE CASINO | 1000 Broadway | Cincinnati, OH | 513-252-0777

The Killers | Thu. May 16 | $59.50

The Shins | Tue. May 21 | $30

Willie Nelson | Fri. Jul. 19 | $43.67

* * * * *

MADISON THEATER | 730 Madison Avenue | Covington, KY | 859-491-2444

Of Montreal | Sat. May 18 | $12 | 20:00

Kenny Wayne Shepherd | Fri. Jun. 14 | $25

Animal Collective | Thu. Jul. 18 | $25

Adam Ant | Sat. Aug. 24 | $27

* * * * *

RIVERBEND MUSIC CENTER | 6295 Kellogg Avenue | Cincinnati, OH | 513-232-6220

Lumineers w/Cold War Kids and J Roddy Walson | Tue. Jun. 04 | $32.80-$55.75

Rush | Tue. Jul. 2 | $27.50 – $110.50

AmericanaramA Festival feat. Bob Dylan * Wilco * My Morning Jacket * Richard Thompson Electric Trio | Sat. Jul. 06 | $39.95-$93.70

Ian Anderson | Sat. Jul. 20 | $31.50-$71.50

A Prairie Home Companion | Sun. Jul. 21 | $46.50-$85.90

Peter Frampton and B.B. King w/Sonny Landreth | Wed. Aug. 14 | $58.30-$114.05

George Thorogood and Buddy Guy | Fri. Aug. 16 | $39.95-$87.95

* * * * *

THE SOUTHGATE HOUSE REVIVAL | 111 E. 6th Street | Newport, KY | 859-431-2201

Patterson Hood & the Downtown Rumblers | Sun. June 9 | $20

Dawes w/Shovels & Rope | Fri. Jun. 14 | $20 adv – $24 dos

Shooter Jennings | Fri. Sep. 06 | $20 adv- $25 dos

* * * * *

TAFT THEATER | 317 E. 5th Street | Cincinnati, OH | 513-232-6220

Mountain Goats | Fri. Jun. 14 | $18 adv-$20 dos

Merle Haggard & The Strangers | Wen. Jun. 26 | $34.50-$49.50

David Byrne & St. Vincent | Wed. Jul. 10 | $35 – $65

Grizzly Bear | Fri. Aug. 02 | $27.50

Kris Kristofferson | Sun. Aug. 11 | $29.50-$44.50

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down | Thu. Aug. 22 | $13 adv-$15 dos

* * * * *

20TH CENTURY THEATER | 3021 Madison Road | Cincinnati, OH | 513-731-8000

* * * * *

U.S. BANK ARENA | 100 Broadway Street | Cincinnati, OH | 513-421-4111

Passion Pit | Wed. Jun. 05 | $33

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COLUMBUS, OH

THE BASEMENT | 391 Neil Avenue | Columbus, OH | 614-461-5483

The Features | Thu. Jun. 06 | $1o adv-$12 dos

* * * * *

LC PAVILION | 405 Neil Avenue | Columbus, OH | 614-461-5483

Todd Rundgren | Thu. May 16 | $29 – $42

The Avett Brothers | Sat. May 25 | $38 adv-$40 dos | GA | 18:30

XX and Grizzly Bear | Tue. June 11 | $35

The Postal Service | Sat. Jun. 08 | $35 adv – $38 dos

Alabama Shakes | Tue. Jun. 18 | $30 adv – $32 dos

Social Distortion | Fri. Jun. 28 | $30

Barenaked Ladies w/Ben Folds Five | Fri. Jul. 05 | $39.75-$42

The Black Crowes & Tedeschi-Trucks Band | Wed. Jul. 24 | $45

Ani DiFranco | Sat. Sep. 21 | $30 adv – $32 dos

* * * * *

NATIONWIDE ARENA | 200 W. Nationwide Boulevard | Columbus, OH | 614-246-2000

AmericanaramA Festival feat. Bob Dylan * Wilco * My Morning Jacket * Richard Thompson Electric Trio | Sun. Jul. 07| $80.50

* * * * *

NEWPORT MUSIC HALL | 1722 N. High Street | Columbus, OH | 614-294-1659

Foals | Wen. May 15 | $20 adv-$22 dos

Tricky | Sat. Jun. 08 | $20 adv – $22 dos

Japandroids | Wed. Jun. 12 | $5

* * * * *

SCHOTTENSTEIN CENTER | 555 Borror Drive | Columbus, OH | 614-688-3939

* * * * *

INDIANAPOLIS, IN

THE VOGUE | 6259 N. College Avenue | Indianapolis, IN | 317-259-7029

The Presets | Sun. May 12 | $20

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club | Mon. May 13 | $18 adv-$20 dos | Doors 19:00

Clutch w/The Sword | Sun. May 19 | $25-$28

Japandroids | Tue. May 28 | $15-$17

Mos Def | Fri. May 31 | $26-$28 | Doors 20:00-Show 21:00

Cold War Kids | Wed. Jun. 05 | $20

The Tallest Man On Earth | Fri. Jun. 07 | $18

Kurt Vile and The Violators | Fri. Jul. 12 | $15 adv – $17 dos

Dawes | Sat. Jul. 20 | $18

* * * * *

RADIO RADIO | 1119 E. Prospect Street | Indianapolis, IN | 317-955-0995

Gin Wigmore | Sun. May 12 | $12

Metz | Mon. May 13 | $10

Rogue Wave | Sun. Jun. 16 | $15

Eleanor Friedberger | Tue. Jun. 25 | $12 adv – $15 dos

* * * * *

KLIPSCH MUSIC CENTER | 12880 E. 146th Street | Noblesville, IN | 317-776-8181

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers | Sat. Jun. 15 | $41-$138.50

AmericanaramA Festival feat. Bob Dylan * Wilco * My Morning Jacket * Richard Thompson Electric Trio | Fri. Jul. 05 | $39.10-$95

Black Sabbath | Sun. Aug. 18 | $45.50-$143.50

X-Fest feat. Jane’s Addiction, Alice in Chains, Coheed and Cambria | Fri. Aug. 23 | $15-$95

* * * * *

NASHVILLE, TN

THE CANNERY BALLROOM | One Cannery Row | Nashville, TN | 615-251-3020

The Breeders | Tue. May 14 | $20

Adam Ant | Mon. Aug. 05 | $25

* * * * *

EXIT/IN | 2208 Elliston Place | Nashville, TN | 615-321-3340

Best Coast | Wen. May 29 | $18

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down | Fri. Aug. 23 | $15

* * * * *

THE HIGH WATT | One Cannery Row | Nashville, TN | 615-251-3020

* * * * *

MERCY LOUNGE | One Cannery Row | Nashville, TN | 615-251-3020

* * * * *

RYMAN AUDITORIUM | 116 Fifth Avenue North | Nashville, TN | 615-889-3060

Rodriguez | Mon. May 13 | $30-$35

Ellie Goulding | Mon. May 20 | $35.50-$45

Frampton’s Guitar Circus feat. Peter Frampton and Robert Cray | Tue. May 28 | $39.50-$87.50

Dawes w/Shovels & Rope | Sun. Jun. 09 | $27.50

Gregg Allman | Fri. Jun. 28 | $39.50-$59.50

Kris Kristofferson | Sun. Sep. 08 | $34.50-$44.50

Alt-J | Sat. Sep. 21 | $30

* * * * *

TICKET LINKS

Live Nation

StubHub

TicketMaster

Posted in Music | Leave a comment

For Michelle Hanvey A Career Awaits After Graduation

Posted on May 10, 2013 by theurbanllama

Michelle at a relaxed moment in Nashville, at the Opryland Hotel.

Since her student days at Western Hills High School, Michelle Hanvey knew she wanted to be a teacher. The question was the path she would take to reach that goal.

After taking part in everything W.H.H.S’s English Department had to offer, the opportunity was there for Hanvey to jump on board and begin a career in community service with AmeriCorps, but deferred instead to enroll at Northern Kentucky University.

“Michelle was a superstar at Western Hills, she won our English Department Award, and was outspoken for those that couldn’t take up for themselves,” said Lauren Hill, Michelle’s AP English instructor. “There are lots of kids that make good grades, but Michelle could put the information into context and get the whole meaning.”

Four years later Hanvey is poised to graduate cum laude from NKU with a bachelor’s degree in English. Waiting for her is a newly minted teaching position in Pine Bluff, Ark. She is one of the fortunate few selected by the prestigious Teach for America program, which places high achieving recent graduates into low-income communities, in an effort to eliminate educational inequality.

“I’m in a mixture of denial it’s actually happening, and really excited to be done (with college),” said Hanvey, regarding her impending graduation.

For those who know Hanvey, 22, it’s not surprising success has come her way so early. She has an old soul, and embodies a dedication, enthusiasm and drive to achieve that belies her youth. This is something her family has seen all along.

Like many driven people Hanvey needs stimulation to keep her occupied. As a kid it was painting and drawing, now it’s yoga and tons of activities.

Standing five foot nothing, with flowing blonde hair, blue eyes and a disarming smile, Michelle is a “Mini-Me” version of her mom, which is both flattering and slightly contentious. She appreciates everything her family has done for her and loves them dearly, but has a strong independent streak and is ready to blaze her own path.

“I don’t want to take credit for what Michelle has achieved,” said her mother. “She may have been inspired by me and the family, and she does come from a long line of educators and leaders, but she took it to the Nth degree.”

After completing her freshman year at NKU, there was something missing from her college experience.

She represented her sorority at council meetings as a Panhellenic delegate on the executive board, shepherded potential new sorority members through the recruitment process, and served on an expansion committee that successfully invited a new sorority to campus.

Since she had to give speeches, organize elections and attend board meetings, Hanvey found Greek life to be good preparation for real life.

Yet the biggest impact sorority life had upon Hanvey came about accidentally, from the community service they performed as a group.

After doing some volunteer work with Big Brothers Big Sisters her sophomore year, Hanvey decided to become a Big Sister, and has continued that role as mentor through her senior year with an 11-year old fifth grader in an area elementary school.

This necessitated undergoing a lengthy application process, background check and being assigned to a caseworker. Hanvey and her little sister spend time together weekly scrapbooking, making picture frames, doing homework and playing board games.

“I try to supplement her academic work with things like brainteasers that teach information in a different way,” said Hanvey. “I never thought I would have done this as a high school senior, but I can’t imagine anything else as a college senior.”

The vulnerability Hanvey noticed in middle school aged children left a lasting impression upon her. This got her to thinking that if she could set a good example, perhaps that could serve as a reference point for kids to look back upon when they grew older and were faced with hard decisions of their own to make.

This led to her application to Teach for America at the beginning of her senior year. Hanvey had lived her whole life in Kentucky and wanted to explore the bigger world. Plus she had become aware of the growing U.S. achievement gap, between graduation and dropout rates in affluent and poor neighborhoods.

“It’s a vicious cycle,” said Hanvey. “I was fortunate, but sometimes being born in a different zip code will give a person a whole different life from another.”

After applying for selection to Teach for America last August, Hanvey decided she would be a more competitive applicant if she had more personal experience with children, so she took on the job of being a mentor and tutor with the Boys & Girls Club of America.

“It’s really natural for me to go into the schools,” said Hanvey. “I have lots of teachers in my family and it’s second nature to me working with kids.”

Five days a week, from around 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., she works with 50 children at Tichenor Middle School, in Erlanger, Ky.

“This is a very interesting and transitional time for kids as they are going through puberty and hormone changes,” said Hanvey. “I try to think about what they are going through to better address their needs and help them get by.”

This April Michelle was the recipient of the Panhellenic Award, which recognizes excellence and achievement within the NKU Greek community. Hanvey donated the $500 prize to the after-school program at Tichenor Middle School.

Only about 10-12 percent of applicants to Teach for America get accepted. Michelle will begin her two-year stint in June when she goes to Delta State University for an orientation session. She starts her actual classroom teaching experience at the Lighthouse Charter School in Pine Bluff on July 19. The school will pay Hanvey’s salary, plus she will receive a $10,000 education grant upon completion of her TFA obligation.

“I loved the selection,” said Hanvey. “I immediately looked up the school, and it uses a rigorous academics model, but also offers a focus on art infusion.”

At 570 miles away from Frankfort, it may only be a day’s drive, but Pine Bluff is a world away in culture. Situated in the southeast portion of the state, 40 miles south of Little Rock, Pine Bluff is an agricultural community that has fallen on hard times.

Census data lists its population at around 48,000, with more than 25 percent of its residents living below the poverty line.

Crime is a problem there, but Pine Bluff also offers a heritage that is rich in tradition.

Cruising around New Orleans on the streetcar.

It’s the idea of paying it forward. She has gotten a good education, now she wants to do something with it. That’s an aspect where Michelle and her mom see eye to eye.

“Education is something that can never be taken away from you,” said her mom. “If you just keep it to yourself what good are you doing for the planet – pay it forward.”

Michelle is unsure where her future may lie, except that it will be somewhere in education. Long range, she may pursue advanced degrees and eventually teach at the college level.

But for now she’s looking forward to beginning her life in the real world of teaching.

“I don’t know where I’ll be in 10 years, hopefully doing something extraordinary,” said Hanvey. ““I think my dad said it best, ‘I don’t know how to fail,’ and that’s true.”

# # #

See also: Grad’s Dreams of Teaching Come True | Urban Llama | 05-13-13

Excerpt published by: The State Journal | Frankfort, KY | 05-13-13

Posted in Events, Family | Tagged AmeriCorps, Lighthouse Charter School, Michelle Hanvey, NKU, Pine Bluff, Teach for America, Tichenor Middle School | Leave a comment

STREET SCENES II

Posted on May 9, 2013 by theurbanllama

Hello Kitty Stormtroopers – Bring It Baby! | Governer’s Derby Breakfast | Frankfort, Ky.

Posted in Pictures | Leave a comment

STREET SCENES I

Posted on May 9, 2013 by theurbanllama

I don’t know this just cracked me up > Seriously?!? | Governor’s Derby Breakfast | Frankfort, Ky.

Posted in Pictures | Leave a comment

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Hits the Right Note

Posted on May 5, 2013 by theurbanllama

Flags fly out in the fields of the main stages.

Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans?

Today is the first Sunday in May, which means it’s the last day of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

This seven-day art, food, culture and music event is held the last weekend in April and first weekend in May. The second weekend, which kicks off on a Thursday, happens to conflict with the running of the Kentucky Derby, but since Churchill Downs owns Fair Grounds Race Course where Jazz Fest is held, there’s a little nod to the Run for the Roses, as all the beer cups sport Churchill’s Twin Spires emblem and the race is on in the grandstand.

It’s amusing to those of us from the Bluegrass, but Derby isn’t hardly a consideration to the over 450,000 that annually attend Jazz Fest.

In a tradition similar to picking ponies on Derby day, my Jazz Fest mornings consist of waking up bleary eyed, sipping on a Bloody Mary and going over the grid-boxed schedule of the coming day’s performers. I highlight all the shows I want to try and catch, that way when the intoxication sets in I can refer to my schedule and the markings will help refresh my addled memory.

Seriously, how great is it to be up early on a Thursday, knowing most everyone else is at work and I’m going out to watch some amazing music and then play hard all night – for the next four days. Oh the possibilities of mischief to come…

There is a reason artists and fans return to this event year after year. Once you get around Fest the rest of the world disappears. Nobody gets bent out of shape about where they sit, there are no fights, no one is dying (at least not on site), and this is a music-savvy crowd that appreciates those who can play well.

I find a lot of people have heard of Jazz Fest, but are less clear of its true scope. I was guilty of this myself until moving to New Orleans and attending for the first time.

Yes there are several other jazz festivals of note held around the world, but there is only one “Jazz Fest.” And no this is not just about jazz music. There is blues, R&B, gospel, Cajun, zydeco, Afro-Caribbean, folk, Latin, rock, rap, country, bluegrass, electronica, roots, and indie – you name it and it’s represented at Fest.

There are two main stages, the Gentilly at turn two, and Acura at turn four on the track, which draw monster crowds simultaneously to help thin the herd, then eight specialty stages cater to specific genres like jazz, blues, gospel, and other disciplines. National acts and those able to transcend their disciplines get bumped to the main stages or to the Congo Square stage.

[JAZZ FEST MAP]

For those living in New Orleans, they usually pick a day or two to drop by the Fest or bring out-of-town guests. The Thursday of the second weekend is widely recognized as “Locals Day.”

The crowds are usually slightly thinner because you would have to travel on a Wednesday and miss more work to make it into town for the Thursday session. The food lines are shorter and navigating the infield is less congested, all making it more accommodating for locals to come in and get a taste before the crush hits.

You have to remember that a lot of these local artists, even the famous ones, have been gigging around town for decades. Locals have grown up attending events where the Rebirth Brass Band, Dirty Dozen, Kermit Ruffins, Dr. John, the Radiators, Neville Brothers, Irma Thomas, The Meters, and Walter “Wolfman” Washington play. They’re not necessarily interested in fighting crowds in order to catch a glimpse of them.

Once Jazz Fest is over and things calm back down, many of these cats can be seen in a small bar or theater, up close and personal without all the fuss, so Locals Day at the Jazz Fest is a great day to ease into the festival and mix with real New Orleans residents.

The longtime producer and organizer of Jazz Fest, Quint Davis, announces the musical acts in mid-January to a packed hotel ballroom. Who is playing which weekend determines tens of thousands of travel plans, as out-of-towners more often choose one weekend to attend, then switch out with a whole other set of visitors.

Once the first weekend concludes there remains a ton of good music being played around town. Many artists scheduled for the second weekend arrive before the festival starts, so it’s a great opportunity to see notable musicians making guest appearances at small bars.

[WEDNESDAY IN THE SQUARE]

You can try doing both weekends, and many people coming from Europe and Australia stay for both since they’ve traveled from far and wide, but having persistently done the double dip I must recommend it with trepidation. That’s a brutal 12 days to go without sleep. Even at a young age it will take your body some time to recover, so plan with caution, and choose your substances wisely.

In reality, it doesn’t matter who is playing. This is all about a vibe that comes from the heritage of the music on display, the culture, location, all of which transcend who is actually playing.

Contrast this with the other major music festivals:

Coachella does its thing in the California desert with a beautiful setting and lots of pretty Hollywood folk; Bonnaroo allows attendees to sleep on site in Manchester, Tenn., and has the best drugs; and Lollapalooza has that urban appeal of being in the heart of Chicago.

All of these are strong profiles, but they are surface deep on culture at best, serve a narrow demographic and are completely artist driven.

Jazz Fest brings together age ranges from children (there’s a Kid’s Tent), to college students, 30-somethings, and 80-somethings. Everybody gathers at the Fair Grounds to shake their tail feathers and bow to the majesty of these true musicians, many of whom are master craftsmen that have never received great monetary reward from their prowess, but play because music is in their soul.

The racetrack is located in the middle of a residential area in Mid-City. There really is no event parking available, so for those attending they come via cab, bike, walk, or take the streetcar up to the New Orleans Museum of Art and walk down.

There are a couple bars located within a block or two of the entrances: The Seahorse Saloon (1648 Gentilly Blvd.), or Liuzza’s By The Track (1518 N. Lopez) if coming from Esplanade Avenue. Both do a brisk business of chilled shots and Bloody Marys to-go.

Who doesn’t like breakfast drinks?!?

It’s best to get your hops levels right before entering the grounds where drink prices are elevated. Either place works, but Liuzza’s offers its famous BBQ Shrimp Po-Boy. That’s a must-eat at least once a weekend.

With to-go cups in hand, the crowd shuffles through this tangled web of streets towards the entrances. All the houses are decorated, folks are grilling in their yards and selling beer and eats to the masses. Stereos are blasting WWOZ, the local radio station that broadcasts from the Fair Grounds, and brass bands are playing in the streets.

There are a couple groceries along the way too, like Terranova’s (3308 Esplanade Ave.), where folks can purchase liters of water, aspirin and sun tan lotion – all those last minute essentials.

A Mardi Gras Indian costume.

I usually pick up water, and a half pint of Taaka vodka. It’s not the best stuff, but it cracks me up that the label is owned by Sazerac of New Orleans, yet brewed in Frankfort, Ky., my hometown, by Buffalo Trace Distillery – another nice mixture of Bluegrass and Nola traditions.

Once inside it’s a kaleidoscope of music and culture. The sounds from one stage grow and fade as the music from another approaches. Parades of colorful Mardi Gras Indians mix with festive second-liners, as they pump their parasols draped with fringe into the air and step to the beat.

[JAZZ FEST SECOND LINE]

Gospel greets me when I come through the Sauvage pedestrian entrance. It’s not exactly my thing, but when you roll past that tent and catch part of a riff that sounds familiar, and it registers that this huge congregation of African-American vocalists are belting out “Smells Like Teenage Spirit,” by Nirvana – it will freeze you in your tracks and blow your hair back.

I haven’t been here five minutes and already I’ve experienced something I never would have otherwise.

This is a circumstance that repeats itself often over the two weekends. I routinely fly by and check out 10 or 15 minutes of some random set that grabs my attention, then go on about my way.

Something to keep in mind about Jazz Fest is it’s a celebration of music, and this event tends to be the great equalizer. There are no exorbitant light shows or pyrotechnics to hide behind. Every artist, no matter of size or success, must perform on the same stages and through the same sound system.

It’s a “warts and all” kind of situation. This is a big outside venue with lots of extraneous distortion from the crowd and other stages, and there’s no roof, so noise bleeds away.

As an artist you gotta bring it live, because if someone lacks the basic talent to sing under these conditions it’s quite obvious and painful. That happens from time to time.

Many people never even drop by either of the main stages. They will set up a chair at Congo Square or take a bleacher seat inside the Blues Tent, and stay there the whole day. Others will risk their safety and run to the front of the Acura or Gentilly Stages and set up shop, content to see whoever walks out to play.

I prefer to stage hop. I get ADD at music festivals, and Jazz Fest is only too happy to accommodate my need to try and see some of everything.

The dirt track serves as a transportation mechanism. If you are going for food or to another smaller stage, there are pathways within the in-field to travel upon, but if I’m at Acura or the Blues Tent and need to reach the Gentilly Stage I hop on the outside track and motor around the curve.

The humorous thing is there are oodles of other people all huffing in every direction doing the same thing. We’re all seeking beer tents with smaller lines, trying to grab some food, or hit a port-o-potty on the run to make that next show.

Just like racecars, we’re coming in for service and need gas and tires.

I’ll mention that I eat and drink strategically. Jazz Fest is not a cheap endeavor, so I do what I can to conserve – it’s at night when I need my cash. I’m here to see a ridiculous amount of music, and don’t want to be hindered. Standing in line pisses me off, so I minimize delays.

The Llama at the Gentilly Stage for Galactic.

I eat early at Fest or on the way in, and maybe again on the way out. Beer lines are long and necessitate bathroom breaks (though if you do need to go I recommend the grandstand, where there is indoor plumbing). If you’re smack in the middle of a main stage set with 50,000 people surrounding you, there is no leaving to hit the head, so drink liquor instead or partake in other.

They sell plenty of beer by the case, and will toss in ice to keep it chilled. Potent Southern Comfort daiquiris are available, or my usual move is to sample the excellent strawberry lemonade or rosemint herbal iced tea sold on-site (much shorter lines for these), and then spike it with the vodka I snuck inside. Taaka isn’t something to drink straight, but it mixes well.

The food is amazing. I always start my Jazz Fest off with a bowl of Pheasant, Quail & Andouille Gumbo, from Prejean’s. It will change your life. Dark, thick, and substantial – it’s a lifeblood and will lubricate a body to keep it going.

The Cajun Duck Po-Boy, Crawfish Beignets, Cochon de Lait Po-Boy, Fried Soft-Shell Crab Po-Boy and Crawfish Bread are all decadently wonderful too.

The servings are mostly tapas sized, sufficient for a big snack or meal, and cost under $5. The sandwiches or fried chicken are bigger meals. The numerous offerings are meant for attendees to sample and share. On busy days the lines can be long but you can score some hefty portions on the cheap after the last band has played and purveyors want to get rid of what remains – especially the Cajun Jambalaya and Crawfish Monica.

The art is complex but accessible. Congo Square has more knicknack items, whereas Contemporary Crafts hosts some of the best festival artists in the country and is not cheap. Many of these artists only prepare for Jazz Fest and can make enough in sales over one weekend to not have to work the rest of the year. The artists rotate from one weekend to the next.

Overall this is one big party and it rolls citywide.

Here are a few highlights at the 2013 Jazz Fest:

Dr. John # Gary Clark Jr. # Sonny Landreth # George Porter, Jr. # Billy Joel # Allen Toussaint # Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite # Rebirth Brass Band # Andrew Bird # Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk # Anders Osborne # Deacon John # Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars # Astral Project # Dave Matthews Band # B.B. King # Kermit Ruffins # The Nevilles # Better Than Ezra # Little Freddie King # Big Chief Monk Boudreaux # Big Sam’s Funky Nation # Kris Royal # Widespread Panic # Patti Smith # The Dirty Dozen Brass Band # Theresa Andersson # Johnny Sketch # Meschiya Lake # Pokey LaFarge # Willie Nelson # Jimmy Cliff # Marcia Ball # Papa Grows Funk # Jerry Douglas # Irma Thomas # Amanda Shaw # Los Hombres Calientes # Gal Holiday # Corey Henry # Fleetwood Mac # Phoenix # Frank Ocean # Los Lobos # Galactic # Terence Blanchard # Cowboy Mouth # Dr. Michael White # The Revivalists # Joe Krown Trio # Kevin Gordon # Kenny Neal # The New Orleans Bingo! Show # The Black Keys # Hall & Oates # Trombone Shorty # Aaron Neville # Jeffrey Osborne # Taj Mahal # The Meter Men # The Del McCoury Band # Walter “Wolfman” Washington # Pete Fountain # Bo Dollis and the Wild Magnolias # James Andrews # New Orleans Klezmer Allstars

Keep in mind, seeing a show in New Orleans, especially out at the Fair Grounds, isn’t like seeing music anywhere else. This is where popular music began in America. New Orleans is hallowed ground, and the music takes on a life of its own when played outdoors. There will be people crying, shouting, praising the Lord and having religious experiences.

The other component I would be remiss in not mentioning is the nightlife. That is what really grabbed me about how this festival is set up and run. All the other major music festivals run late and try to keep people on site spending money. Well New Orleans has too much to offer to make that an effective business plan.

It becomes grueling to party 12-14 hours out in the elements, and then try to hit aftershows, because it all starts again the next day by 11 AM.

Jazz Fest runs from 11-7 daily. I can be home or in my hotel by 8 PM. I recommend drinking some water, because “hydration” is important, get a shower, and meet up with friends for a big dinner out at one of the fine New Orleans restaurants, of which there are more than 1,300 in the New Orleans metro area!

There are plenty of folks who use Jazz Fest as an excuse to come eat New Orleans-based Creole and Cajun fare.

[GALATOIRE’S]

During dinner I get my alcohol intake back up to speed and by 11:00 PM it’s time to hit Frenchman Street, Tipitna’s, The Howlin’ Wolf, the Maple Leaf, Rock-n-Bowl, wherever. There are quality shows by all the folks playing at Fest, plus major national talent that comes in nightly to play special engagements.

You gotta keep your eyes and ears open, because some big bands will fly by using an alias so they can play a small club and not get totally overrun.

I find usually one weekend the Fest has better talent and the other weekend the best music can be found in the clubs. If you’re going to both it doesn’t matter. The only thing to worry about is sleep.

I end up going 72-hours sometimes without rest. I’ve never seen a level or quality of shows that tips like in New Orleans – for 12 straight days.

There are the mainline gigs by guys like B.B. King, Buddy Guy or Dr. John, that will kick at the House of Blues around 9ish. Those will get out and bleed over into the club shows at 11 PM with Anders Osborne, Trombone Shorty, Gov’t Mule, Dumpstaphunk and the Funky Meters. Then a whole other set of shows will start jumping around 2 or 3 AM.

That’s when the magic happens, because all the musicians from the high-ticket performances are loose, and they start dropping by the clubs. You’ll get Dave Matthews, Ivan Neville, Karl Denson, Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, George Porter, Jr., Robert Randolph, Luther Dickinson…, coming by to jam with friends till daybreak.

My biggest recommendation these days is to go see Galactic, particularly at Tipitina’s. That show will change your life. There’s horns, funk, rap, and Stanton Moore is sick on drums. It will go into the early morning hours and be a sweaty mess. You will meet 10 new people, probably get a date, and hatch some revolutionary idea in haze of booze and drugs that will perhaps alter the course of humanity.

That’s not bad for one night.

When the lights come back up the next day and those drunken horns start ringin’ in the air. It’s like musical intoxication coming from all directions swirling around in my brain.

Hook me up with a Bloody Bull or a White Russian daiquiri from the Daiquiri Place Cafe, and I’m ready to go. Let the music carry me away…

Posted in Events, Food, Music, Reviews, Travel | Tagged Jazz Fest, New Orleans, Quint Davis | Leave a comment

Derby Days Are Here Again – 139th Kentucky Derby

Posted on May 5, 2013 by theurbanllama

Joel Rosario aboard Orb (16) wins the 2013 Kentucky Derby. | Mark Zerof Photo

Congratulations to Orb and jockey Joel Rosario for their strategic victory in the 139th Kentucky Derby. This was Rosario’s first Derby victory and the first for Shug McGaughy, 62, the famous Lexington-born trainer.

Golden Soul placed second and Revolutionary came in third.

The track was a sloppy mess at Churchill Downs, as rain fell all day in Louisville, but Rosario had the restraint and confidence to hold his horse back, even falling to 17th place, as Palace Malice set the fourth-fastest pace in Derby history through a mile.

Entering the homestretch Rosario steered his mount wide of the pack and turned Orb loose, who had plenty of steam left over the last quarter-mile to run past the weary competition, and win going away by 2 1/2 lengths.

The Derby is an exercise in patience. For the horses, owners, and trainers, it’s a three-year process. For those attending, it’s a long day’s wait for two minutes, especially when the weather isn’t cooperating. But what a two minutes it can be.

I used to go to the infield quite a bit in high school and college. That is a quagmire of humanity that is not at its very best. If you are looking for some drama try the infield of the Kentucky Derby. Love is found, love is lost and there is lots of fighting in between.

And it’s not just drunk frat boys. There are little old ladies that get savage over where they place their portable chairs. Knock into those gals and they will swing a purse at your head with malicious intent.

Moore’s Point, Frankfort, Ky.

I’ve sat in the grandstand too, and it’s not much better. This is one of those events where people who don’t drink that much on a regular basis, decide to go house and drink a ton. The results are generally unattractive.

Few sights are ghastlier than seeing a woman wearing one of those poofy-Derby dresses with the huge hats, all bent over, yacking into a trash can by the third race.

Vomit sticking to lime green chiffon is No Bueno!

There were 151,116 people at the Derby Saturday, the ninth largest crowd in history. When you get that many people together with enough bourbon to sink a battleship, drama will ensue.

That being said, those that can drink with skill and are looking for a date will find Derby to be a target rich environment.

That’s what’s cool about Derby, it’s an interactive event. Folks can either go to the race itself, attend numerous parties, balls or family gatherings, and if there is a horse that stands out as worthy of your support, there are plenty of folks willing to accept your wager as a show of support.

Bet early while the lines are short, and before intoxication preys upon otherwise sound judgment.

Nineteen horses left the post on Saturday. Everyone has to choose his or her favorite to win.

Maybe it’s the horse’s name, the jockey, the story behind the owner, or the trainer – it can be the color of the horse or the jockey’s silks. Whatever it is, everybody has a story to tell about why they picked which horse. And telling that story always sounds better while sharing some bourbon.

That’s what Derby is, a big mess of people swapping tales over militantly strong cocktails.

There were 13 races on the card today at Churchill, and the Derby was number 11. The first race went off at 10:30. That leaves eight hours to kill.

What happens is the anticipation builds as each race passes.

People change their favorites and bet some more. Then the betting lines start getting real long as procrastinators finally step up to the plate. Eventually the lines get too long for those who have already placed wagers and their favorites are now locked in numerically.

All these people are walking around holding little squares of paper, talking to themselves passionately. The horse’s number, finish position and amount wagered. Names no longer matter; they are replaced by merely uttering a horse’s number.

Patience, patience as the races slowly pass.

There is a noticeable ripple in the Force when the 10th race is called. Once that is over the energy inside Churchill Downs skyrockets.

A palpable wave of adrenaline blankets the venue as 90 minutes are left until we find out who is right and who is wrong.

By 6:00 PM it’s a frenzy when the call to post is sounded. On the infield clothes have become optional.

As the University of Louisville Marching Band plays “My Old Kentucky Home,” friends and strangers are arm-and-arm, swaying back and forth as they sing along.

The horses take what seems like forever to load into the starting gate, and surprisingly the energy kicks up another notch.

What’s fueling all this is money. That’s why Derby’s energy level can’t be matched by any concert.

Going to see music is based upon adulation. Attendees “like” an artist, but no money is on the line.

Derby offers the potential to change a person’s life.

What if…?

There are people who have bet their mortgages on a horse. That might not be the wisest move, but what if they win?

Nothing gets peoples’ attention like the possibility of winning money.

Plus there are folks on Millionaire’s Row who have bet stupid cash on these creatures.

At 6:24 PM, you can feel the money in the air. It’s a different kind of intoxicating.

“And they’re off…”

This whole day has been about waiting and now it’s moving way too fast. Instantly one-third of the field is out of contention.

The screaming intensifies.

Usually the favorite never wins, but he did this time.

O-R-B!

He came in at 6-1.

The Llama prepping for Derby at the Governor’s Downtown Derby Celebration in Frankfort, Ky.

A $2 bet paid $12.80, $2 exacta, picking the first and second horses correctly, paid $981.60, a $2 trifecta paid $6,925.60, and the superfecta was $28,542.

Louisville may not have the grandest nightlife in the country, but it’s a damn fine town to be in after Derby. A lot of money was won today, and the folks holding it are sticking around town to play. That kind of cash goes a long way in Louisville. I shudder to think of the possibilities. I would hurt myself.

Next up the Preakness, then the Belmont Stakes.

It’s been 35 years since the last Triple Crown winner, why not Orb. What if…?

Posted in Events, Family, Food | Tagged Churchill Downs, Joel Rosario, Kentucky Derby, Orb, Shug McGaughy | Leave a comment

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