Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Funeral bands and obituaries…what fun!

Hey, it's almost time for Mardi Gras...which is, as you can imagine, not a very important holiday up here in Northern New England. That doesn't stop Revolutionary Snake Ensemble, though...they're on their way to New Orleans right now for the big party, with a quick stop in Philly. I wrote them up in this week's PW.

Revolutionary Snake Ensemble
Mon., Feb. 16, 8pm. $12. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. 215.222.1400. www.worldcafelive.com

Don’t be fooled by the masks, pharaoh headdresses and street-party antics, the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble, from Boston, are a seriously skilled band of improvisers. Ken Field, who co-founded the group in 1990, has a long discography of experimental jazz solo releases. Still, he loves old New Orleans-style funeral marches, and his band is authentic enough to win repeat invitations from the Crescent City’s Krewe of Muses Mardi Gras parade. Last year’s Forked Tongue figured on nearly a dozen jazz-centric best-of lists, surely the only all-instrumental disc of 2008 to cover both Billy Idol and Ornette Coleman. (Jennifer Kelly)

Doesn’t this look like a blast?


Also, you might remember my going batshit last year over the Obits, who were, at that time, performing their second-ever show. (As Obits, I mean…members have been in bands for years, most notably Hot Snakes and Drive Like Jehu.) Well, look at these guys now, all grown up and on a big indie label. Check out Obits’ “Pine On” from the upcoming I Blame You, due out from Sub Pop on March 24.

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