Condensed Milk: November 8, 2024
Hell Yes Fest, illuminati hotties, Fimone, Total Wife, Papa Plays the Nite Tripper, Superchunk, BeauSoleil, Egypt
The Hell Yes Fest will present more than 100 stand-up comics in New Orleans over the course of a week(ish). In 2022, we talked to producer Chris Trew about the status of stand-up comedy in New Orleans, and while it doesn’t get as much attention as music, there are now a number of good comedy shows every week in venues around town.
With a week’s worth of shows and that many performers, the best thing to do is check out the festival’s linktree for shows and tickets. Two that should be on your radar on the Open Mic from Hell on Monday night at Republic and the Huge Ass Comedy Show November 17 at the Joy Theater. Open Mic from Hell is a staple show at the Comedy House, and it merges stand-up with improv as stand-up comics are thrown curveballs and have to adapt their performances to those restrictions. The Huge Ass Comedy Show is what it sounds like, with more comedians than we can list here, many of which are from New Orleans.
Last week, illuminati hotties played Siberia with Daffo and Schmoo. Victoria Conway was there for the photos and recap.
The Minnesota-born Fimone came to New Orleans to record her recent Fascination EP inside what used to be the brothel run by Norma Wallace, the subject of Chris Wiltz’s book The Last Madam: A Life In The New Orleans Underground. Fimone’s voice invests soul in songs that smartly examine the costs of desire without overworking the scenario. She’ll play Chickie Wah Wah on Monday night as part of a songwriters’ showcase with Lynn Drury and Stella Prince. Tickets are on sale now.
John “Papa” Gros has made the New Orleans piano style that Dr. John popularized central to his musical identity, so it’s no surprise that on Saturday night at Tipitina’s, he’ll present “Papa Plays The Nite Tripper: A John ‘Papa’ Gros Tribute to Dr. John” with special guests including George Porter, Jr. and Dr. John alumnus John Fohl. Tickets are on sale but going fast.
Nashville’s Total Wife goes a lot of directions at once, so much so that they sound fresh merging shoegaze with krautrock with charmingly obnoxious electronic elements. The new O EP is all of that, and the enthusiasm of Nashville critics suggests that they’ll be worth the effort when they play Siberia on Sunday with Pope, Schmoo, and Baby Wave. Tickets are on sale now.
I’ve been out of town for a couple of weeks, and in that time we ran an interview with Mac McGaughan from Superchunk, talking about how one of the bands that embodies the indie rock ethos grows older without getting old.
BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet have been around so long that they feel like a part of Louisiana’s musical establishment. Their 50 years together certainly solidifies that perception, but they were also part of the community that helped return Cajun culture to its place in the state’s story at a time when that was subversive. On Friday, they’ll celebrate 50 years together with a show at Chickie Wah Wah. Tickets are on sale now.
I was in Egypt for two weeks recently, and posted a piece on music heard while traveling at The Cream, the newsletter I set up for those who would like to help support My Spilt Milk and our projects. Little I heard was what you might expect, but the piece is all about music in the wild, music outside your control, and what shows up in that space.