The Report on Voodoo Music Experience 2007

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By Matthew Sigur

New Orleans’ annual Voodoo Music Festival has something for everyone this year.

 
       

This installment of the “experience” features the reunion of two of the most important bands of the ‘90s – Rage Against the Machine and Smashing Pumpkins, both of which are playing on the main stage Friday at 9:10 and Saturday at 7:30 respectively.

One can only anticipate that the ground will shake as Rage pummels into their classic, “Killing in the Name.”

The festival has something for the MTV crowd. Fallout Boy (Voodoo stage, Sunday, 3:45 p.m.), Plain White T’s (Voodoo stage, Sunday, 11:45 a.m.), Motion City Soundtrack (PlayStation/Billboard stage, Saturday, 2:15 p.m.), Gym Class Heroes (Voodoo stage, Sunday, 1:45) and Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (Voodoo stage, Sunday, 12:45 p.m.) are among the major acts this year.

The show features other big name acts on the Voodoo stage such as Sinead O’Conner Saturday, 3:15 p.m.), Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals (Saturday, 5:15 p.m.) and Kings of Leon (Friday, 6:55 p.m.). Other PlayStation/Billboard stage acts include Spoon (Saturday, 6:30 p.m.) and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (Sunday, 2:45 p.m.).

But the festival is never just about getting people together to see the “it” bands of the year. Those bigger bands will play at the main stages while more local and smaller (but no less important) bands will play on four more stages.

Among artists gracing the other stages are Dr. John (WWOZ/SOCO stage, Sunday, 7:30 p.m.), Toots and the Maytals (WWOZ/SOCO stage, Friday, 7:30 p.m.), and Irma Thomas and the Professionals (Preservation Hall, Sunday, 5:45 p.m.). The list goes on and on. New Orleans Jazz acts such as the Hot 8 Brass Band (Preservation Hall, Friday, 2:45 p.m.), Bonerama (WWOZ/SOCO stage, Friday, 2:30 p.m.), New Orleans Social Club (WWOZ/SOCO, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.) and many more will also play.

We caught up with some of the bands playing the festival – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Mute Math and Ghostland Observatory – and we’re giving you a look at what to expect at this year’s festival.

 

BRMC gear up for first Voodoo show

A majority of good rock bands get famous in the UK before even scratching the Billboard charts here in the States.

“The media’s connected over there, and music is a lot more relevant,” said Robert Levon Been, bassist for Californian rock band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (BRMC).

“Music is more spread out here, and it takes longer to get recognized,” said Been. “But we like earning it here in the States.”

Slowly but surely, BRMC has been earning it. Their last two albums, Howl and Baby 81, cracked the Billboard 100 Record Charts and received critical acclaim.

Those last two albums have been the watermark for the band. Just a couple of years ago, they were dropped by Virgin Records. To the public, it was unknown what would happen to the band that was the recent epitome of that “San Francisco psychedelic sound.”

“When Virgin dropped us, it was actually one of the best things that happened to us,” Been said. “We were trying to get off that label. They were getting too constrictive.”

While Virgin Records focused more on business, BRMC were on the coattails of releasing their best album, Howl.

“I was a little surprised at the acclaim for Howl, but we knew that was a great record,” Been said. “It was a leap of faith.”

The fans hadn’t left them at all. The album cracked the charts, and BRMC is back. Their latest album, Baby 81, went higher on the charts and received just as much acclaim.

This Saturday, the band will be playing the main stage on Friday evening. Their set starts at 4:55 p.m.

As for the fans wanting information on the new album, Been said, “We’ll be changing a lot before we know. We’ll know when we get there.”

 

 

Mute Math on Michael Bolton and Radio Shack mics

 

Though a New Orleans-based rock band, Mute Math has garnered comparisons to Sting and the Police, and the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts said lead singer Paul Meany sounded like Michael Bolton.

In his career at NOCCA, Meany was known as Michael Bolton to his teachers.

“It shows you that influences that you wouldn’t expect come in and form your sound,” Meany said. “I wasn’t going for Bolton at all, but at least I got in.”

Bolton comparisons aside, Mute Math has been a constant band to watch for the last two years, especially after the “backwards performance” of single “Typical,” on “The Jimmy Kimmel Show.”

“We consider ourselves fortunate for the steady incline,” Meany said.

But that steady incline wasn’t easy for the band. Meany said that New Orleans was good, but they had to get out.

“If I could give up-and-coming bands any advice, you got to get out,” said Meany. “You got to travel. New Orleans has a great scene and vibe, but the thing that will never go away is the need to tour.”

Meany said that bands should always have a video camera and capture everything.

“We don’t flip our sets around much, but the moments that can happen during our set – that’s what makes it a great show.”

Mute Math’s live show has even raised some eyebrows. Last time they played New Orleans’ Voodoo Fest, Meany’s grandfather appeared on-stage twirling an umbrella right beside the drum set.

“He’s the entertainer of my family,” said Meany. “I asked him about it, and he immediately said yes.”

Meany’s grandfather just happened to perform with the band at their favorite show of last year. Meany said the show was like a big homecoming.

Mute Math will be playing at the main stage, Le Ritual, this Saturday. The set starts at 1:15 p.m. It’s uncertain if Meany’s grandfather will be present, but the band hopes to unleash some new tunes.

“We’ve got some new tricks and tunes we’d like to show off,” Meany said.

Ghostland Observatory: New Orleans virgins

 

Ghostland Observatory may be playing on one of the smaller stages at Voodoo Fest, but the band is no small act. Part of Voodoo’s Le Carnival, Ghostland will play at 5:45 p.m. on the Bingo! Parlour stage Saturday evening.

Aaron Behrens (vocals, guitar) and Thomas Turner (drums, synths) formed Ghostland about two years ago to, as they say on their MySpace profile, “heal their beat-driven hearts [and] please their rock ‘n’ roll souls.”

Falling into the electronic rock category somewhere, Ghostland creates music with strong vocals, rock ‘n’ roll synthesizers and drums and kinetic dance beats.

“It’s fun music, and it’s music you can dance to and rock out to,” Turner said.

The musicians live in Austin, a city known for hosting tons of live music. Turner said being based out of Austin only forces them to create music no one has heard before, and play shows that keep people intrigued.

“When you hear our sound and hear we’re from Austin it doesn’t make sense,” Turner said. “If you’re playing a show, it’s a challenge to draw people.”

And draw people they have. Ghostland is warmly welcomed in major cities around the country like New York, Seattle and Los Angeles. After playing Voodoo, they will head to Las Vegas.

Turner said they are looking forward to playing in New Orleans this weekend. It will be their first time in the city.

“I’ve heard New Orleans is kind of a place to party,” Turner said. “I think it’ll be really cool.”

Turner said Ghostland fans have been writing to them about the show in New Orleans, and they think they have a lot to offer to those who’ve never heard their sound before.

“Our live show is really exciting,” Turner said. “I’m pretty sure it’ll be different from anything else at the festival. Check it out. See what you think.”

 

Voodoo Extracurriculars

 

This year the whole city of New Orleans is in concert with the spirit of the Voodoo Music Festival. Along with the huge names in music playing at the actual festival, local bars in the downtown area have booked even more legendary bands to play the same weekend. So if you don’t like the extremely large crowds at City Park or can’t afford a ticket, head down to the Big Easy and check out Voodoo 24/7.

All of the major music venues in town such as the House of Blues, One Eyed Jack’s and Tipitina’s boast incredible line-ups this weekend in spite of the festival. Several bands playing the festival will head to the local watering holes and play extra sets.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Linnzi Zaorski will be at the House of Blues on Friday. The Funky Meters will be there on Saturday.

Tipitina’s Voodoo 24/7 lasts tomorrow through Sunday with Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Galactic and the Karl Denson Trio.

Voodoo 24/7 also lasts Thursday through Sunday at One Eyed Jack’s with The Hives playing Thursday, Dax Riggs and Beaten Awake on Saturday and Andre Williams on Sunday.

Cover charge and times vary depending on the band and the place, and there is no real comprehensive schedule of all the acts in New Orleans this weekend. But if Voodoo is not on your schedule this weekend, head to New Orleans anyway for a monumental weekend in live music.

What’s better than going to New Orleans to catch a plethora of great bands? Nothing. See you there this weekend.

 

The Voodoo Music Experience will be in City Park, and it starts this Friday, Oct. 26 at 10 a.m. with DJ Tom Harvey at the Noomoon Stage. For more information – including directions and the concert schedule – go to voodoomusicfest.com.

Originally Published: Issue 584 - October 24, 2007

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