Welcome to the Krewe Picks! Every month or two, we will select one member of our esteemed staff (aka The Krewe) to give you an insider perspective about a few interesting shows coming up. We hope you enjoy their recommendations (The Krewe have varied and impressive musical tastes…we’ve seen lotsa shows!)
April/May from MATT M.
I am an avid music fan of a wide variety of styles and genres. I have had the pleasure of working at The Orange Peel for almost three years; I enjoy that I routinely get to see and hear some amazing artists on stage and interact with some amazing, eclectic, and (sometimes) eccentric fans in the crowd. Although I may look grouchy when you see me making my way around the club, I can assure you that I am smiling on the inside. We have some amazing shows coming up…
Budos Band / Charles Bradley & his Extraordinaires
Tuesday, April 10th
The Budos Band brings back the funky bass lines and upbeat horns that highlighted some of the best 70’s movies/TV shows about kicking ass and taking names. When you hear the dynamic funk/soul sound these guys put out, you’ll look around trying to find Shaft, Foxy Brown, Huggy Bear or Quentin Tarantino. Top that off with Charles Bradley, a guy whose soulful wail could make James Brown think: “Maybe I should jump back and kiss that guy” and you have an evening full of funk and soul that will make you shake your booty and wish you hadn’t gotten rid of that afro.
To buy tickets, click here.
EOTO
Thursday, April 12th
As I said in my last set of recommendations, I have come to enjoy “electronica” that is done well by skilled musicians. This duo does and they are. EOTO brings the Dubstep sound with reckless abandon and even more reckless talent. On-the-fly mixes and loops make for a frenzied production that goes wherever they feel like taking the crowd that night. There is nothing predictable about this show beyond it being high-energy madness for however long they are on stage.
To buy tickets, click here.
GWAR
Thursday, April 19th
How could a show where heavy metal alien invaders intent on taking over the planet by splattering every soul in the crowd with green goop from their death ray cannons or the blood and entrails of sacrificial babies, aliens, and the President, be anything but awesome? This is rock and roll spectacle at its immature and grotesque best, certainly not for the easily offended or those who want their clothing to remain clean. It is raucous entertainment that will leave you completely exhausted and filthy. In other words, it is perfect for a first date or romantic anniversary night out.
To buy tickets, click here.
Trampled By Turtles
Thursday, April 26th
This ridiculously fun “bluegrass” band is made up of guys who started off in various punk and rock bands, which is evident in the way they take bluegrass sounds and speed them up in manners that would make keeping up with any traditional dance almost impossible. While their sound is certainly built from bluegrass and Americana roots, it is not limited by any genre constraints. They are loud, fast, and more fun than a spittin’ contest with your grandma. If you like bluegrass at all, you must see this band.
To buy tickets, click here.
Lucero
Friday, April 27th
Ben Nichols sounds like he has been smoking and drinking whiskey since he was 3 years old, which works perfectly for the broken heart and drunken bar fight songs he pens. This is a show filled with equal parts fast paced country-fried rock and roll songs about drinking, gambling, and loving your guitar more than women and slow-paced lamentations about love lost, love unrequited, and love unwanted. This is alcohol soaked fundamentally sound rock and roll that can make you think each song is about you and/or make you glad that each song isn’t about you.
To buy tickets, click here.
Ziggy Marley
Sunday, April 29th
Roots, rock, reggae. Ziggy proficiently carries on the tradition of his father’s music and has taken what Bob taught him to build his own impressive catalog of tunes. A fun and mellow evening of classic reggae rhythms and newer incarnations is certain to be enjoyable. Wear your most colorful clothing and have fun, but remember that the ganja has to stay at home.
To buy tickets, click here.
Infamous Stringdusters / ALO
Friday, May 18th
This bluegrass/folk outfit recently opened for Yonder Mountain String Band here at the Peel, and they were great (Some *ahem* would say they stole the show…). This very talented group mixes traditional sounds of folk and bluegrass with some jam band song bending to produce an eclectic sound that should make everyone within earshot at least tap a foot. They will be appearing with ALO, which is a piano heavy funk set-up that should make for an enjoyable fusion of genres. This will be a night of supremely talented musicians doing something different, don’t miss it.
To buy tickets, click here.
DOWN
Monday, May 21st
A metal “supergroup” that got it right. Phil Anselmo from Pantera and Pepper Keenan from Corrosion of Conformity head this New Orleans based band that trudges through heavy, often slow-ish southern rock inspired metal featuring intelligent lyrics about everyday life, often as it is seen in the swamps and deltas of Louisiana. These are songs about and for the “everyman” who struggles with the things life throws at them. This isn’t in-your-face screaming at the devil metal, it is punch-you-in-the-face with a dose of reality metal. Remember, the music will do the punching, please control yourself while in the pit.
To buy tickets, click here.