Now, I know what you're thinking -- more shameless self promotion for my band, The Very Bad Boys, who happen to be playing Armando's on Saturday, Jan. 17 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. The club is, by the way, located at 707 Marina Vista, right down from La Beau's, and is a Bay Area treasure and absolute delight for music fans, because it is geared for listening, not socializing, so music here is the primary motive, not an afterthought. And The Very Bad Boys will be playing an eclectic mix of New Orleans fonk, blues, and R&B. But more on that in a minute.
First, a word about New Orleans, the first Soul Sister of American music; the living consciousness of American race relations; the frilly, dangerous, seductive, steamy, swampland of food, music and language. America was born, in many ways both comfortable and uncomfortable, on the shores of New Orleans. It is one of our oldest cities, and it is the landing spot of slave ships. It is where African music first sounded in the thick night air, played by slaves who were desperate for something familiar from their home. It is the place where that very sound met and morphed with other sounds, and the soul-screaming pain fused into something unique to the American experience. And over all these many great and horrible years later, we now have a juicy legacy of blues, soul, funk and jazz -- the tastiest treat in the musical menu, as far as I'm concerned. And as we prepare to welcome our first African American president into the White House, it seems just right to celebrate that notion with some New Orleans sounds.
Though it may not be the best marketing move, let me tell you about the band that's playing Armando's the night before my band. It's called the Jolly Gibsons, and oh my goodness, ladies and gentlemen, ya'll must reserve both nights, Jan. 16 and 17, for this special weekend New Orleans fonk festival. You are, by the way, reading the word 'fonk' correctly. It's the sound of New Orleans funk. Say it out loud. Fonk. That's the soul and spirit of this music. Anyway, the Jolly Gibsons are led by Jennifer Jolly, a keyboard player of the New Orleans genre (which is, for my money, the very best kind of keyboards). Most of my life spent right here in the Bay Area, playing music all over the place, and I've never encountered her before. But I'll be right there near the front on Friday, Jan. 16, because her work with this band (hear some at http://www.sonicbids.com/epk/epk.aspx?epk_id=77620) is nothing short of remarkable. Steve Gibson is on guitar, and his work is also stellar. The bass (Mark Fischer) and drums (Dave Bernfield) are held down by excellent players, and en masse these guys just make a joyful noise. It's not often that our own little town gets visited by New Orleans fonk specialists, but Friday, Jan. 16 is just such a night. Write it down, circle it in red, and come out to Armando's for this evening of fun and frolic.
Oh, but then, rest up Saturday. Because Saturday night, Jan. 17, again from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., out come, for the first time in months, The Very Bad Boys. Now, we were the first band to actually play Armando's, back before the club even officially opened. And that gig, by the way, was the first official gig for The Very Bad Boys. Since then, we've added the mighty Bill Horton on drums, and the awe-inspiring Greg Beaudreaux on keyboards. We also play New Orleans Fonk, and we mix it up a little -- some reggae here, some Motown there -- all intended to cause as much aural cacophony as possible without hurting your ears. This night officially launches the Very Bad Boys 2009 Tour, which features five more stops at Armando's and a variety of other venues and exotic locales that have yet to be determined. But this space will keep you appraised of the situation as it unfolds.
So we'll see you Friday and Saturday, Jan. 16 and 17, where the fonk meets the friends and they all dance together. Bon Temps Roullet, as they say.
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