I’d been hearing rumors circulating for a while that Matt Russell, otherwise known as 86′d Productions (the gentleman who brings you five-band-strong punk and metal bills at the Saturn Bar on weeknights) was planning a Jazz Fest-time blowout. Today, I saw the poster (above) and realized it was booked… and that it’s called “Jazz Fest.”

Detail of the info for the “metal tent” behind the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

When I noticed the BONO Blog now has identifying tags for “TV” and “Nostalgia,” I couldn’t help sharing this vintage gem, especially in light of Eddie Bo’s recent passing. Seafood mogul Al Scramuzza, seen here in one of his iconic homemade commercials (with lagniappe commentary from Ronnie Virgets), could have happily been assured a place in the pantheon of New Orleans characters just for those. However, back in the day, Scramuzza was also the man behind the local indie label Scram Records - for whom Eddie recorded several songs in the ’60s, including his famous track “Hook and Sling.” The story goes that Eddie got the song’s title from Scramuzza himself, or at least from directions the fish man gave to workers who were unloading crawfish at his stores: “First you hook ‘em, then you sling ‘em.” Anyway, enjoy.

This is the side of the Hot Food Express, a truck that usually parks on S. Clark St. near Canal. It’s never open. One would have thought that the kosher pig lips would have business swarming in…

A sweet tidbit of graffiti on the ice machine outside Jimmy’s Grocery at Dauphine and France Streets in the Bywater.

A memorial event for Eddie Bo is planned for Wednesday, April 1 at the old Mid-City Lanes Rock n’Bowl at 4133 S. Carrollton Avenue. No formal service will take place. There will be live music, food and drink from 2 p.m. till 5 p.m.

A memorial fund has been established in Eddie’s honor. Donations can be sent care of Eddie Bo Memorial Fund, PO Box 57175, New Orleans, LA 70157-7175.