Author Archive
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New Orleans Museum of Art curator Miranda Lash flitted around the crowded Frederick Weisman Galleries for Louisiana Contemporary Art like a sapphire pixie. Miss Pussycat kissed cheeks and played the role of hostess with aplomb. As for Quintron, he looked like the nervous, dutiful museum employee he was dressed up to be: moving and fiddling with his recording equipment; dragging out and setting up an elastic barrier when too many drunkies got too close to one of his “studio audience” oil portraits.
Friday’s opening of “Parallel Universe: Quintron and Miss Pussycat Live at City Park” was a smash — and better yet, a hell of a lot of fun. Hundreds of visitors, of all stripes, ages, and walks of New Orleans life, filtered in and out of NOMA to catch a glimpse of what’s sure to be the most unusual art happening of 2010. Here are some of the stories behind the Gambit cover story “Live From NOMA.” First up: Mr. Q.
On the exhibition’s origins:
They approached us. We were walking down the street and got a call from Miranda. She said, “This is the curator for the contemporary wing of the NOMA. Do you want to do something there?” That was the best call. We almost didn’t know if it was real. We’ve never been involved in the gallery scene here. I’ve never been an artist in the sense of the word that I’ve sought out that career.
When we were home, we called her and she explained that she wanted to do something with us, and was open to whatever we wanted to do in the space. She was familiar with us from Dallas. Then we started getting these ideas that began developing. I started thinking about my involvement in it. I’m not a painter, nothing like that — except for the Drum Buddies, very beautiful visual objects that I make the same thing over and over. So I knew that would be part of it.
The most interesting thing to me, if we’re going to do it, would be to make something out of it, go in there every day. She didn’t tell us, “We want you to do this.” She said, “We want to do something with Quintron and Miss Pussycat, whether it’s a retrospective of all the work you’ve done in your life, or whether you want to do new stuff.” It was almost a year ago. It was a secret for a long time. We didn’t tell anyone.
Read the rest of this entry »
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Thursday was Misunderstanding Day at the WWL-TV newsroom. First Misty Marshall and the Moonpie King performed, leading to this awkwardly revealing on-air exchange with Paulsen:
Eric: “Actually, Sally-Ann and I are former moonpie kings and queens …”
Band: “(Ba-dum-ch!) I never knew.”
Eric: “Settle down.”
Things only got worse when Paulsen and I were discussing the Over the Line Big Lebowski Party:
Me: “They’re having a dialogue contest, outfits, trivia, lots of Caucasians being drunk around the Rock ‘N’ Bowl …”
Eric: (Looking into camera and shaking head)
Only on Misunderstanding Day could “copious White Russians getting consumed” end up sounding like “a ton of boozed white folks acting the fool.” Although I’m sure the latter is also true.
MUSIC
FILM
STAGE
EVENTS
ART
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 Congratulations to New Orleans’ best — OK, only — pure pop band, Generationals, who made The New York Times‘ Nifty 50 list (basically a print version of America’s Got Talent, minus Sharon Osbourne, plus Maureen Dowd).
“Con Law,” their delectable debut, shimmers with the music of the British Invasion, Stax soul, Wall of Sound production, 1950s doo-wop and California-dreaming jangle filtered through a contemporary indie-rock lens. …
[T]hey share twin passions for their hometown’s rich music heritage — Widmer cites the legendary New Orleans producers Allen Toussaint and Wardell Quezergue and the engineer Cosimo Matassa — and late-20th-century fare (the Replacements, Squeeze and Aimee Mann). …
So how does an analog-based band — albeit one with a MySpace page — react to finding its music the subject of so much digital-based blogosphere hype on sites like Pitchfork? “What’s Pitchfork?” Widmer asks. “I’ll run a search for that on AltaVista.”
Widmer: Zing. Gensler: Clever, but no.
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Add “a—hole” and “vagina” as the newest entries in the WWL-TV Eyewitness Morning News lexicon. And to think I nixed a mention of the Butthole Surfers back in September. At this rate, we’ll be casually parsing the merits of a F—k Buttons/F—ked Up/Holy F—k triple bill in no time. You can’t FCC me, Paulsen!
MUSIC
Why Are We Building Such a Big Ship? with Nana Grizol
10 p.m. Friday, AllWays Lounge
Gambit blog
Strange Bedfellows Series feat. Spickle, Giant Cloud, Metronome the City and White Colla Crimes
10 p.m. Saturday, One Eyed Jacks
Gambit feature
FILM
The Horse Boy
7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center
The Breakfast Club
Midnight Friday-Saturday, Prytania Theatre
STAGE
Jewtopia
8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 6 p.m. Sunday, Le Chat Noir
Gambit pick
The A—hole Monologues
8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday, 6 p.m. Sunday, Hi-Ho Lounge
Gambit preview
EVENTS
Louisiana Museum Foundation Gala
6:30 p.m. Friday, The Cabildo
Gambit pick
Righteous Fur Nutria Design Challenge Fashion Show
8 p.m. Friday, AllWays Lounge
Gambit preview
ART
“Revival: Historical Processes in Contemporary Photography,” group show
Closes Friday, Homespace Gallery
“Aquiferious,” works by Margaret Ross Tolbert
Opening reception 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, LeMieux Gallery
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How do you start some smack in the WWL-TV studio? Just ask them which Christmas film is the G.O.A.T. The question, it turns out, is WWL’s current Web query, and this morning, Eric and Sally-Ann — and meteorologist Laura Buchtel, several cameramen, a New Orleans Junior Leaguer and the O. Perry Walker choir — almost went to blows over the relative merits of It’s a Wonderful Life versus The Christmas Story. I’m afraid I’ve got your back here, Paulsen: Jimmy Stewart takes out that precocious little four-eyes every day of the week (and twice next Friday).
MUSIC
Judith Owen and Harry Shearer’s Holiday Sing-Along
8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, CAC
Gambit feature
Forgetters
7 p.m. Saturday, Nowe Miasto
Gambit preview
FILM
It’s a Wonderful Life
Noon Saturday-Sunday, Prytania Theatre
Vieux Carre Matinees
11:30 a.m. Saturday, Le Petit Theatre
STAGE
A Christmas Carol
7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Teatro Wego
Silver Knife Society
10 p.m. Saturday, Backyard Ballroom
EVENTS
Bywater Art Market
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Markey Park
Elysian Fleas Holiday Market
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Elysian Fields Avenue at Chartres Street
ART
“Blind Prom,” photographs by Sarah Wilson
New Orleans Photo Alliance
Gambit review
“Within Shadows,” photographs by Susan Burnstine
Canary Gallery
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After a brief respite last week (a guy’s gotta eat turkey), the blogged summaries of my misadventures in TV land continue. Stumbling into the WWL studio every Thursday morning feels like the continuation of a dream — and not just because I’m bleary-eyed and usually still half asleep. There’s something comically nightmarish about a morning news set. First off, the glaring lights and broad grins are straight out of Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” video. Then there’s the gaggle of oddly costumed performers that are always warming up for a spot. I’ll never forget wandering into a group of uniformed baseball players gathered in a corner reciting lines — the cast of Damn Yankees, it turned out, but just another predawn hallucination as far as I was concerned. This week, the trancelike sounds of Rachel Van Voorhies’ harp were a pleasantly new-age background soundtrack to Cajun chef Emile Stieffel’s turkey-gumbo tips. And then my alarm went off.
MUSIC
New Orleans Songwriters Festival
Friday-Saturday, various venues
Gambit preview
Antenna Inn with Micah McKee
10 p.m. Saturday, One Eyed Jacks
Gambit pick
FILM
Bicycle Film Festival
Friday-Saturday, Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center
Gambit preview
Global Lens triple feature
1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, NOCCA|Riverfront
STAGE
Silent Night of the Lambs
8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 6 p.m. Sunday, Le Chat Noir
Gambit feature
The SantaLand Diaries
9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Actor’s Theatre of New Orleans
Gambit pick
EVENTS
Holiday on the Boulevard
Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, 1:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Ashé Cultural Arts Center
PhotoNOLA kickoff signing and lecture
Saturday-Sunday, New Orleans Photo Alliance
ART
“Warriors of the Apocalypse,” works by Minka Stoyanova
Closes Saturday, Barrister’s Gallery
“Signs of the City,” works by Shirley Rabe Masinter
Opening reception 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, LeMieux Galleries
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Paulsen to Bonaparte: “The jig is up!” You won’t find it online, but at the end of this week’s morning missive, WWL-TV’s esteemed senior anchor (Hi Eric!) admitted he, um, actually reads these things:
“So, lots of stuff going on this weekend. You can read about it in Gambit, and if you’d like more information about what’s happening around town or the metro area, you can always check out Gambit — the Web site is Bestofneworleans.com, or pick up a copy of this week’s Gambit at spots all over town.”
That part he says every week. Today, however, he added conspicuously, “Or you can check out Noah’s blog, too, where he’s spreading all sorts of rumors about me.”
It’s no rumor: Paulsen is even taller and more distinguished-looking in person!
MUSIC
Gordon Gano & the Ryan Brothers
10 p.m. Friday, Hi-Ho Lounge
(Gambit pick)
NOIR Fest III feat. Givers, Giant Cloud, Hurray For the Riff Raff and Loren Murrell
10 p.m. Saturday, Blue Nile
(Gambit pick)
FILM
Between the Folds
6 p.m. Saturday, Antenna Gallery
(Gambit preview)
Dance With a Stranger
2 p.m. Sunday, New Orleans-Birmingham Psychoanalytic Center
STAGE
A Raisin in the Sun
8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Anthony Bean Community Theater
(Gambit review)
Roméo et Juliette
8 p.m. Friday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts
(Gambit pick)
EVENTS
Elysian Fleas
11 a.m. Saturday, Chartres Street and Elysian Fields Avenue
(Gambit blog)
New Orleans Po-Boy Preservation Festival
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oak Street
(Gambit feature)
ART
“Congo Square Rhythms,” works by Louisiana artists
Closes Friday, Jazz & Heritage Gallery
“The Spirit World,” national juried photography exhibit
Closes Sunday, New Orleans Photo Alliance
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In which Paulsen reveals his intense love for The Wizard of Oz — there’s a panorama of Dorothy and friends in his game room — and Disney animated films. Oh, was that stuff off the record? I never could get that straight. (Point: Bonaparte.)
MUSIC
Hip-Hop For Hope
10 p.m. Saturday, Tipitina’s
(Gambit feature)
Larkin Grimm
10 p.m. Sunday, Circle Bar
(Gambit pick)
FILM
New Orleans Middle East Film Festival
7:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center
(Gambit preview)
The Dark Side of Oz
Midnight Friday-Saturday, Prytania Theatre
STAGE
Ron White
7:30 p.m. Friday, Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts
(Gambit feature)
New Orleans Fringe Festival
Friday-Sunday, citywide
(Gambit feature)
EVENTS
Broad Flea
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, corner of Broad and Bienville streets
(Gambit blog)
Make a Joyful Noise gospel and arts festival
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Ashé Cultural Arts Center
ART
“IT IS,” works by Ursula Groser and Elisabeth and Albin Schutting
Opening reception 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, UNO St. Claude Gallery
“Dreams Come True,” art from the Walt Disney Studio
Opens Sunday, New Orleans Museum of Art
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Last week belonged to the Saturn Bar. This week, the House of Blues is the place to pitch a tent for quality twofer concerts. The mini music festival began yesterday with Son Volt and Peter Bruntnell. It crests tonight (8:30 p.m.; tickets $12.50) with Elvis Perkins — son of Anthony and author of one of the year’s best albums, Dearland (XL) — and Alabama troubadour AA Bondy. Tomorrow’s denouement features the double-feature double feature of the Swell Season (Oscar-winning former-cutesy-couple from Once film fame) and Joni Mitchell ringer Rachael Yamagata on the main stage, and Toronto indie-rockers and former Broken Social Scenesters Hidden Cameras and Gentleman Reg at the Parish. Just pretend those Ticketmaster service fees are a good-music tax and skip the second Jameson.
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Touche, Paulsen, touche. The brushback message, duly received: Nobody effs with Blues Traveler. Nobody.
Me: “… the King Khan & BBQ Show, which is a duo from Montreal that plays this very scuzzed-up kind of doo-wop punk music, really interesting band there.”
Paulsen: “How do you like their outfits, dontcha?”
Me: “Exactly. They’re not even showing the best part of this photo, which is the underneath shot.”
Paulsen: “Maybe that’s the best part to you, I don’t know.”
MUSIC
King Khan & BBQ Show
10 p.m. Friday, Spellcaster Lodge
(Gambit preview)
Shapes Have Fangs
10 p.m. Saturday, Saturn Bar
FILM
The Yes Men Fix the World
7:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center
(Gambit review)
Invisible Children
5 p.m. Sunday, Alcee Fortier Park
STAGE
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Muriel’s Cabaret at Le Petit Theatre
(Gambit pick)
I Am My Own Wife
8 p.m. Friday preview; 8 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, Southern Rep
(Gambit feature)
EVENTS
Dave Eggers discusses Zeitoun
8 p.m. Friday, NOCCA Institute
(Gambit feature)
Mirliton Festival
11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Markey Park
(Gambit preview)
ART
“Pretty Babies,” works by Louis St. Lewis and Sean Yseult
Opening reception 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Canary Gallery
“Deep.Down.Dirty,” group show curated by Robin Wallis Atkinson
Closes Sunday, Antenna Gallery
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