Tag: New Orleans

We’re Heading to the Weekend With Our ‘Ode To Morning’ EP, Our AOW Tribute to Townes Van Zandt, and Allen Toussaint In the Spotlight, Thursday, February 9, 2023

Good morning, folks! On Sunday we had our EP about the night time being the right time. Today we’ve got our ‘Ode To Morning’ EP, along with our Townes Van Zandt tribute AOW and the great New Orleans R & B master, Allen Toussaint.

Here’s Thursday’s lineup:

9:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Poet, A Tribute To Townes Van Zandt, Various Artists

We’re back with our AOW, this time in a fairly early morning airing for our listeners outside the U.S. You’ll hear John Prine, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Nanci Griffith and others singing the great songs of one of America’s premier songwriters.

11:00 a.m. Ode To Morning: Various Artists

Today we have our ode to the sunrise, and it’s certainly a beautiful one here outside of Boston, although they are predicting rain for later today. You will hear Joni Mitchell, The Move, Fleewood Mac, Foreigner, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Nina Simone, Cat Stevens, Hoyt Axton, The Beatles, Neil Young, The Rascals, Waylon Jennings, Joan Baez, James Taylor, Gram Parsons, Simon & Garfunkel, Taj Mahal, Dan Fogelberg, Harry Chapin, Three Dog Night, Ry Cooder, Tim Buckley, Muddy Waters, Linda Ronstadt, Jonathan Edwards, Townes Van Zandt, Pure Prairie League, Bob Dylan, Chris Hillman, Badfinger and more!

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Allen Toussaint

Some of the greatest music comes out of the city of New Orleans, and Allen Toussaint was certainly a great music ambassador from the city. A musician, songwriter, arranger and producer, Toussaint was a legendary figure in New Orleans R & B from the 1950’s to the end of the century. Many recorded his compositions and he produced hundreds of songs, including Right Place, Wrong Time by his good friend Dr. John, and Lady Marmalade by LaBelle.

It’s always Black History Month here in The Mermaid Lounge, but we’ll be picking up the pace even more as we move through the month of February, so keep us dialed in. We’re totally free 24/7 with no commercial advertising. What’s not to love?

Just Push Play, Baby.

Welcome to Tuesday Bluesday With Gov’t Mule, Tracy Nelson & Mother Earth, and James Cotton, June 7, 2022

Good Morning, Bluesologists! We’ve got a full slate of da blues today. Even our AOW is bluesy today. Gov’t Mule has been included now in our standard rotation, and they open the day In the Spotlight!

Gov’t Mule is Warren Haynes, Matt Abst, Danny Louis and Jorgen Carlsson

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

11:00 a.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Gov’t Mule NEW!

We’ve featured ‘live’ Gov’t Mule on a Tuesday Bluesday not long ago, but now they’re airing it out In the Spotlight. We’ve added them to our standard rotation, and we’ve got plenty of ‘live’ mule in the hopper for the future. Does it get any better?

3:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Living With the Animals by Mother Earth

This is our second airing of this fine blues effort by the amazing Tracy Nelson and her early band, Mother Earth. Don’t miss it.

7:00 p.m. James Cotton Live at Antoine’s, New Orleans, Louisiana, July 1987

You can seek, but sometimes you simply cannot find. We’ve searched high and low to put a date on this particular James Cotton performance, but we’ve not been able to nail it down to a day. We figure July 1987 is about as close as we’re getting. Either way, we know it happened, and you will too if you tune in tonight.

It’s a great Tuesday Bluesday here in the lounge. It’s what we here call the full magilla. Before, in between and after, we’ve got our wide Open Stream to get you through life’s 24-hour onslaught. What more could you ask for. Oh, yeah, we’re totally free 24/7. No subscription required. That’s why we simply say, tune us in.

Tuesday Bluesday!

It’s Another Tuesday Bluesday With the Best of Chicago Blues, Our Bluesy AOW from Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder, and Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac Live from NOLA, May 17, 2022

Good Morning, Bluesologists! We’ve got a great line-up for you today. It’s a total blues Tuesday as our Album of The Week by Taj Mahal with Ry Cooder fits the bill nicely.

Today we’ve got the original blues version of Fleetwood Mac live from NOLA!

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

11:00 a.m. The Best of Chicago Blues: Various Artists

This one is due for expansion and that should be completed by the next airing. On this day, you’ll hear Otis Rush, Willie Dixon, Albert King, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Bo Diddley, Koko Taylor, Lowell Fulson, Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy, Sonny Boy Williamson, Magic Slim, Son Seals, and more!

3:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Get On Board, Taj Mahal with Ry Cooder

The second airing of this great album. After 56 years, Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder reunite for a tribute album to blues legends Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.

7:00 p.m. Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac Live at The Warehouse, New Orleans, February 1, 1970

This is undoubtedly the preferred version of Fleetwood Mac here in The Mermaid Lounge. Today we’ve got them live from The Warehouse in New Orleans. Don’t miss it.

As always, a great day to tune us in. Every Tuesday is Bluesday here, no exceptions. We’re free. We do not run advertising. We do not ask for a “subscription,” a credit card, or your personal information. We’re all about the music. What’s not to love, I ask.

Tuesday Bluesday

Tuesday Bluesday Brings You Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton & B.B. King, and Our AOW, August 3, 2021

Good Morning, Bluesologists! It is, once again, Tuesday Bluesday here in The Mermaid Lounge and we have some excellent programming for you, including music from the original Fleetwood Mac.

Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac is not today’s Fleetwood Mac. It was a blues band.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday line-up:

11:00 a.m. Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac Live at The Warehouse, New Orleans, January 31-February 1, 1970

Indeed, the rumors are true: The original Fleetwood Mac wasn’t a pop-rock band. That happened with the departure of Peter Green and the addition of Buckingham/Nicks. The original Fleetwood Mac was a blues band, led by Peter Green. We have the original band live from The Warehouse in New Orleans, recorded over a two-day period.

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Downhill From Everywhere by Jackson Browne

The second airing of this week’s Album of The Week, which just happens to be a brand new album by singer-songwriter Jackson Browne. He has remained true to himself over five decades in the music business. His message remains the same, and he delivers it with the same passion as he always has, but this time with the perspective that time is running out. That’s why we love him here.

7:00 p.m. Eric Clapton & B.B. King: Riding With The King

Two blues masters here, and the results are totally pleasing to the ears. This is actually what we should call ‘Not Our Album of The Week’ as it was their first collaboration, released in 2000. It won the Grammy for the Best Traditional Blues Album, reached number one on Billboard’s Top Blues Albums, and was certified multi-platinum in the U.S.

As always, we’ll close by telling you it’s an excellent day to give us a listen here on #BecomeUngovernable Radio. We are totally ungovernable and outside the system. We cost you nothing. We run 24/7 uninterrupted by advertising. And we do not buy any of our music from either Amazon or Apple. Believe it or not, there are other places to buy music.

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Dr. John In the Spotlight, Our ‘All About Blue’ Playlist, and our Album of The Week Grace The Airwaves, Thursday, July 8, 2021

Good Morning, Musicologists! Here we are on a cloudy Thursday awaiting the blowback from tropical storm Elsa. But in the meantime, we’ve got some great programming going on.

Dr. John, New Orleans’ Nite Tripper, is In the Spotlight today!

Here’s your line-up:

11:00 a.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Dr. John

Malcolm John Rebennack, Jr., also affectionately known as Dr. John, spent sixty years in the music business, both as a solo artist and a well-respected studio musician. Today, he’s in our spotlight.

3:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Angel Dream by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Tom Petty’s legendary music status lives on beyond his passing, thanks to the genius of Ryan Ulyate, his bandmates, his daughters and his wife. This reimagination of the She’s The One soundtrack on its 25th anniversary includes four never-before-released songs. Don’t miss it.

7:00 p.m. All About Blue: Various Artists

Another of our fun playlists that we haven’t heard for a bit includes the word ‘blue’ in the title or the lyrics (or both). You’ll hear Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Allman Brothers Band, Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, The Beatles, Fats Domino, Mudcrutch, Jonathan Edwards, Bob Dylan, Badfinger, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, and more!

Tune us in, people. You will not regret it. We are free and ask for no credit card or personal information. We do not accept advertising. With the exception of an occasional station I.D., the music is uninterrupted. What are you waiting for?

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Today From The Mermaid Lounge, Leon Russell Live, Our NOLA Tribute Continues With Dr. John, and Tom Rush’s Album of The Week, Thursday, February 18, 2021

Good Morning, Musicologists! We’ve got a great line-up today here from The Mermaid Lounge as we continue our musical tribute to New Orleans and its artists.

Malcolm John Rebennack, Jr. Also known as Dr. John.

Here’s today’s line-up:

11:00 a.m. Leon Russell Live at Long Beach Arena, August 27, 1972

Leon is a legend. In addition to his solo career, he teamed up with many artists over his sixty-year career, including George Harrison, Joe Cocker, Bob Dylan, and The Rolling Stones. His genres covered the spectrum, including country, rock, folk, gospel, bluegrass, rhythm and blues, and the Tulsa Sound. Today we have him live from Long Beach, California.

3:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Dr. John UPDATED!

Speaking of legends, today’s New Orleans entry is Dr. John, the Nite Tripper, a guy who was so influential that one of the Muppets was modeled after him. No lie. He wrote his first song at the age of 14, and his musical hero was Professor Longhair. In addition to his solo career, he was a much sought-after session musician, playing with Canned Heat, The Rolling Stones, James Taylor, Van Morrison, and Maria Muldaur. You can learn more about the great Dr. John right here.

7:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Take a Little Walk With Me by Tom Rush

This makes it a Legends Trifecta because our Album of The Week makes it a third musical legend whose career spanned sixty years. Tom Rush is credited with ushering in the era of the singer-songwriter, and rightfully so. This is his second album for Elektra, and was released in 1966.

You really ought to be tuning us in. Seriously. We’re free. We require no credit card, no personal information, and we allow absolutely no advertising. In fact, we are not-for-profit. We make no money. We are sharing our personal music collection with you. For free. Just click the link below.

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It’s Another (Mostly) Open Stream Wednesday EXCEPT For One Great New Orleans Playlist, On February 17, 2021

Good Morning, fellow music lovers! Here we are on our usual (mostly) Open Stream Wednesday. But we do have an amazing playlist for you today called the Down in N’Awlins Playlist. It offers just a hair (like, one second) over four hours of authentic music from one of great music centers in the world (in my humble musical opinion).

We’ve got four hours of great New Orleans music for you today!

Here’s what you’ll hear!

12:00 p.m. Down in N’Awlins Playlist: Various Artists UPDATED!

We have only one playlist for you today, and it’s a pretty amazing eclectic collection of all sounds New Orleans and Louisiana, from Cajun-Zydeco to the blues. We’ve also updated it from last year’s version to keep it fresh and to reflect music we’ve hunted for over the past year. Here are some of the people you’ll hear:

  • BeauSoleil
  • Clifton Chenier
  • Allen Toussaint
  • Kermit Venable
  • Dr. John
  • The Neville Brothers (together and solo)
  • Professor Longhair
  • Tony Joe White
  • Antoine “Fats” Domino
  • Irma Thomas (The Soul Queen of New Orleans)
  • Lucinda Williams
  • Queen Ida
  • Jerry Lee Lewis
  • Chance Bushman & Friends
  • The Daywalkers
  • The Boogaloo Swamis

Some of the people on this list I discovered on my trips to New Orleans. The Neville Brothers, for example, I saw at the world-renown venue called Tipitinas on one of my earliest business trips to the city.

I discovered The Daywalkers on a vacation trip I took in 2014 at one of Bourbon Street’s most famous venue called The Cat’s Meow. I spent the day driking Tito’s vodka and just having a blast with the music. I discovered another band on that same trip at a great restaurant called Cafe Sbisa, which has sadly closed temporarily due to COVID-19. The band’s name is Chance Bushman & Friends. By the way, they also make a great Bacon Bloody Mary for the day after.

One band, however, I discovered right here in the Boston area; in Somerville, Massachusetts, to be exact. The Boogaloo Swamis were as good a Cajun-Zydeco band as anything you can hear in New Orleans because they genuinely loved the music. It was a craft to them. We’d spend every Friday night at a great place called Johnny D’s Uptown just partying with the Swamis. Great food. Great Drinks. (And a great Sunday Blues Brunch as well.) The family-owned venue rocked for 47 years. It finally closed for good in 2016, but it remains one of the great Boston-area music venues of all time. Great memories. I went on a hunt for Boogaloo Swamis music. I found some. I have some in vinyl form that I will send out for conversion to mp3’s over the next couple of months, but I did have some in CD form which have already been converted and added to the radio station. You’ll hear some of it today, and it has also been added to the general rotation.

Please tune us in. We’re sure you’ll love this playlist. It begins at noon.

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Celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans 2021 Style

It’s a rough year for a lot of tradition. This year in New Orleans, all of the Mardi Gras parades have been cancelled due to COVID-19, I’ve been to New Orleans many times over the years. In fact, in a former life, I traveled there yearly for The Pittsburgh Conference. In spite of its name, the conference was always held in NOLA. Generally speaking, it was after Mardi Gras week, and I nearly always took a week vacation after the business was over.

A New Orleans street musician, photographed during my trip in 2014.

One of the best things about New Orleans is the street music. It’s everywhere, and it doesn’t have to be during Mardi Gras week either. It’s a daily tradition in New Orleans, as are the Jazz Funerals, which I got to witness a few times during my stay.

Although this year’s Mardi Gras festivities are cancelled, the party hearty people of New Orleans have continued the tradition in a very creative manner — by turning their homes into Mardi Gras floats. We’d like to share some of those photos with you today.

We hope you enjoyed the show, and that you will continue to tune us in as we celebrate the music of New Orleans this week.

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It’s Not Only Tuesday Bluesday, But It’s Fat Tuesday, and We’re Feeling New Orleans in Our Bones on February 16, 2021

Good Morning, Bluesianans (is that a word or did I make that up?)! We are not only in the midst of Mardi Gras, but it’s Tuesday Bluesday here in The Mermaid Lounge. Luckily, we don’t have to compromise!

It’s Fat Tuesday and we’re celebrating NOLA all week!

Here’s today’s line-up:

11:00 a.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (2012)

I only got to visit the NOLA festival once, while I was on business in New Orleans in a previous life. I didn’t get to see Tom Petty, but what could be better than our House Band playing at such a legendary festival? Don’t worry. We’ll be playing a lot of traditional Louisiana music throughout the week at various times. This is a short concert set by Petty standards, but the participants are allotted a certain amount of time. There are plenty of participants over lifetime of the festival. Enjoy this one.

3:00 p.m. The Best of Louisiana Blues, Volume 1: Various Artists

Yes, there’s also a Part 2, which we will get to later in the week. You’ll be hearing artists like Muddy Waters, Slim Harpo, Little Walter, Clarence Frogman Henry, and Boozoo Davis.

7:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Take A Little Walk With Me by Tom Rush

The only entry today that has absolutely nothing to do with Louisiana, Fat Tuesday, or the blues. But nevertheless, Tom Rush owns our Album of The Week and here it is for you!

Tune us in. This is just the beginning of our ode to New Orleans. We’ll be running great music all week long in celebration of Mardi Gras. Yes, the parades have been cancelled due to COVID. But the people of New Orleans are turning their homes into floats! We hope to be showing you some photos on the blog during the week. You’ve got to love that party attitude.

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It’s a Bluesy Saturday With Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, and Albert King, September 26, 2020

Don’t scratch your head. The Heartbreakers often sang the blues both live and on vinyl, and the original Fleetwood Mac was a blues band. We also have one late-night tradition we cannot break here.

Peter Green (at the mike) and his blues band, the original Fleetwood Mac

Here’s your Saturday line-up:

11:00 a.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Sing The Blues

There wasn’t any style of music The Heartbreakers couldn’t make, and they have a lot of bluesy music in their catalogue. Mr. Petty often said he envisioned the band sitting around in chairs playing the blues when they got too old to rock. I have absolutely no doubt they could have pulled that off. You won’t either after you hear this playlist.

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Born Under a Bad Sign by Albert King

This will be our final airing of Albert King’s gem. Tomorrow at this time, there’ll be a brand new selection! If you want to learn more about this album, or any of our albums, all you need to do is click on the photo in the right sidebar of this blog!

7:00 p.m. Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac Live at The Warehouse, New Orleans, February 1, 1970

Is there a better place to hear a blues band live? Maybe Chicago, but that’s about it. No, this is not the current Fleetwood Mac. The original Fleetwood Mac was a blues band, baby. It might interest you to know that Black Magic Woman wasn’t a Santana song. It’s a Fleetwod Mac song.

10:00 p.m. Live Dead! The Grateful Dead Live at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, New York, June 27, 1985 NEW!

Here’s another band who could sing it all in their own unique style, and they often sang the blues on stage. This is our one non-blue Saturday night offering that will not be denied. The SPAC was one of our favorite musical venues when we were young. I remember packing up the car on the weekends and heading out to upstate New York. We’d camp (for lack of money) and spend what we had at SPAC. We saw many bands here and I have so many fond memories. Never got to see The Dead here, but the imagination still works.

This would be an immensely good day for you to use your index finger to tune us in. It’s really very simple and it’s completely free and without strings, if you can imagine that.

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