Treme CoProducer David Mills Dies
The new HBO series the Treme is set in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. For those that lived it, it is more than a TV show, it is real life. Nothing brings ”real life” home more than death. I was background (an extra) in a Cafe Du Monde scene for the new HBO series Treme’ yesterday. So I was there when co-producer David Mills collapsed during filming. He was taken away by ambulance but we were not really sure what had happened. I just found out he passed away as the result of a brain aneurysm. David Mills was an Emmy-award-winning writer for HBO’s The Wire and co-executive producer of the upcoming drama Treme, set in New Orleans. He was 48 years old. Rest in peace David. See the attached article for more info.
by Sharon Denise Talbot
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118017128.html?categoryid=14&cs=1
Lenny Kravitz at Gallery 713
Doin’ it in New Orleans. Now on my way back to the Bahamas to finish the album. Lenny. Song: “Do It” from the forthcoming album. Also featured in the movie “Precious.” Film by Mathieu Bitton/candytangerine.com
Length:4:47
Check out this video of Lenny in the French Quarter with my pal Heidi Young and her dog Schucki. This is not Lenny’s first visit to Gallery 713 while in New Orleans. He actually has and wears on stage one of Dana Tharp’s badass voodoo doll t-shirts. Told y’all this place ROCKS!! On your next NOLA visit make sure to visit Gallery 713. On top of the super cool art available there, there is just no telling who you will run into. I love this place!!
by Sharon Denise Talbot
Eric Clapton coming to the New Orleans Arena in 2010
By Keith Spera, The Times-Picayune
December 07, 2009, 4:09PM
Eric Clapton is coming to New Orleans in 2010.
Guitar virtuoso Eric Clapton is scheduled to perform at the New Orleans Arena on Saturday, March 6, 2010. Opening the show is Roger Daltrey, the singer of The Who.
Tickets go on sale this Saturday, Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster and on Monday, Dec. 14 at the arena box office. Tickets are priced at $51.50, $72.50 and $91.50 plus service charges.
The New Orleans stop is one of only 11 North American dates announced so far for Clapton’s 2010 headlining tour. These dates are in addition to three shows with Jeff Beck and a European tour with Steve Winwood.
On recent tours, Clapton’s band has included at least one other guitarist. But according to Clapton’s Web site, he will be the only guitarist on stage for these shows, backed by drummer Steve Gadd, bassist Willie Weeks, keyboardists Chris Stainton and Walt Richmond, and singers Michelle John and Sharon White.
The Clapton announcement adds to the tally of major concerts coming to the New Orleans area in 2010. If early trends are any indication, next year may be as busy a concert season locally as was 2009. In ’09, the New Orleans Arena presented more concerts than any year in its decade-long history.
http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2009/12/eric_clapton_coming_to_the_new.html
KuKoo for Krewe du Vieux
Mardi Gras is not just a day but a whole season in the Big Easy. Even on the other side of the state where I grew up we had heard about the fabulous New Orleans Mardi Gras. Like I mentioned before, I am from a small town, the kind of town where our Mardi Gras consisted of a trail ride, chicken chasing and a gumbo and dance at the Catholic Hall. A one day event.
Imagine how thrilled I was to attend my first New Orleans Mardi Gras parade and know this was only the beginning a two week plus extravaganza of parades and parties. I was lucky because I had hard-core native New Orleanians to show me the ropes (and the ladders) of parade going NOLA style. Over the years I have done the balcony suite on Bourbon, reviewing stand on St. Charles, and fought the crowds on Canal with the best of them. What I hadn’t done was the Krewe du Vieux parade. Well, I can now check that off my “to du” list. 
The full name for this Krazy Krewe is the Krewe du Vieux Carre. The parade starts out in the Marigny and makes its way through the Vieux Carre or French Quarter. It is one of the first parades of the New Orleans Mardi Gras season. This walking parade uses mule or human drawn handmade floats as well as showcasing a large number of New Orleans’ best marching bands. It is noted for wild satirical and adult topics, nothing is off limits, everyone is fair game and it is definitely not one for the kids. Just to give you an idea, in 2006, less than six months after Hurricane Katrina made landfall, Krewe du Vieux was the first Mardi Gras parade to come through the streets of New Orleans. The theme that year was “C’est Levee”. I mean just take a look at their mission statement:
Krewe du Vieux Mission
The Krewe du Vieux is a non-profit organization dedicated to the historical and traditional concept of a Mardi Gras parade as a venue for individual creative expression and satirical comment. It is unique among all Mardi Gras parades in the city because it alone carries on the old traditions of Carnival celebrations, by using decorated mule-drawn floats with satirical themes, accompanied by costumed revelers dancing in the streets to the sounds of jazzy street musicians. We believe in exposing the world to the true nature of Mardi Gras—and in exposing ourselves to the world.
Put this one on your parade planner for next year. It is Mardi Gras madness at its kraziest, Krewe du Vieux Krazy that is. One Krewe member summed it all up for me ‘‘the devil made ‘em do it!” 
By Sharon Denise Talbot
Doreen – The Clarinet Queen
Where can you go to catch a world class musical performance with plenty of room to dance? The 700 block of Royal Street is where it’s happening. You’ve got Rouses’ (the old A&P) grocery, a regular stop for French Quarter visitors and locals alike. Across the street is Forever New Orleans, and Alex Beard recently opened an art gallery a few doors down on the corner of Royal and Pirates Alley (you can actually watch him paint in the window sometime, very cool). Gallery 713, a local favorite, is opposite him. But the crowd in the street is gathered around a group of local street musicians known to frequent this block. They are here to see the Queen. 
Doreen and her husband Lawrence Ketchens have been international ambassadors for New Orleans music and culture on radio and televisions around the world. While they are available for weddings and special events, Doreen and her band of jazz musicians have been bringing their brand of music to the Crescent City streets for twenty years or so. A fixture on this stretch of Royal they will have even the most rhythm challenged tapping their feet and moving to the beat.
As Doreen says in one of her songs “I’m the Queen of the clarinet, been around the world ain’t heard better yet” and I say “Amen!” The group has several CD’s available for purchase. You can visit their website: www.doreensjazz.com
These show stealers will capture your hearts with just one stanza of their rendition of “Little Liza Jane” as they did mine. It is obvious these amazing performers play for the absolute love of it because their heart and soul are in every note.
Stop by and hang out with Doreen, Lawrence and the crew next time you find yourself on Royal Street. Hey y’all, don’t forget to leave a little something in the bucket!
By S.D. Talbot
