It is rare that this full time mommy gets a chance to go to the local music shows that I used to attend with regularity before my days as a parent. In the past, I frequented local shows almost every weekend, and the big names at least once a month. Times change and I've had to drastically cut down on my outings. Thankfully, November is the one time that changes, due to it being my Big Birthday Month.
November 2014: My old friend/acquaintance from "back in the day" (read: early 20s), Dege Legg, was scheduled to play at The Circle Bar in the city. Brother Dege is his current handle- formerly he was the front man of Santeria, a group based out of Lafayette in the 90s, powered by gritty guitars, a bongo drum set, lots of rock n roll riffs and awesome lyrics accessible to all. The group lasted a long time- until a few years ago in fact. Despite rumors of bad luck in the extreme, the guys had a good run and a strong following. Now Dege is frontlining a new group, which includes badass drums, a bass player that puts on an electric performance, and a young violinist who is a progeny of a renowned violin player. Dege himself sings and plays guitar- a particularly vibrant one full of steel shrieks and howls- a unique style called "dobro". Its roots and history are deeply dug in blues and swamp. Dege's vocals have always been striking, and now, years after his stint as Santeria's lead singer, they have only become more refined, more bluesy, more riveting.
My friend Shannon (another music aficionado) and I made it to The Circle Bar around 9:45 that night. Minutes from Metairie, situated on Lee Circle, this cozy place feels like the perfect house for local musicians to congregate. My mom clued me in on some local history- it used to be K&B, way back in the day, and you could buy what she deems "the city's best coffee" there, "for cheap". For true. Now its The Circle Bar, apparently named for Lee Circle. The two story Victorian-style building is a mecca for music. It has a welcoming bar with exposed-brick walls and a gorgeous mirror reflecting back the burgundy and red shades of colors abounding. The small music area- not necessarily a stage, but a setup for the musicians- backs up to a dormer window overlooking the street. A side door opens up to a small outdoor patio where people huddle up to smoke before, during and after the show. Everything is geared towards inviting you to pull up a chair, relax, enjoy the ambience. And the ambience is definitely in attendance.
Shannon and I were very surprised to find that the cover charge for the night's show, including an opening act that had its roots in rockabilly, was a scant $5.00. Prices from the 90's- an extremely welcome change from other bars and clubs, especially for such a cozy venue. Especially for those of us who are on a shoestring budget and can't afford the big venues. And cutting on cost didn't affect the experience whatsoever, except to make it better. The drinks were reasonable and most of the clientele were young, hip, lighthearted and cautiously friendly.
Dege was one of the first people we encountered on the way in. He welcomed us and expressed gratitude that we made it to see the show. My old friend is a quiet and mellow soul, with eyes that are as full of stories and secrets as his song lyrics. He's the type of person who hides behind his beard and takes a dark corner of the room to watch and observe the world, as opposed to situating himself in the spotlight, on and off stage, the way so many singers are apt to do. There is definitely substance to his style. His music is rooted to real life experiences, and you feel that this is an old soul living with the knowledge that this life is short and he has lots of work to do before the roller coaster ride is over. His music is easily accessible across the board, inviting all walks of life to listen and relate, his live shows are incredibly inexpensive, yet his songs are admired by Hollywood Royalty- none other than Quentin Tarantino selected a Dege song for the 2013 hit "Dgango Unchained"- a power anthem titled "Too Old to Die Young"- a song that could stand in as autobiographical for this talented songwriter. What is also strikingly noteworthy is that Dege is one of those mythical creatures- the musician who is humble and grateful for what he has, and who wants to hear what his audience is thinking as opposed to promoting himself to one and all. It speaks volumes that Dege can have a song put in a mainstream movie, yet continue to play local shows and write music and sell it online at a price that is- again, the word accessible- to everyone, not just the few folks that have money to burn.
The opening act was finished, and Brother Dege and the Brethren began setting up for their show. The crowd began gathering on the threshold and circling, waiting as instruments were tuned, and as looks were exchanged between the musicians- the silent language of "are we ready?" in a few gestures. Shannon and I were at the very front of the throng, practically toe to toe with the band. Dege stared out at the audience and raised a glass of red wine, toasting us and commencing the beginning. Then, as the bass guitar started like an engine in the background, and the violin player danced her bow across the violin, her eyes dancing over at the rest of the group, and the drums crashed into the first song, it was like a silent explosion. The four individuals performing for our entertainment were, quite literally, afire with energy, music pouring out of them like wine flowing from a vessel. And that was just the beginning. The performance of this amazing group was, quite simply, kinetic. Frenzied, powerful, rollicking and sorrowful- and at times all of these simultaneously- it was as though we were taken on a musical journey punctuated by deep lyrics and a brilliant flow of melody played by the violin, bass, drums and dobro. There was something magical in the band's deliverance of their music. It was reminiscent to this blogger's mind of a book written by Charles de Lint, where the imaginary world and the real world sometimes cross paths and blend their citizens into a middle ground. If the roof had blown off the Circle Bar that night, it would have come as absolutely no surprise to this eyewitness. If fairies pulled up stools at the bar and put in their drink orders, no shocker. The music was transcendent, and it connected to everyone and involved the audience 100%. Brother Dege was the shaman, leading his tribe through the darkness and into imaginary realms.
The crowd absolutely went wild, and for good reason. The band interplayed with the audience, walking around, letting people touch the guitars, making eye contact and involving everyone. Music reverberated off the walls and slow danced with the ghosts of times past. There were times Dege was flat on the ground, and times that the bass player was crawling and writhing and jumping in the mix. The violinist and the bass player appeared to be dueling, vying for dominance, laughter written on their faces. The drummer pounded out the rhythm as steady and powerful as a heartbeat, and as wild as an Indian tribe calling down the moon. The four blended their music and played off of each other brilliantly. It was a form of storytelling and a creation of magic. It sang in the blood. The only question left at the end of the night for this writer was- "Why aren't these musical amazons playing auditoriums?"
Want a great local music show that will transcend your every expectation? Check out the next Brother Dege and the Brethren show. It will rock your face off. It will inspire you. It will be the best money you can spend on entertainment. It will stay with you when you leave the bar. Stay tuned to find out what this magical act does next. I predict only the most amazing future for these incredibly talented musicians.
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