On the first weekend after Mardi Gras, the Smoothie King Center hosts its first concert of 2024 and the guitarist from one of New Orleans’ most successful bands steps up with his own project.
EAGLES with STEELY DAN
SATURDAY, SMOOTHIE KING CENTER
The Eagles’ somewhat awkwardly named The Long Goodbye: Final Tour is finally moving into its final phase, now that founding drummer and vocalist Don Henley, longtime bassist and vocalist Timothy B. Schmit and guitarist/vocalist Joe Walsh are all 76. Both the Eagles and opening act Steely Dan are missing a critical member. For the Eagles, of course, its co-founding guitarist/vocalist Glenn Frey; Vince Gill has served as his able stand-in for several years. Steely Dan guitarist Walter Becker died in 2017; vocalist/keyboardist Donald Fagen has kept the band going. Perhaps because the Eagles were just in town in November 2022, tickets didn’t disappear right away. Also, the “cheap seats” in the upper balcony started at $145 plus fees; some seats on the floor and in the lower bowl have a face value of $645. But the arena should be full when the Eagles conjure a “Peaceful, Easy Feeling” one last time in New Orleans.
The Revivalists' Zack Feinberg performs on the Gentilly Stage during the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2019 on Friday, April 26, 2019.
ZACK FEINBERG
SATURDAY, CHICKIE WAH WAH
As a co-founder of the Revivalists, guitarist Zack Feinberg gets to perform music he’s co-written in front of thousands of fans everywhere from Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado to Radio City Music Hall in New York. That’s his Nile Rodgers-inspired riff at the heart of “Wish I Knew You,” the band’s breakthrough smash. But he’s also written a lot of music that hasn’t made its way into the Revivalists’ catalog. He’ll play some of that music at Chickie Wah Wah on Saturday when he steps out with his own band — it consists of Eric Vogel, Rob Kellner and David Shirley — plus special guest Kristin Diable, who has released some fine Americana albums of her own. Show time is 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 advance, $30 at the door.
OTHER NOTEWORTHY SHOWS
THURSDAY
Drummer Jason Marsalis is joined by saxophonist Ricardo Pascal and bassist Robin Sherman for two Trio Excursions shows, at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro ($25).
Keyboardist Davis Rogan is featured for the weekly “Booker Sessions” James Booker tribute at the Maple Leaf Bar at 6 p.m. ($10). At 8 p.m., drummer Johnny Vidacovich’s trio takes over ($15 advance, $20 at the door).
Horace Trahan & Ossun Express play the weekly Zydeco Night at Rock ‘n’ Bowl starting at 8 p.m. The dance lessons before the show are complimentary ($15).
'I want to meld my culture with New Orleans,' Mahmoud Chouki says. 'I don’t want to appropriate or change anything. It’s just my vision of the music I want to play here.'
FRIDAY
Guitarist Ari Teitel of the Rumble is backed by keyboardist Ivan Neville, bassist Nick Daniels and drummer Terence Higgins at the Maple Leaf at 10:30 p.m. ($15 advance, $20 door).
Moroccan-born, New Orleans-based master guitarist Mahmoud Chouki and the New World Ensemble are at Snug Harbor at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday.
SATURDAY
Hear Solid Harmony, with Yolanda Robinson and Kiki Chapman, sing a New Orleans mix of jazz, gospel and blues at Snug Harbor at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.
Hash Cabbage hits the Maple Leaf stage at 8 p.m. ($10 advance $15 door). At 11 p.m., the Leaf presents GuitArmy, a local guitar all-star collective featuring guitarists Mahmoud Chouki, Sam Dickey, Danny Abel, Raja Kassis and Chris Atkins, plus drummer Jamison Ross and bassist Lex Warshawsky ($15 advance, $20 door).
Ali Wong
Comedian, writer, producer and actress Ali Wong mines comedic gold from her personal experiences at the Mahalia Jackson Theater on Saturday.
Wong isn’t the night’s only comedic offering. Matt Rife performs two separate shows, at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., at the Saenger Theatre as part of his ProbleMATTic World Tour.
Enduring local cover band the Topcats cranks out hits from multiple decades at Rock ‘n’ Bowl ($10).
The Boston-born band Juice fires up at the Toulouse Theatre ($15).
SUNDAY
Robert Jon & the Wreck, a blues-based Southern rock band from Orange County, California, that has released a dozen albums in as many years, rolls into Chickie Wah Wah ($25 advance, $35 day of show).
Keyboardist Joe Krown’s band at the Maple Leaf includes guitarist Papa Mali, bassist Casandra Faulconer and drummer Eric Bolivar ($15 advance, $20 door).
MONDAY
Woodenhead guitarist Jimmy Robinson plays a free, solo happy hour show at 5 p.m. at Chickie Wah Wah.
Meters bassist George Porter Jr.'s trio hits at 7 and 10 p.m. at the Maple Leaf ($15 advance, $20 at the door).
TUESDAY
Keyboardist David Torkanowsky anchors his organ trio for sets at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. at Snug Harbor.
The Cancelled Podcast Tour with Tana Mongeau and Brooke Schofield arrives at the Joy Theater for two shows: a sold-out 7 p.m. show and a 9:30 p.m. second show, with tickets starting at $44 plus fees.
It’s a night of Latin music at Rock ‘n’ Bowl with Javier Olondo & Asheson at 8 p.m. ($10.
In addition to its reed instrument-playing namesakes, the newly minted Byron Asher/Tomas Majcherski Quartet includes bassist Matt Booth and drummer Doug Garrison. They’re joined on the Broadside’s indoor stage by Fluttermite, an improvising trio featuring Helen Gillet on cello and electronics, Byron Asher on woodwinds and electronics, and Daniel Meinecke on modular and analog synthesizers. Show time is 7 p.m.; tickets are $15.
WEDNESDAY
Keyboardist Jon Cleary plays a solo show at Chickie Wah Wah at 8 p.m. ($20 advance, $27 door).