NEW ORLEANS | They go by the name Jealous Monk, but could more appropriately be known as Jealous Funk. Fronted by DJ/MC/singer Jermaine Quiz and MC Intelligence, the funky hip-hop band is completed by Kyle Sharamitaro on drums, Dave Hyman on guitar, and Greg Smith on bass. They feature a rotating brass instrument that regularly includes sousaphonist Kirk Joseph of Dirty Dozen fame and saxophonist James Martin of Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. The band has also included guest drummers Eddie Xmas and Kevin O’Day and founding guitarist Pete Murano.

The preeminent aspect of Jealous Monk is the band's ability to expose that old New Orleans funk sound to a new crowd, disguising it with hip hop beats and funky scratches. Jermaine Quiz regularly gigs around town pairing mashups of the Meters with rapper Drake, Bob Dylan with Galactic, and others to hone his chops. The group The band has perfected its fusion of hip hop and funk over the years, sharing stages with Johnny Vidocavich, George Porter Jr., Ivan Neville, Walter Wolfman Washington, Big Sam, and countless others.

My heart's still recouping from being turned down by my future wife, Yasuko of Melt Banana, at the show last week... Maybe there'll be a show to ease my heart this week. Let's see, shall we?

11/18 (Wed)- Tipitina's gives us indie-pop on an international flavor with CAMERA OBSCURA. A lovely little group all the way from Glasgow, Scotland

NEW ORLEANS | Our music, which is woven into every aspect of a New Orleanian's life, forms a link directly to our Saints loyalty. Throughout the Saints' history many songs have been associated with the team. Those anthems kept our hopes and spirit alive. Our infamous "Who dat" chant has a long history as well and will be uniquely ours for many years to come.

Imagine the year is 2019 and we're all 10 years older. New Orleans may still have unsecured levees, we may still be the number one crime city in the nation and we will still have vivid memories of our individual Katrina experience.

Cross Canadian Ragweed with Jonathan Tyler and Northern Lights at House of Blues

NEW ORLEANS | "Tonight we have the perfect concert weather. It’s perfect to be alive. This is your moment.” Indeed it was! A moon-lit eve. Bra hanging from the Voodoo Music Experience camera. Naked women silhouettes on the screen. Naked animal-woman running up and hugging Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne. It was all BEAUTIFUL! The show culminated everything great about The Church of Lips and their Flame.

An introduction, if you please: I be the one known as Voodoo The Guru. As an orphan I ran away and found myself attracted to various cemetaries around the city. Currently I reside with my new-found mother Marie at St. Louis Cemetary #1. Occult and music are the only things I know jack-shit about. NewOrleans.com heard of my talents and asked I provide some music news-ing from my demented mind. Which I now bring to you without further ado!

Tuesday (11/10) you have to see MELT BANANA at Republic. It is one of Japan's greatest grind-core/noise rock groups. Yasuko's larynx is so phenomenal, it qualified her to be my future wife. She just doesn't know it yet. BUT SHE WILL SOON! For those worried about the language barrier, have no fear. She chooses to sing in English! A taste of amazingness that be MELT BANANA!

NEW ORLEANS | I had many ups and downs throughout last weekend. Even though I enjoyed the music I saw, I am not a “get down and dirty” girl so I was very annoyed with the whole muddy mess left from the torrential rains on Friday. I also think the beer prices are insane ($7 for one drink!). And I was highly disappointed that rapper/poet K’naan did not play on Saturday as I waited and waited for him on the Voodoo Stage. Otherwise, Saturday and Sunday were both beautiful days filled with plenty of sunshine and the joyful sounds of music resonating throughout the entire park.

NEW ORLEANS | I have been going to Voodoo for many years and I remember that it was a very young festival. I would always hear people say “It’s a kids festival” and I am like, “well, I guess that makes me a kid because I am going and will continue to go for as long as I can walk and dance and enjoy life. No strings attached.” I never felt out of place because I was older then the young people that were attending the festival. I felt that the music connected us all in some way or another and that we were all there to do the same thing. Enjoy all that Voodoo had to offer. Let go, dance and be merry.

NEW ORLEANS | The “Bull” and the “‘Bot” chase each other in the darkness of Voodoo Fest’s mayhem. The “Bull” shoots steam from its horns. Old friends and past loves watch the pair pass before drunken eyes then fold back into their lives in far away cities.

The electronic second line is a sexual, dark, fun flood of ass-shaking lights moving without reason, cajoling the costumed crowds to revelry on a Halloween night.

NEW ORLEANS | At Voodoo Fest on Friday, October 30th, 2009, I officially reached middle age. In the fading dusk of a rainy Friday I found myself standing with a collection of high school sophomores watching a twenty-something “mega” band. I feel like the oldest person on the planet. The band is Silversun Pickups and the music sounds overly produced and slick.

Sheets of rain fall from the sky in a downpour. I squint to find a smiling face. The audience around me is too callow, too lost, too full of disinterest. The driving rain covers our clothes with a smell of wet skin and sweat. Our individual stinks mix together and hang in the turgid air.