New Orleans Music on TV: Treme

While today's music blog post is about a TV show, it is a very musical TV show.  HBO's Treme is from creators David Simon and Eric Overmyer, the same team that brought you HBO's highly successful drama The Wire.  Treme refers to a historically African American neighborhood in New Orleans and the show centers around musicians returning to the city following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.  Having lived in New Orleans and been an active musician and music lover before, during (I evacuated and ended up on what my friend referred to as "evacucation" for several months), and after Hurricane Katrina, I can personally attest to the show's accurate depiction of New Orleans music and culture as well as the devastating effect the storm had on both.  Read on to learn more about the wonderful array of characters that make up the show, as well as the show's authentic and impressive commitment to the city's amazing music and culture.  Additionally, if this is a subject which interests you please consider attending the program, The Birthplace of Jazz and Much More: New Orleans Music and Culture in the Treme Neighborhood and Beyond, held at the Joel D Valdez Main Library on Saturday, October 27 at 2 pm.

Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk at Hotel Congress 3/14/2012

Dumpstaphunk brought their New Orleans brand of Funk music to the Hotel Congress on Wednesday March 14, 2012.  The band did not disappoint the many fans who came out for the show.  The Hotel Congress stage is adorned with the Latin words "musica delenit bestiam feram," which means, "music soothes the savage beast."  As for this night, the way the crowd danced up a frenzy with Dumpstaphunk, this proved not to be the case!

You can find some great New Orleans music, including songs by both The Neville Brothers and The Meters on Pima County Public Library's CD Mardi Gras Essentials.  Both bands also have works in Freegal, available under the Downloadable Media heading on our home page.  To find out more about Dumpstaphunk, their show at Hotel Congress, and their connection to these classic New Orleans bands, please read on.