More "sax" appeal....
At first I thought he was just holding an extra saxaphone for a fellow band member.
But, then
Matt Thomas started playing both of them.
Yikes.
Later, another man joined the "brass section" and both saxes were heard again.
I got a shot of that fleeting moment by the
Dirty Bourbon River Show at the Pour House a few night ago.
I've seen them several times before and it's always like going to a musical New Orleans Brass Circus.
There's even a Ringmaster..."
Big Charlie" Skinner.
The center of attention - as always - is lead singer, guitar, cornet and keys,
Noah Adams.
What a loosely-packed bundle of kinetic energy!
The challenge for my camera that night was to capture the squeezebox at maximum extension.
No easy feat as they romped along at their usual frantic pace.
Drummer
"Boots" Schindler was at warp speed most of the night.
An older couple on my left - he in a coat and tie - FINALLY got up for a brief slow dance. Surely their first time at the PoHo.
Whew.
Bassman
Jimmy Williams would alternate his 4-string instrument and heft up his Sousaphone and rock the sound system. (I looked it up: a Sousaphone is a giant Tuba.)
In a rare moment, everybody seemed to gravitate toward stage right (our left).
I was able to catch the entire troupe fairly close together.
As a photographer, these are treasured moments.
There was a guest hornman at the far left but I did not get his name.
I retired from a newspaper so don't get hung up on names as much these days.
I'm there for the whiskey-soaked sounds of this New Orleans band.
According to their website's map, they have slowly invaded the Southeast and - basically - the lower right hand quarter of the U.S.
Looks like a gradual takeover, spreading the gospel of their feel-good music.
(Click on the photos for more detail.)
The Ringleader doffed his heavy coat with epaulettes.
This 3-ring circus was hot!
Labels: "Big Charlie" Skinner, "Bootsie" Schindler, Dirty Bourbon River Show, Jimmy Williams, Matt Thomas, Noah Adams, NOLA Brass Circus, Ringmaster, Sousaphone vs Tuba
Beer kegs and Circus -Theatre Acrobats...
Still have not seen
"it all," but I did add "Keg Drumming" to the list.
At the end of their first set, the
Dirty Bourbon River Show, direct from New Orleans, introduced the Pour House crowd to a new way to "tap a keg."
Charlie Skinner, MC, singer and trombone man, brought out the empty and leader Noah Adams attacked it with the sticks.
As you see in the video, they also have used a metal folding chair for percussion by "Bootsy" Schindler.
One tall fellow in the front row apparently wanted to make a feature-length video of the show.
Sort of took some of the attention away from Noah Adams when he stepped up onto a monitor for a trumpet solo.
Despite the videographer-with-an-iPhone, it's a good view of the entire band.
The tuba player on the left, Jimmy Williams, also played bass. The sound system made sure that both instruments made the room vibrate.
The day before, I had a burger with tater tots at
Charleston Beer Works on upper King Street.
I don't recall what the burger was but, since I don't eat Tots often. I dug in.
This was my first trip downtown since Spoleto started and traffic and parking was not a problem.
Well, it was a Wednesday.
Next stop was at Memminger Auditorium for a performance by
Le Grand C acrobatic team.
The 17-member troupe surged and merged around the stage with the audience on three sides.
Concentration is crucial for this risky and daring mixture of strength, balance, circus and theatre so no cameras were allowed.
A flash could have serious consequences.
As they bowed at the end - and we stood applauding - I reasoned that a picture NOW would not cause a problem.
Then I headed to the Pour House for my first of 3-in-a-row.
(Click on the photos for more details.)
Trying a new rule...have one really nice beer and then sip from a glass of water with a slice of lemon.
The lemon is for show.
Labels: acrobatic circus-theatre, Bootsy Schindler, Charleston Beer Works, Charlie Skinner, Dirty Bourbon River Show, Jimmy Williams, keg drumming, Le Grand C, Noah Adams, tater tots
