The music options in New Orleans for the week of July 11 include a reggae-inflected rock band from California and a pair of pop bandleaders who were MTV regulars in the 1980s.
BONERAMA
FRIDAY, CHICKIE WAH WAH
Bonerama has cranked out trombone-powered funk-rock for more than a quarter-century. The current incarnation of the band features trombonists Mark Mullins, Greg Hicks and Chris Butcher, guitarist Bert Cotton, sousaphonist Matt Perrine and drummer Eric Bolivar. Together, they fire up original compositions and reimagined versions of classic rock standards by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles and more. Before hitting the road for a series of shows on the East Coast, Bonerama teams up for the first time with guitarist and songwriter Alex McMurray for the band’s only hometown show this summer, on Friday at Chickie Wah Wah. Showtime is 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 plus fees in advance, $30 at the door.
The reggae-rock band Iration.
IRATION
TUESDAY, JOY THEATER
Iration is riding the wave of “alternative reggae." Reggae influences color Iration’s sound, but the band’s aesthetic took shape far from Jamaica in Hawaii, where most of the band members are from, and southern California, where they went to college and launched the band. Iration’s albums are reggae enough to qualify for Billboard magazine’s reggae charts, which they've topped. Iration released its eighth studio album, “Daytrippin,” in October. The band spent last summer touring with the like-minded Rebelution. This summer, Iration is headlining its own "Daytrippin In Paradise Tour." It stops at the Joy Theater on Tuesday. Artikal Sound System and DENM open the all-ages show, which starts at 7 p.m. Two-for-one standing-room-only floor tickets start at $20 plus fees via Ticketmaster.
OTHER NOTEWORTHY SHOWS:
THURSDAY
Attention fans of ‘80s pop: Musical mad scientist Thomas Dolby, of “She Blinded Me With Science” fame, teams up with Thompson Twins frontman Tom Bailey at the Fillmore. Two-for-one standing-room-only floor tickets start at $26 plus fees through Ticketmaster.
Harmonica player Johnny Sansone, keyboardist Joe Krown and guitarist John Fohl join forces for two sets at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro on Frenchmen Street, starting at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ($20).
New Orleans drumming maestro Johnny Vidacovich is joined by Tony Dagradi and Robin Sherman at the Maple Leaf at 8 p.m. ($15 advance, $20 door).
Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie are featured for the weekly Zydeco Night at Rock ‘N’ Bowl ($15).
FRIDAY
Since 1978, Astral Project has occupied the vanguard of the New Orleans modern jazz scene. Saxophonist Tony Dagradi, bassist James Singleton, drummer Johnny Vidacovich and guitarist Steve Masakowski are all A-list players individually; collectively, they are equally adept at high-flying improvisation and intricate arrangements. They’ll play at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday at Snug Harbor ($30).
Blues guitarist Little Freddie King plugs in at d.b.a. on Frenchmen Street from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Naughty Professor headlines this week’s installment of the summer-long “Free Fridays” series of no-cover shows at Tipitina’s; Whisper Party opens at 9 p.m.
Long-running cover band The Topcats plays hits from multiple decades at Rock ‘N’ Bowl ($10).
SATURDAY
Singer, songwriter and guitarist Paul Sanchez performs songs from the Johnny Cash catalog backed by an all-star band at Chickie Wah Wah ($15 advance, $20 door, plus fees).
Herlin Riley, the master New Orleans drummer who spent decades with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, powers a quartet at Snug Harbor at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ($40).
Contemporary soul singer Miss Erica Falls does the early, 8 p.m. show at the Maple Leaf ($15 advance, $20 door). Later, the Honey Island Swamp Band fires up at the Leaf at 10 p.m. ($15 advance, $20 door).
The Soul Brass Band plays a “Summertime Vibes” show at Tipitina’s at 9 p.m.; admission is free.
SUNDAY
Cyril Neville of the Neville Brothers, the Meters and the Wild Tchoupitoulas Mardi Gras Indian band stages his weekly tribute to the Wild Tchoupitoulas at Chickie Wah Wah, starting at 8 p.m. ($20 advance, $25 door, plus fees).
Honduran-born, New Orleans-based jazz pianist Oscar Rossignoli holds court at Snug Harbor at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ($25).
Cajun accordionist and singer Bruce Daigrepont hosts his monthly fais do-do Sunday dance party at Tipitina’s starting at 5:15 p.m. ($12).
MONDAY
New Orleans entertainer Charmaine Neville and her band hold court at Snug Harbor at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ($25).
Clarinetist Aurora Nealand and pianist Tom McDermott perform during Judith Owen and Harry Shearer's annual 'Christmas Without Tears' charitable variety show at the Orpheum Theater in New Orleans, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. The show benefited the Innocence Project New Orleans. (Photo by Sophia Germer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
TUESDAY
For a decade now, pianist Tom McDermott and saxophonist, flutist and singer Aurora Nealand have teamed up as a duo to play traditional jazz, ragtime, Brazilian choro and even stripped-down arrangements of ‘60s pop songs. Their collaboration has yielded a pair of well-regarded albums. They make their Snug Harbor debut as a duo on Tuesday, with shows at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ($20).
WEDNESDAY
Saxophonist Scott Johnson leads the Uptown Jazz Orchestra at Snug Harbor at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ($30).