New Orleans’ own Dumpstaphunk are gearing up for a big few weeks in their hometown during Jazz Fest. Not only will Dumpstaphunk perform at the Fairgrounds during the festival itself, but the band has announced three additional appearances and a preview party spotlighting their new album – Dirty Word.

The band gets things started on April 26th with a Parliment Funkadelic cover set at Howlin’ Wolf. Then, on the 27th, they’ll not only play at the Fairgrounds’ Gentilly Stage, but that night they’ll perform at The Maison with special guest Page McConnell of Phish. On May 1st, Ivan Neville and Dumpstaphunk will host a Dirty Word preview party at the Louisiana Music Factory. Starting at 6PM that evening, the band will sell the first copies of their new album and treat fans to an intimate performance.

Finally, on May 5th, Dumpstaphunk will celebrate their 10th Anniversary at Tipitina’s Uptown along with the guest horn section of Jennifer Hartswick, Natalie Cressman and Skerik.

HT faves Dumpstaphunk brought the funk to NYC’s Brooklyn Bowl on March 23rd, where the Ivan Neville-led act treated fans to a mix of new material from Dirty Word – an album set to be released later this year, originals from throughout their 10-year career and a cover of Funkadelic’s One Nation Under A Groove. The show even saw a guest spot from The London Souls guitarist Tash Neal.

[All Photos by Andrew Blackstein]

HT contributor Andrew Blackstein and our friend videographer LazyLightning55 were on hand at the Bowl and have turned in some exceptional photos and videos…

READ ON

HeadCount Participation Party @ Highline Ballroom – November 5

Words: Chad Berndtson
Photos: Jeremy Gordon

As we’ve often said in these pages, benefit shows with lots of announced special guests have a way of coming up short: packaged “moments,” awkward pacing, “super jams” that end up as little more than quick, haphazard exercises in pass-the-hat soloing on songs that aren’t so much improvisation vehicles as lowest common denominators.

[All Photos by Jeremy Gordon]

But heading into last night’s HeadCount Participation Tour finale in New York, there was THAT feeling: a night where there’d be room to dance, smiles to share and some gnarly magic. That it was a rager — and whoa mama, was it — shouldn’t have been a surprise, seeing there are few bands more adept at high-energy throwdowns than Dumpstaphunk, accommodating guests in often-messy succession.

There were good vibes all around, and despite repeated insistence to vote, almost no actual politics from the stage. And yeah, you had a damn good cause on top of a damn good cause; HeadCount had announced late last week that it would turn the benefit partly into a fundraiser for Hurricane Sandy challenges.

READ ON

UPDATE (10/23): You’ve got one more day to enter! Also, Questlove and Eric Krasno have been added to the concert.

HeadCount has been a bright light coming out of our scene since the non-profit voter registration organization was founded before the 2004 election. Eight years later HeadCount will celebrate the close of its 3rd election season of a job well done by teaming up with Magic Hat, CEG Presents and Nolafunk for a four-night HeadCount Participation Party tour featuring Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk and Anders Osborne. The tour will hit Baltimore (11/2), Philadelphia (11/3) and Washington, DC (11/4); culminating on November 5th, with the official Participation Party in New York City at the Highline Ballroom. At the finale, not only will Dumpstaphunk and Anders perform, but the event will also see some special guests with a few already announced – Amy Helm (Levon Helm Band, Dirt Farmer Band) and Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi All-Stars, Black Crowes).

Look for the two main acts to play full sets at the NYC finale while members of those bands and special guests (inc. Helm and Dickinson) will take part in a special all-star set. Tickets are available now through TicketWeb.

As part of our Everybody Wins When Lots Of People Register To Vote And In Return HeadCount Offers Us Free Shit To Give Away program, we’ve got a pair of tickets to the HeadCount Participation Party at the Highline Ballroom on November 5th for one lucky reader. Simply leave a comment below telling us what issue is most important to you this election day. We’ll pick one entry at random at 3PM ET on October 24th. You can enter a second time by leaving a similar comment on the Hidden Track Facebook Page and a third time by following @hidden_track and tweeting your most important issue at us. You must include both @hidden_track and #headcountparty in your tweet.

Here’s the fine print…

• To enter, leave a comment below telling us what issue is most important to you this election season
• Enter a second time by leaving a similar comment on the Hidden Track Facebook Page
• You can enter a third time by following @hidden_track and tweeting the name of your most important issue at us. You must include both @hidden_track AND #headcountparty in your tweet
• Your comment(s) must be left by 3PM EDT on October 24th
• Anybody entering more than once a piece on Facebook, Twitter and at the bottom of this post will be disqualified, tarred and feathered
• The winner will receive a pair of tickets to the HeadCount Participation Party at Highline Ballroom on November 5th
• HT staff members are not eligible to win

Longtime Dumpstaphunk drummer Raymond Weber has parted ways with the band after a seven-year tenure behind the kit for the Ivan Neville-led group. Yesterday, Weber took to his Facebook page to announce that “[Dumpstaphunk] fired me” which led to a rather nasty exchange between him and Neville in which the keyboardist accused Ray of “tanking” and “half playing” gigs.

The action started with Weber posting, “well i guest its oficial now raymond weber is no longer the drummer for dumpstaphunk band. im now independent for hirer.” When asked why he was out of Dumpstaphunk, Weber responded, “they fired me.” Ray went on to express his disappointment and how he had previously declined a number of gigs to stay with Neville’s group, “7 years with dp building and being loyal not takeing big money gigs like warren haynes gig joe sample gigs and john scholfield maze franky beverly dr john had plenty of ofers but did not take them because of loyalty to the band .were does dat leave me now.”

Ivan Neville apparently had enough and got involved in the thread. “Love you like a brother Raymond … we all know you’re an amazing drummer/musician …. but when you purposely tank & half play gigs … that is unfair to yourself, your band mates, & more importantly unfair to the fans who pay to see you !!” Neville wrote. Weber responded right away, “so thats the deal i tank on the gig i dont think so bra i think its becausei had alot of other opertunatives comeing my way and you guys jump the gun thinking i was going to take a sertin gig.” A fan urged the pair of [former?] friends to work out their issues in private to which Neville responded, “you are right !!! but, i don’t want Ray to be makin it out to be all our faults !! He knows what he did !!” At that point the musicians seemed to understand fighting on Facebook wasn’t good for anybody and stopped commenting.

While Dumpstaphunk hasn’t officially announced Weber’s departure, all signs point to former Beyonce drummer Nikki Glaspie getting the gig.  For his part, Raymond said he has “new tricks up my sleeve.” Next up for Dumpstaphunk is a slot at Bite of Bend 2011 in Bend, OR on Saturday.

We found out a nice tidbit of information this evening when Ryan Montbleau broke the news that he will be heading to New Orleans in May to record a new album with Crescent City musicians Ivan Neville, George Porter Jr., Anders Osborne and Simon Lott. This supergroup will feature ‘bleau and Anders on guitars, Neville on keys, Lott on drums with George holding things down on bass, aka a pretty bad ass lineup. In fact we suggest Pretty Bad Ass as a band name.

Montbleau, whose own group is currently in the middle of a huge transition, has been branching out of late. in addition to the upcoming recording sessions, the “pied piper of chicks” spent time writing songs with Soulive’s Eric Krasno on Saturday after packing the Brooklyn Bowl with the Ryan Montbleau Band the previous evening. Considering the RMB’s packed schedule next month, it looks like the sessions with the group we hope is called Pretty Bad Ass will go down the second week of May. Be sure to follow Ryan’s Twitter feed for his take on how things are going. We’ll keep you posted on more details about this new supergroup as they surface.

Update: Montbleau took to Twitter again this morning to share more details about this supergroup. The session was put together by Ben Ellman from Galactic, who will also handle production duties. Ryan also mentioned he has yet to meet any of the musicians he’ll be working with. Also, ‘bleu mentioned there are no plans for any performances at this time.

Bassist Mike Gordon’s tour with his Mike Gordon Band moved to Denver last night, where Cactus was joined by four out of the five members of Dumpstaphunk for three songs at the end of the MGB’s first set as well as the encore. Dumpstaphunk were in town to perform at last Saturday’s SCI Winter Carnival show in Broomfield and area headlining gigs.

[Photo by Mike Gordon via @Mike_Gordon]

The group’s front man, Ivan Neville, as well as Ian Neville, Tony Hall and Raymond Weber sat in on The Green Sparrow track Jaded, Prince’s Alphabet Street and Tower Of Power’s Down at the Nightclub at the end of the first set plus the double encore of Max Creek’s Jones and C+C Music Factory’s Things That Make You Go Hmm. Mike’s tour brings the MGB to The Bottleneck in Lawrence, KS tonight.

Set One: Andelmans’ Yard, Balloon, Black Tambourine, Willow Tree, Fire From A Stick, Ain’t Love Funny > Kryermaten > Ain’t Love Funny, Jaded*, Alphabet Street*, Down To The Night Club*

Set Two: Sound, Suskind Hotel > River Niger > Rock On > Suskind Hotel, I Miss My Mind, Hap Nappy, Got Away, Hand In Pocket, Mound

Encore: Jones*, Things That Make You Go Hmm*

* w/ Tony Hall (bass), Ian Neville (guitar), Ivan Neville (keys) and Raymond Weber (drums)

[via Mike-Gordon.com]

Editor-in-chief Scott Bernstein will recap some of his experiences on Jam Cruise 9 in journal form for Hidden Track this week as the MSC Poesia sails around the Caribbean packed to the gills with bands from around the scene and the fans who love them.

There’s a feeling of joy that overtakes you as you step off the gangplank and onto Jam Cruise that is unlike any feeling I’ve felt before – except of course last year when I stepped onto the same boat for my first Jam Cruise. Everyone boarding the MSC Poesia is ready for the time of their life and that energy is pervasive.

Attendees boarded the boat between noon and 4PM and the music didn’t start until 7PM giving fans ample time to get settled and reunite with friends both old and new. Hugs and smiles were found everywhere you looked. For me, I met so many amazing music fans last year and friendships were renewed yesterday after a year apart for plenty of those relationships.

NYC’s winter started early this year, so the warm weather was certainly appreciated and I used the hours between 3 and 6 to soak up the sun. After a quick dinner, it was off to the Pool Deck for the “Sail Away Party.” Big Sam’s Funky Nation got the plumb gig this year of kicking off the action and they were a fine choice for the role.

READ ON for more of Scotty’s thoughts on Day One of JC9…

As we plunge deeper in the winter months, there’s nothing like getting out and seeing some funk music to get your ass shaking to keep that seasonal depression at a minimum. For those of you on the West Coast you’re in luck as two great New Orleans-based acts Dumpstaphunk and the Rebirth Brass Band will team up for an eight-date run up the coast that will include a two-night stand at The Independent in San Francisco.

If you’re not into a night of New Orleans funk, than maybe you’ll be interested in hitting one of these recently announced tours…

• Ani DiFranco continues to tour behind her 20th studio album
• UK rockers Gomez cross the pond for a three week run
• Folk-rocker Langhorne Slim lines up a cross-country trek
• Former QOTSA bassist Nick Oliveri hits the road
• Delta Spirit to play a series of intimate residencies shows
• Vetiver & The Clientele head out together and on their own

Finally, we have some good and bad news from the festival world to share this week. First the bad news, organizers behind the 10,000 Lake Festival have announced that after seven years that the jam-friendly festie will be on an “official hiatus until further notice.” On the flip side things the Northwest String Summit will return for it’s ninth installment to take place at Horning’s Hideout in North Plains, OR from July 16 – 18 of next year – with the Yonder Mountain String Band playing host with two sets each night.

There’s no overarching theme today, just some old-fashioned bust outs. We’ve got plenty to share with you including a snippet of a surprise show out in the lot, a song revived after 13 years in hiding, a tune best known for its placement in a classic movie and some funkdafied Rolling Stones.

First and foremost, we’re headed to the Midwest back in 1994, including a parking lot in Bloomington where the good Reverend Mosier and the Phab Phour treated a lucky group of fans to a free parking lot bluegrass hoedown. Fortunately, there’s great quality audio of the whole thing, so we can all be there. I kick myself to this day; because I was not yet on board with the Phish back in ’94 and the whole run occurred right in back yard with three shows within a two-hour drive and one hometown gig. Damn.

READ ON after the jump for this week’s heady bust outs…

Last year the Superfly folks one upped themselves with the addition of an additional tent at Bonnaroo called Somethin’ Else which brought a “downtown New York City jazz club” to Manchester – and by all accounts they nailed it. This year Somethin’ Else has been reinvented as a venue dedicated to celebrating the music on New Orleans. Here’s some info on what’s in store at the ‘Roo:

[Pic via Row Jimmy]

Somethin’ Else – New Orleans will be modeled after some of the city’s most distinctive and beloved music clubs, such as Preservation Hall, Tipitina’s and the Maple Leaf. Regional cuisine will also be featured in order to fully capture the essence of this special city. A donation will be collected upon entrance, with all proceeds going directly to support local New Orleans charities.

In addition to raising money for these charities, Somethin’ Else – New Orleans, in partnership with the Center for Rural Strategies, will expose many incredible New Orleans artists to a large base of passionate music fans and community-minded individuals. It will be Bonnaroo’s way of giving back to and promoting the culture of New Orleans, encouraging people to visit and support the city.

Here’s who’s been lined up so far to bring sounds of the Big Easy to Tennessee…

Porter – Batiste – Stoltz, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Henry Butler and the Game Band, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Anders Osborne, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, Soul Rebels Brass Band, Morning 40 Federation.

What the over/under on the number of Cissy Struts these bands bust into?

Tonight’s a great night for music in the Big Apple. First, you’ve got Keller Williams playing his first area gig with the WMD’s at the Nokia. Then, New Orleans’ funksters Dumpstaphunk bring a taste of the Crescent City to Sullivan Hall. Many folks feel Dumpstaphunk are currently the best band out of New Orleans, and we completely agree. Ivan Neville’s group plays feel-good music that makes even the whitest of white boys want to shake a tail feather.

You can expect a nice mix of originals and covers at a Dumpstaphunk show. These guys play songs by the Stones, Sly and the Family Stone, The Meters and The Neville Brothers; as well as a batch of funky originals Ivan wrote for the group. And Ivan Neville isn’t the only star of the band, Dumpstaphunk also includes Tony Hall and Raymond Webber of Trey Anastasio’s solo band. Check out this video of the group barreling through one of their smooth funk originals for a taste of what you can expect tonight:

• Buy Tickets for tonight’s Dumpstaphunk show at Sullivan Hall