Sunday, May 02, 2010

Treme "At the Foot of Canal Street": Always for Pleasure

It was an embarrassment of riches, as far as music goes. In fact, if "At the Foot of Canal Street" had a fault, it's that there's perhaps too many cameos and name drops of musicians throughout (beyond a lagniappe). Mentioned, but not heard or seen are Al Hirt, Tommy Tate, Terrence Blanchard, Wynton Marsalis, Christian Scott, Donald Harrison, the Balfa Brothers (I guess we can count Janet Jackson, Beyonce and Bernie Williams) and then there are cameos from Steve Earle with son Justin Townes Earle (pictured below), McCoy Tyner (with the "powerful left hand"), trombonist Glen David Andrews, pianist Joe Krown, John Boutte (who sings the theme song).

Trumpeter Al Hirt was believed to have been hit in the lip by a bit of concrete tossed during the Bacchus parade during Mardi Gras in 1970. Saturday Night Live's long lost 1977 Mardi Gras episode had some fun with it.

Favorite musically oriented line, though, comes from Delmond on doing a New Orleans tour with Donald Harrison: "Portland, Oregon? I played Portland before, nice folks. But you know they clap on the one and three?"

Final line from Antoine ("New Orleans is always for pleasure,") is a nod to the 1977 Les Blank documentary Always For Pleasure, which served as inspiration to creators David Simon and Eric Overmyer.


Playlist: Treme - Episode 1.04
1. "St. James Infirmary" - Antoine (Wendell Pierce) - improvised lyrics
2. "White Christmas" - John Boutte
3. "I Really Want U" - 5th Ward Weebie
4. "Big Chief Battle Axe" - Michael White
5. "Just a Little Overcome" - Ollie & the Nightengales (Tommy Tate on vocals)
6. "I Been Hoodood" - Bo Dollis
7. "Who That Call the Police" - Glen David Andrews
8. "Go to the Mardi Gras" - Glen David Andrews w/ Sonny (Michiel Huisman)
9. "Foot of Canal Street" - John Boutte with Glen David Andrews, Joe Krown and song's co-writer Paul Sanchez on guitar
10. "Gold Watch & Chain" - Harley Watt (Steve Earle), Justin Townes Earle & Annie (Lucia Micarelli)
11. "Mystery Train, Pt II" - Steve Earle & Annie (Lucia Micarelli)
12. "Knock With Me - Rock With Me" - Glen David Andrews, New Birth Brass Band
13. "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most" - David Torkanowsky
14. "Get on Up" - Midihead
"Follow Me" - Aly-Us
15. "Fuck Katrina" - 5th Ward Weebie (YouTube)
16. "Blue Drag" - The Jazz Vipers with Annie (Lucia Micarelli)
17. "Going Back to New Orleans" - Deacon John

Treme explained on NOLA.com

Previously: "Right Place, Wrong Time" (episode 1.03)

2 comments:

OT said...

Any idea what the "She's Burning Candles On Me" song was?? I can't find a thing about it anywhere. ;_;

Shawn Anderson said...

that was "I Been Hoodood" by Bo Dollis...