Gambit: June 27, 2023— Essence Fest 2023

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Summer fun &Reading

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Register at anyLibrary location or online at summerfun.nolalibrary.org

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FORCHILDREN:

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Summer Fun& Reading Challenge completion prize

CONTENTS

STAFF

EDITORIAL (504)483-3105// response@gambitweekly.com

Editor | JOHN STANTON

Political Editor | CLANCY DUBOS

Arts &Entertainment Editor | WILL COVIELLO

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ARTS +ENTERTAINMENT

Localexposure

TheBlackGirlGigglesComedyFestivalisJune29-July2

COMEDIANSAYAMEADSISJUST25, butshe’salreadyspentplentyof timeonstage.

“IamaGenZcomic,”Meadssays.“I havebeendoingcomedyfor10years.I startedinhighschool.”

SheperformedatNewYork’sApollo Theaterinthefallandisabouttogo toLosAngelestofacecrowdsatthe HollywoodImprov,LaughFactoryand TheComedyStore

Butfirst,she’srepresentingher generationinacomedybattleatthe BlackGirlGigglesComedyFestival.One oftheneweventsatthefestthisyear isacomedyroastbattlecalledGenX vs.Millennialvs.GenZ,attheHi-Ho LoungeonSaturday,July1.

“Iamtiredofpeoplesteppingon GenZ.We’rethebackboneofsociety rightnow,”Meadssays.“Weare theonlygenerationwillingtogoto warwithourracistgrandpaover Thanksgiving.Wedon’tcare.Ain’tno generationthatcansmokelikethis.

GenXisbrainwashedbywhatsociety thinkstheyshouldbe.Zoomers,we knowwhoweare.Thatscaresthe oldergeneration.”

Whilethatshowpromisestobeaspiritedshowdown,thefestivalhasamuch moresupportiveframeworkgivingthe mictoBlackwomencomics.Morethan 60Blackwomencomicswillperformin morethan15showcases,themedshows andothereventsfromThursday,June 29,throughSunday,July2,atvenues acrossNewOrleans.

ComedianandorganizerGeneva Joyco-foundedtheeventin2016asa seriesoftakeoversofopen-micsand specialstand-upcomedyshowsduring theEssenceFestivalofCulture.It’s returningasafullfestivaloftouringand localcomicsthisyear,afteroffering onlyatrioofsmallershowsin2022due tothepandemic.

Thefestivalisgettingalittlesexier thisyear.Meadsrecentlylaunched Negligee,amonthlycomedyshowat Kermit’sTremeMother-in-LawLounge inwhichperformerswearjustlingerie

“ItwasNegligee,ashowofunmentionables,”Meadssays.“Wewereinour lingerie,whichmakesusmorevulnerable,butitalsohasasenseofempowerment.Whodoesn’tlikelookingsexy?”

ThefestivaleditionisattheAllWays Lounge&TheatreonSaturday.Meads hosts,andthelineupfeaturesAmbur James,MarlaEyvetteMassie,Ashleigh B,AlgiersDiamond,TiffanyBurke andDeDeT.

byWillCoviello |

TheStruts

BritishrockbandTheStruts—appropriatelynamedfortheircocky, rock‘n’rollswagger—brokeouton Americanradiowavesin2013with theirsong“CouldHaveBeenMe.”

Theythendoubleddownmonthslater withtheubiquitous“KissThis,”and collaborationswithKeshaandRobbie Williamsfollowed.Acrosstheirthree studioalbums,thebanddigsinto excess-drivenclassicrock,drawing comparisonstoTheRollingStones, QueenandAerosmith.Thebandison the“RememberTheName…”tour, withashowat8p.m.Tuesday,June 27,attheCivicTheatre.Ticketsstartat $29.50viacivicnola.com.

There’salsoafestivaleditionof ComicStrip,theshowcombining stand-upandburlesque,attheAllWays onSunday.BurlesquedancerJeez Loueezwillbridgethegapandmake herstand-updebut.Thelineupalso includesTromboneSquirty,Takillya SunriseandJunoJuno.Joynotesthat comedyandburlesquehaveahistory. EvenlegendaryBlackwomencomedianslikeLaWandaPage,whostarred on“SanfordandSon,”gotherstartas ateen,dancinginclubsinanerawhen varietyshowsincludedburlesque, comedyandmore,Joysays.

Therealsoisanewcleancomedy showmakingitsdebutatthefest.Grits andGigglesisacomedybrunchatthe TremeMarketBranch.Theheadliner isBatonRougecomedianandactress CarissaCropper,whowasfeaturedon KevinHart’sComedyCentralshow, “HartoftheCity.”Thelineupalso includesNikkieKnowles,Vanessa Dawn,SakinahDaaz,CamilleWaters, MoniqueLatise,AshleighBandJoy.

HopeFloodisafeaturedfestival guest.Sheisveteranof“Russell Simmons’AllStarDefComedyJam,”

BET’s“ComicView”andComedy

Central’s“ComicGroove,”aswellasthe founderofTheComicsRockconvention.ShehostsaComedyGumbeaux takeoveratTheHowlin’Wolfon

Thursday.TheshowhonorsJedda Jones,theNewOrleans-bornactress andcomedian.Jonesmaybebest knownasMissDupreefromthe“Tom JoynerShow,”andshealsoappearedin thefilms“Ray,”“CB4”and“Indecent Proposal”andtheTVshows“Murphy Brown,”“Coach”and“Sister,Sister.”

Mostoftheshowsfeaturestand-up comedy,butSundayFunniesisa

sketchandimprovshowcaseatthe AllWaysLoungeonSunday.TheWe GettingF%&kedUpTonightshowat theHi-HoLoungeSaturdayfeatures comicsjokingundertheinfluence Geek’dOut(ABlerdshowcase) featuresnerdycomedyaboutvideo games,Dungeons&Dragonsandother topicsatPoorBoysBaronThursday. ShepKelly,afestivalfounder,hostsa festeditionofSheauxTymeatHi-Ho LoungeonFriday.FunnyandProud isanLGBTQcomedyshowcaseat AllWaysLoungeonFriday. Therealsoarecomedyhappyhours from4-6p.m.everydayofthefestival atHappyRaptorDistillery.Saturday nightendswithalip-syncbattleand dancepartyatHi-HoLounge.

Joyalsoisbuildingthefestival’s workshopprogrammingtohelpBlack womencomicsadvanceintheindustry.LunaMalbrouxwillpresentaworkshoponusingcomedyforadvocacy onThursdayatCrazyPlantBaeShop RoxieWilsonandShantaQuilettewill presentaworkshoponusingsocial mediaonFridayatCrazyPlantBae. Therealsoareindustrypanelsfor Blackwomencomedyproducersand clubowners.WhileJoywillperformin orhostseveralshows,she’salsodoing moretohelpproduceeventstogive Blackwomencomicsmoreexposure Forticketsandinformation, visitblackgirlgiggles.com

FleetFoxes

FolkrockbandFleetFoxessurprise releaseditsexceptionalfourthfulllengthalbum,“Shore,”insyncwith theautumnequinoxin2020.Itwas anin-charactermovefortheoutfit,whichhasalwayshadanidyllic qualitytoitsmusic—evenwhenit’s grapplingwithanxietyonthealbum “HelplessnessBlues”ordisappointmenton2017’s“Crack-Up.” With“Shore,”though,FleetFoxes embracesgratitudeandholdsontight amidthechaosofthelastfewyears. ThebandisnowontourwithNigerianbornsinger-songwriterUwadeand performsat8p.m.Wednesday,June 28,atTheFillmore.Ticketsstartat $40viathefillmorenola.com

‘RuPaul’sDragRace:

O’Hara,Bosco,DeJaSkye,Jujubee,

ComedianGenevaJoy organizestheBlackGirl Gigglesfestival.

PROVIDEDPHOTO BY NKECHI CHIBUEZE

THUMBS UP/ THUMBS DOWN

Juvenile,theNewOrleans-born rapper,washonoredthismonth withacongressionalresolution recognizinghiscontributionsto hip-hopandtothecultureofNew OrleansandLouisiana.U.S.Rep. TroyCarterpresentedJuvenile withtheresolutioninWashington, D.C.,whiletherapperwasintown totapeanNPRTinyDeskconcert. JuviealsorecentlyreceivedarecognitionfromtheLouisianaState Legislatureforhiscontributionsto NewOrleansmusic.

Newrestauranttaxcreditcouldsendmore oystershellstothecoast

Therentistoodamnhigh.The averageNewOrleansrenter doesn’tearnenoughtoafforda modesttwo-bedroomapartment inthecity,anewreportbyThe NationalLowIncomeHousing Coalitionfound.Thestudysays NewOrleaniansneedtoearn $22.73anhourinordertoafforda two-bedroomapartmentwithout becomingrentburdened,butthe averagerenterrightnowis earning$19.66.

NEWORLEANS’INSATIABLEAPPETITE FOROYSTERSproducesalotofshells Butratherthangobacktothecoast, mostoftheshellsfromlocalrestaurantsgostraighttothedump.

Anewtaxcreditaimstoreversethis trend.SignedintolawbyGov.John BelEdwardslastweek,themeasure willgiverestaurantsa$1creditfor every50poundsofshelldonatedto anoystershellrecyclingprogram.

“We’retrashinganextremelylarge amountofoystershellsthatcan serveasecondarypurpose,”said stateRep.MandieLandry,D-New Orleans,whosponsoredthemeasure underHouseBill255.

Themeasuregarneredunanimous supportfromtheSenateandHouse ofRepresentatives.Itwasalso backedbyseveralenvironmental groups,theLouisianaRestaurant AssociationandtheLouisianaHotel andLodgingAssociation.

TheCRCLrecyclingprogramhas 29participatingrestaurantsinNew OrleansandMetairie.Mostarelarge restaurantsthatcanaffordthe monthly$55per-binpickupfee.The taxcreditwillhelpsmallerrestaurantstakepart,saidDarrahBach,the recyclingprogram’scoordinator

THE COUNT #

THENUMBEROFCHEMICALSITES CONSIDERED“ATRISK”FROM STORMDAMAGEINLOUISIANA.

Blackresidentsarealmosttwiceaslikely tolivenearatoxicsitecomparedtowhite residents.Nearlyone-thirdofBlackresidents livenearatoxicfacilityatextremeriskof flooding,accordingtoananalysisbyThe Times-Picayune.Neitherstatenorfederal regulatorsrequirechemicalplantstotake certainprecautionstoensurefloodwaters andstormswillnotallowchemicalsto escape.ButEPAisconsideringrulesrequiring chemicalcompaniestofactorindangers posedbyclimatechange.

Heat-relatedproblemsleadto nearly3,000Louisianansbeing hospitalizedortreatedinemergencyroomseachyear,according totheLouisianaDepartmentof Health.LDHlookedatinformation onheat-relatedhospitalizations from2010to2020andfound thatmenaccountedformorethan 80%ofcases,mostlikelydueto workingoutdooroccupationslike constructionandfarming.Black Louisianansalsohadhigherrates ofhospitalizations,LDHfound

Recycledshellsareusedtobuild bulwarksagainstwaves,stormsand risingseas—factorsthatcontributeto thestate’srapidlossofland.Thereefs alsofosterthegrowthofnewoysters andprovidehabitatandfoodforfish, crabsandothermarineanimals.

Thestate’sonlylarge-scaleshell recyclingprogramhasreturned13 millionpoundsofshellstothewater since2014.RunbytheCoalitionto RestoreCoastalLouisiana,theprogramcouldgetasubstantialboost fromthemeasure

“Thisbillshouldmakeitpossible formorerestaurantstodotheright thingwithoutjeopardizingtheir bottomline,”saidTylerBosworth, CRCL’sadvocacydirector

“We’rereallyhopingthiscredit inspiresotherstoparticipate, especiallyfamily-runbusinesses,” shesaid

ThefeesCRCLchargescovershell pickupsseveraltimesaweekand transporttoasiteinSt.Bernard Parishwheretheshellsareallowedto cureinthesunforayear.Volunteers thenpacktheshellsinbiodegradable meshbagsforusonreefprojects.

CRCLhasusedshellstobuildabout 8,000feetofoysterreefinfive parishes.Thegroupplanstobuildits sixthreefthisfall.

Thegrouphasfocusedmuchof theirrecenteffortsonprotecting NativeAmericanmoundsand cemeteries.—TristanBaurick/ TheTimes-Picayune

16.7%

8.4%

CoalitiontoRestoreCoastalLouisianavolunteersand staffreadysacksofoystershellsforareefbuilding projectinPlaqueminesParishonJuly21,2021.

PHOTOBYTRISTANBAURICK /THE TIMES-PICAYUNE MISSYELLIOTT

41.6% THE50THANNIVERSARYOFHIP-HOP SHOWCASES

Nowmorethanever,let’scelebrate theEssenceofBlackwomen

THEANNUALESSENCEFESTIVALOFCULTURERETURNS TONEWORLEANSTHISWEEKEND,bringingwithithundredsofthousandsoftouristsforathree-daycelebrationofBlackcultureandachievement,particularly thatofBlackwomen.

Thereismuchtocelebrate.Frombusinessand financetomusicandart,Blackwomenhavehelped shapeAmerican—andinternational—lifeandculture sincetheearliestdaysofournation.

HereinNewOrleans,evidenceoftheirimpactonour livesandcultureabounds.BlackwomenlikeOretha CastleHaley,LeahChase,DorothyMaeTaylorandMia Xhavedefinedthecity’sculture,foughtforcivilrights andservedasrolemodelsforallofus

Yet,Blackwomenremainoneoftheworst-treated segmentsofAmericansociety.Theyrankamong America’smosthighlyeducatedcohortsbutmakean appalling37%lessthanwhitenon-Hispanicmen.Black womenaremorelikelytobetargetedbypolice,less likelytogetbusinessloansandregularlysubjectedto stereotypesthatmakelifeunfairlydifficult.

Asconservativeswagearelentlesscampaignagainst justice,equalityandhumandecency,Blackwomen onceagainareonthefrontlinesofabattletheyneither

askedfornordeservetoshoulder.The SupremeCourt’sDobbsdecisionlast yearhasandwillcontinuetoadversely impactBlackpregnantpeoplein particular.Nearlyhalfofthecountry’s BlackwomenliveinstateslikeLouisianawhereDobbs renderedabortionillegal

AccordingtotheCentersforDiseaseControland Prevention,Blackwomenaremorethanfourtimesas likelytoneedabortionservicesthanwhitewomen

They’realsomorelikelytoliveinso-called“contraceptiondeserts”wherebirthcontrolandsexeducation servicesarescarceornon-existent.

Louisianahasthehighestrateofmaternalmortalityin thecountry,andit’sespeciallydangerousforBlackmothers:fourBlackmothersdieforeverywhitemotherinthis state,accordingtotheLouisianaDepartmentofHealth RestrictingBlackwomen’saccesstoabortionhas alreadyputthemundergreatereconomicandemotionalstress.Manymusttraveloutofstateforreproductivecare—ortakeat-riskpregnanciestoterm

Overthelasttwoyears,Louisianalawmakershave enactedmeasuresthatrestrictabortionrightsandsubsidizepropagandamillsthattargetpoorBlackwomenwith

misinformation aboutabortion. They’vealso proposedlaws thatbanteaching AfricanAmericancontributionstothecountry’shistory —andournation’shistoryoflegalizeddiscrimination againstBlackAmericans.

Onvotingrights—forwhichBlackwomenhelped leadthefight—ourlawmakershaverepeatedlysought toadoptredistrictingplansthateffectivelydenyBlack voterstheopportunitytoelectcongressionalandstate representativesoftheirchoosing.Thankfully(and surprisingly),theU.S.SupremeCourtthisyearruled againstanAlabamaredistrictingplan,andintime,that decisioncouldrequireLouisianatoredrawitsownelectoralmaps—buttheresultremainsuncertainfornow Despitethisconstantbarrage,Blackwomencontinue topressforwardforthemselvesandtheirfamilies,and asaresultallAmericansarebetterforit.Theirdailyacts ofdefianceinthefaceofaconstantbarrageoflegal andotherchallengescontinuetoinspire.Forthat,and everythingelsetheydo,letusallcelebratetheEssence ofBlackwomen

Dream without boundaries

PHOTOBYCHRIS GRANGER / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

Knowing you’ve gotthe strength of the cross, the protection of the shield and thousands of topdoctors to liftyou whenyou need it.

The Right Card. The Right Care.

FarewelltoPhilipBaptiste, oneofthelastofthe‘firsts’

ONEOFTHETHINGS THATMADEDUTCH MORIALSUCHAN

ICON,inadditionto hisstoriedcareer, wasthefactthat therecouldbe onlyonefirstBlack mayorofNew Orleans.Morial notchedquitea few“firsts”onhis impressiveresume evenbeforehe becamemayor

Onefirstthat Morialcouldnot claim,however,was firstBlackmayoral aideinNewOrleans Another:thefirst Blackpersonto serveonanOrleans Parishgrandjury.

Thosetitlesbelong toPhilipBaptiste, oneofMorial’sclosestfriendsanda colorfulpoliticalcharacter—butalsoa trailblazerandrolemodelforsucceedinggenerations

YetanotherfirstforBaptiste:He joinedLeahandDookyChaseas thefirstfinancialdonorstoMorial’s groundbreakingmayoralcampaign in1977.

BaptistediedJune21inAtlanta afteralengthyillness.Hewas91. HeandhiswifeNell,whodiedin 2021,relocatedtoAtlantaafter HurricaneKatrina.Priortothat,he spenthisentirelifeinhishometown ofNewOrleans.

Professionally,Baptistefoundedhis owninsuranceagencyandwasamong thefirstBlackmentoholdalicense tosellalllinesofgeneralinsurancein Louisiana

Hewasanactivememberofthe ZuluSocialAid&PleasureClubfor morethanfourdecades,andheprided himselfonfillingseveralrolesinthe Zuluorganization

Amongthemwasservingasthe officialnarratorfortheannualZulu CoronationBall,arolethatshowcased hishallmarktalentformalaprops— someofwhichweredeliberate,some ofwhichwere,well,vintagePhilip.For instance,atthe1994ball,helavishly praisedthekingfor“beinginallhis splendiferousness.”

Hehadagreatsenseofhumorand lovedtoshareitwithhishighschool palDutchMorial,whointroducedme

toBaptiste.WhenIaskedBaptiste whatitwasliketobethefirstBlack mayoralaideatCityHall,themayor interjectedwithagrin,“Schirogave himanicedesk—itwasbehinda bunchoftallplantssonobodycould seehim!”

Philiplaughedlouderthaneither Morialormeatthatone.

Afewyearslater,asMorialneared theendofhissecondandfinalterm, Philipjoinedseveralhundredloyal backersoftheoutgoingmayorata privatemeetingtohearwhichcandidateMorialhaddecidedtosupportas hissuccessor.Theoccasionproduced oneofmyfavoritepoliticalquotes.

Igotwindofthemeeting,soI stakedouttheentrance.AsPhilip approached,Istuckamicinfrontof himandasked,“PhilipBaptiste,who areyougonnasupportformayor?”

Withoutmissingabeat,he responded,“WhoeverJesusMorial tellsmetosupport!”

PhilipBaptistewasamongthelastof NewOrleans’civilrights-erapolitical leaders,andoneofthelastofthe “firsts”inhisgeneration—arguablythe greatestgenerationofBlackpolitical andcivicleadersinNewOrleans.

Mayherestinpower…inallhis splendiferousness.

JohnKramer(left)and PhilipBaptiste(right)inan undatedphoto

PHOTOBYDARLENE HINGLE OLIVO / THETIMES-PICAYUNE

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BLAKE PONTCHARTRAIN™

@GambitBlake|askblake@gambitweekly.com

HeyBlake, I’mafanofoldsignsandamcuriousabouttheoneforStandardLife InsuranceCo.onClaibornenear Kermit’sTremeMother-in-Law Lounge.Whatcanyoutellmeaboutit?

Dearreader,

THEFORMERSTANDARDLIFEINSURANCEBUILDING ONN.CLAIBORNEAVENUEisalinktothehistoryof thatthoroughfareintheBlackcommunity

FormerNewOrleansFirstLadySybilMorial,who grewupnearbyinthe7thWard,recallsClaiborne Avenue’simportanceinher2015memoir“Witnessto Change:FromJimCrowtoPoliticalEmpowerment.”

“Theavenuealwaysteemedwithactivity,”she wrote.“Itwashometophysicians’anddentists’ offices,aboutfiveinsurancecompanies,funeral parlors,abusinessschoolandavarietyofsmall shops,includingretailstores.”

TheStandardLifeInsurancebuildingwaserected inthe1500blockofN.Claibornein1951.Apostcard toutsitas“modernineverydetail,”“airconditioned”and“designedandequippedtoserveour largeandgrowingclientele—ourpolicyholders.”

StandardIndustrialLifeInsuranceCompany ofLouisiana,asitwasofficiallyknown,was foundedin1924.Itwasoneofatleastahalfdozen

Black-ownedlifeinsurancecompaniesatthetime Itspresidentandmedicaldirectorformanyyears wasSybilMorial’sfather,Dr.ClarenceC.“C.C.” HaydelSr.Hisson-in-law,MayorErnest“Dutch” Morial,alsoservedasthecompany’sattorneyearly inhislegalcareer

In1971,thecompanywaspurchasedbywellknowninsuranceexecutiveE.J.Ourso.Inthe1990s, thebuildingonN.ClaibornewassoldtotheBlack ArtsNationalDiaspora,orBAND.FoundedbyG. JeannetteHodge,thegroupusedthepropertyasan artmuseum,galleryandculturalartscenter

Theproperty,nowmarkedwithgraffiti,iscurrentlyownedbyTremeRoseLLC.

BLAKEVIEW

THISWEEKMARKSTHE65THANNIVERSARYOFTHEPREMIERE OF“KINGCREOLE,”the1958moviesetandpartiallyfilmedin NewOrleansstarringElvisPresley.

ThefilmwasbasedontheHaroldRobbinsnovel“AStone forDannyFisher.”Forthefilm,thesettingwaschanged fromBrooklyntoNewOrleans,andtheleadcharacter waschangedfromaboxertoasinger.Itwasproducedand directedbytheteambehind“Casablanca”andotherfilms: HalWallisandMichaelCurtiz.

Presleyandco-starsCarolynJones,WalterMatthauand DeanJaggershotmostofthemovieontheParamountPictures lotinHollywood,buttheydidtraveltoNewOrleansfor10 daysinMarch1958tofilmseveralscenes.Thoseincludethe film’sopeningnumber,“Crawfish,”whichfeaturesPresley singingonabalconyat1018RoyalSt.

TherearealsoglimpsesofPiratesAlley,JacksonSquare, aHayneBoulevardfishingcampandtheHomerA.Plessy CommunitySchool—thenMcDonogh15.Fanscampedout neartheschooltogetaglimpseofPresleyandmobbedthe RooseveltHotelwherehestayedduringfilming.

ThefilmpremieredonJuly2,1958.Itreceivedmostly positivereviewsfromcritics,thoughTimes-Picayunereviewer JaniceRussowasnotkind.“WithoutPresley,thiswouldhave beenjustanothersex-filled,B-classvehicle.WithPresley,itis arocking,hip-shaking,scream-provoking,sex-filledB-class vehicle.Thoughmostunpleasant,thecontinualyellsfromthe juvenileaudiencedidserveausefulpurpose.Theydrownedout mostofPresley’smusical‘innovations.’”

ThataudienceofmillionsofElvisfanslovedthefilm,whose soundtrackreachedNo.2ontheBillboardpopcharts.

PHOTOBYBLAKE PONTCHARTRAIN

AmericanDemocracy: AGreat Leap of Faith is sponsored locallyby

AmericanDemocracy: AGreat Leap of Faith wasdevelopedbythe NationalMuseumofAmericanHistory andadapted for travel by the SmithsonianInstitutionTravelingExhibitionService.

The 2023 BienvilleCircle AFREE MUSEUM IN THE FRENCH QUARTER

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ESSENTIAL BEATS

THEESSENCE FESTIVAL OF CULTURE RETURNS toNewOrleansThursday,June29, throughMonday,July3,withacelebrationof Blackmusic,Blackwomen,Black-ownedbusinessesand,thisyear,50yearsofhip-hop. Thefestival’smainstageconcertseries,taking placeJune30-July2attheCaesarsSuperdome,istoppedbyatrioofpowerhousewomenrappers:LaurynHill,celebratingthe25th anniversaryofherlandmarkdebutsoloalbum; RockandRollHallofFamerMissyElliott;and MeganTheeStallion,oneoftoday’sbiggest popstars.Mixedintothedailylineupsare severalshowcasescommemoratingthe50th anniversaryofhip-hop,withperformancesby IceCube,BigBoi,Ice-T,KRS-One,Eve,Remy MaandNewOrleans’ownMiaXandJuvenile.

Meanwhile,theErnestN.MorialConvention Centerwillbefilledwithday-longmarketplaces,panels,workshopsandotherexperiences. AndEssenceFestwillagainpresentavirtual portionofthefestivalforthosenottravelingto NewOrleans.

Ticketstotheeveningconcertseriesstartat $80pernight.Mostin-personexperiencesat theconventioncenterarefreebutageneral admissionpassisneededtogetin.Findmore informationatessence.comorontheEssence Festmobileapp

Onthefollowingpages,Gambitpreviewsthe festivalwithmusicianprofiles,anoverviewof thehip-hopanniversarycelebrations,informationabouttheexperiencesattheconvention centerandmore.

EVENINGCONCERTSERIES

FRIDAY,JUNE30 FR

CAESARSSUPERDOME

HOSTEDBYCOMEDIAN ANDACTORDEONCOLE

ANDFEATURINGGUESTDJCLARKKENT

LAURYN

HILL

LAURYN HILL MADEA GUEST APPEARANCE atlastyear’sEssenceFest tojoinfellowFugeesmemberWyclef Jeanonstage.TheFugeeshadtalked aboutreunitingfora25thanniversarytourfortheiralbum,“TheScore,” butthepandemichelpedscuttle thoseplans,thoughtherewasa reunionshow.

Thisyear,HillreturnstoNewOrleanstocelebratethe25thanniversary ofthelandmarkalbumshereleased afterleavingtheFugees,her1998 solodebut,“TheMiseducationof LaurynHill.”

Thereceptionforhermixofrap andneo-soulon“Miseducation”was stunning.ItdebutedatNo.1onthe Billboard200chart,soldmorethan 10millioncopiesintheU.S.,ledto severalGrammyAwards,including forbestalbum,anditinfluenceda generationofartists.

Followingitupwasnoeasyfeat, thoughshealsohadotherconcerns. Shealreadyhadchildrenwithpartner RohanMarley(sonofBobMarley) beforethealbum’srelease,and she’snowamotherofsix.Shealso expresseddissatisfactionwiththe businesssideofthemusicindustry. Thefollow-upendedupbeingthe livealbum“LaurynHill:MTVUnpluggedNo.2.0”in2002.

Hillhasbeenanenigmaticfigure since,sometimesdroppingfrom publicviewandearningareputationforstartingherownconcerts hourslate.She’sreleasedanumber ofsingles,bothherownandasa featuredartist.In2021,sherecorded

“Nobody”withNas.Butdespitethe infrequentreleaseofnewmusic,she maintainsareputationasoneofthe topwomenrappers,andshe’sstilla headliningdraw.

—WILLCOVIELLO

ARILENNOX

THOUGHONLY32, Washington, D.C.-bornsingerAriLennoxfeelsofa differentera.Andinthe2022music videoforhersong“Pressure,”she wearslooksfromseveraldecades, fromthe1970stotheearly2000s Lennoxin2015becamethe firstwomantobesignedtoJ.Cole’s labelDreamvilleRecords,and shereleasedherseven-trackEP, “Pho,”thefollowingyear.Then2019 sawherfull-lengthdebut,“Shea ButterBaby.”

Onhersecondfull-lengthalbum, lastyear’s“Age/Sex/Location,”Lennoxchannelstheneo-soulmusicof the’90sand2000sshegrewupwith

TheEssenceFestivalofCulturereturns June29throughJuly3totheCaesars SuperdomeandtheErnestN.Morial ConventionCenter.

PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER/THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

JanelleMonae

PROVIDEDPHOTO BY MASONROSE

TobeNwigwe

PROVIDEDPHOTO BY JUSTIN STEWART

andinfusesitwithhip-hop.Onit,she’s confidentandrealizesherself-worth. She’slearnedalotsinceherearly20s, andshe’sreadytogrowevenfurther.

In“BoyBye,”she’stellingtheplayer, aroleplayedbyNewOrleansnative LuckyDaye,togoaway Whenheasks, “Whywon’tyouletmeinsidesoIcan takeyouthere?”shereplies,“Those linesbelongin1995,justlikethem funkyNikes.”Hemayhavealso beenhangingwithCasey,Georgette andJudyrecently,buthealsolater givesabitofevergreenadvice:“Isaid becarefulwhereyouwalk,baby. There’spotholes.”

Lennox,whobasedherstagename off“TheSecretGarden”protagonist MaryLennox,hasbeencomparedto ErykahBadu,butwhileshecitesBadu asaninfluence,shealsotoldGQin 2019thathermusicalinspirationsrun thegamutfromMissyElliottandCiara toAnitaBakerandChakaKhan.

JANELLE MONAE

JANELLE MONAE’S RECENTLY RELEASED ALBUM “THE AGE OF PLEASURE” isastatementofintent Themusician,actorandfashioniconis spendingtheirtimecelebratingpleasureandpursuingjoy andaskingthe listenertojointhatradicalpursuit

Thepleasuresareromantic,sexual andsensual fullydisplayedinthe lush,femme-centeredorgyof“Lipstick Lover” butthere’salsopleasures inembracingandexploringpersonal identity.Lastyear,Monaecameoutas nonbinaryanddeclaredtheirpronouns as“free-assmotherfuckerandthey/ them,her/she.”On“TheAgeofPleasures,”Monaedivesintoexploringeach ofthose withanemphasisonbeinga freebadass

“TheAgeofPleasure”playswith Afrofuturistleaningsaswellasreggae, funkandrhythmandbluesinspirations, andMonaehasspokenaboutwriting thealbumforaPan-Africanaudience MonaetappedguestartistslikeSister Nancy,GraceJonesandGhanaian-AmericanmusicianAmaarae todothat

Formostoftheircareer,Monaehas craftedAfrofuturisticconceptalbums thatdetailthestrugglesforfreedom againstdystopianregimes.Thethemes ofloveandpleasurehavealwaysbeen there,especiallyintheirsong“Pynk”on theGrammy-nominated2018album “DirtyComputer.”Andwhilenotquite aconceptalbum,“TheAgeofPleasure” alsoisaboutfreedom butthekind thatcomesthroughself-love.

“Communityhasbeensohelpful tome;it’sbeautifulthatIhaveatitle called‘TheAgeofPleasure’because itactuallyre-centersme,”Monaetold

RollingStone.“It’snotaboutanalbum anymore.I’vechangedmywholefuckinglifestyle.”

JAKE CLAPP

JUVENILE

JUVENILE CAN MAKE THINGS HAPPEN WITH A TWEET.

Acoupleofmonthsago,someoneon TwitterraisedthepossibilityofJuvenile playingNPR’sTinyDesk towhich, theCashMoneyRecordsartistsreplied, “Wtfisatinydesk?”Still,hechallenged followersthatiftheycouldget10,000 retweetsonhispost,hewouldreconsiderdoingTinyDesk.

Fanscrushedthatgoal.NPRtook notice.AndJuvenilerecentlywalked intoNPRMusic’sWashington,D.C., headquartersaccompaniedbyJon Batiste,DJMannieFresh,Troy“TromboneShorty”Andrewsandaliveband. TheTinyDeskconcertwillbeoutlater thissummer

Laterthatday,JuvenilepackedD.C.’s HowardTheatreforaconcert,specificallytocelebratethe25thanniversary ofhislandmarkalbum“400Degreez” butonlyafterbeingofficiallyrecognizedbyCongressforhiscontributions tohip-hopandtheBlackcommunity.

Then,whenEssenceannouncedits 50thanniversaryofhip-hoplineup, thelegendaryMiaXwastheonlyNew Orleansrapperonthebill Itdidn’tsit rightwithJuvie,whotweetedout“How isEssencedoing50yearsofhip-hopin NewOrleanswithoutme???”

Theposttookoff andafewdays later,EssenceannouncedJuvenilehad beenaddedtothelineup.Essencealso saidinastatementthatFamilyDayat LouisArmstrongParkwouldfeature anall-NewOrleanslineup,andthat surpriseappearancesarealwaysapart oftheeveningconcertseries.

AlongwithperformingatEssence Fest,JuveniletopsDonnaFestwith MannieFresh,Birdman,RebirthBrass Band,T-Rell,YoungeJuve,RudeJude andmoreonSunday,July2,atUrban SouthBrewery.

JAKE CLAPP

JAGGED EDGE

THE FOUR MEMBERS OF JAGGED EDGE cametogetherin1995andhavemaintainedaremarkablyconsistentoutput eversince ararityconsideringhow muchthemusicindustryhaschanged sincethemid-’90s.In2020,theAtlanta-basedgroup twinbrothersBrian andBrandonCasey,RichardWingoand KyleNorman releasedits10thstudio record,“AJaggedLoveStory,”anepic, 31-trackdoublealbumcelebrating15 yearsofpassionateR&B.

JaggedEdgescoredearlyhits withsongslikethepoppy“Let’sGet

Married,”theslow-groove“Promise” and“WherethePartyAt,”theirfiery, Grammy-nominatedcollaborationwith Nelly.Andthrough2007,eachnew albumbrokeBillboard’sTop10list. OriginallysignedtoJermaineDupri’s SoSoDefRecordings,JaggedEdgein recentyearshasfocusedonitsown independentlabel,HardCaseRecords, whichalsoproducessolomusicby WingoandrapperKourtniMyers.

JAKE CLAPP

TEMS

NIGERIAN SINGER-SONGWRITER TEMS ishavingabreakoutmoment.The alt-R&BandAfrobeatartistbegan releasingsolomusicin2018,andin 2020droppedherdebutEP,“For BrokenEars.”Hermusicwasnoticed byNigerianpopstarWizkid,whichled toafeatureonhissong“Essence,”a majorBillboardchartsuccess(thefirst NigeriansongtoenterBillboard’sHot 100) SongswithDrakeandBeyonce soonfollowed,andrapperFuture sampledTems’song“Higher”forhis Grammy-winningtrack“WaitForU.”

Temscapitalizedonthesuccesswith herwell-receivedsecondEP,“IfOrange wasaPlace,”in2021,andlastyearcowroteRihanna’ssong“LiftMeUp”for the“BlackPanther:WakandaForever” soundtrack Temswasnominatedfor a2023Oscarforbestoriginalsongfor herworkon“LiftMeUp,”andthough shedidn’twin,shehadaviralmoment forheropulentLeverCouturegown. ExpecttoseealotmorefromTemsin thenearfuture JAKE CLAPP

TOBE NWIGWE

ARTIST TOBE NWIGWE isseemingly everywhereallatoncethesedays.

Histrack“OnMySoul,”acollaborationwithNasandJacobBanks,appears inthelatest“Transformers”movie. Hehasworkedinrecentyearswithbig nameslikePharrell,2ChainzandChamillionaire.Andhisalbum“moMINTs” earnedhimaBestNewArtistnominationatthisyear’sGrammyAwards.

ErykahBaduisafan,asisformerfirst ladyMichelleObama,whoworksoutto hismusic.Ohyeah,andJillScottcalled himagenius

WhenNwigwe,aHoustonnativeof Nigeriandescent,isn’tmakingmusic, he’sco-starringastheleadcharacter’s bestfriendinNetflix’snewseries“Mo,” acomedy-dramaaboutaPalestinian refugeetryingtomakeitintheU.S. asacomedian.

Afterself-releasingseveralmixtapes, Nwigwein2018landedaspotonBET’s freestyleCyphershowcase,followed byanNPRTinyDeskConcertin2019. Bothhelpedfurtherpushhimintothe nationalspotlight

Despiteallofthemomentum,Nwigweremainshumblebutconfident.A fatheroffour,heisfirmlyrootedinhis ancestryandfamily hiswife,Martica

“Fat”Nwigwe,isoneofhismostfrequentcollaboratorsandoftenappears withhimonstageandinhisvideos Healsoiscommittedtoamplifying theissuesfacingBlackAmericansand immigrantsthroughhisartistry.

“You’regoingtohearsomeNigerianinfluences,”Nwigwesaidina FebruaryinterviewwithCBS’sNate Burleson,“you’regoingtohearsome Africaninfluences,Houstoninfluences, you’regoingtohearsomestreet,trap influences,andyou’regoingtohear gospelandspirit It’safusionofmylife experiences.” SARAH RAVITS

KAYLEE POCHE

Tems

PROVIDED PHOTO BY RODERICK EJUETAMI

AriLennox

PHOTO BY BRETT DUKE / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

1200Poydras Street,Suite 103| 504-577-2937

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MISSY ELLIOTT

MISSY ELLIOTT IS NO STRANGER TO ESSENCE FANS. Thehip-hopicon returnsafterheadliningperformances in2015,2018and2019.

She’sspentthelast25yearsatthe topoftheentertainmentworld,from collectingfourGrammystoperforminginaSuperBowlhalftimeshow,and theaccoladesjustkeepcoming.This year,Elliottwashonoredwithastaron theHollywoodWalkofFame,andin May,shebecamethefirstwomanrappervotedintotheRockandRollHallof Fame onherfirstnomination Inafestivalcelebratingthe50th anniversaryofhip-hop,shejoinsa headlininglineupofwomenrappers includingLaurynHillandMegan TheeStallion.

Elliottmovedtotheforefrontofhiphopaftersheemergedinthe1990s, firstasasingerintheR&BgroupSista andthenasamemberoftheSwing MobcollectivealongsideartistsincludingTimbaland.Shelaunchedher solocareerwiththe1997album“Supa DupaFly.”Aseriesofalbumsfollowed aroundtheturnofthemillennium, including“DaRealWorld”and“Under Construction.”Sherolledoutmany ofherhitswithlushlystyledvideos, including“GetUrFreakOn,”“One MinuteMan”and“WorkIt.”

Since2005’splatinum-selling “TheCookbook,”Elliott’sonlyalbum releasewas2019’s“Iconology”EP. Butshe’saprolificproducer,andher songwritingforotherartistshelped hergainentrytotheSongwritersHall ofFamein2019.

Elliottcontinuestoperformherclassichits,andherstylehasemphasized moredanceabletracksandbridged mainstreamentertainment,especially withmusicvideos,allwithherdistinct fashionandstyle WILL COVIELLO

JILL SCOTT

THE 51-YEAR-OLD SINGER FROM PHILLY hasbeenafixtureinR&Band neo-soulformorethan20years,ever

sinceherearlycollaborationswith TheRoots.Thoughthepandemic postponedhercelebrationofthe20th anniversaryofherdebutalbum,she’s currentlyonwhatshe’scallingher “23rdanniversarytour.”

Thatalbum,“WhoIsJillScott?: WordsandSoundsVol.1,”wentplatinumandfeaturedhits“ALongWalk” and“TheWay.”Shefollowedthatup in2004withaVol.2,containingone ofhermostpopulartracks,“Golden.” Anddon’tforgether2007hit“Hate OnMe.”

TheGrammywinnerhasreleased severalalbumssincethen,cementing herlegacyinsoul,somuchsothatshe evengotashoutoutfromBeyonce lastyearonher“BreakMySoul (QueensRemix).”

ScottalsoisanactorandhasappearedinBET’s“FirstWivesClub”and DC’sNetflixshow“BlackLightning.” ButsheconfidedtoJemeleHillina 2021interviewonHill’spodcastthat shethinksofherselfasan“artist” ratherthana“celebrity.”Whileshe lovessinging,sheissomewhatuncomfortablewithfame

“Iamnotacelebrity.I’mjustnot.I knowwhatyou’resaying,Iknowwhat youthink,IknowwhatI’vedone,” shesaid.“ButIdon’tfeelthatwayin myheart.”

Scottalsosaysshe’slearnedtotake breakswhentouringtoresetand spendtimewithherfamily She’soff totheNetherlandsafterEssencebut willwrapupastringofshowsbythe endofJulybeforeheadingtoMexicoin October.

KAYLEE POCHE

COCO JONES

COCO JONES INITIALLY DIPPED HER FEET INTO ACTING intheearly2010s withtheDisneyChannelshow“So Random!”beforehavingabreakout roleinthechannel’s2012hit“Let ItShine.”ButJones,whois25,has beenpointedlyoutgrowingherDisney Channelroots.Shecurrentlyappears asHilaryBankson“Bel-Air,”the dramaticreimaginingof“TheFresh PrinceofBel-Air,”andlastyearded-

icatedherselftoaquicklyflourishing musiccareer

JoneshasreleasedseveralsinglesandahandfulofEPsoverthe years,andaftersigningwithDefJam Recordingsinearly2022,thingshave beenmovingquickly.Hersingles “Caliber”and“ICU,”whichhasbeen certifiedgold,precededanewEP,the charismatic“WhatIDidn’tTellYou,” andsheappearedonBabyface’ssong “Simple”ontheR&Bicon’slatest album.Thisyear,Jonesreceiveda NAACPImageAwardforOutstanding NewArtist.

JonesgrewupinTennessee,andshe creditshervocalistmother,Javonda Jones,forhersuccesses.Jones’father isformerprofessionalfootballplayer MikeJones,andherbrotherMikeJr wasanLSUlinebackerwhohasbeen draftedbytheAtlantaFalcons.

WhileJonesisinanewphaseofher musiccareer,thisactuallywon’tbeher firsttimeatEssence.Shemadeher debutin2012,performingonthefestival’sopeningnightlineuphighlighting risingtalentintheentertainment industry. JAKE

CLAPP

MONICA

MONICA HAS HAD NOTHING SHORT OF A LEGENDARY CAREER TheAtlanta-bornsingerbrokeoutwithher1995 debutalbum“MissThang” which

producedtwoNo 1singlesontheR&B charts andfolloweditupwiththe explosive,genre-blending“TheBoyIs Mine”in1998.Thealbum’stitletrack, whichalsofeaturedBrandy,wenton tostayatNo.1ontheBillboardHot 100for13weeks.

Followingapersonaltragedyinthe early2000s,Monicabouncedbackin 2003with“AftertheStorm,”which debutedatNo.1,andoverandover, herfollowingalbumsallperformed exceptionallywell Alongtheway, she’spickedupaGrammyAward,a BETAward,BillboardMusicAward andnumerousotheraccolades.

It’sbeenseveralyears,though, sinceherlastalbum,2015’s“Code Red.”ThatispartlybecauseMonica hasbranchedoutintophilanthropy andlaunchedanonprofit,BeHUMAN. Plus,asshetoldanaudienceinMay, “lifejustkeepslife-ing.”Butthesinger brokenewstothecrowd:Hernewest album,“Trenches,”andacountry-influencedalbum,called“OpenRoads,” aredone

Since2020,Monicahasreleased severalsingles,including“Trenches,”co-writtenwithPharrell,and “Friends,”featuringTyDolla$ign,to teasetheupcomingalbum.Now,it seemsMonicaisjustlookingforthe righttimetoreleasetheprojects.

JAKE CLAPP

CAESARS SUPERDOME HOSTEDBYCOMEDIANAFFIONCROCKETTANDTELEVISION PERSONALITYSPICEADAMSANDFEATURINGGUESTDJKIDCAPRI

MissyElliottheadlines July1atEssence Fest2023

PHOTO BY BRETT DUKE / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

JillScott

PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

FIVE DECADESOFCOLDROCKIN’ THEPARTY:

ESSENCECELEBRATES

50TH BIRTHDAY HIP-HOP’S

BYJOHNSTANTON|GAMBITEDITOR

IN AUGUST 1973,CLIVE CAMPBELL, AKADJKOOLHERC, wasDJinghis sister’sback-to-schooldancepartyin theBronx.Campbellcombinedtwo turntablesandamixertobreakthe beatsofsongs—and,intheprocess, inadvertentlycreatedthemostinfluentialculturalphenomenonofthelast 50years.

Lessthantwodecadeslater, hip-hopwouldbeinthemidstofits “GoldenEra”andattheverystartof itsinternationaldominationofmusic, fashionandculture,whichcontinues tothisday.Itsinfluencesareimpossibletooverstate.Itinformshowwe talkandhowwedress.It’spushed artanddancetonewcreativeheights whiletransformingpop,rock,punk, R&Bandevencountrymusic

It’sgivenapowerful,unavoidable voicetoBlackandbrownpeoplenot justintheUnitedStatesbutacross theglobe.Fromanti-povertyand anti-gangmovementsinthefavelas ofBrazilandSouthAfricatoenvironmentaljusticefightsbyIndigenous peoplesofNorthAmerica,hip-hop hasbeenacalltoarmsforgenerations ofactivists.

Andit’salsoaneconomicjuggernaut,churningoutbillionsinprofit mostlytakenadvantageofbylargely whitemajorlabelrecordexecutives, butalsoforagrowingnumberof Blackexecutives.

So,ofcourse,EssenceFestwas goingtothrowapartyaship-hop turns50,withathree-nightshowcase ofsomeofthemosticonicMCs, DJsandvisionarieship-hopculture hasproduced.

TheopeningnightshowcasefeaturesDJClarkKentandsomeofthe greatestMCstoevergracethemic. No,strikethat:Thelineupfeatures someofthegreatestwordsmiths ofthelast100years.LaurynHill, thepoetlaureateofhergeneration,

headlinesFriday,June30.Thatalone wouldbetributeenoughtotheart formshe’sreppedfordecades,butthe firstnight’slineupisaveritablewho’s whoofGoldenErahip-hoplegends.

It’sfittingthatDougE.Freshis hostingtheopeningnightshowcase. DuringtheGoldenEra,DougE.Fresh wasthepiedpiperofhip-hop,using oftenseeminglychildlikerhymes toweaveintricatestoriesaboutthe difficultlifeofyoungBlackAmerica playedoutoverthelyricalbackground hepaintedwithhisremarkablebeatboxingskills.

Butyoucouldn’thaveDougE.Fresh playabighistoryofhip-hopshow withouthismainman,thesmoothest manonthemicandtheonlyMCwho couldever,everrockadiamond-studdedeyepatch,SlickRick

LikemanyotherGoldenEraMCs, SlickRickintuitivelyfoundthesweet spotbetweenpartyrockin’tracksand whatwouldlaterbecomeknownas “consciouship-hop.”Takehislegendary“Children’sStory.”Anywherein theworldifaDJdropsit,peoplewill danceandsingalongtoasongtelling thestoryofbeingyoungandBlackin aworldbuilttokillhim.WithoutSlick Rick,it’shardtoseeaworldwhere SnoopDoggbecomes,well,Snoop.

Let’stalkaboutBigDaddyKane. YouknowyourfavoriteMC?How abouttheirfavoriteMC?OK,now gobacktwomorefavsandfind thatdude.ThisonetimeBigDaddy destroyedhimandforgothisname beforethecypherwasevendone. That’showgoodBigDaddyKaneis. Notwas.Notcanbe.Is.Thirty-something-oddyearsafterKanegrabbed themiclikeahammer,hecontinues todropbarsShakespearewouldjump upandpraise.

Then,there’sEPMD.Their smoothed-outroughneckstyle hasechoedthroughthedecades,

withtrackslike“YouGotstoChill,” “StrictlyBusiness”and“Crossover” continuingtoinfluenceMCs,DJsand producersinhip-hop,housemusic anddrumandbasstothisday.

Let’sgettotheelephantinthe room:Juvenile.Thefactthatittook JuvieTWEETINGaboutthefactthat Essencewashavinga“TheSouthHas SomethingtoSay”showcase(more onthatlater)withouthimorANY OTHERNewOrleansMCisshameful. Infact,theonlyNewOrleansMCon theentirefestivalbilluntilJuviemade aruckuswasMiaX.Sheiswithouta doubtoneofhip-hop’sGOATs,but nobodyelseduringa50thanniversary?Sure,Essenceisn’taNew Orleans-centricfestival,butdamn. Southernrapain’tjustinAtlanta. Lastbutdefinitelynotleast,there’s KRS-One.Nobodywhoknowswhat’s

goodforthemwantstofollowKrison abigfeaturestrack,letaloneastage Partspoken-wordperformance,part outragedcalltoarms,partcelebrationoflifeand100%anMConthe mic,KRS-Oneisthehighpriestof hip-hop,remindingusnotonlyofthe genre’searliestrootsintheBronxbut itsdemandforabetterworld.

NighttwowillbeDJ’dbytheone andonlyKidCapri,whoiswidely creditedwithcreatingthe“mixtape” genre.That’sagoodthingbasedon theanniversarylineup,whichwilltake thecrowdoutofNewYorkandinto AtlantaandtheWest.

Theshowcase’sfirsthalfiscurated byJermaineDupri—arapper,dancer, recordexecutiveandformerpartner ofJanetJackson.Duprigothisstart inhip-hopasadancerforWhodini intheearlydaysof’80srapandhas

Salt-N-Pepa PHOTOBYBRETT DUKE / THETIMES-PICAYUNE

SlickRick PHOTOBYCAITLINFAW / THETIMES-PICAYUNE

BigBoi PROVIDEDPHOTO

goneontoproducesomeofthemost iconicrecordsofthelast25years.

Therestofthe“TheSouth’sGot SomethingtoSay”lineuprepresents theAtlantasoundfromthelate’90s tothelate2000s.There’sGucci ManeandT.I.,whotooktheearly Southernrapsoundandmadeitan internationalphenomenon.

Ofcourse,itwouldn’tbeAtlanta withoutstripclubs.Thankfully, Ludacris theundisputedkingof poledancingandp-poppin’beats is backtomakeitlyricallyrainonNew Orleansforasecondtimethisyear BasedonhissetatJazzFestthisyear, Ludaisfeelin’itthesedays,soexpect himtobringittotheSuperdome RoundingouttheAtlantahalfofthe showisBigBoi.Aspartoftheiconic duoOutkastandthelargerDungeon Familyof’90sATLrappers,BigBoi hasspentthelastthreedecadesperiodicallyredefiningthehip-hopgame withhisproductionand(oftenunderappreciated)lyrics.Hisinfluencecan befelteverywhere.

Thesecondhalfoftheshowcase willfocusontheWestCoast,includingDJQuik.JustlikeMarleyMarl helpedcreatetheclassicNewYork soundoftheGoldenEra,Quikwas instrumentalindevelopingthesound andfeelofWestCoastrap,particularlytheParliament-heavyG-funkstyle.

ToppingthebillisIceCube,who madeuptheiconicN.W.A.along withDr.Dre,Eazy-EandMCRen. CriticshaveoftentriedtotarN.W.A. asglorifyinggangviolenceanddrugs, butthat’sabadtake,notonlyonthe groupbutalsoonCube’ssolowork Sure,there’splentyofdisstracksand violentlanguage,butmoreimportant wasthewarningN.W.A.andCube werescreamingatthetopoftheir lungs:AgenerationofyoungBlack menwerebeingterrorizedbyclassism,racistpoliceandasocio-economicsystemthattoooftenleftthem littlechoicebutviolence.

Thelineupleansheavilyonold school andwomen rappers. J.J.Fad,oneoftheWestCoast’s oldestwomenrappergroupshave hadaresurgenceinthelastfew yearssincetheirheydayinthelate ’80s,andtheirsongs“Supersonic” and“AnothaHoe”remainclassics inhip-hop.Compton’sYo-Yowill alsoappear.Shemadeherdebuton Cube’sfirstsolorecord“AmeriKKKa’s MostWanted”andquicklybecamea powerfulfeministvoiceinGoldenEra hip-hop.

RobinYvetteAllen,akaTheLady ofRage,alsowillperform Oneof thefirstartistssignedtoDeathRow Records,TheLadyofRagehelped pavethewayforgenerationsof womenMCsthankstoherbrilliant

lyricalabilities.She’sperformedwith someofthebiggestnamesinhip-hop includingChubbRock,Dr.Dre,Snoop andGangStarr.

E-40istheonlynorthernCalifornia rappertoappearthisyear Originally fromoutsidetheBayArea,E-40 gothisstartinthelate’80s,breakingoutaspartofTheClickwiththe group’shit“CaptainSaveaHoe.”He’s sincetakenonlegendarystatusand becomeamainstayintheOakland rapsound.

Speakingofsomeofthegranddaddiesofhip-hop,everybody’sfavorite “Law&Order”detectiveIce-Twill alsotakethestageSaturday.Ice-T gothisstartintheearliestdaysofOld Schoolhip-hop,winningopenmic competitionsintheearly’80s.His brashlyricalstyleandbluntdiscussion oflifeasagangsterandpimphelped formwhatwouldbecometheclassic WestCoaststyleofrapping.

ButlikeN.W.A.later,Ice-Twasalso verymuchasocialcriticthroughout muchofhiscareer Somewhatironically,longbeforeheplayedoneon TV,Ice-Twouldoutragecopsacross thecountrywithhishardcorepunk bandBodyCount Thegroup’sfirst recordincludedthesocialjusticeanthem“BodyCount,”whichprompted policeprotestsandriotsatshows.

ThefinalnightofEssencewillbe ladies’night,forsure TheanniversaryshowcasewillbehostedbyAngie Martinez AsahostonNewYork’s iconicHot97radiostation,she’sbeen afundamentalfixtureinhip-hop fordecades,helpingmakeorbreak untoldcareers.She’salsohadquite themusicalcareerofherownwith featuresontracksbyKRS-One,Missy Elliott,Lil’KimandMaryJ.Blige. NewOrleans’ownMiaXiswithout adoubtoneofthemostinfluential womeninrap.Sincehertimewith NoLimits,she’sbeentheundisputed QueenofSouthernRap.ButlikeThe LadyofRageandYo-Yo,sheisalsoan unapologeticallystrongandunapologeticallyBlackwoman,onandoffthe mic Inthedecadessince,shehasn’t letup,whetherit’sonstage,inthe kitchendevelopingherownbusiness orhereathomesupportingthecommunityandcultureofNewOrleans.

Whenyouthinkoflate’90s, early-2000ship-hop,oneofthefirst voicesyou’llhearisEve’s.Starting withher1999“LetThereBeEve RuffRyders’FirstLady,”shehelped definetheera’sclubbydancesound aship-hoptransitionedintoan integralpartofinternationalpopular music.Dubbedthe“QueenofRap”by Jetmagazine,Evehasalsoperformed withDMX,TheRoots,MissyElliott andothertitansofhip-hop.

Theshowcasealsowillfeaturethe multi-award-winningNewYorkMC RemyMa.Magotherstartwiththe lateBigPunbeforejoiningFatJoe’s TerrorSquad.Hercareertookoff afterappearingonthetrack“Lean Back,”forwhichshegotherfirst Grammynomination.Sincethen, she’sproducedahostofclassic hip-hoprecordsandmixtapes,twice wontheBestFemaleHip-HopArtist awardattheBETAwardsandeven appearedon“Love&Hip-Hop: NewYork.”

Florida’sTrina,meanwhile,dominatedboththechartsandhip-hop generallyduringthefirstdecadeofthe 2000s.Aftergettingherstartwith TrickDaddyinthelate’90s,shebegan aremarkable10-yearrun,puttingout aseriesofclassicrecordsstartingwith “DaBaddestBitch”in2000

Finally,noshowcaseofwomen rapperswouldbecompletewithout Salt-N-Pepa.TheQueenstrioof Salt,PepaandDJSpinderella whowillalsobetheguestDJ Sundaynight isundoubtedlyone ofthemosticonicgroupsnotonly inthehistoryofhip-hop,butin Americanmusic.

Their1986debutrecord“Hot,Cool &Vicious”wasaninstantclassicof theGoldenEraandmadethemthe firstwomenrapperstogaingoldand platinumrecordstatus.Thealbum’s single“PushIt”wouldbecomethe firstinalonglineofbangersputout bythegroup alongwith“Let’sTalk AboutSex,”“Shoop,”and“Whatta Man” thataresoengrainedinto Americancultureyou’dbehard pressedtofindsomeonewhodoesn’t knowthembyheart.

RemyMa

PHOTO BY BRETT DUKE / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

MiaX

PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

KRS-One

PHOTO BY JASON DECROW / AP

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SUNDAY, JULY 2 SUND

MEGAN THEE STALLION

STANDING AT 5’10,” the28-year-old Texas-bornrapperpickedupthe nickname“stallion”asateeninreferencetohertallstature.However,it wasn’tuntilaround2019thatMegan TheeStallionbecameahousehold name,firstwithherundeniably catchyhitsingle“HotGirlSummer” andthentheTikTokdanceanthem “Savage,”thelatterofwhichshe laterremixedwithBeyonce.She followedthoseupinAugust2020 withtheunforgettable“WAP”with CardiB.

Ridingthatwaveofsuccess,Megan releasedthreefull-lengthalbums

“GoodNews”in2020,“SomethingforTheeHotties”in2021and “Traumazine”in2022 andteased anewalbumearlierthisyear Amid alltheprofessionalsuccess,shealso receivedherbachelor’sdegreein healthadministrationfromTexas SouthernUniversity.

“Traumazine”isaboutdealingwith traumaanditseffectsonthebrain. Thoughyoung,she’sexperienced severaltraumaticevents:Shelost herfatherwhenshewas15,her motherpassedin2019,andthen hergrandmotherdiedshortlyafter. Meganalsofoundherselfinthemidst ofanassaulttrialagainstrapperTory Lanez,whowasconvictedofthree feloniesonchargesofshootingherin thefeetlastyear

Byexploringtheseemotionspublicly,MegantoldTheCutlastyearshe hopespeoplegoingthroughsimilar experiencesfeellessalone.

“It’scomfortingtoknowthatother peoplearegoingthroughthesame thingthatyoumightbefeeling,”she said.“Whensomethinghappensto people,theyfeellike,‘Ohmygosh,

WIZKID

AFROBEAT ARTIST WIZKID mayhave beenpropheticwhenhenamedhis 2011debutalbum“Superstar.”He wasatleastputtinghisgoalsinto theuniverse By2023,theNigerian singer-songwriterisjustthat:oneof theworld’ssuperstars.

Followinghisdebut,WizKid quicklybuilttobecomeoneofNigeria’sbiggestmusicians drivenby charismaticpopmusicmerginghiphop,dancehallandelectronicdance elements withtoursinEuropeand collaborationswithFemiKuti,Akon andWale AndthenDrakecaughton.

Drake’s2016single“OneDance” introducedWizKidtoanAmerican audience,andthethen26-year-old singertookadvantageofthespotlight.HesignedwithRCARecords andquicklyreleasedhisthirdstudio album“SoundsfromtheOtherSide.”

Inthefewyearssince,WizKidhas workedwithBeyonce whichledto hisfirstGrammyAward Major Lazer,H.E.R andJustinBieber,and haswonseveralBETAwards,BillboardMusicAwardsandSoulTrain MusicAwards WizKidhaskeptuptheheatwith his2020release,“MadeinLagos,” whichappearedonnumerous end-of-the-yearlists,andlastyear’s follow-up,“MoreLove,LessEgo.”

JAKE CLAPP

KIZZ DANIEL

NIGERIAN AFROBEAT SINGER-SONGWRITER KIZZ DANIEL maynotyet havetheinternationalaudience hisfellowcountrymanWizKidhas found,butitcouldbejustamatter oftime.

KizzDanielmadeasplashin2016 whenhisfirstalbum,“NewEra,” debutedatNo.8onBillboard’s WorldAlbumChart,andlaterwon albumoftheyearatTheHeadies,an awardsshoworganizedbyNigerian publicationHipHopWorldMagazine. Intheyearssince,he’sreleasedthree albums,startedhisownlabel,Flyboy Inc.,andworkedwithDiplo,WizKid andDavido Lastyear,KizzDaniel scoredaviralhitwithhissong“Buga” whenitsparkedaTikTokdance challengeinWestAfrica

NigerianAfrobeatisamassive genrewaitingtobeexploredby internationalaudiences Andwhile somestarmusicians,likeDrake, arebringingthegenretomoreears, internationalcollaborationscan oftenbeextractive leavingbehind agenre’soriginalartistswhiletheir artisappropriated(NewOrleans bounceartistshavesomethoughts).

Ratherthaninternationalcollaborations,KizzDanielsaidonTwitterlast summer,Afrobeatsneedsmore“internationalears.” JAKE

CLAPP

MUNI LONG

EARLIER THIS YEAR, MuniLong wasnominatedforthreeGrammy Awards.Herlatestalbum,“Public DisplaysofAffection:TheAlbum,” hadearnedherabestnewartist nomination,andhersong“Hrs& Hrs” aheartfelt,vibrantR&Bballad wasintherunningforbestR&B songaswellasbestR&Bperformance,whichsheultimatelywalked awaywith.

Itwasamomentousmoment forthe34-year-oldsinger-songwriter amajormilestoneonalong, windingcareerpathalreadymarked withsuccess.

In2009,MuniLongreleasedher debutalbum,“Jukebox,”underher givenname,PriscillaRenea.Butafter itsrelease,Longdecidedtotapinto hersongwritingtalentsandpivoted towritingmusicforotherartists.The nextnear-decadesawherworking withartistslikeRihanna,Madonna, KellyRowland,DemiLovato,Mary

J.Blige,MariahCarey,Curren$yand manyothers.

Butafterafewyears,Longwas attractedbacktorecordingherown materialandbeganworkingonwhat wouldbecomeher2018album,“Coloured,”whichcombinedAmericana, soul,hip-hopandR&Bsounds.The albumwascriticallywell-received Decidingtopivotagaintoexplore newsounds,thesinger-songwriter adoptedthenameMuniLongin2019 andlaunchedherownindependent label,SupergiantRecords.Her2020 EP,“BlackLikeThis” acelebration ofBlacknessamidthetumultof 2020 alsodebutedanewsound diggingintoprogressiveR&Bandsoul withsomeexperimentation.

Longthefollowingyearsignedwith DefJamRecordingsandreleasedthe EPs“PublicDisplaysofAffection” and“PublicDisplaysofAffection Too.”Andafterhersong“Hrsand Hrs”tookoffonTikTok,hertwoEPs wereultimatelyre-packagedas“The Album,”alongwithnewtracks.

Longhasn’tyetspokenabout what’sonthehorizon,butgiven herabilitytopivot,expecthertodo whateverthehellshewants.

JAKE CLAPP

thisisonlyme Thisisnotnormal,or I’mprobablytheonlypersoninthe worldthatfeelslikethis.’”

KAYLEE POCHE

CAESARS SUPERDOME

HOSTEDBYCOMEDIANANDACTORJANELLEJAMES ANDFEATURINGDJSPINDERELLA

MeganTheeStallion

PHOTO BY SCOTT GARFITT / THE AP

WizKid

PROVIDED PHOTO BY ROB RUSLING

ESSENCE FEST 2023: EX PE RI EN CE S

WHILE BIG NAME ARTISTS LIKE MEGAN THEE STALLION, MissyElliottand LaurynHillarerockingtheCaesars Superdome,thereisplentymoreof theEssenceFestivalofCulturegoing onattheErnestN.MorialConvention Center.Thefestivalhosts“experiences” uniqueareasdedicatedtobeauty, health,fashion,businessandothertopicsimpactingBlackculture,especially Blackwomen withkeynotespeakers, vendors,panels,workshopsandmore acrosstheConventionCenter

Belowisaround-upofthisyear’s experiences.Allexperiencesarefree toattendandtakeplace9:30a.m.to 5p.m.June30throughJuly2inthe ErnestN.MorialConventionCenter unlessotherwisenoted.Registrationfor in-persongeneraladmissionisrequired viaessence.com Manyprogramming specificshavenotyetbeenannounced, solookforthelatestonthefest’swebsiteandontheEssenceFestapp.

Afropunk BLKTOPIA and Krewe Ball

Arts,cultureandnewsplatformAfropunkhighlightsradicalBlackcreatives workinginalternativemusicgenres, film,fashion,booksandthearts.They alsoorganizemusicandartsfestivals inBrooklyn,Miami,Bahia,Brazil,and othercities.AtEssence,Afropunkwill hostBLKTOPIA,adailyimmersive experienceattheconventioncenter,as wellasKreweBall,aseriesofafter-dark partiesfeaturingsecretperformances andcelebrityDJsetsonJune29,June 30andJuly2attheJoyTheater Krewe Ballticketsare$25generaladmission and$80VIP.

BeautyCon: EFOC Edition

Foundedin2012,BeautyConisa platformfocusedonthebeauty,fashion andlifestylecommunities,andpriorto thestartofthepandemic,itorganized popularconventionsaroundthosetopics inLosAngelesandNewYork.Essence VenturesacquiredBeautyConin2021 andisre-launchingthein-personbeauty conventionlaterthisyearinLosAngeles Butfirst,they’rehostingapre-debut experienceatEssenceFestfeaturing leadingvoicesinthebeautyindustry, especiallythosethatchampionBlack beautyandself-care

Essence Authors

Thefestivalhostsauthorsfordaily bookreadings,interviewsandsignings. TheexperienceispoweredbyMahogany Books,anindependentbookstore specializinginbooksbywritersofAfricandescent.

Community Corner

Thefestival’sCommunityCorner featurestablesandinformationbooths byorganizationsfocusedonBlack economicempowerment,civilrights andactivism.

Family Day

Essencehostsafamily-friendlypartyon Monday,July3,atArmstrongParkfeaturingNewOrleansmusicians,artists, foodvendorsincludingseafood,and kids’activities.

Essence Film Festival

Thefilmfestivalinsidethefestivalwill featurescreenings,livescreenplay readings,paneldiscussions,workshops forfilmmakersandmore Filmfestival specificticketsandtheschedulewillbe releasedsoonviaessence.com.

Food & Wine Festival

EssencelastyearlauncheditsEats: Food&WineFestivaltohighlightchefs, restaurantsanddishesconnectingthe Africandiaspora,fromNewOrleans

CreolecuisinetoCaribbeanfareand Africanspecialties.Theexperienceis backwithfood-focusedeventsand Black-ownedwinesandspirits.

Get Lifted

Essencebringsalittlechurchtothe festivitiesandcelebratesthegospeltradition inacitywheretheBlackchurch isthecornerstoneofsomanymusicians’ foundations withagospelcelebration, startingat9:30a.m.Sunday,July2,in theconventioncenter.

In His Zone: Men’s Experience

AsapublicationandthroughitsFestival ofCulture,Essencehashistoricallybeen

andremains focusedonBlackwomen Butlastyear,thefestivallaunched InHisZone,anexperiencesupporting Blackmenwithvendors,speakersand panelsfocusedoneverythingfrom financeandsportstomen’sfashion, healthcareandgrooming

Essence Stage

ThecenterstageintheErnestN.Morial ConventionCenterwillfeatureinterviews,keynotesandspecialpresentationsfromBlackmoversandshakers

Wellness House

Thisportionofthefestivalwillfeature exerciseandmovementclassesaswell asvendorsandsessionsfocusedon mind,bodyandspiritualhealth.

Global Black Economic Forum

Asanorganization,theGlobalBlack EconomicForumisfocusedonbreaking downeconomicbarriersfacedbythe Blackcommunitythroughpolicyadvocacy,businesseducationandleadership development Eachyear,GBEFalso hostsasummitduringEssenceFest featuringCEOs,entrepreneurs,policy makersandactivists.Amongthisyear’s participantswillbeVicePresident KamalaHarris,SecretaryoftheTreasury JanetYellen,UnitedNationsAmbassador(andLouisiananative)LindaThomas-GreenfieldandEPAAdministrator MichaelRegan.Forascheduleofevents, checkoutgbef.comortheEssenceapp.

GU Creators House and Kickback

GirlsUnitedisEssence’splatformfor youngBlackwomen,featuringcontent createdbyGenZforGenZ.AtEssence Fest,GUwillhostCreator’sHouseat TheSugarMill,acrossfromtheconventioncenter,whereyoungcreativescan network,collaborateandlearnfrom someofthebiggestinfluencers.Andon FridayandSaturdaynights,TheSugar MillwillhosttheGUKickbackafter-party TicketsfortheGUKickbackare$25 generaland$80VIP.

SOKO MRKT and SOKO NO.LA

GivingspaceforBlack-andwomen-ownedbusinesseshasalwaysbeen akeypartofEssenceFest TheSOKO MRKT(formerlytheEssenceMarketplace)willfeaturebusinessesselling everythingfromclothing,handmade jewelryandaccessoriestovisualartand uniquegoods.

TherealsowillbeauniqueSOKO NO.LAareaheld9:30a.m.to5p.m. June30throughJuly2intheHilton Hotelparkinglotfeaturingaround50 NewOrleansarearetailvendorsand eightfoodvendors.Retailvendors includeamasterjewelerandsilversmith, andthere’sartfromaBlackwomen-ownedgallery,children’sbooks, vinylrecordsandmoreforsale.There alsowillbetablesfromtheNewOrleans RegionalBlackChamberofCommerce andotherorganizations.

VicePresidentKamalaHarrisreturnstothe EssenceFestivalofCulturetotakepartinthe GlobalBlackEconomicForum.

PHOTO BY SCOTT THRELKELD / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

Sunrise

RestaurateurLarryMorrowhonorshis grandmotheratnewFrenchQuarterspot

SUNCHONGISTHELATESTRESTAURANT

FROMLARRYMORROW,whoplansto havesixplacesopenbytheendofthis year,withmoretocomein2024.

“Iwantustobeoneofthelargest Black-ownedhospitalitygroups intheSouth,”saysthe32-yearoldentrepreneur.

Heremembersthemomentwhen thepossibilityofrealizingbigdreams becamerealtohim.

“Iwas20,myfirsttimeinL.A.,” hesays.“IgotinvitedtoapartyatP Diddy’shouse,highintheHollywood Hills.Ifeltontopoftheworld—being fromacitythat’sbelowsealevel,I’d neverseenanythinglikeit.Sometimes youcan’tknowwhat’spossibleuntil youseeitforyourself.Thatchanged mylife.”

Minglingwithcelebrities,models andsportsstarsisMorrow’sbread andbutter,fuelingbothhisevents businessandtheburgeoningrestaurantgroupheheads.“Theyfeedeach other,thepartiesandtherestaurants,”hesays.

Morrowsayshisbusinesssavvy comesfromthegrindandfrom surroundinghimselfwiththeright people.“Mymom’sanentrepreneur,” hesays.“Mygrandmother’sanentrepreneur.Ihavestrongwomeninmy life,andthat’smademestrong,too.”

SunChong,intheFrenchQuarter at240DecaturSt.,isnamedforhis 69-year-oldmaternalgrandmother, who’susuallyinthehouseworking closelywithchefChristianGreen.Many ofherKoreanrecipesareusedatthe restaurant.“I’mhereeveryday,until theyareusedtotherecipes,”shesays.

ChongcametotheUnitedStates whenshewas23andMorrow’s mother,Lenore,was3.“Ididn’teven knowhowtocookthen,”shesays.“I taughtmyself.”

Herdaughterbecameachefand nowheadsthecompany’sculinary program,whichincludestheirfirst restaurant,Morrow’s,whichopened in2018intheMarigny.Theyadded MondayinMid-Cityin2022.

TheMorrowGroupisgearingup toopenafourthrestaurantthis

summer,Morrow’sSteak andSeafood,at1001 JuliaSt.Andlaterinthe summer,Morrowplansto openaCaribbean-style restaurantandloungeat 405FrenchmenSt.,the patiospacethatwasmost recentlyTheYard.He seesnoendinsightfor potentialprojects.

Morrowgrewupeating amixofNewOrleans andKoreanfood.“My momwasachef,sowe atewell,”hesays.“Every holiday,everyparty, she’dcookformeand myfriends.”

byBethD’Addono

FORK +CENTER

Emaildining@gambitweekly.com

BlackNOLAMarketplace

THEFACEBOOKGROUPWHEREBLACK NOLAEATSisorganizingamarketplaceof foodvendorsandmoreattheSouthern Food&BeverageMuseumJuly1-3. FoodvendorsincludeMr.Shrimp, SweeTee’sSugaShak,OhSweet Lemon,CocoSmokehouse,whichwill servesmokedmeatsandGoudamac andcheese,andTheWhiticar’sEffect, offeringfriedfishandshrimpplates Themarketalsowillincludecandles, bodyproducts,accessoriesandmore DJswillprovideentertainment.

Hecallsthenewrestaurant’sfoodKoreaninspired,andthereis amixofotherAsianinfluenceddishes,like friedricewithcrawfish orvegetables,dumplings stuffedwithkimchee andpork,teriyaki-glazed salmonandspicyKoreanstylemarinatedand friedchicken.Thefried ribsareacrowdpleaser, presentedunderneath asmoke-filledglassdome.TheFish inaBoatisanotherheadturnerwith chunksoffriedredsnappersurroundedbythefriedwholefish

Underthemenu’shandheldsection areabulgogirib-eyepo-boy,afried crawfishpo-boyanda“baco,”an Asianbunstuffedwithspicypork, teriyakibeeforfriedshrimpon Frenchbread.

MacyEzidoreisbehindthe Instagram-ready$17cocktails,like theILoveYou,alayeredblendofgin, lycheesojuandpeachpureeserved inaheart-shapedmartiniglassand toppedwithahibiscusflower.

Therestaurant’smoderndesign isfromMatthewHoldren,whoalso designedMorrow’s.Blackwallsare paintedwithscatteredhotpink hibiscusflowers,andagoldendragon snakesaroundonecolumn,both

createdbylocalartistAnnMarie Auricchio.Aback-litbarandsunflowerleatherseatingroundsoutthe eye-poppingsetting.

“Iwantittobeanexperience,a vibe,todineatoneofourrestaurants,”Morrowsays.“NewOrleansis averytraditionalcity.WhenItravel toplaceslikeMiami,L.A.,NewYork, there’sadifferentenergythatIwant tobringhere.”Hesayshiscustomers are60%tourists,therestlocalswho havesupportedMorrow’s

“Thisisatoughbusiness,”Morrow says.“SomepeoplethinkI’mcrazy. ButIwasraisedtoshowhospitality Foodisuniversal,alanguagewe allspeak.”

WHAT WHERE WHEN CHECKITOUT HOW

Themarketwillbeopenfrom11a.m. to5p.m.Saturday,July1,through Monday,July3.Admissionis$5at thedoor.Findinformationatfacebook.com/whereblacknolaeatsand eventbrite.com.—WILLCOVIELLO

Makeoverbrewing

STARBUCKSCAUSEDASTIRLASTFALL WHENTHESEATTLE-BASEDCOFFEE

GIANTSHUTTEREDitsNewOrleans flagshiplocationatthecornerofCanal StreetandSt.CharlesAvenue,citing securityconcernsamongthefactorsfor theclosure.

Now,NewOrleans-basedFrench TruckCoffeeistakingoverthespaceat 700CanalSt.,inthegroundfloorofthe historicPickwickClubbuilding.

It’sopeningitsowncoffeeshophere overthesummer,andtoFrenchTruck CoffeefounderGeoffreyMeeker,it’s alsomakingastatement.

“IbelieveinNewOrleanswithallof itschallenges,butmoreimportantlyall oftheamazingthingsourcityhas:the people,thecultureandthehistory,” Meekersays.“Wesayinourbusiness,‘It takesgoodpeopletomakegoodcoffee.’ InNewOrleans,ittakesgoodpeopleto

LarryMorrowopenedSunChong intheFrenchQuarter.

PHOTOBYCHERYLGERBER/ GAMBIT

PHOTOBYMATTHEW SIGUR /THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

provideNewOrleanshospitality.That’s whatthiscityhas,andwewillbehighlightingitinawaythatbigcorporations simplydon’tunderstand.”

Thiswillbethe11thlocationfor FrenchTruck.Meekerstartedthe businessin2012inhiskitchenwith homecoffeeroastingequipmentand apassionforgivingcoffeethesame respectandtreatmentthatchefspay totheirotherculinaryingredients.

FrenchTruckhascafes,whichoffer fullrestaurantmenus,andcoffee shops,whichfocusondrinksand quickitemsfromthecounter.The newCanalStreetlocationwillfollow theshopmodel,thoughMeekersays itwilllikelyhavemoresandwiches andgrab-and-gofooditemsin thefuture.

RenovationstotheCanalStreetlocationareprogressingtowardaplanned openinglaterthissummer

Thebusinesstakesitsnamefrom theyellowCitroëndeliverytruck thatheusedtomakedeliveriesinthe earlydays.Today,Meekerrunsthe companyinpartnershipwithBobby Winston.—IANMcNULTY/ THETIMES-PICAYUNE

Emeril’sreboot

THEFLAGSHIPRESTAURANTFOR CELEBRITYCHEFEMERILLAGASSE hasseenagreatdealofchangeon theculinaryfrontsinceclosingand returningthroughthepandemic.Now majorchangesareonthewayforhow thedowntownNewOrleansrestaurant looksandfeelsfordiners,andhowit functionsbehindthescenes.

ParentcompanytheEmerilGroup planstocloseEmeril’sRestaurant nextmonthandbeginasweeping renovation,guttingtheinteriorof800 TchoupitoulasSt.Thelastserviceis setforJuly15;thecompanyplansto reopentwomonthslater,aimingfor Sept.26.

Anewculinarydirectionandamore refinedstyleofserviceintroducedlast yearareguidingthework.Emeril’snow servesaseriesofset-course,chef’s tastingmenus,withtheonlyalacarte optionservedinthebar(nowcalledthe Salon).Pricesarehighernowtoo,with tastingmenuscurrentlysetat$165and $185perperson,withoptionalwine pairingextras.

Theupcomingworkwillbringanew kitchendesignedaroundtherestaurant’scontemporarytastingmenu format.Thediningroomwillbereconfiguredaroundasmallernumberof tables,focusingthehigh-touchservice. Thebar,nowcalledtheSalon,willbe redesignedandhaveitsownentrance onJuliaStreet.

Thecompanyisworkingwithlocal architectsRozasWardandhospitality

WINE OF THE WEEK

designandconsultingfirmJEMWest ontheproject LagassefirstopenedEmeril’sina then-edgypartoftheWarehouse Districtin1990andsoonembarked onatelevisioncareer,drawingthe templateforthemoderncelebrity chef.Thishasremainedhisflagship restaurantashisstarroseandhis brandprogressed.

Lastyear,hissonE.J.Lagassejoined thestaffandfatherandsonhavebeen workingwiththecompany’sculinary teamtotransformEmeril’sintoamore luxandambitiousrestaurant.

EmerilLagassehassaidthenew directionreflectswherehebelievesthe highestlevelofAmericanfinedining shouldbenow,andhowNewOrleans shouldberepresentedinitsranks.

WhenEmeril’sreopensitwillserve twocheftastingmenus,classicand seasonal.TheSalonwillserveamenu ofsmallplatesdrawnfromtheculinary team’sfavoritedishesfromaroundthe world,andgiveaccesstotherestaurant’sentirewinelist,whichisaWine SpectatorGrandAwardwinner

TheEmerilGroupsaiditwouldprovide“weeklyclosurepayandoffering aretentionbonustoallofourhourly employeeswhoareactivelyemployed atthetimeoftheclosure.”

Meril,Lagasse’smorecasual restaurantnearbyat424GirodSt., remainsopenandrecentlyresumed Fridaylunch(11:30a.m.-2p.m.)and expandedbrunchfromSundaytoboth SaturdayandSunday(11a.m.-2p.m.).

Lagasseandhiscompanyhavea newrecentlyannounceddowntown restaurantintheworksaswell.

Emeril’sBrasserieisnowtakingshape withinHarrah’s,partofthedowntown casino’songoingtransformationinto aCaesars.ItwillbeLagasse’sfirst French-inspiredrestaurant,andalso thefirstrestaurantinthecasinoaccessibletoallages,withitsownentrance fromthestreet.Emeril’sBrasserieis slatedtoopenlatethisyear.—IAN McNULTY/THETIMES-PICAYUNE

Commander’sseries

COMMANDER’SPALACEANNOUNCEDA SERIESOFCOLLABORATIVEDINNERS ExecutivechefMegBickfordwillbe joinedbyotherwomenchefsforthe dinners,andaportionofproceedswill benefitCafeReconcile,thenonprofit restaurantofferingculinarytraining andmentoringtoat-riskyouth.

TheserieskicksoffJuly11withchef SueZemanickofZasu.OnAugust 16,BickfordwillbejoinedbyAmy MehrtensofCopperVine.Theseries concludeswithchefMarthaWigginsof CafeReconcileonSept.12. Thedinnersincludefivecourses, cocktailsandwinepairingsandare $165perperson,includingtaxandtip. Findinformationatcommanderspalace.com.—WILLCOVIELLO

On the palate,the wine is dry and pleasantly fruity with afresh, aromatic note on the finish. It also reveals an abundanceofalmonds, and fresh citrus notes. Enjoywith Caprese salad, crab cakes, pan-seared salmon with lemon and basil, chicken pestowith angel hair pasta or all your fine desserts.

DISTRIBUTED BY

E.J.Lagasse(left)andhis fatherEmerilLagasseat thecelebritychef’sflagship restaurantEmeril’s.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Zonin Prosecco

Best Best B

Out2EatisanindexofGambitcontractadvertisers. Unlessnoted,addressesareforNewOrleansand allacceptcreditcards.Updates:Email willc@gambitweekly.comorcall(504)483-3106

8FreshFoodAssassin—1900N.Claiborne Ave.,(504)224-2628;Instagram,@8freshfoodassassin ChefMannyJanuary’sserves lambchops,T-bonesteaks,salmon,crab cakes,deepfriedribs,friedchickenand seafood-loadedoysters.Noreservations. Deliveryavailable.Lunchanddinner

Tue.-Sun $$

Acorn—12HenryThomasDrive,(504) 218-5413;acornnola.com Thecafeatthe LouisianaChildren’sMuseumhasblackened shrimptacostoppedwitharugula,radish, pineapple-mangosalsaandcilantro-lime sauce.Noreservations.breakfastandlunch

Wed.-Sun $$

AngeloBrocato’s—214N.CarrolltonAve., (504)486-1465;angelobrocatoicecream com—Thissweetshopservesitsowngelato, spumoni,Italianice,cannolis,biscotti,fig cookies,tiramisu,macaroonsandmore LunchanddinnerTue.-Sun.$

Annunciation—1016AnnunciationSt., (504)568-0245;annunciationrestaurant. com—GulfDrumYvonneisservedwith brownbuttersaucewithmushroomsand artichokehearts.Reservationsrecommended.DinnerThu.-Mon.$$$

BananaBlossom—5009thSt.,Gretna, (504)500-0997;504bananablossom.com

JimmyCho’sThaidishesincludesmoked porkbellyandporkmeatballsinlemongrass brothwithegg,greenonion,cilantroand garlic.Reservationsacceptedforlarge partiesexceptweekends.Deliveryavailable.LunchanddinnerTue.-Sat.$$

TheBlueCrabRestaurantandOyster Bar—118HarborViewCourt,Slidell,(985) 315-7001;7900LakeshoreDrive,(504) 284-2898;thebluecrabnola.com—Basin barbecueshrimpareservedovercheese gritswithacheesebiscuit.Outdoorseating available.Noreservations.Lakeview:lunch anddinnerTue.-Sun.Slidell:lunchFri.-Sat., dinnerWed.-Sun $$

Broussard’s 819ContiSt.,(504)5813866;broussards.com Rainbowtrout amandineisservedwithtassoandcorn macquechouxandCreolemeunieresauce. Reservationsrecommended.Outdoor seatingavailable.DinnerWed.-Sat., brunchSun.$$$

CafeNormandie—HigginsHotel,480 AndrewHigginsBlvd.,(504)528-1941; higginshotelnola.com/dining—Themenu combinesclassicFrenchdishesand Louisianaitemslikecrabbeignetswithherb aioli.Noreservations.Breakfastand lunchdaily.$$

TheCommissary—634OrangeSt.,(504) 274-1850;thecommissarynola.com—The centralkitchenforDickieBrennanrestaurantshasadine-inmenuwithasmoked turkeybreastsandwichwithbacon,tomato jam,herbedcreamcheese,arugulaand herbvinaigretteonhoneyoatbread.No reservations.Outdoorseatingavailable.

LunchTue.-Sat.$$ Curio—301RoyalSt.,(504)717-4198; curionola.com—ThecreativeCreolemenu includesblackenedGulfshrimpserved withchickenandandouillejambalaya. Reservationsaccepted.Lunchand dinnerdaily.$$

$—averagedinnerentréeunder$10 $$—$11-$20 $$$—$20-up

DesireOysterBar—RoyalSonestaNew Orleans,300BourbonSt.,(504)586-0300; sonesta.com/desireoysterbar The menuhighlightsGulfseafoodinCreole dishes.Char-grilledoystersaretopped withParmesanandherbs.Reservations recommended.Breakfast,lunchand dinnerdaily $$

DickieBrennan’sBourbonHouse—144 BourbonSt.,(504)522-0111;bourbonhouse.com There’saseafoodrawbar anddisheslikeredfishwithlemonbuerre blanc.Reservationsaccepted.Lunchand dinnerdaily $$$

DickieBrennan’sSteakhouse—716Iberville St.,(504)522-2467;dickiebrennanssteakhouse.com A6-ouncefiletmignonis servedwithfriedoysters,creamedspinach, potatoesandbearnaise.Reservations recommended.DinnerMon.-Sat.$$$ DragonflyCafe—530JacksonAve.,(504) 544-9530;dragonflynola.com Thecasual cafeoffersbreakfastplates,waffles,salads, coffeedrinksandmore.Deliveryavailable Reservationsaccepted.Breakfastandlunch Wed.-Sat $$

ElPavoReal—4401S.BroadAve., (504)266-2022;elpavorealnola.com— PescadoVeraCruzisasauteedGulffish toppedwithtomatoes,olives,onionand capersandservedwithriceandstring beans.Themenualsoincludestacos,enchiladasandmore.Outdoorseatingavailable. Noreservations.Lunchandearlydinner

Tue.-Sat $$

Felix’sRestaurant&OysterBar—739 IbervilleSt.,(504)522-4440;7400 LakeshoreDrive,(504)304-4125;felixs com—Louisianaoystersareservedraw orchar-grilledwithgarlic,Parmesanand breadcrumbs.Themenuincludesseafood platters,po-boysandmore.Noreservations.Lunchanddinnerdaily.$$ FreySmokedMeatCo. 4141BienvilleSt., Suite110,(504)488-7427;freysmokedmeat.com Thebarbecuespotserves pulledpork,ribs,brisket,sausagesand anditemslikefriedporkbellytossedin pepperjellyglaze.Noreservations.Lunch anddinnerdaily $$ FrootOrleans 2438BellSt.,SuiteB,(504) 233-3346;frootorleans.com—Thereare freshfruitplattersandsmoothiebowlssuch asastrawberryshortcakeandmoreusing pineapple,berries,citrusandmore.No reservations.Outdoorseatingavailable. Breakfastandlunchdaily $$ Juan’sFlyingBurrito—515BaronneSt., (504)529-5825;2018MagazineSt.,(504) 569-0000;4724S.CarrolltonAve.,(504) 486-9950;8140OakSt.,(504)897-4800; juansflyingburrito.com—TheFlyingBurrito includessteak,shrimp,chicken,cheddar jackcheese,blackbeans,rice,guacamole andsalsa.Outdoorseatingavailable.Noreservations.LunchanddinnerThu.-Tue $$ Katie’sRestaurant—3701IbervilleSt., (504)488-6582;katiesinmidcity.com

TheeclecticmenuincludesaCajunCuban withroastedpork,ham,cheeseandpickles onbutteredbread.Deliveryavailable. Reservationsacceptedforlargeparties.

$$

Kilroy’sBar HigginsHotel,480Andrew HigginsBlvd.,(504)528-1941;higginshotelnola.com/dining—Thebarmenuincludes sandwiches,saladsandflatbreads,including onetoppedwithpeach,prosciutto,stracciatellacheese,arugulaandpecans.No reservations.DinnerWed.-Sat $$

LegacyKitchen’sCraftTavern—700 TchoupitoulasSt.,(504)613-2350; legacykitchen.com Themenuincludes oysters,flatbreads,burgers,sandwiches, saladsandaNOLAStyleGritsBowltopped withbacon,cheddarandapoachedegg. Reservationsaccepted.Breakfast,lunch anddinnerdaily.$$

LegacyKitchenSteak&Chop—91 WestbankExpressway,Gretna,(504)

513-2606;legacykitchen.com Themenu includesfiletsmignons,bone-inrib-eyes andtopsirloins,aswellasburgers,salads andseafooddishes.Reservationsaccepted. Outdoorseatingavailable.Lunchanddinner Mon.-Sat $$

LuzianneCafe 481GirodSt.,(504)2651972;luziannecafe.com CajunSunshine Beignetsarestuffedwitheggs,bacon, cheeseandhotsauce.Noreservations Deliveryavailable.Breakfastandlunch Wed.-Sun.$$

MartinWineCellar 714ElmeerAve., Metairie,(504)896-7350;3827Baronne St.,(504)894-7444;martinwine.com

Thedeliservessandwichesandsalads suchastheSena,withchicken,raisins,blue cheese,pecansandTabascopepperjelly vinaigrette.Noreservations.Lunchdaily.$$ Mikimoto—3301S.CarrolltonAve.,(504) 488-1881;mikimotosushi.com—TheSouth Carrolltonrollincludestunatataki,avocado andsnowcrab.Themenualsohasnoodle dishes,teriyakiandmore.Reservations accepted.Deliveryavailable.LunchSun.Fri.,dinnerdaily.$$

Mosca’s—4137Highway90West, Westwego,(504)436-8950;moscasrestaurant.com Thisfamily-styleeateryserves Italiandishesandspecialtiesincluding chickenalagrandeandbakedoysters Mosca.Reservationsaccepted.Dinner Wed.-Sat.Cashonly.$$$

Mother’sRestaurant 401PoydrasSt., (504)523-9656;mothersrestaurant.net— Thiscounter-servicespotservespo-boys, jambalaya,crawfishetouffee,redbeans andriceandmore.Deliveryavailable.No reservations.Breakfast,lunchanddinner daily.$$

Neyow’sCreoleCafe 3332BienvilleSt., (504)827-5474;neyows.com Themenu includesredbeanswithfriedchickenor porkchops,aswellasseafoodplatters, po-boys,char-grilledoysters,saladsand more.Noreservations.Lunchdaily,dinner Mon.-Sat.,brunchSun.$$

NiceGuysBar&Grill—7910EarhartBlvd., (504)302-2404;niceguysbarandgrillnola com—Char-grilledoystersaretoppedwith cheese.Themenualsoincludeswings,quesadillas,burgers,salads,seafoodpastaand more.Noreservations.Lunchdaily,dinner

Mon.-Sat $$$

OrleansGrapevineWineBar&Bistro 720OrleansAve.,(504)523-1930; orleansgrapevine.com Thewinebar’s menuincludesCreolepastawithshrimp andandouilleintomatocreamsauce.

Reservationsacceptedforlargeparties

Outdoorseatingavailable.Dinner

Thu.-Sun.$$

PalaceCafe 605CanalSt.,(504)523-1661; palacecafe.com ThecontemporaryCreole menuincludessignaturecrabmeatcheesecaketoppedwithmushroomsandCreole meunieresauce.Outdoorseatingavailable. Reservationsrecommended.LunchWed.Fri.,dinnerWed.-Sun.,brunchSat.-Sun $$$

PeacockRoom KimptonHotelFontenot, 501TchoupitoulasSt.,(504)324-3073; peacockroomnola.com Blacklentilvadouvancurrycomeswithroastedtomatoes, mushroomsandbasmatirice.Reservations accepted.DinnerWed.-Mon.,brunchSun.$$ Rosie’sontheRoof HigginsHotel,480 AndrewHigginsBlvd.,(504)528-1941;higginshotelnola.com/dining Therooftopbar hasamenuofsandwiches,burgersandsmall plates.Noreservations.Dinnerdaily.$$

Tableau 616St.PeterSt.,(504)9343463;tableaufrenchquarter.com Pasta bouillabaissefeaturessquidinkmafaldine, littleneckclams,Gulfshrimp,squid,seafood broth,rouilleandherbedbreadcrumbs

Outdoorseatingavailable.Reservations recommended.DinnerWed.-Sun.,brunch

Thu.-Sun $$$

Tacklebox 817CommonSt.,(504)8271651;legacykitchen.com Theseafood restaurantservesoysters,anddisheslike redfishSt.Charleswithgarlic-herbbutter, asparagus,mushroomsandcrawfishcornbread.Reservationsaccepted.Breakfast, lunchanddinnerdaily.$$

TavolinoPizza&Lounge 141Delaronde St.,(504)605-3365;tavolinonola.com

Themenufeaturesthin-crustpizzas,salads, meatballsandmore.ABehrmanHwy.pizza istoppedwithporkbelly,caramel,carrots, radishes,jalapenosandherbs.Noreservations.Outdoorseatingavailable.Dinner

Tue.-Sat.$$

Theo’sNeighborhoodPizza—1212S. ClearviewParkway,Elmwood,(504)

733-3803;2125VeteransMemorialBlvd., Metairie,(504)510-4282;4024CanalSt., (504)302-1133;4218MagazineSt.,(504) 894-8554;70488Highway21,Covington, (985)234-9420;theospizza.com A MarilynnPotaSupremepieistopped withmozzarella,pepperoni,sausage, hamburger,mushrooms,bellpeppersand onions.Therealsoaresalads,sandwiches andmore.Deliveryavailable.Lunchand dinnerTue.-Sat $

Tito’sCeviche&Pisco 1433St.Charles Ave.,(504)354-1342;5015Magazine St.,(504)267-7612;titoscevichepisco. com Peruvianlomosaltadofeaturesbeef sauteedwithonions,tomatoes,cilantro, soysauceandpisco,servedwithfried potatoesandrice.Outdoorseatingavailable onMagazineStreet.Deliveryavailable

Reservationsaccepted.Lunchanddinner

Mon.-Sat.,brunchSun.$$$

TheVintage 3121MagazineSt.,(504) 324-7144;thevintagenola.com The menuincludesbeignets,smallplates, flatbreadsandaveggiepressedsandwich withavocado,onions,arugula,redpepper andpepperjackcheese.Noreservations. Deliveryandoutdoorseatingavailable. Breakfast,lunchanddinnerdaily $$ ZhangBistro—1141DecaturSt.,(504)8268888;zhangbistronola.com Themenuof ChineseandThaidishesincludesaSzechuan HotWokwithachoiceofchicken,beef, shrimportofuwithonions,bellpeppers, cauliflower,jalapenosandspicysauce Reservationsaccepted.Lunchanddinner Thu.-Tue.$$

Tickets to Gambit Movie Night,every month

Name listed monthly in print(optional)

LadyCamden,Laganja,Vanessa VanjieandfinalistsfromSeason15 oftherealityTVcompetitioninthe liveshow.Whileit’sfulloflip-synchingtopophits,theshowfollows anarrativeinwhichAsiaO’Hara discoversaworldlike“

TheMatrix”calledNetwerqand exploresitsreality.At8p.m Saturday,July1,atMahaliaJackson Theater.Findticketsviamahaliajacksontheater.com.

MinostheSaint

SouthLouisiana’sMinosthe Saintcraftsbeautiful,charismatic chamberfolk.Thebandrecently releaseditssecondfull-lengthalbum, “AtchafalayaChild,”andthrowsan albumreleasepartyat8p.m.Friday, June30,atChickieWahWah.Music startsat8p.m.andticketsare$15 advanceviachickiewahwah.comand $22atthedoor

Missing,BerlinTaxi

andThePalaceofTears

TheMudlarkPublicTheatrehosts anightofgothrock,darksynthpop anddarkwavewithNewOrleans bandsMissing,BerlinTaxiandThe PalaceofTearsat9p.m.Friday, June30.Coveris$5atthedoor. FindmoreinfoonInstagram, @mudlarkpublictheatre

ThomasDollbaum

Singer-songwriterThomas Dollbaum’sdebutalbum

“Wellswood,”wasreleasedlast springandisfullofpoeticlyrics andhisdistincthushedstorytellingvocals,especiallyonsongslike “Florida.”CharlieMartinofHovvdy alsoperformsat9p.m.Tuesday, June27,atSaturnBar.Findinformationatthesaturnbar.com.

‘EdgarDegasin

NewOrleans’AuthorTalk

TheNewOrleansMuseumofArt willhostanauthortalkwithRory O’Neill-SchmittandRosaryO’Neill abouttheirbook“EdgarDegas inNewOrleans,”ahistoryonthe

Frenchimpressionistandhistime spentinNewOrleans.Theauthors willdiscusstheirbookandresearch, andagallerytalkwillfeatureDegas’ “PortraitofEstelleMussonDegas,” whichhangsonNOMA’ssecondfloor. At5:30p.m.Wednesday,June28. Freetoattend.Findmoreinfo atnoma.org.

ARTS &ENTERTAINMENT

Kr3wcial

Aboutthistimelastyear,New Orleans’Kr3wcialpackedGasaGasa foranelectrifying,funheadlining showamidabusy2022thatsawa newEPandappearancesatFrench QuarterFestandJazzFest.Therapperhasbeenjustasbusyin2023:He droppedacollaborativeEP,“Traveling Plants,”withproducerfriendkerrek onEarthDay;followedupwitha couplemoresingles;playedJazzFest aspartofthehip-hopcollectiveglbl wrmng;andinJulytravelstoNew YorkwithWaterSeedforshowsat EastVillagevenueNublu.Hereturns toGasaGasaforanotherheadlining showat9p.m.Saturday,July1, withSaintAmethystandRapbaum. Ticketsare$15viaticketweb.com.

NickHoff

ComedianNickHoffmixesmaterial aboutparenting,asonhisalbum

“BabyDaddy,”withmoregleeful brohumor.Hereleasedhis“Frontto Back”speciallastyear.Heperformsat9p.m.Tuesday,June27,at ComedyHouseNewOrleans.Tickets $20inadvance,$25dayofshow viacomedy.house.

NewOrleansSuspects

ThelocalfunkoutfittopsaFree FridaysbillatTipitina’s.ReneeGros alsoperforms.At9p.m.Friday, June30.Findmoreinformation attipitinas.com.

TimLaughlin

ClarinetistTimLaughlinfavors traditionaljazzstylesinhiscompositions,includinghis2020release “NewStandards.”Heperformsatthe ThursdaysatTwilightconcertseries insidethePavilionoftheTwoSisters inNewOrleansBotanicalGardens. At6-8p.m.Thursday,June29. Admission$15.Findmoreinformationatneworleanscitypark.org.

PROVIDEDPHOTO BY K. DAVIS

00025B|TEQSA PRV12080

AD DEADLINE JULY 7

MUSIC

FORCOMPLETE MUSIC LISTINGS AND MORE EVENTS TAKING PLACE IN THE NEWORLEANS AREA, VISIT CALENDAR.GAMBITWEEKLY.COM

Tolearnmoreaboutaddingyourevent tothemusiccalendar,pleaseemail listingsedit@gambitweekly.com

TUESDAY27

30/-90 AudreyLeCrone&the Crawzaddies,5pm

BAMBOULAS GiselleAnguizola Quartet,3:30pm; AndyJForest Blues,7pm

CIVICTHEATRE—TheStruts,7pm

DOSJEFES TomHook,8:30pm

FRITZEL'SEUROPEANJAZZCLUB— Richard"Piano"Scott,12:30pm; ColinMyers,5pm;Fritzel'sAllStar Band,8pm

PRESERVATIONHALL ThePreservationAll-Stars,5,6:15,7:30&8:45pm

SATURNBAR—ThomasDollbaum, CharlieMartin,9pm

SIBERIA JasonJoshua,Tasche&The PsychedelicRoses,Plomo,8pm

WEDNESDAY28

BAMBOULAS—Boardwalkerandthe3 FingerSwingers,1:15pm;Swinginwith JohnSaavedra,5:30pm;Rouleandthe Queen,9pm

BLUENILE NewBreedBrass Band,9pm

CHICKIEWAHWAH JonCleary,8pm

D.B.A.NEWORLEANS—TinMen,6pm

DEUTSCHESHAUS AmericanLegion Post355Band,7pm

DOSJEFES JoeKrown,8:30pm

GASAGASA—JackShitW/TRust, DustySantamaria&Goatman Express,9pm

FRITZEL'SEUROPEANJAZZCLUB

—Richard"Piano"Scott,12:30pm; BourbonStreetStars,5pm;Fritzel’s AllStarBand,8pm

MADAMEVIC'S—PleasureLoves CompanywithDaphnePark Powell,8pm

PRESERVATIONHALL BrandenLewis &thePreservationAll-Stars,5,6:15, 7:30&8:45pm

SATURNBAR—TheMishaps,9pm

THEFILLMORE FleetFoxes,8pm

THEJAZZPLAYHOUSE—Funkin'ItUp withBigSam,7:30pm

TIPITINA'S—The502s,Under theRug,8pm

THURSDAY29

BAMBOULAS—SigridandZigZags, 1:15pm;CristinaKaminisandtheMix,

5:30pm;WolfeJohn’s Blues,9pm

BLUENILE WhereY'at BrassBand,9pm

CHICKIEWAHWAH

MinostheSaintalbum releaseparty,8pm

D.B.A.NEWORLEANS— DinosAurchestra,7pm

FRITZEL'SEUROPEAN

JAZZCLUB Richard

“Piano”Scott,12:30 pm;DoyleCooper,2:30 pm;JohnSaavedra , 5pm;Fritzel'sAllStar Band,8pm

MADAMEVIC'S—

JemimaJoelandthe SoundsofGaia,8pm

PAVILIONOFTHE

TWOSISTERS—Tim Laughlin,6pm

PEACOCKROOM, HOTELFONTENOT —DaLove-birdswith RobinBarnesandPat Casey,8pm

PRESERVATIONHALL

WendellBrunious&the PreservationAll-Stars, 5,6:15,7:30&8:45pm

SIBERIA Negative Approach,NoMas, Knoll,Torture Garden,7pm

THEJAZZPLAYHOUSE

Brass-A-Holics,7:30pm

THEPARISHATHOUSEOFBLUES— DelAmitri,8pm

FRIDAY30

BAMBOULAS St.JulienXBand,11 am;FullyDressedPoBoys,2:15pm;Les GetrexandCreoleCookin,6:30pm;Bettisand3rdDegreeBrassBand,10pm

BJ’S—TengallonTinfoilHatEPrelease partyw/SlowMotionCowboys,9pm

BLUENILE—TheCaesarBrothers,7pm

BLUENILEBALCONYROOM—Trumpet Slim&BrassFlavor,10pm

COPELAND'SOFNEWORLEANS

COVINGTON—CaseySaba,5pm

D.B.A.NEWORLEANS—BigSam's FunkyNation,10pm

DOSJEFES—AnnaLauraQuinnandthe Unmentionables,9pm

GASAGASA—DoctorsWithPanama PapersAndBullshitMachine,9pm

FRITZEL'SEUROPEANJAZZCLUB

Richard“Piano”Scott,12:30pm; MatineeAllStarBand ,2:30pm;Lee

FloydandThunderboltTrio,6pm; Fritzel'sAllStarBand,8pm

KERRYIRISHPUB—Patrick Cooper,5pm

KINGBRASSERIEANDBAR—Ghazi Gamali,11am

NOLABREWINGTAPROOM

TheBudz,6pm

PIROGUE’SWHISKEYBAYOU— Tropicals,8pm

PRESERVATIONHALL—MarkBraud& thePreservationAll-Stars,5,6:15, 7:30&8:45pm

PUBLICBELTATHILTONRIVERSIDE PhilMelancon,8pm

SANTOS—TheDirtyNil,Daniel Romano'sOutfitandDRAB,8pm

TIPITINA'S—NewOrleansSuspects, RenéeGros,9pm

SATURDAY1

BJ’S The79rsGang9pm

BLUENILE WhereY'atBrassB and,11pm

GASAGASA—Kr3wcial, Saint AmethystAndRapbaum9pm

HOWLIN'WOLF —Afterdusk,9pm

IPCASINORESORT—Ashanti,8pm

PRESERVATIONHALL Shannon Powell&thePreservationAll-Stars,5, 6:15,7:30&8:45pm

SANTOS—LonesomeWildewith GeorgeElizondo,9pm

THEJAZZPLAYHOUSE—TheNayo JonesExperience,7:30&9pm

SUNDAY2

HOWLIN'WOLF Hot8BrassBand, 10:30pm

PRESERVATIONHALL—The PreservationAll-Stars,5,6:15, 7:30&8:45pm

MONDAY3

GASAGASA—GirlStupid,TheCanarys, SariJordanAndFlipRonaldi9pm

PRESERVATIONHALL—The PreservationBrass,5,6:15,7:30 &8:15pm

SCAN FOR THE COMPLETE GAMBIT CALENDAR

Goingviral

byWillCoviello

NEWYORKCOMEDIAN GIANMARCOSORESITRIED TOFINDASILVERLINING inthepandemic,butit wasn’teasy

“Thethingaboutthe pandemic,sooftenIam like,‘Oh,allthethingsI’d doifIhadallthetimein theworld?’”hesays.“And thenIdid,andIaccomplishednothing.Ididn’t learnasecondlanguage.I didnotlearntocook.”

ButSoresididrecord hisfirstcomedyspecial infall2020.“ShelfLife” capturedanoutdoorshow inWilliamsburg,Brooklyn, forasmall,maskedaudiencegroupedinpods.He toldthemhewasn’tafraid todothetaping,because onTV,thestarofashow alwayssurvives

He’stouringagain,andhisfirstever performanceinNewOrleansisatThe Howlin’WolfonSaturday,July1.Austin comicSeanReillyopens

Doing“ShelfLife”waswelcomerelief fromearlypandemicshowsonZoom andatoutdoorvenueslikerooftopsand parkinglots,hesays.

“Theyweretough,”hesays.“Shows inbigopenfieldswheredogswere runningaround.Thereweredaytime shows,andIamdoingCatholicpriest jokes.Therewereshowsinparkinglots forpeoplestayingintheircars—honkingtheirhornsinsteadoflaughing.”

Inthespecial,Soresididsometimely materialaboutlifeduringthepandemic

“IhadaroommatewhoIdidn’treally know,andwheneverhecamebackto theapartment,itwaslikeaccusingyour exofhavinganaffair,”hesaysinthe show.“You’relike,‘Wherehaveyou been?Didyouwearamask?’”

There’sadarkstreakrunningthrough theshowandhishumor.Hedelves intobeingbetweenhisparentsintheir divorce,situationswithincestuous suggestions,pedophilepriestjokes (“Likethevictims,theynevergetold.”) andmore.

“WhatIlikeaboutstandupisifwe havedarkthoughtsthatwekeepto ourselves,itcanbefunnyifsomeone sayssomethingandyoualreadyhave thatdarkthought,”hesays.

Healsosharesself-deprecating humoraboutprotestinggentrification inHarlem,whilelivinginanapartment acrossfromaWholeFoodsonMalcolm XBoulevardintheneighborhood.

Therealsoarejokesaboutthe TitanicfollowedbybitsaboutJames Cameron’s“Titanic”film.Soresi cohostsapodcast,“TheDownside,” withRussellDaniels,whocurrently isinapopularoff-Broadwaymusical “Titanique,”starringaTinaTurnerlikecharacterastheiceberg.

Soresipursuedastagecareerbefore hediscoveredaknackforstandupand talkingstraighttotheaudience.But hesometimesdeliversjokeswiththe boundlesscheerofmusicaltheater.He hasappearedonTVandfilmsincluding “Hustlers”and“HereToday.”

“TheDownside”podcastfeatures comicsandpeoplefromvariousprofessionssharingthingsthatbotherthem.

“Iwantpeopletotalkaboutthethings thattheycomplainabout,”hesays.“I wantpeopletoadmitthethingsthey areunhappywith.Ihavehadoncomedians,achef,apersonwhoworkedata morgue,ataxidermist.”

ThiswillbehissecondvisittoNew Orleans.Hesayshecametoabachelor partyherethathedoesn’tremember “Iwentforit,”hesaysoftheweekend.“Thebarhadadrinktheyjust calledPurple.Itwasabsintheandthe colorpurple.Ihaveneverfeltsodrunk inmyentirelife.ThepictureslooklikeI hadagoodtime.”

GianmarcoSoresiperformsat7p.m. July1atTheHowlin’Wolf.Findtickets atthehowlinwolf.com.

PROVIDEDPHOTO BY MINDY TUCKER

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PREMIER

ACROSS

1Degrade

6Sandler of “Grown Ups”

10Adverse fate

14Birch’s cousin

19Bob of folk rock

20It uses poses called asanas

21“Waterloo” group

22Wife of Gorbachev

23Paper version of an online publication, informally

26Cairo’s home

271989 Series champs

28Share the same view

2BR,2BAHome featuringOriginal Architectural Details.Orig WindowFrames &OrigHardwdFlrs. CentralHVAC.Lots ofNaturalLight EatinKitchen.

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TRIPLE-E PLAY

By Frank A. Longo

30Region of northern France

33That man’s

35The “P” of S&P

36Assessment of a worker’s performance

42Moon goddess

43Dernier (latest thing)

44Patronage: Var. 45Befuddled

49Give rise to

50Hearty brunch dishes

54People with clout

55That woman

56NBC TV inits.

57The “S” of RSVP

58Pi follower

59Port in Italia

62Moore of the Brat Pack

65San — (certain Californian)

67Christmas carol whose titular flower symbolizes Mary

72Hindu god incarnate

73 bene

74Brainpower

75TV’s Turner

76Q followers

78Curve part

80Geller of psychic acts

81Just out

84Portrayer of Rainbow Johnson on “Black-ish”

38Actress Sobieski

39Fleece-lined boot brand

40Insurance co. bailed out in 2008

41General chicken

461994 French Open winner Bruguera

47Actor Hawke

48“I feel coming on!”

50Thunder god

51Makes lovable

52Olympic skater Ito

53“The Waste Land” poet

55Scanty

59“Fat chance!”

60Enlightened

61Kin of “equi-”

63Wifely title

64Early PC operator, often

66Gp. activated by a 911 call

67Espresso with hot milk

68Undisguised

69Attacked

70Sells online

71Metallica drummer Ulrich

77Beach bird

83Solders, e.g.

85Tall marsh plants

86Golf’s Trevino

87— Vegas

88Is in the red

892017-19 HBO drama series

90Doctor’s pass-along to a specialist

94Burn slightly

96Itty-bitty

97Science educator Bill

98Greeting to ’Enry ’Iggins

3Styled

79Inch along 81Pentax rival

82Roger of film review