Rest In Peace Guitar Lightnin’ Lee
Lightnin’ Lee has left this world and we are bereft. The old New Orleans guitar legend is gone after thousands of gigs in Louisiana and beyond. How many nights did we spend at Melvin’s, Saturn Bar, Checkpoint Charlies, Mermaid Lounge, The Circle Bar, Vaughan’s Lounge and others grinding with strangers with Lee’s hypnotic boogie as the soundtrack?
Bennie Pete Birthday Celebration at New Orleans Jazz Museum
“For over 20 years one of the most popular and visible funk-style brass bands in community parades and funerals has been the Hot 8 Brass Band. In 1996 sousaphone player Bennie Pete was instrumental in merging two former Fortier High School student groups, the High Steppers and the Looney Tunes Brass Bands, to form the Hot 8. The players grew up together and maintain strong, family-like bonds and regular membership. Most of them were born between 1975 and ’87 in a generation that grew up hearing mainly modern-style brass bands in community functions.”
I would hesitate to say how many times I’ve seen Hot 8 play live. In the neighborhood of 200 times I reckon.
Bennie Pete passed away in September of 2021. The Treme neighborhood funerary second line that honored him saw thousands of people take to the streets in waves of joy. That’s how we grieve in New Orleans.
Tomorrow, July 10th, 2025 at 6pm, Hot 8 Brass Band will perform a ‘heavenly birthday’ celebration for the big man. Hope to see y’all come out.
Bennie Pete Birthday Celebration at New Orleans Jazz Museum
Thursday, July 10, 2025
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
New Orleans Jazz Museum
400 Esplanade Ave.
New Orleans, LA
Terranova Brothers Superette
Terranova Brothers Superette marked their 100th anniversary today by closing their doors forever. The old butchery and small grocery store is no more. Their deli infamously authored the best muffaletta in the city and did so with verve by only making 10 on Saturday morning.
First come first serve.
We rolled by there bright and early to snag a pair but the butcher informed me that since it was their final day they decided to go out with a whimper instead of a bang and not make their signature sandwich one final time.
I wanted to roll him but instead wished him a happy retirement and quit the premises.
The Original Brown Derby II. 755 N. Claiborne Ave, New Orleans, Louisiana
One of New Orleans best and cheapest po boy, hotplate joints is no more. We were rolling on a second line today and noticed a track hoe sitting astride what had formerly been a neighborhood lynchpin.
Rest in peace Brown Derby II.
John “Prince” Gilbert
We ran into John “Prince” Gilbert during Carnival season earlier this year in the Marigny neighborhood of New Orleans. The old saxophone legend broke ground back in the 90s with Rebirth Brass Band and has played with the titans of jazz for over 40 years.
The word legend gets thrown all over the place these days but Prince earned the right to be called just that.
He passed away last week.
Rest in peace king.
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