Voodoo Experience 2009: Saturday In Preview

Oh, New Orleans: my stanky sweet southern mistress. Ever since first visiting the city for Jazz Fest in 2006, I’ve unexpectedly returned on an annual or biannual basis to revel in your easygoing charm. Of course, these trips have all revolved around live music, starting with my first Voodoo Experience in the fall of 2006. Some of them have also been unplanned last-minute jaunts of joy – such as last year’s trip to catch Saturday of Voodoo Experience 2008. The Lil’ Wayne show that day was my first review for BOT, so this year’s Voodoo is also an anniversary celebration of sorts. Here’s hoping my wedding dress still fits, NOLA – because we’ll be getting down honeymoon-style for 3 straight days of amazing music and epic post-fest adventures. We’re gonna be all over this fest like vomit on Bourbon Street.

Check out a preview of Voodoo’s Saturday (Halloween!) festivities, including loads of videos after the jump.

Black Lips ::: 12:50 pm ::: PlayStation/Billboard.com Stage

The first act of the day for us will be the Black Lips: world traveling punk-rockers with a psychedelic tinge. They have gained a reputation as raucous live performers, and some of their more homo-erotic onstage antics led to the band fleeing India earlier in the year. They play music that makes you momentarily feel like a rebellious teenager, so the Black Lips will also function as motivation to drag ourselves out of bed and head to City Park at a reasonable hour.

Zydepunks ::: 1:30 pm ::: Bingo! Parlor

The Zydepunks have been Voodoo Experience mainstays since 2005, and BOT caught their high-energy set early on Friday at last year’s Experience. Two(!) accordions and a fiddle form the unique threesome that this Cajun gypsy-folk band derives much of its liveliness from.

K'Naan ::: 1:50 pm ::: Voodoo Stage

Somali-born K’Naan comes from a lineage of musicians and poets, and he allegedly taught himself English via American hip-hop records. I’ve unknowingly seen him before, as part of Damian Marley’s touring band at ACL Fest in 2006, and I look forward to seeing this gifted singer and MC drop some truth on Saturday.

Dan Dyer ::: 2:00 pm ::: Soco/WWOZ Stage

Austin’s Dan Dyer gets the timeslot vote of the female friends attending Voodoo with us. His mixture of soul, R&B, and blues should be perfect for a fall afternoon in NOLA, especially if his friends Sam & Ruby join him onstage.

Mates of State ::: 2:50 pm ::: PlayStation/Billboard.com Stage

Mates of State, comprised of husband-and-wife duo Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel, play catchy indie rock that’s as infectious on the 50th listen as it is on the 1st. The two typically operate in perfect harmony, whether it’s between their drums and organ or their highly complementary voices.

Sam and Ruby ::: 3:45 pm ::: VooBoo

A symmetrical follow up to Mates of State is a second musical couple, Sam and Ruby. Rather than indie rock, the pair specializes in folk and R&B – and the combination of Wisconsinite (Sam) and Ghanan (Ruby) forms an incredibly cohesive musical union.

MuteMath ::: 3:50 pm ::: Voodoo Stage

Electro-pop rockers MuteMath are from New Orleans, and they should deservedly garner a large hometown crowd. If you’re unfamiliar, their unique musical stylings are definitely worth checking out especially if you’re not into Sam and Ruby’s R&B.

Rotary Downs ::: 4:45 pm ::: Bingo! Parlor

Another New Orleans band is up next, and their brand of psychedelic indie rock impressed the hell out of BOT at last year’s Voodoo Experience. Hope that Rotary Downs' set this year lives up to last year’s genre-bending performance.

Gogol Bordello ::: 4:50 pm ::: PlayStation/Billboard.com Stage

Borat-esque lead singer Eugene Hutz will whip this band of gypsy-rockers AND the crowd into a frenzy. Gogol Bordello's set will be super high-energy, unique and tons o’ fun.

Big Sam's Funky Nation ::: 5:00 pm ::: Soco/WWOZ Stage

I’ve seen trombonist Big Sam and his Funky Nation several times in the last few years, and, if I didn’t have such frequent chances to see this band, I’d be here in a second. It’s a Funky. Good. Time. Show up if you wanna shake your ass NOLA-style.

Wolfmother ::: 6:20 pm ::: Voodoo Stage

This rocking power trio will immediately garner comparisons to Led Zeppelin on first listen, and, seeing as how hard that is to pull off, the obvious derivation ain’t a bad thing at all. Wolfmother are playing during one of the most competitive timeslots of the day, so check out all the videos and decide who to see.

Walter "Wolfman" Washington w/ Roadmasters and Dirty Dozen Horns ::: 6:30 pm ::: Preservation Hall

NOLA legend Walter "Wolfman" Washington will be joined by his current touring band, The Roadmasters, and the horns section from the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, for a set that’ll provide a true New Orleans experience – filled with insanely talented musicians and tons of blues, roots, funk, and R&B. I wouldn’t be surprised if this facilitates some great sit-ins too.

Drive-By Truckers ::: 6:30 pm ::: Soco/WWOZ Stage

If you aren’t a Drive-By Truckers devotee already, you should be. The band’s insane songwriting talent and 3-guitar attack inspires the type of loyalty typically reserved for cults and SEC college football teams. I’m a loyalist, and if you dig rock and roll AT ALL you should be at this show. Get out the way of the Southern Thing.

Jane's Addiction ::: 7:35 pm ::: PlayStation/Billboard.com Stage

Seminal early-90’s alt-rockers Jane's Addiction have done as much for music through their playing as through their organizing – to the point that I’m comfortable saying that Voodoo wouldn’t even exist if it wasn’t for Perry Farrell’s efforts to organize Lollapalooza in 1991. A can't miss.

George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic ::: 8:15 pm ::: Soco/WWOZ Stage

I want the funk... P-Funk’s legacy of funky dominance needs no description. I hope that George Clinton and the boys play long into the night, to the point that I’m fine with completely missing KISS if it means I get 3+ hours of funk. A guy can dream, right?

KISS ::: 9:00 pm ::: Voodoo Stage

Cheese-rock will never die. KISS’ brilliant marketing has ensured that many of their songs (not to mention Gene Simmons’ freakish tongue) have wormed their ways into our lives and memories, to the point that their over-the-top stage show should be enjoyable and fitting to close Halloween of Voodoo.

See you in NOLA. Keep your eyes out for a zombie priest (me), zombie Jesus (Eggs), a zombie Pope (Toast), a zombie nun (Hash Browns) and Satan (Mrs. Bacon). Say hi if you see us!

-Bacon-