Robert Moore
April 27, 2007
Specialty Eye Care America following the course of Imhotep
May 1, 2007
When Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes perform at The Downtown Balcony in Houma, on May 5, local fans will get a heavy dose of a wide variety of musical influences.
And when the word variety is used, it is no exaggeration. The self-described “funky rock band from New Orleans” classifies its music as “garage funk with classical and jazz tinges. And country. And metal. And …”
You get the picture: The band’s music has tinges of anything and everything. The variety of influences in the music — from rock to jazz; from metal to funk — has led some to call the band’s show “as much of a music lesson as a dance party.”
Which makes sense, considering each member studied music in college. But the study of classical-type music has never dulled the liveliness of the band’s show, a liveliness that regularly influences fans get on the dance floor, in large part because of the most noticeable part of the band’s sound — its implementation of horns.
Johnny Sketch and The Dirty Notes have been touring the country since 2001, and although faced with roadblocks from Hurricane Katrina, has continued to spread its unique sound around the country.
While the sextet is performing in Houma at 10 p.m. on May 5, the day before they will perform on a much larger scale — the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
The band even earned a plug in Rolling Stone magazine by senior editor David Fricke as one of the festival’s “must see” groups.
“Johnny Skitch and the Dirty Notes are one of New Orleans’ best-kept secrets n maybe,” Fricke wrote. “Pain, Pleasure, Fear and Opera (NoiseLab) is their third album. But the band’s Jazz Fest set was a revelation to me: jamband bonhomie and Louisiana stroll spiced with klezmer-style violin and funeral-parade horns… Pain is more of that punch: what you’d get if Phish had been born at Tipitina’s and studied under George Clinton and Frank Zappa late every night on the levee.”
Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes have released three CDs, including its latest, Pain, Pleasure, Fear and Opera. Previously released CDs include Live at the Spleaf and Bandicoot.
For more information on Johnny Sketch and The Dirty Notes, visit their Web site at www.johnnysketch.com or www.myspace.com/johnnysketchandthedirtynotes.
