Bands and musicians such as Outkast, Skrillex, Thirty Seconds to Mars and Arctic Monkeys may be enough to drive anyone with ears to Voodoo Fest this year, but they aren’t the only ones performing. Many bands — some local, some not — are gracing the Voodoo stages with tons of energy and exciting sounds.
The Suffers, for example, play Nov. 2. Adam Castaneda, the band’s bass player, said the Suffers “makes modern music that hopefully connects with fans of classic soul and contemporary music.”
For those who have not yet listened to the Suffers, Castaneda recommended listening to “Make Some Room” to get the best idea of what sound the band makes.
“It’s a great mix of throwback soul and modern R&B,” Castaneda said. “The lyrics are a reminder to make some room for your love and see how wonderful things could be.” Castaneda said the Gulf Coast and its diversity of cultures influenced the Suffers, as well as a rich variety of sounds.
“Each of us is individually influenced by our musical experiences and we bring those to the table,” he said. “Jazz, reggae, classical, old soul, new soul, funk, hip hop and rock ‘n roll. As a group we tend to lean heavily on ’60s and ’70s American soul, ’90s and 2000s hip hop and R&B, while still keeping an eye on modern trends within indie and electronic music.”
The band Royal Teeth is playing at Voodoo Oct. 31. Guitarist and singer Gary Larsen said the New Orleans-based band gained a lot of influence from Louisiana.
“There is an amazing spirit here that we carry with us wherever we go,” Larsen said. “It’s one of the reasons we bring a lot of energy into every performance.”
Larsen said he is excited to play the main stage this year.
“We can’t wait to share this experience with everyone,” he said.
Many recognize Royal Teeth by their song “Wild,” which Larsen said “really opened the door for this band to move forward.” But Larsen said “Mais La” is another song that represents Royal Teeth well.
He said while the song is about Louisiana, it’s also “about taking chances, following what you love and enjoying the time you have.”
Larsen said the band stays unique by always allowing the music to come from an honest place.
Electronic musician Hello Negro is performing on Oct. 31, as well.
Hello Negro was born and raised in New Orleans and attended New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts. He said his city influenced his music.
“When I attempt to spontaneously create themes, I base the process on what I’ve learned studying New Orleans music,” he said.
While Hello Negro is an electronic artist, genres ranging from classical and gospel to Afro-Cuban and Celtic influence his music.
He said the man behind Hello Negro is “not secretive, secondary” and he created his name after “a ridiculous conversation with an associate.”
His favorite venue is “wherever there are people ready to party” and said he is looking forward to providing an energetic ambience for “whoever shows up to join the party zone.” Bonerama, a New Orleans-based band named after its love for trombones (or “’bones”), will perform Oct. 31.
Craig Klein, one of Bonerama’s three trombone players, said the band is a New Orleans band, as New Orleans is “a brass town.” Mark Mullins and Klein were both members of Harry Connick Jr.’s big band when they founded Bonerama.
Klein said the band’s sound involves funk, rock and New Orleans music.
“We have influences in New Orleans like the Dirty Dozen and Rebirth, and also in the UK like the Beatles and Led Zeppelin,” he said.
Klein said with the use of guitar amps, Mullins’ trombone “sounds like a shredding guitar.”
Bonerama’s favorite venues include Maple Leaf Bar and Rock ‘n’ Bowl in New Orleans, but “it’s hard to beat Tipitina’s,” Klein said.
Bonerama has played with several bands and musicians, including Trombone Shorty when he was only 16, and R.E.M. when the latter was recording its final album.
“Our sessions with OK Go were a lot of fun,” Klein said.
He said some of the proceeds of this album, “You’re Not Alone,” went toward the funding of a new house for musician Al “Carnival Time” Johnson, a New Orleans singer and piano player whose house flooded in Hurricane Katrina. The “Carnival Time” singer now lives in the Musicians’ Village in New Orleans.
After Voodoo, the trombone-focused band will tour the east coast up to New York City and come back to New Orleans to play at Tipitina’s Nov. 14.