Revelry decided to highlight a mixed assortment of bands scheduled to play at the Voodoo Music Experience. We hope this section will help students get the most out of the event – from the smaller, little-known acts to the sort of big acts playing this weekend.
Howie Day
After touring solo for years, Howie Day is hitting the Voodoo stage with a full band. Day previously used various pedals and live looping techniques to contort his acoustic guitar into strange sounds to serve as the backbeat of his music.
With the release of his sophomore album, “Stop All the World Now,” Day has grown up, including a full band and even an orchestra on many tracks. His songs of love, regret and longing garner comparisons to Dave Matthews, but his musical sound hearkens to Radiohead as well.
Day never puts on the same show twice, and Voodoo Fest is sure to be another banner performance. He plays on the Southern Comfort/RollingStone.com stage Sunday at 12:45 p.m.
Marc Broussard
Marc Broussard is a Louisiana native, hailing from Lafayette. Discovered on a Lafayette curb, Broussard has a knack for music. His sound blurs the lines of soul, R&B and rock. Broussard blends genres to sound like Stevie Wonder playing acoustic rock.
He has performed since he was five and it shows in his stage presence. Broussard will croon songs from his first album “Momentary Setback” backed by a five-piece band. He will perform Sunday on the Southern Comfort/RollingStone.com stage at 11:45 a.m.
Revis
Revis is a five piece rock band who originated in from Illinois. The band has developed an intense following thanks in part to their single “Caught in the Rain,” featured on the Daredevil soundtrack. Revis has the basic rock ‘n roll sound. The band uses powerful vocals from lead singer Justin Holman and memorable hooks while adding moody textures.
Lyrically the band tackles introspective themes and the universe. Revis uses their fascination with outer space to give their rock sound a more grandiose style. The band is quickly gaining airplay and would be great to see before their sound explodes. Revis is scheduled to perform Saturday on the Fuse stage at 2:15 p.m.
P.O.D.
Bringing a blend of hard rock, hip hop, Christian music and a pinch of reggae, the Southern California-native P.O.D will bring down the house on Friday at the Voodoo Music Experience.
With hits like “Boom,” “Alive” and “Satellite,” their passionate and energetic style will not disappoint in front of a live audience. P.O.D.’s next album, “Payable On Death,” drops on Nov. 4. P.O.D. plays on the Fuse stage Friday at 7:15 p.m.
A Perfect Circle
Several years ago, Maynard James Keenan, lead singer of Tool, emerged with a side project called A Perfect Circle. Today that side project has become a powerful challenger to the popularity of Tool, and will bring its somber rock sound and spiritual-feeling style to the Voodoo Music Experience.
Keenan and company likely will blow audiences away with hits such as “Judith,” “3 Libras” and their newest single, “Weak and Powerless.” A Perfect Circle is promoting their latest album “Thirteenth Step.” A Perfect Circle plays Sunday on the Fuse stage at 6:15 p.m.
Staind
Staind, led by lead singer Aaron Lewis, has had quite a variety of style changes throughout their career.
Their sophomore album, “Break the Cycle,” gave a more subdued feel, while their latest release, “14 Shades of Grey,” showed the more energetic side of Staind.
Either way, they will not disappoint as they come to New Orleans for the Voodoo Music Festival. Staind is scheduled to perform on the Fuse stage Saturday at 6:45 p.m.
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe
Karl Denson has been making the rounds for nearly 16 years, coming onto the national scene in 1988 playing saxophone on Lenny Kravitz’s breakout album and hit, “Let Love Rule.” Earning a reputation of being a groundbreaking musician as well as a masterful collaborator and innovative solo artist, Denson’s own group could not fall short. A curator of a burgeoning acid-jazz movement, Denson’s Tiny Universe is a melting pot of funk, jazz, boogaloo and West Coast groove. Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe performs Saturday at 6:15 p.m. on the Southern Comfort/ Rolling Stone.com stage.
Felix Da Housecat
Critics have hailed Felix Da Housecat’s innovative techno-influenced music for years – most recently as “One of Today’s Most Important Artists” by Spin Magazine. A club music impresario, Felix has been dropping beats since the mid ’80s, but did not seriously pursue music until 1992 when he produced a string of European dance hits.
By 2001, he released the highly praised “Kittenz and Thee Glitz” thrusting him just beneath the mainstream radar with a string of articles in high profile magazines.
His rise to widespread acclaim has been slow, but his peers have noticed.
Madonna tapped him last year to remix her song “Die Another Day.” Felix Da Housecat will perform Saturday at 6 p.m. on the Playstation stage.
Mos Def
As a rapper with a penchant for social consciousness, Mos Def never has been one to give in to the typical “bitches and ho’s” rap scheme. Instead, he has grown to become a people’s champ MC, passionately rhyming to take his place at the table of the hip-hop underground – the anti-glorification of the ghetto.
From Broadway productions, television shows, movies and music, Mos Def has taken his thoughtful rap style and brought it to a mix media, thus penetrating a wider audience. Mos Def will perform Saturday at 3 p.m. on the Southern Comfort/ Rolling Stone.com stage.