NEWS + VIEWS
BOUQUETS + brickbats ™
S C U T T L E B U T T 10 C O M M E N TA R Y 12 J E R E M Y A L F O R D 14 B L A K E P O N TC H A R T R A I N 16 C L A N CY D U B O S 17
heroes + zeroes Carol Fran,
knowledge is power
a longtime Louisiana soul singer and pianist, will receive a $25,000 National Heritage Fellowship at a ceremony Sept. 25 at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The award was announced June 4 by the National Endowment for the Arts. Fran is among nine artists receiving the honor, which recognizes folk and traditional artists in the U.S.
Cultural Elite Dance Academy
was the statewide overall “top producer” for Lemonade Day 2013, when more than 13,000 children across Louisiana started their own lemonade stand “businesses” while also raising money for local charities. Cultural Elite Dance Academy made $1,597, and donated $100 to Breast Cancer Research. A full list of top finishers is at www.louisiana.lemonadeday.org.
St. Tammany Fire District No. 1
Louisiana’s Lil’ Band o’ Gold gears up for round two with Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant. By Scott Jordan
A
t a former feed store and semi-refurbished warehouse in the shadows of the downtown railroad tracks in Lafayette, the garage doors are open but the stifling June air doesn’t move. It’s a hazy, moonless Tuesday night where patrons and liquor bottles drip rivulets. The early action on stage matches the atmosphere: bandmembers alternately tune their instruments and mill around on the back porch, while a temperamental amp at soundcheck tests the patience of Lil’ Band o’ Gold frontmen C.C. Adcock, Steve Riley and David Egan. “Fifteen years ago when we started this band, we used to do Monday night gigs at the Swampwater Saloon,” guitarist Adcock says to the crowd. Accordionist Riley deadpans, “Look at us now — we’ve come all the way to Tuesday nights at the Feed & Seed.” Wisecracking aside, tonight’s gig is no random show, but a vital tune-up. Robert Plant has hand-picked the band to open a string of Southern dates on his summer tour, including his July 17 New Orleans show at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts. The Golden God’s Lil’ Band o’ Gold endorse-
ment continues the relationship Robert Plant, center, started when Plant teamed up performed with Lil’ with the southwest Louisiana Band o’ Gold at supergroup to record two tracks Tipitina’s in April for the 2007 Fats Domino tribute 2007. album, Goin’ Home. (Louisiana blues aficionado Plant was in PHOTO BY ERIKA GOLDRING rehearsals for the tour and unavailable for an interview.) The upcoming shows with Plant introduce The band to substantial new audiences and music-industry contacts — no small feat for an ensemble that’s had its share of triumphs, heartbreak and a major personnel change. “This new chapter is that process of being done with grieving, of digging deeper and seeing what we can do, discover and create,” says songwriter and pianist Egan. He’s referencing the departure of 76-year-old drummer PAGE 8
c’est
Arlen “Benny” Cenac Jr.,
pleaded guilty in federal court June 5 to charges of making false statements to the Federal Election Commission. Cenac used his personal and business accounts to channel illegal campaign contributions to U.S. Sens. David Vitter ($15,000) and Mary Landrieu ($25,300) using cashier’s checks bearing the names of his relatives, friends and business associates. The senators were not aware of the scheme, according to the feds. Cenac faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced Sept. 5.
? Vote on “C’est What?” at www.bestofneworleans.com
Sen. David Vitter is proposing a law that would ban Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (aka food stamps) for life for people convicted of murder, violent sexual assault and child molestation. Do you agree?
47%
Yes
45%
No
8%
Not sure
THIS WEEK’S Question:
A bill to lessen penalties for simple possession of marijuana failed in the Louisiana Legislature this year. Do you support lessening penalties for small amounts of weed?
Gambit > bestofneworleans.com > June 18 > 2013
Led into gold
collected 11,000 pounds of food to send to Journey Church in Norman, Okla., for area residents recovering from last month’s devastating tornadoes. The Slidell Police Department, Jennings Police Department and several faith-based organizations collected and sent an additional 18,000 pounds of food.
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