SimplePlay Presents has been gaining a lot of momentum of late. This past weekend they had several acts playing around town. Mississippi Rail Company played the latest installment of This is NOLA at the Joy on Friday. Also on Friday members of Naughty Professor kicked off Tipitina’s Free Fridays Summer and Alexis and the Samurai (Sweet Crude’s side project featuring Alexis Marceaux - Vocals, Guitar, Aux Percussion and Sam Craft - Violin, Percussion, Guitar, Keyboard, Vocals) played Gasa Gasa with Sean Bruce. Saturday night was host to another SimplePlay acts, Coyotes. They were at the Circle Bar with Paper Bison Opening. With so many possibilities at hand, I opted for the Alexis and the Samurai show at Gasa Gasa and the Coyotes Circle Bar show.
Alexis and the Samurai started off a three show stint with Lafayette native Sean Bruce at Gasa Gasa. Bruce’s mellow take on traditional folk and Cajon music served as the perfect warm up for the evening and Stevie Billeaud electric guitar and mini keyboard rounded out the vibe. Alexis and the Samurai are a mixed bag of sounds and labeling genera’s to them is virtually impossible. It’s kind of funny when they say they are going to do another cover and it’s one from their primary band. Alexis’ take on “Crazy” is outrageous. They will be headed out in July to play with Jesse Lafser at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia.
The Coyotes are always a pleasure to see, no matter where they play. The small room in the Circle Bar was comfortable and haunting all at the same time. Locals Paper Bison kicked off the evening in much the same fashion as the Coyotes. Their set consisted mainly of material from their lasts EP Anyone Else. You can catch the Coyotes and Sweet Crude at Tipitina’s Free Fridays on August 28. You can see an extended gallery of both shows here: http://jalbum.net/a/1625373
