New Orleans Suspects at the Oriental March 8 and 9

Jenn Cohen | March 4, 2013 | 0 Comments

by Joel Center

This Friday and Saturday, March 8 and 9, a party, the likes of which the Big Easy herself would be proud of, will be hitting the Oriental Theater. If you haven’t yet heard the funky, soulful sounds of the New Orleans Suspects, you’ve been committing a serious disservice to yourself.

Out of the ashes of the Radiators, a New Orleans band that had been extremely successful for the past 30 years, something new and incredible was born. Bassist for the Radiators Reggie Scanlan proposed the idea of a new touring project after the five lads had a fateful jam together, and the gods of music looked favorably down. With a lineup of incredible musicians, and a combined experience level beyond the majority of touring bands today, this is a group that was bound for success from the very beginning.

Aside from Scanlan, who has been a driving force in the Radiators since 1978, the Suspects include the funky drummer from the Neville Brothers, “Mean” Willie Green. On the guitar is Jake Eckert of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, with the incredibly talented CR Gruver holding down the rest of the rhythm section with his piano. To top it all off, the final member of the Suspects lays down the soulful, soothing saxophone tones that he’s perfected during his 12-year run in the James Brown Band; Jeff Watkins. With a huge repertoire of both soulful originals and classic party Zydeco tunes, this is a performance that’s guaranteed to bring a little bit of the Crescent City to Denver. Don’t miss out!