We have a CD release thing over at the Saturn on May 19. Will be a glorious mess as always. Not to be missed. The CD should be available for purchase on this site and the new VMC website www.valparaisomenschorus.com very soon.

Some fun shows coming up...1/20 at rodeo with full band (& horns!). Sat 1/21 at the Allen Room at Lincoln Center with Michael Cerveris. Sun 1/22 solo at rockwood 7pm, midnight monday night at ear inn with Brad Gunyon on Drums and Skip Ward on bass, and another solo show at 11th st. bar....whew!

I'll be going in the studio in December to work on a new Alex CD. We'll be doing it here in New Orleans with local musicians. Just like the last time the Threadheads are helping out. Here is a link to the page on their website about the project. If you want to bring hot food to the studio just drop an email and we can discuss the particular dietary requirements of the musicians and the studio staff.

http://www.threadheadrecords.com/2011/11/18/alex-mcmurray-project-ii/

The annual "VooDoo Experience" is upon us again. Glenn and Jonathan from the Klezmer band are in town for it and will join me on Thursday at the Saturn Bar. Friday morning at 11:15 I'll be with Lynn Drury at the Pres. Hall stage and Saturday at 2 I'll be with Happy Talk Band at the Bingo! tent. More shows are on the "shows" page.

http://www.barryfest.com/2011/06/happy-talk-band-joins-alex-mcmurrays-saturn-bar-residency/

 

Nice write up from the NPR site on TH Thurs...here

Nice little mention here

Alex McMurray Jazz Fest Schedule

 

 

Wed 4/27    Tin Men @ DBA 7-9

 

Thurs 4/28   Alex McMurray Band at City Park Botanical Garden

(Threadhead Thursday) 8

Alex McMurray solo Saturn Bar 10

 

Fri 4/29    Happy Talk Band Jazz Fest Lagniappe Stage 1:50-2:50

Paul Sanchez & Rolling Road Show Chickie Wah Wah 8-10

 

Sat 4/30    Sunflower City Ogden Museum 8:30 (opening for Marcia Ball)

Tin Men at Le Bon Temps 11

 

Sun 5/1 Tom Paines at Euclid Records 4pm

 

Mon 5/2    Tin men @ DBA 8-10

 

Tues 5/3    Threadhead Patry Mardi Gras World East Bank 12 noon

Saucefest Hi Ho Lounge sometime btw 10 and 2am

 

Wed 5/4    Chazfest noon-10 more info HERE

 

Thurs  5/5   LynnDrury Louisiana Music Factory 7pm

solo show with special guests Saturn Bar 9

 

Fri 5/6    Alex McMurray Band Jazz Fest Lagniappe Stage 4:20-5:20

Alex McMurray Band Le Bon Temps 10

 

Sat 5/7  Paul Sanchez & Rolling Road Show Jazz Fest Lagniappe Stage 4:15-5:20

Alex Opens up for Gene Ween @ Tips French Quarter (solo) 10

Happy Talk Band Le Bon Temps 11

 

Mon 5/9  Threadhead night at DBA wrap up the fest with a free-for-all 7-10

http://www.offbeat.com/2011/03/17/video-du-jour-the-people-say-project/

Saturn Bar - Theatre of The Damned  Review -
31-Jan-11 www.gonola.com

I have a new celebrity crush. I just added Alex McMurray to the top of my list...

by Sunny Dawn Summers on January 31, 2011
in Music,Nightlife

While in the NYC are to play the APAP showcase with the Tin Men in January, Alex McMurray Band will make a special appearance at the Living Room on Ludlow St. on the Lower East Side. Joe Cabral will be on bass and Brad Gunyon will be on drums. NYC songwriter (and former New Orleanian) Cristina Black will perform with her band as well. Much thanks to Cristina and the Living Room for hooking up this gig at the last minute. Check out her site here http://www.cristinablack.com/

The Tin Men are traveling to New York City to appear at the Association of Performing Arts Presenters showcase at The Bitter End. Here's the lineup.

Sasha Masakowski & Musical Playground/ 8PM
Tin Men/ 9PM
Grayson Capps/ 10pm
Jamie McLean Band/ 11PM
The Iguanas/ Midnight
Honey Island Swamp Band/ Late Set- 1AM

open to the public! advance tickets available http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=3375645

APAP website http://www.apapnyc.org/Pages/default.aspx

Offbeat Magazine's Best of the Beat Awards thing will be held on Jan 28 at Generations Hall. Alex is up for two categories "best songwriter" and "best guitar player". As we all know, music is not a competition, but in the spirit of full disclosure you can go to the offbeat website here http://www.offbeat.com/2010-best-of-the-beat-awards and vote for Luke or Jonathan, Anders or Paul or whoever you like...

Thursday nights will mark the return of Alex McMurray solo shows on the early side of the evening starting December 30 for a special 8-10pm show with Bill Malchow, then continuing every Thursday in January starting at 9. Hopefully it's a time and place people can make and we can keep it going through the spring. Along the way I hope to have some special guests, so check out the site from time to time to see who's coming by.

I just made a little recording of Beefheart's "Frownland" (he died yesterday).

I'll be playing out at the Fairgrounds on Friday May 6 at the Lagniappe Stage. Time is TBD.

Friday Sep 24 2010 DBA 618 Frenchmen St. New Orleans, LA 70116 (504) 942-3731
Sat Sep 25 2010  Le Bon Temps Roule 4801 Magazine St. New Orleans, LA 70115 (504) 895-8117

One must be made of stone to not feel for the great people of New Orleans, as well as everyone along the Gulf Coast. People like singer-songwriter Paul Sanchez, screenwriter Colman deKay, and Chris Joseph, head honcho and chief fundraiser of Threadheads Records should be recognized and rewarded for their tireless efforts in helping New Orleans stay spirited through yet another crisis.

Here is the story on The Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sal-nunziato/the-threadheads-nine-live_b_674322.html

Alex McMurray's 'You've got to be crazy' nominated for new state song.

http://noladefender.com/content/louisiana-duplicitous-state

North Fork Sound names 'Rites of Man' album of the week!

Sunday, June 13, 2010

http://northforksound.blogspot.com/

Alex gets a nice mention in the Louisiana Cultural Vistas Magazine and a pitcure and segment of when Alex played the National Anthem
on banjo at the Tulane Basket Ball seaon opener!

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leh/lcv-winter09/#/94 - Pages 92 and 93 - talks about Alex and Cannonball.

http://digital.olivesoftware.com/Olive/ODE/Tulanian/ - Banjo National Anthem at Tulane Basket Ball' openning game. Check out page 35.

Go Green Wave!

A Bottle and My Friends and Me

By Alex McMurray • March 23, 2010

http://www.elevationoutdoors.com/index.php/a-bottle-and-my-friends-and-me/

Alex McMurray wins Gambits 2010 Big Easy Entertainment Award - Album of the Year!

'How to be a Cannonball' - Album of the Year!

http://bestofneworleans.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A73430

The Tom Paines are set to release their first disk.
'The Rights of Man' is a Threadheads Records production that will be available before Jazz Fest 2010.
The Tom Paines are Alex McMurray and Jonathan Freilich.

"Alex and Jonathan don't need to write new songs about life in New Orleans 2010.
All the good ones about 19th Century Ireland and 1920's rural Arkansas sill apply; maybe a little too well"
- "Your Cousin Dimitri, WWOZ FM New Orleans"

Buy It Now $15 and we will ship it to you the second it arrives!

Captain Sandy (also known as prolific New Orleans musician Alex McMurray) has been elected 2010’s Grand Marshall – “King Of The Pyrate Parade”!

This years French Quarter Pyrate Parade theme is “It Takes A Pillage” and features the original Krewe Of Pyrates (complete with bead cannons), the spectacular Noisician Coalition, many walking Krewes and special guests!

Besides his multitudinous talents as a very busy part of the NOLA music community for the last 23 years, McMurray is deeply committed to GIVING BACK to his city. He has paid his dues more than once – washed dishes, dug ditches, sold his guitar to survive, nearly died from a mysterious ailment, been a substitute teacher…founder/co-producer of ChazFest (New Orleans original 9th ward music festival alternative); the Fifth Season Cinema Tuesday nights in the summer; the Schatzy band; the Happy Talk Band; 00Doug/Alex, 007, Royal Fingerbowl, The Tin Men – and of course the shanty singing Valparaiso Mens Chorus (just to name a few). He’s performed around the world, but is firmly rooted in his beloved New Orleans Bywater community with his wife (artist Kourtney Keller) and their cats; supporting his community with his time, talent and ability.

 

The Kings Page http://nolapyrateweek.com/wp/king-o-the-pyrate-parade-2010

The Parade Page (The Parade is on Fri. Mar. 26 (line up at R Bar aprox. 6:00pm))
http://nolapyrateweek.com/wp/events-tours/parades

 

Alex has been nominate for male entertainer of the year and album of the year!

The Big Easy Foundation Awards are run by Gambit Weekly.

http://bestofneworleans.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A70981

The Big Easy Foundation this week announced nominees for its 2010 Big Easy Music Awards. Special awards will go to Entertainer of the Year Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews and Germaine Bazzle, who will be honored for lifetime achievement. Irma Thomas is the Honorary Music Awards Chairperson.

  There are awards for 21 music categories ranging from traditional jazz and gospel to DJ/electronica and heavy metal. Other honors include best male and female performer and best album of 2009. Winners will be announced at the Big Easy Awards on Monday, Apr. 19, 2010, at Mardi Gras World (East Bank) River City Ballroom. The program includes both music and theater awards, and there will be perfomances by nominated artists. The event is sponsored by Gambit, Abita Brewing Co. and Coleman E. Adler and Sons. For ticket information and reservations, call 483-3129.

Threadhead Records, the nonprofit label founded by a federation of Jazz Fest fans, had a big year. The best of Threadhead’s ’09 releases was "How to Be a Cannonball," by man-about-town guitarist and songwriter Alex McMurray. His lyrics are populated by his usual assortment of vivid, eccentric characters in the tradition of Tom Waits and Randy Newman. - Keith Spera, The Times-Picayune
http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2009/12/music_critic_keith_spera_sound.html

North Fork Sound's 50 Best Songs, 2009
#1 The Woman I Love.
http://northforksound.blogspot.com/ (Sunday, December 13, 2009)


The Louisiana Weekly - Sounds of the Season
http://www.louisianaweekly.com/news.php?viewStory=2140

Glen David Andrews’ irreverent, yet brilliant funny “Santa Got High for Christmas,” opens with a James Brown-evoking scream that’s enough to get any sleepyhead out of bed on the holiday morning. Alex Mc­Murray backs up the the vocalist in attitude offering some solid, often searing, electric guitar.

Burnwood Tonight
http://burnwoodtonite.blogspot.com/2009/12/favorite-records-of-2009.html

My first introduction to Alex McMurray was a song called "Bad Apples" by his band Royal Fingerbowl. I couldn't believe my ears. There was nothing like it. A truly kick-ass stomp of a song and certainly one of the nastiest ever written. I have been a fan of Alex's ever since and 10 years later, he has released one of the best records of the year. As Threadhead Records' Chris Joseph stated, "McMurray is the make believe stepchild of Tom Waits and Randy Newman." I'd like to add that "Cannonball" is the perfect combination of love, humor, pathos, and insanity. And back in the good old days, this record would have been an FM radio staple and Alex McMurray would be selling out 500 seaters across the country. You should get lost in this record.

 

WWOZ Hosts Best CDs of 2009

http://www.wwoz.org/new+orleans+community/best+cds+2009
Alex McMurray - How To Be a Cannonball
Alex is a songwriting fool. His musical maneuvers are dangerously brilliant and edgy. Hand him a whiskey and put it on my tab.

Paul Sanchez, Susan Cowsill, John Boutte and more host 'A Very Threadhead Holiday'
house party
By Keith Spera, The Times-Picayune

http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2009/12/paul_sanchez_susan_cowsill_joh.html

Lousiana Cultural Vistas - Winter 2009
Alex McMurrays skewed, yet articulate lyrics suggest a hybrid Tom Waits, Randy Newman and Elvis Costello...
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leh/lcv-winter09/#/94
(then navigate to the 'Sound Advice' section of the online magazine)

Every January, OffBeat Magazine throws the first great party of the year the annual Best of the Beat Awards to honor the best local musicians and music businesses for their accomplishments.

Alex McMurray has been nominated in five different categories this year!

Alex McMurray - Best Song of the Year
Alex McMurray - Song Writer of the Year
Alex McMurray - Best Country/Folk/Roots Performer
Alex McMurray - Best Country/Fold/Roots Album
Happy Talk Band - (Alex on guitar) - Best Rock Performer

Go Vote on the Best Of The Beat.
http://www.offbeat.com/BoB09/

Vote Early!
Vote Often!

What Will Santa Say?
The adults are sitting around a table on the back porch, some with beer, some with coffee. They’re swapping wisecracks and stories while the kids are upstairs. Coats are tossed in a corner, and the Christmas lights are strung with semi-deliberation in one of the rooms of the house. It could be Christmas, but it isn’t. The house is Susan Cowsill and Russ Broussard’s home on the West Bank, and it has become the studio where A Very Threadhead Holiday is being recorded. Mike Mayeux’s mobile recording unit is out front; there’s an amp in the hallway with producer Paul Sanchez’ hat on it. The lights are hanging from Broussard’s drum kit.
Offbeat 01-Dec-09 - http://www.offbeat.com/2009/12/01/what-will-santa-say/

This year’s Saints have prompted a number of artists to record their own Saints song, so Carlo Nuccio – who wrote and recorded the original “Who Dat” more than 25 years ago – has returned with “Glory Bound,” an update of the song. The song features the return of Aaron Neville, who sang the song the first time around, and Theresa Andersson, along with Ivan Neville, Jon Cleary, Matt Perrine, Barry Foulon, Shamarr Allen, Joe Cabral, Ben Schenck, Jimi Burtchaell, Alex McMurray, Paul Sanchez, Derrick Freeman and Rob Schafer. The song will be available soon on iTunes, but here’s a preview in honor of tonight’s game.




Update: When the song is available for sale, a portion of the proceeds will go to the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic.

Greetings Pilgrims!

The Pilgrim Fairies have smiled on us: I'll be playing DBA Thanksgiving night.
I'll be joined by Carlo Nuccio, Matt Perrine and Bob Andrews. We start at 10. 
Shake off that narco-turkey haze and come hang.

Also, don't forget The Tin Men will be doing our usual duty at DBA on Wednesday from 7-9. T-day eve is always a big night in these parts...

Hope you can make it out.

Cheers,

Alex McMurray

Threadhead Records, the first fan-funded, volunteer-run record company to focus entirely on the music and culture of New Orleans, has just released their very own Holiday CD. The CD was produced by Paul Sanchez and features a number of their artists including John Boutte, Shamarr Allen, Susan Cowsill & Russ Broussard, Matt Perrine & Debbie Davis, Craig Klein, Alex McMurray, Glen David Andrews, Mary Lasseigne, Margie Perez, Ingrid Lucia and Paul Sanchez performing both original and standard songs of the season.

Alex plays guitar on seven of the 13 songs and performs his soon-to-be-a-Christmas-classic Santa, Let Me Call You A Cab.

10% of the net proceeds raised from this project will be donated to the New Orleans Musicians Clinic. The other 90% will be split between the Threadhead Records General Fund and the Threadhead Records Foundation. The money raised for the General Fund will be used to pay our minimal overhead, advertising for our artists projects and other expenses related to assuring our artists success. Foundation monies will be used for future artists projects.

Check out the music on the Music Page - Buy a Copy Here

Sign up for the Alex McMurray Newsletter and get a free download of a new unreleased Alex McMurray song. 

'I Am In Hell' - Get it

Alex McMurray, Davis Rogan and Dave Sobel, McNee's collaborator on record, wielded bass drums. Sousaphonist Matt Perrine directed the band with his usual effervescent panache- signaling changes and directly solos. Carlo Nuccio played snare drum along with Hart's son, Felix. The music was solid, frenetic and bordering at times on cacophony- but this was no amateur band just blowing ... http://neworleansmusiconline. com/wordpress/?p=756

Alex is now on Facebook

www.nola.com

Alex McMurray makes a splash with his 'Cannonball' CD

Alex McMurray is everywhere... But many fans first discovered McMurray April 30. On the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival's Lagniappe Stage, he performed to the largest crowd of his career. Reviews were across-the-board ecstatic. 
Read it here
  

Alex does not make it home unscathed....

Read it here

Alex does NEW ORLEANS, DUBAI, NEW CD/THREADHEADS, CHAZFEST/JAZZFEST, OSHKOSH, OGDEN, NORTHEAST TRIP...

Read it here

Listen to the four part interview with one of the masterminds behind Chaz Festival Alex McMurray. 
ChazFest Video/Music Page

Train Whistles and Flies’ Wings
Offbeat Magazine - www.offbeat.com
Although New Orleans has a reputation as a brass/jazz/funk playground, it has been a home to songwriters since the beginning of the 20th Century. From Clarence Williams to Jelly Roll Morton to Dave Bartholomew, from Allen Toussaint and Earl King to more recent tunesmiths such as Paul Sanchez, Anders Osborne and Ed Volker, there’s a history of musicians putting words and notes together in profound ways. With How to Be a Cannonball, Alex McMurray takes his place in those ranks. 
read the whole article

How to be a cannonball review - Offbeat Magazine
Alex McMurray’s long awaited new album, How to Be a Cannonball, could be the record that gives him the recognition as being one of the best songwriters working today.
read the whole article

"Alex McMurray made a big impression at Jazz Fest "
Times Picayune - Nola.com
The crowd that showed up for his Lagniappe Stage set -- in the high hundreds, at least -- caught him off guard. "I'm just not used to playing for so many people," he said. He should be. Read the rest of the article

French Quarter Festival, New Orleans
Jazz Times
This raw, funky street trio, a crowd favorite, delivered a wealth of rich material ranging from McMurray’s sea chanty
"The Ballad of Cap’n Sandy" and Danny Barker’s "Palm Court Strut", a naughty N’awlins classic full of sexual innuendo,
to covers of Chuck Berry’s "Maybellene" and Cab Calloway’s "The Man From Harlem".  Read the rest of the article

From Shaky Start to Enduring Tradition - Jazz Fest 2009 article
New York Times
Jazzfest is a one-stop gathering of nearly every ranking local act. This year there were brass bands like the Dirty Dozen and Rebirth, who massed together onstage. There was funk-charged blues from Walter Wolfman Washington. There was brawny, clattering bayou zydeco from Rosie Ledet and C. J. Chenier. There were songwriters like Theresa Andersson, who multiplied her voice through electronics; Anders Osborne, whose bluesy songs hinted at grunge; and Alex McMurray, a droll, raspy singer playing nimble jazz guitar. Read the rest of the article

Chaz Fest Harps, Manicures and Hard Liquor
Enthusiastic Noise
At ChazFest, there is more than local music, there is local flavor. In this case, the local flavor is the "Hard Liquor" stand - one of the mottos of ChazFest. Read the rest of the article (some nice photos too)

Check out the latest release by Alex McMurray. 
CD's are available for sale here
Samples tracks of the new CD here

Local musician Alex McMurray, a NOLAFugees favorite, offers a brief glimpse into the professional grind, the state of the city, and why you shouldn't request "Rosy Fingered Dawn" at his shows.

1.) Do you sometimes feel, whether you want to or not, like an elder statesman in the local music scene?

Alex: No.

Read the rest of the article! (The answers get even better as the question roll on...)

Nolafugee.com

 

The 'Thread Heads' are a great organization in New Orleans. They may be just the greatest thing to ever happen to helping New Orleans music get recorded and out to the world. Well, to support their good cause and effort, you need to check out their latest Thread Heads Charity Raffle.  
Get All the details here.

Check out Thread Head Records site. These are true New Orleans Music Fans.

Theater of the damned suspended for now. possibly some in april. I need a night off once in a while so that I can type these gigs into the interweb!
 

Just a quick note to hip you to some upcoming stuff outside the usual weekly shows (Tim Men, Tom Paines, Jackals, et al)

Shanties, The Star Spangled Banner and New York

The Valparaiso Men's Chorus is back for a very special evening of sea shanties at the Saturn Bar this Friday March 6 at 10:00. If you have been a part of a shanty show at the Saturn, then you know how truly wild an experience it can be. If you haven't made it to one of these yet--don't be a shmuck! You'll wake up sore and hoarse, but with much more oxygen coursing through the veins. The Saturn is still located at 3067 St. Claude Ave. in America's own 9th ward

Now here's something for all you sports fans. I've been invited to sing the National Anthem as the Tulane Green Wave baseball team takes on the Trojans The University of Southern California. The game starts at 6pm this Friday at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium over there by the Ted's Frostop on Claiborne (leaving plenty of time to get down to the Saturn Bar). They also asked me to throw out the first pitch, and while the rotator cuff thing has been following me around for years, Roger's been working with me on a "Special Regimen" that has me feeling damn good! The photo above is of me hammering home the splitter. Holy Cow!

I'll be heading to NYC in March the 20th, 21st and 22nd of this month. Bill Malchow and myself will be doing my tunes as we open the show for Tab Benoit at Sullivan Hall march 20th. Sullivan Hall is located at 214 Sullivan St. in the Village. Saturday March 21 I'll be joining Bill with his Band at the Rodeo Bar at 375 3rd Ave, doing a New Orleans R&B thing. On Sunday March 22 Bill and I head upstate to play the Black Swan in swinging Tivoli. I guess we'll start early, maybe 8 or 9.

I hope to see you at one of these fine events. Be well and have a pleasant day.

Sincerely,
Alex McMurray

New disk is done - Tour to follow

The Valparaiso Men's Chorus will be performing at Saturn Bar Friday March 6 at 10:30.

Alex McMurray has been invited to play the 2009 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Thursday April 30 at the Lagniappe stage. All the Jazz Fest details here

The archeology division of McMurray Media Enterprises has recently discovered what may be the
last 10 copies of the original pressing of '007's Studied Rudeness' release.
This may be the last chance to get this great disc if you don't already have it! 

Only 10 Left!

-- New Alex McMurray cd currently in production & will be out this spring
-- The Tin Men are now playing every Wednesday from 7-9 at DBA
-- The Tom Paines (New Orleans' premier folk duo Alex McMurray & Jonathan Frielich) appearing every Tuesday at Circle Bar 6:30 to 8:30
-- Alex McMurray has been invited to play 40th annual Jazz Fest
-- Chazfest set to take place Wed april 29
-- Theater of the Damned reconvening Thurs. Jan. 29 8:00 at Saturn Bar and continuing through Mardi Gras
-- AM going to Dubai with Susan Cowsill & Russ Broussard 3/26 to 4/2
-- Tin Men at French Quarter Festival April 17. Sponsored by DBA where they will be that night

Greetings!

The cards and letters keep pouring in, all demanding another Royal Fingerbowl show at One Eyed Jack's...

The Great Minds at TeamFinger have listened!
wetnapThis Friday night (Nov 14) come join Royal Fingerbowl for a night of Fingerbowl Music (a subset of twentieth-century western pop music not meant for dancing). And as an added bonus, you will be a part of HISTORY, as the performance will be recorded for eventual release as a CD. Get there early and get yourself a good spot up front. Enjoy some of the many cocktails available at this fine establishment, and get ready for the FUN!

Doors at nine, show starts at ten. One Eyed Jack's is located at 615 Toulouse St. between Royal and Chartres in the French Quarter. Their phone number is (504) 482-3133 and you can check them out online at www.myspace.com/oneeyedjacks

Thanks for reading this. Be one of the Proud Fourteen!

Sincerely,

Alex McMurray

From a new diary entry...
...Now we are on the edge of winter and lots of stuff is looming on the horizon. The Fingerbowl is going to play again at One Eyed Jack's this Friday. The show will be recorded for possible release, granted that we remember the songs. There is always the threat of a new Tin Men cd, and the Valparaisos may just have to do another one as well. An outfit called the Threadheads has agreed to produce a cd for me doing my own songs (several other friends have shown their support as well), which will begin next week over at Piety. The Theater of the Damned continues over at the Saturn Thursday nights at 8 and the Tom Paines are still doing happy hour every tuesday at the Circle Bar. These are No Cover shows, so not much risk. Also look out for the Mama's Boy reunion show at One Eyed Jack's on Saturday Dec. 6

The room was sparked and sparkling and vibrating with 150 to 200 people(near the middle of the first set, McMurray thanked the 14 Fingerbowl fans for bringing a friend). What a great feeling, to be among so many people elated to be where they were and nowhere else. More... -- LiveNewOreans.com 
  

 

The members of Royal Fingerbowl Mach II (Alex McMurray, Carlo Nuccio, Matt Perrine, Bob Andrews) return for one special show.

Interview with Carl Nuccio on Royal Fingerbowl and the upcoming show on Nola.com

One Eyed Jacks is located just 2 blocks from Bourbon Street in the French Quarter at:
615 Toulouse Street
New Orleans, LA 70130

And just a friendly reminder - Alex procured a bunch of the back catalog from the old label
and is offering them for sale on this very website!  Check out the Music Page

007 release a new disk filled with rocksteady classics.  Go to the music page to check out the new disk.
Disk are for sale online, buy one now mon.
007 are:
jeffrey clemens - sings, plays drums
alex mcmurray - sings, plays guitar
joe cabral - sings plass bass
jonathan freilich - plays guitar

Check out the 007 website for more info and music - www.007rocksteady.com
007 has a myspace too - www.myspace.com/007rocksteady

from Best Of New Orleans...

The prolific local singer/songwriter Alex McMurray has made no bones about the fact that his latest project, the Valparaiso Men's Chorus, is not a pirate-related venture. The group " which was conceived during McMurray's stint as a shanty-singing sea captain at Tokyo Disney Resort " is a robust choir whose size can swell to nearly 20 members, backed by bandmates from the Tin Men and belting out time-tested songs of the sea. Their album, Guano and Nitrate, was one of the local favorites of last year. Though McMurray may frown on privateering, by odd coincidence his gig (part of One Eyed Jacks' fourth anniversary celebration, also featuring the Morning 40 Federation) falls smack in the middle of PyrateCon 2008. The three-day event is a convention of period-costumed pirate enthusiasts, historians and actors who play pirates on TV, gathering in the land of Jean Lafitte to celebrate all things buccaneer. The PyrateCon program includes activities such as rum distillation panels, sword-fighting demonstrations, wench auctions and even a sea shanty workshop. Concert tickets $12. — Alison Fensterstock

Fri.-Sun., April 18-20
Various locations; www.pyratecon.com
The Valparaiso Men's Chorus
10 p.m. Fri., April 18
One Eyed Jacks, 615 Toulouse St., 569-8361; www.oneeyedjacks.net

Chaz Festival will be presented again this year at the world famous 'Truck Farm' in the 9th Ward Bywater.
(alex's backyard). The line up this year is stellar once again. The Tin Men w/The Valpariso Men's Chorus and The Happy Talk Band will perform and many many others.
For all the details and tickets check out: www.chazfestival.com

- Alex has finally swung a deal with the fine folks at (record company to go unnamed) and he can now offer more of his back catalog - Royal Fingerbowl's legendary 'Happy Birthday Sabo!' and 'Greyhound Afternoons'. Go check out the music page for free samples and a link to get one of these fine disks in your hands. There is no sayin' how long the supply will last, so get them while  you can!

- Another run of Banjaxed was pressed and it is now available in disk and digital download.

- A blogger named 'authur' attended the last Valparaiso Men's Chorus event at the Saturn Bar. Check out his take on the event here.
"The band plays these old songs as if they were born to them, skipping reverence and piousness and going straight to their dirty hearts"

- The Thursday evening DBA shows have been going well. There will be a great line up of guests for the December shows including: Bill Malchow, The Jackals (Cabral/Freilich/Garrison), John Vidocovich, Walt and Auroa, Simon Lott and Brian Coogan. Always something familiar. Always something new. Always something that you should not have missed. What else could you be doing on Thursday night?

- Check out Zack Smiths Chaz Fest 2007 Photos. Nice Gallery of Chaz Fest gayety. Thanks Zack.

- We have sold out of legendary 007 CD 'Studied Rudeness'. Never fear rock steady fans, the new 007 disk is in final production and will be available in Jan or Feb ohh eight. Don't miss out on this one. Buy early and buy often.

- The folks at NolaFunGuide.com have put a page up on yours truly.
- And a short mention at Nola.com (gravely voiced vanguard?)

So people have been asking me more and more when I'm going to crank upthe act again. Looks like I'll be taking over for Paul Sanchez over at the DBA Thursday evenings from 7-10. No cover, hassle free entertainment on a school night. more than likely i'll have lots of special guests to keep things interesting.

The fine people at Munck Music have made this years 007 performance available both on disk and as a digital download. Get it at Munck Music

Set List:
1. Woman Don't Want Bang Around (2:42)
2. Honour Your Mother And Father (4:02)
3. Tears On My Pillow (3:26)
4. It's You (3:02)
5. Fortune Teller (3:37)
6. Stage Banter (0:36)
7. Long Time (3:45)
8. Baba Boom (4:59)
9. Unity (2:34)
10. No, No, No (6:00)
11. Stage Banter (1:12)
12. True Love (3:51)

Chaz Festival review and video in New Yorker Blog - The New Orleans Journal

Great Blog entry and video of the Chaz Festival.
Look for the May 11 entry.  Here

Interview in Antigravity Magazine - Your New Orleans Music and Culture Alternative

Alex McMurray talks sea shanties, The Tin Men, bringing back Royal Fingerbowl,
and of course, crumudgeons. - by Jason Songe

Link to the June '07 issue pdf download (article page 10)

It's the party so nice we had to do it twice. That's right, you heard it here first and make no mistake the SECOND ANNUAL CHAZFEST will take place RAIN OR SHINE on THURSDAY, MAY 3 at THE TRUCK FARM located at 3020 St. Claude Ave in the fashionable Upper 9/LowBy area. The doors will be open at 11 and the bands will go from noon until 10pm. It's a must-see event you will find nowhere else! Chazfest is the only place you'll be able to see any of these great artists in a festival setting in the greater New Orleans area this spring.

And this year there's even MORE Chazfest, as we've added a second stage.

We've also got more great food this time around. Returning from last year are Pete and Jenny from The Joint with New Orleans' premier BBQ. Mz Gianna will feature a veggie "green" gumbo, and Karen Brady and Georgia Rhody will be serving burritos and margaritas.

We will have plenty of beer and water and toilets available. Pat and Helena will be returning with their adult refreshment stand. Photo ID required.

FEATURED ARTISTS
SOUL ASYLUM
SUPAGROUP
TIN MEN
MAGNETIC EAR
DA TRUTH BRASS BAND
SHATZY
PALMETTO BUG STOMPERS
NARCISSY
WHY ARE WE BUILDING SUCH A BIG SHIP?

CHAZFEST
THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2007 NOON-10PM
THE TRUCK FARM 3020 SAINT CLAUDE AVENUE NINTH WARD NOLAMore info at www.chazfestival.com

An evening of mayhem, rum and song has been scheduled for Saturday, April 21 at the Saturn Bar, located at 3067 St. Claude Ave in glamorous Bywater USA. Come and see, for their first public appearance, The Valparaiso Men's Chorus as they perform your seafaring favorites! Thrill to the robust and ribald maritime sounds of yore! The action begins at 10:30.	(click for larger image)
And for the first time ever available ANYWHERE! THE CD!  THE VALPARAISO MEN'S CHORUS--GUANO AND NITRATES!
Join the chorus saturday night! Download and print the lyrics from Guano and Nitrates 1: Drunken Sailor 2: Blow The Man Down 3: All For Me Grog 4: Serafina 5: So Early in the Morning 6: The New York Girls 7: Spanish Ladies 8: Sally Brown 9: Rio Grande 10: Cape Cod Girls 11: Rosyanna

Back to New Orleans, Gently - Tin Men - Mentioned in New York Times Article

Southern rock downtown and McMurray continues his run - Nola.com

Sounds of Vitality for New Orleans - Cool Audio slide show from New York Times.
(Check out slide #8)

SEA SHANTY RECORD FINALLY MIXED AND GETTING CLOSER TO YOUR EARS STOP
WILL KICK YOUR ASS EVERY WAY BUT SIDEWAYS STOP
DEPP IN THE CROSSHAIRS STOP
WE WILL TAKE HIM DOWN STOP

HAPPY TALK RECORD IN PRODUCTION STOP
WILL BUM YOU OUT AND MAKE YOU ROCK STOP

The Tin Men will be playing the great state of New York in June.
Go check out the Tour page for all the details. New York Summer Tour Info

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Alex McMurray

info@alexmcmurray.com
www.chazfestival.com

FIRST ANNUAL CHAZFEST COMES TO THE NINTH WARD

In response to overwhelming demand to hear some of New Orleans finest musical talent in a festival setting, the first ever Chazfest will be held on Thursday, May 4 at The Truck Farm-- 3020 St. Claude Avenue in Americas own Ninth Ward. The fun begins at 12 noon and carries on all day until 10:00. Along with a veritable whos who of bands that wont be playing at the other music festival taking place in New Orleans at the beginning of May (as well as a couple that ARE!) there will be food served up hot and wet by The Joint, as well as Chef Yvette Yates (of Rio Mar). Weve even got port-o-lets.

Heres some of the acts that will be featured:

MORNING 40 FEDERATION, 007, TIN MEN, HOT CLUB OF NEW ORLEANS, THE HAPPY TALK BAND
KIRK JOSEPHS BACKYARD GROOVE, INGRID LUCIA, SHATZY, AND MORE!!!

CHAZFEST - THURSDAY, MAY 4 12:00 NOON10:00 PM

THE TRUCK FARM 3020 ST. CLAUDE AVE. NINTH WARD NOLA
MUSIC, FOOD, SUNSHINE, CHEAP BEER, TOILETS

Come see it here, cuz you can't see it There.

Between that 'other festival's' two weekends - Thursday 4-May-06 at "The Truck Farm"
Come on out and get yer Chaz On!
All you need to know right - here

Howdy all...Micky's Blue Room is closing its doors on the 8th so come join us for one last Tuesday night tonight. I'll be with Greg Schatz and Rob Wagner, as well as special guest Deb Montgomery. I'll be joining Deb on her set. As always, 171 ave C. Starts around 9.

De Mortuis Nil Nisi Bonum,

Alex McMurray

Howdy folks.
007 is doing some dates in Houston, Lafayette and New Orleans in early January. Check the "shows" section for details. Bring your Shake.

Due to the tenacity of certain fetishists I have typed out the lyrics to all the tunes on “Banjaxed” and have posted them on this site. Go to the “music” page and underneath the picture of “Banjaxed” there’s a link to “mp3 downloads and lyrics”. Click on that and you’re all set. Guaranteed to bring you right down. I’ll try to type out more Tin Men and F-bowl lyrics soon.

Congratulations to the Happy Couple.
Go and check out the nice photo essay of the Happy Day. Kodak Photo Gallery
And there are a few shots on the Photo page as well.

Hello y’all. My wife Kourtney and I are going down to do a little recon in New Orleans. While we’re there I’ll be doing a solo show at the Circle Bar on Sunday, December 11. I guess there’s a curfew, so I’ll probably start before the old starting time of 11 pm. Just use your best judgment, I guess. Also I’ll be with Jonathan Freilich doing a Tom Paines-esque show at Caf� Brasil on Sat 12/10. Come out and bring your Hang.

Alex McMurray is now available on CDBaby.com!
The ever expanding McMurray McMedia Machine (mmm...) has landed on CDBaby.com. This is a great site for independent artists, such as myself, to help get our music heard. They are also pretty good at selling and distribution. CDBaby has also recently joined forces with the nation wide electronic consumer powerhouse Best Buy. So it will now be possible to waltz into a Best Buy, discover, listen to and  order independent artist's music via their in-store kiosks. Including Alex McMurray - Banjaxed. Check it out Baby

Hey there music fan, you wanna be my friend?
Go check out my in-progress MySpace page. Be 'MyFriend' and add me!
Why the MySpace page when I have this website you ask? Well, here at Camp McMurray headquarters, we feel that is time that the rest of world gets more McMurray, Tin Men, 007, Sad Band, Mad Band, 9th Ward Ramblers and any other damn thing we care to slap together. Then when we come to your quiet little town and rock your face off, we'll know in our hearts you had fair warning. Don't depend on FEMA to help your ass out after we pass through.
Remember our motto - 'Whatever it takes to have a little fun'.
If you act now, for a limited time, you may qualify to be my 'best friend'.
check it out today at - www.myspace.com/alexmcmurray

The Ninth Ward Ramblers will be opening up for the Hot 8 Brass band from New Orleans, USA.
This will be a great show benefiting the victims of hurricane Katrina.

Show at:
The Bait and Tackle Bar
320 Van Brunt at Pioneer
Red Hook, Brooklyn

The Ninth Ward Ramblers are:
Martin Krushe-saxophone
Alex McMurray-guitar and Vocals
Greg Shatz-Bass, accordion, and vocals
Scott Murchison-drums
Download the cool poster for this event HERE (2mb .pdf)

Concert Friday October 14th 2005

All-star musical lineup includes the Tin Men, Coco Robicheaux, and other special guests

Emily M. Darrow
845-758-7512
darrow@bard.edu mailto:darrow@bard.edu
http://www.bard.edu/news/calendar/
Friday 14-Oct-2005

ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y.-Jazz at Bard presents a benefit concert for the victims of Hurricane Katrina on Friday, October 14, featuring New Orleans musicians the Tin Men, Coco Robicheaux, and special guests. The suggested donation is $20. The concert begins at 8:00 p.m. at Bard College’s Olin Hall.

Concerned about friends in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, Bard alumna Raissa St. Pierre ’87 was only too eager to help Tom Thayer organize a concert of New Orleans bands. Thayer, from Tivoli, New York, owns the club DBA in New Orleans, which is a mainstay of the music scene on Frenchman Street on the edge of the French Quarter. “Tom had a tour he was lining up and thought Bard would be a great place to bring these bands,” says St. Pierre. “And let me tell you, we can’t wait!”

Jazz at Bard (founded by St. Pierre and Sheila Moloney ’84) is sponsoring the concert to benefit musicians from this great city whose history of heart-and-soul music has given millions of people tons of joy and happiness the whole world over. “New Orleans needs our help and we want to give whatever we can and keep on doing so until the city and its people are back in their homes and on their feet,” says St. Pierre.

“These are world-class musicians who epitomize the New Orleans music scene and its strong tradition of supporting a great variety of music,” says Moloney. “It will be a very special evening! We hope that the Hudson Valley community will join us and support efforts to raise funds for hurricane relief.”

For further information, to purchase tickets, or for reservations, call 845-758-7456,
e-mail jazzatbard@bard.edu, or visit www.bard.edu/jazzatbard. Reservations and advance ticket purchase are recommended.

#
About the Musicians
Coco Robicheaux, the son of Choctaw and Cajun parents, spent his early years between his native swamplands of rural Ascension Parish, Louisiana, and the French countryside. Forming his first band at 13, by age 15 he was playing New Orleans' famed Bourbon Street, and signed his first record contract with the Mississippi J. B. Label in 1965. He joined with Orleans Records in 1994 and released the highly acclaimed Spiritland. His Louisiana Medicine Man was awarded Best Blues Album by a Louisiana Artist in 1998 by Offbeat magazine. His latest release is Yeah, U Rite! produced by Robicheaux’s own label, Spiritland Records. He has played every New Orleans French Quarter Festival since 1995, and faithfully delivered his mojo soul for 10 consecutive years at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. In addition to his New Orleans gigs, Coco has performed in California, Colorado, Texas, Florida, New York, South Carolina, Australia, Germany, and at the Montreal and Nice Jazz Festivals, and has perfomed with musical legends including Johnnie Cash, Gatemouth Brown, Dr. John, John Lee Hooker, Herbie Hancock, James Brown, Keb Mo, Willie DeVille, Mighty Sam McClain, and just about every New Orleans musician.

The Tin Men are one of New Orleans’ most interesting and exciting bands. Consisting of Alex McMurray on guitar and vocals, Matt Perrine on sousaphone and washboard, and Chaz Leary on washboard and vocals, the band has riveted audiences with its own brand of music. Those who caught their late night performances during the 2002 Jazz Fest season hailed the group as “the best thing seen during Jazz Fest.”

Katrina has created a huge diaspora of New Orleans musicians, some of whom have ended up in the nyc area. There are now two weekly events designed to give musicians a place to blow and hang, and for those interested to listen and hang as well.

ALEX MCMURRAY PRESENTS
Starting Tuesday Oct. 4 and every Tues. thereafter
MICKY’S BLUE ROOM
171 AVE C btw 10^th and 11^th streets
(212) 375-0723
starting around 10:00
Get off your ass and get to Micky’s.
I’ll be doing a solo set, then we’ll be featuring guest artists doing their tunes, followed by some jamming.

^{REFUGEE BAND HANG
Every Wednesday night at 10:00
NIAGRA
112 Ave A at 7th street
(212) 420-9517
This is downstairs in the tiki bar. We did this the other night and it was VERY raucous. No cover, but we pass the hat pretty strenuously.} 

^{ALEX MCMURRAY AND THE SAD BAND
Playing dates in NYC. See the SHOWS section for all details.}

Go check out all the details on the 007  - 'Shows' Page.
Come on out so we can Rock You Steady.

Go check out all the details on the Tin men - 'Shows' Page.
Come on out so we can Confuse and Enlighten.

Some very cool Jumbo Tron pictures. Check them out on the Photos page.
There are also some new ones of me and mad dog.

The site’s going to do a lot more things now and should be more amenable to updates. And we all love for stuff to be current, don’t we?

The coolest part will be that there will finally be song clips up for “Banjaxed” the Tin Men cds, the Fingerbowl stuff, 007 and anything else that comes down the pike. The only thing is I need to find some F-bowl cds so that I can sell them, and I don’t think the label that owns those masters are going to exhibit much largesse anytime soon. At any rate, I hope to have Fingerbowl cds available here soon. We’ll figure something out.

Also we’re working on the photos page for all you aficionados out there. If you have a picture to post on the site, send it in to info@alexmcmurray.com. It doesn’t have to be of me or any band I play with, either. Send anything you want and I’ll post what I can.

And that’s because I’m going to be posting this stuff myself. With less moving parts, the better our chances.

As far as the diary page goes…let’s just say we’re going to try to make a go of it with a clean slate. The “shows” page will be 100% up to date, I swear. And I’m going to try to capitalize at the beginnings of sentences and wherever needed from here on out. Honest.

Bear in mind that the site is under a bit of construction. Thanks for your patience but drop a line anytime with complaints/comments etc.

I also have under construction new web sites for my other bands 007 and Tin Men.
check out the beta versions at:
007 - www.007rocksteady.com
Tin Men - www.tinmenmusic.com

Just added a great new photo of me and Jonathan from Jazz Fest this year.
check it out on the photos page here...

"Only in New Orleans could an album featuring jazz guitar, washboard, and tuba—and those instruments only, save for an occasional short-order cook’s “order up!” bell—be most notable for its songwriting."

read more on OffBeat...   or locally here...

007 Jazz Fest Live CD is available available at www.jazzfestlive.com

For those of you who missed this years Jazz Fest 007 performance (I know, it was an early 11am time slot), or if you caught it and want to re-live the experience over and over, you can get a cd of show for your very own rock steady self.

They also have last years (2004) performance from the Lagniappe stage for sale as well. Buy them all, I say. Hell man, get your neighbor one too.

And be sure to go check out the new 007 rock steady web site at: www.007rocksteady.com

read more from gambit...  or locally here...

My new record is finally done and shrink-wrapped for your safety and protection. All you need to do is acquire it somehow (through this miraculous website, of course), grab the biggest bottle of cough syrup you can find, borrow a friend's car with a cd player, find a nice straight road and start driving. Better yet, get dumped or dump someone and hang around behind the bowling alley with a discman and a bottle of muscatel.

You fingerbowl fans are in luck because, while the tin men and 007 are fine bands, there's just too much finger snapping for People Like Us. Working titles for The Record were "For the Aficionado" and "Too Bleak for Even the Fingerbowl". Indeed, I'm joined by Carlo Nuccio and Matt Perrine on most of the tracks, but we also got Bob Andrews, Joe Cabral, Debbie Davis, Sue Cowsill, Glenn Hartman, James Singleton, Grace Treffinger, David Torkanowski, Rick Trolsen, Clint Montz, Rene Coman, Dave Clements, Duke Heitger, and some others i can't remember right now (e-mail me here if you have been slighted).

The record was produced by Jeff Treffinger, who did the legendary F-bowl "demo" back in the day. Its amazing how much better four grand of credit card debt sounds than $400,000.00 or so of TVT Records' Blood Money (sorry Steve! i know your heart was in the right place. Good luck with all the litigation! By the way, "The Man Who Couldn't Even Whistle" is for you. Enjoy!).

So this is the website, which is a new thing for me. I'll be trying to keep a diary going, especially if I'm on the road. And the dates should be pretty current. Send along all suggestions, insults, rants and apologies. Team McMurray shall, as always, try to be diligent in our responses.

As always,
Alex