Early December options for live music in New Orleans include an underground rapper/singer who routinely fills arenas and a holiday-themed heavy metal rock opera.
ROD WAVE
Tuesday, Smoothie King Center
Rod Wave has waged a quiet-storm campaign for six years, flying under the radar of pop culture institutions. The native of St. Petersburg, Florida, notched a dozen gold- or platinum-certified singles, tens of millions of online streams and two No. 1 albums on the Billboard chart, including his 2022 release “Beautiful Mind," without ever having earned a Grammy nomination. His performances are also low-key. His hourlong set at a full Smoothie King Center on Dec. 6, 2022, felt like a coronation; he was the chill-est of cheerleaders for his own compositions. Fans who connect with his internal musings on a deeper level than bling- and bang-focused hip-hop were more than happy to supply the charisma as he sang and/or rapped such vulnerable musings as “Pieces” and “Sweet Little Lies.” Wave will fill the Smoothie King Center again Tuesday during the tour for his current “Nostalgia” album. The bill includes Ari Lennox, Toosii and Eelmatic. At press time, resale tickets were at least $185.
A scene from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's 2016 tour.
TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA
Wednesday, Smoothie King Center
A Trans-Siberian Orchestra show is not for the faint of heart. The heavy metal holiday rock opera, built around a Dickens-meets-“Dungeons and Dragons” storyline, boasts lasers, pyrotechnics and musicians rising into the rafters while riffing on a classical music/metal hybrid. Sensory overload is guaranteed. Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “Wizards In Winter” is a staple of car commercials and Christmas light displays everywhere, and “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24,” an amped-up mash-up of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “Carol of the Bells,” is an enduring holiday staple. The orchestra’s creator and driving force, Paul O’Neill, died in 2017 but his creation lives on. Every holiday season, two companies of TSO musicians and singers barnstorm the country. Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s winter 2023 tour is dubbed “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve — the Best of TSO & More.” Tickets for Wednesday’s show at the Smoothie King Center start at $49.75 plus fees.
OTHER NOTEWORTHY SHOWS
THURSDAY
Drummer Gerald Watkins Jr.’s trio presents “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” performing the music of Vince Guaraldi at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Thursday ($25).
The New Orleans band Dragon Smoke includes, from left, guitarist Eric Lindell, bassist Rob Mercurio, drummer Stanton Moore and keyboardist Ivan Neville.
FRIDAY
The all-star quartet Dragon Smoke — singer/keyboardist Ivan Neville, guitarist/vocalist Eric Lindell and Galactic drummer Stanton Moore and bassist Rob Mercurio — grooves at Tipitina’s on Friday, with vocalist Quiana Lynell opening ($28).
Drummer Jason Marsalis explores the songbook of his father, the late jazz pianist and educator Ellis Marsalis Jr., at Snug Harbor at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ($35).
Contraflow cranks out arena rock hits of the 1980s at Rock ‘N’ Bowl ($10).
Americana band Dave Jordan & the NIA is at d.b.a. on Frenchmen Street at 10 p.m.
Tank and the Bangas played the Festival Stage on opening day of Jazz Fest 2023.
SATURDAY
Grammy-nominated New Orleans soul/R&B/hip-hop/spoken word ensemble Tank & the Bangas celebrates the 10th anniversary of its “Think Tank” album at Tipitina’s on Saturday ($30).
Tuba Skinny swings out on songs from the early 1900s at d.b.a. at 6 p.m., before blues guitarist Little Freddie King plugs in at 10 p.m.
Cuban-born percussionist Alexey Marti powers his Afrogumbo combo for sets at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday at Snug Harbor ($30).
See Couches featuring Maggie Koerner at the Toulouse Theatre ($25).
Lost in the ‘60s plays the hits of the 1960s at Rock ‘N’ Bowl ($10).
SUNDAY
From 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., the Pfister Sisters sing Christmas carols at Snug Harbor for the Faubourg Marigny Improvement Association’s annual holiday caroling event. It’s free and singalongs are encouraged.
After the caroling, Snug Harbor presents master jazz saxophonist Wess “Warmdaddy” Anderson for shows at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Sunday with a quintet consisting of vocalist Ed Perkins, pianist Victor Atkins, bassist Robin Sherman and drummer Jason Marsalis ($25).
The Palmetto Bug Stompers are on at d.b.a. at 5 p.m., followed by the Treme Brass Band at 9 p.m.
MONDAY
For four years, local ensemble Sam Dickey & Read the Sands has drawn inspiration from the Bambara music of West Africa as well as jazz and rock. Guitarist Sam Dickey, pianist Shea Pierre, bassist Max Moran and drummer Alfred Jordan Jr. will play two sets at Snug Harbor on Monday at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
TUESDAY
British contemporary jazz drummer and composer Yussef Dayes holds court at Tipitina’s on Tuesday ($27.50).
Having collaborated with everyone from Jon Batiste to Solange to George Duke, New Orleans multi-instrumentalist Gladney also fronts his own project that focuses on contemporary New Orleans music. He and his band will be joined by guest vocalists Amber René and Salvatore Geloso at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at Snug Harbor ($25).
WEDNESDAY
Trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra swing out at Snug Harbor at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ($35).