event The Subdudes

Hurricane Katrina was a cataclysmic disaster for New Orleans’ residents, but for bands such as The Subdudes, the attention focused on Louisiana has offered a small ray of sunshine, bringing their ultra-traditional R&B-based Americana to the forefront of the country’s consciousness. The Subdudes have been plying their friendly-yet-anonymous trade since the mid-’80s; after parting ways briefly in 1996, they almost immediately began playing reunion shows, finally reforming officially in 2002. Los Lobos-esque Street Symphony (2007) was typically well-produced, even perhaps too slick, but full of barbed lyrical commentary on Katrina, Iraq, and the state of American race relations. The new Flower Petals is a concept album telling a soldier's story of murder, love, and betrayal, and moves them in a more rootsy, countrified direction than before. For a chance to win a pair of tickets to this show, email rsvpmadison@avclub.com with "Subdudes" in the subject line.

Updated 11/19/2010