Tipitina's Uptown: rub the head Just a quick and relatively safe jaunt made a name for themselves at from the streetcar line lies a small club Tipitina's. One can see anything from with a big stage. The building has country to funk to R&B to jazz at the served many purposes over its 85 year "Fess" place. history, including a gymnasium, Tipitina' s attracts a young and seafood restaurant, gambling hall and energetic crowd. This is opposed to an infamous brothel (and not just five other local venues whose crowds are Tulane sorority sisters living together, I predominantly mid-life crisis sufferers, am sure). Today, the building houses the like the House of Blues. And, on the premier music venue in New Orleans. other hand, it is not a teenage pop As you walk into the club the first mecca, like the Lakefront Arena. Tip's thing you see, except the doorman of generally pulls in young locals, college I course, is a bust of the late jazz piano folk and a few older regulars. legend Professor Longhair. The Getting into Tip's is easy but the • Professor is the Buddha of the New bartenders usually check for bracelets at 1 Orleans music scene, for rubbing his the bar. The atmosphere is almost head is rumored to give good luck. The supernatural, marked by dim lighting • 'Fess is the patron saint of the club, and and dark wood paneling. It is a some say his ghost relatively clean venue compared to still possesses venues like the Howlin' Wolf and those who grace Carrollton Station. The newly renovated his stage. Then sound system is one of the best in the again, it is city and the stage lighting is excellent The incomparable Tipitina's. probably the considering the size of the venue. musicians Over Mardi Gras, Tip's is having a him and his Runnin' Pardners on themselves. host of great shows at all three of their Saturday, check Porter out on the 22nd Tip's brings in locations. Shows to look out for at the at the French Quarter location (233 N. some of the best original club are Galactic on Friday, St. Peters). I have yet to visit either of artists around. George Porter on Saturday and the the new locations but if they are Musicians as Flavor Kings on Monday. At the new Big anything like the original you won't be diverse as Harry Room (310 Howard Ave.), Better than disappointed. FILE PHOTO Connick, Jr., the Ezra is playing tonight and tomorrow, Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones is one of the Neville Brothers Leftover Salmon on the 22nd and ｾ ｓ ｵ ｮ ｮ ｹ Miley, many illustrious names who have graced Tip's and Dr. John all Cowboy Mouth on the 23rd. If you miss stage. contributing writer The Howlin' Wolf offers wide variety Few venues in New Orleans can avoid them by standing in the back down (but, as always, go in a group). match the variety of live music offered where the wooden support pillars and The warehouse district is generally by the Howlin' Wolf. Both big-name lower ceiling make both impossible, or deserted at night so finding close and local bands bring music ranging by going up to the balcony where roadside parking should be easy. from rock to jazz to zydeco to neither happens for obvious reasons. Because of the numerous one ways, industrial to this cavernous converted The Howlin' Wolf definitely isn't the getting there can be a pain. Take a right warehouse. The building itself is two place for the perfect acoustic onto Howard Street from Lee Circle, stories high. The first floor has the experience; the Wolf is a converted then take a left onto Tchoupitoulas actual stage, two bars and a deli. The warehouse and has the acoustic Street. South Diamond Street will come top floor is a balcony surrounding the properties to match. There's a small but up soon; take a right onto it. Take a left stage, but unless you can get right up noticeable echo and there's a definite onto Fulton Street, another left onto to the railing or you' re over six feet tall, shuddering sound whenever there's a Julia Street, and finally a third left onto you probably won't be able to see much deep bass tone. The sound engineers South Peters Street. The Howlin' Wolf from up there. usually have things figured out by the will come up on the your side. It's Unlike the House of Blues and other time the first song is over, and fairly nondescript and can be easy to more subdued clubs, there aren't too regardless, it's easy to have a good time miss, just keep an eye out for the tour many rules here. About the only thing at the Howlin' Wolf. buses and equipment trailers that'll be they don't allow is getting up on stage, Taxi rides from Tulane to the Howlin' parked in front. so be prepared to deal with crowd Wolf run around ten dollars for a single surfers and mosh pits. If you're not into rider each way. It's also possible to take ｾ ａ ｮ ｡ ｮ ､ Thakur, that kind of stuff, you can usually the streetcar to Lee Circle and walk contributing writer 10 february 20, 1998 arcade .