Stix duh Clown in New Orleans

I saw -My Graveyard Jaw- play in October 2007. I was riding that high of first semester Freshman year in college. Everything in life is simple and the only thing you feel the need to do each night is go out with friends, get drunk and enjoy yourself. We were at a the biggest fraternity party of the year and had a Bayou theme, so they'd hired a local act to play some music. The first thing I felt when I saw Stix duh Clown -- the lead man and only current member of the band -- was awe. He's a mountain of a man, with a full mane of curly dark hair and clown tattoos over his eyes. He was calm and sage-like, completely unaffected by all the noise and activity surrounding him. The music reflected this image, and I was blown away. My friends and I still talk about that night as one of the best we've had together. I've seen My Graveyard Jaw play 3 or 4 times since then and my admiration of Stix has only increased. He was booked at a show last weekend at One Eyed Jacks in the French Quarter following the Krewe de Vieux parade. I knew I'd have to be there.

I'd had a busy day that Saturday. First my friends and I went down to "the Fly" -- a field in Audubon Park that's a popular spot for Tulane students to spend sunny afternoons. We made our way down to the Quarter that night just in time to catch the parade. When the parade reached its end we hopped in the back and marched along for 30 minutes or so, dancing behind the jazz band. By the time we got to One Eyed Jacks everyone was exhausted. Once Stix stepped out on stage, though, we jumped up with excitement.

I should explain the style of music. The lineup has changed several times over the last few years. When I first saw them there was a guitar and banjo, and a suitcase drum kit. Also a barrel with a large piece of wood coming out if it and single steel string stretched across it that acted as a bass. Since he's been solo it's just acoustic guitar, suitcase kick drum and tambourine (he plays all at once, utilizing both feet for the tambourine and suitcase). The songs are bluesy folky hobo jams that range from dark, grizzled dirges to light and sweet harmonic tunes. While not exactly "dance music", the rhythm is great and it's hard not to want to get up and stomp your feet along.

The show was spectacular. Many of the songs were off his most recent album, which I hadn't heard at the time. They were all immediately accessible and enjoyable. He played two of my favorites: "I Don't Know" and "Pushed Time" (both available on his MySpace: He dropped a bombshell midway through the show when he announced that this would be his last time performing as My Graveyard Jaw. It was hard to be too upset, though, because his reason for calling it quits is that he and some friends are starting a new band, to be known as Death By Arrow.

My Graveyard Jaw is a a wonderful chapter in New Orleans music that I'm sad to see come to an end. Although the band comes to an end, the music lives on. I urge you to seek out the albums already released. If you find yourself in New Orleans, try and catch a Death By Arrow show -- there's a good chance I'll be there.

by J. Lakin - New Orleans correspondent and alternative music consultant