in Hattiesburg, you can find great music at The Thirsty Hippo on Main Street. I'd be happy to meet you there after my rehearsal.

Wednesday is usually open mic night at the Hippo, but when I called they said that they thought they had a band, though they didn't know who.

Other than the Hippo, I'm not sure where to go in Hattiesburg for decent live music. Maybe Walnut Circle Grill, but I think they're weekends only.

You need to go to Oxford, MS. There is a recording studio around there called Fat Possum Records and a bar called Proud Larry's. Both continually have great music.

Here's a great little club in Hattiesburg, although I'm not sure who will be playing while you are in town.

http://www.thirstyhippo.com/

Cary Hudson is one of the best musicians in the South. I don't think he's touring at the moment, but his music is amazing and I highly recommend it. He used to be the lead singer for a great band called Blue Mountain. Here's his site:

http://www.blackdogrecords.com/caryhudson/

There are several bars in town, but I can't seem to find who is playing the day you are in town. Here's the link:

http://tinyurl.com/s96qf

And for dining you MUST try Don and Ellie's on Hwy 49 coming into town from the coast. It's a little shack-hole in the wall bar that has the most fabulous steaks in town.

Hope that helps a bit- hope you enjoy Hattiesburg.

The Government Street Grocery is definately worth checking into for good music, good food, and good people.
Located @
1210 Government Street
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
228-818-5676

this place served as a temp shelter after the hurricane (free red beans and rice for awhile), and has been offering good music with a good selection of beer and booze since. I've seen some great bands there, better than I'd ever thought I'd see in Ocean Springs, my home town. Can't remember the name of the band, but they closed with the singer playing a love song in Portugese while playing an acoustic guitar.

hope you enjoy your stay on the MS Gulf Coast.

...
chad

Hey, my brother plays alot at the thirsty hippo here in Hattiesburg. I don't know if they're playing or not on Wednesday, but he said that he would meet you there if he isn't. His band is called Cottage Industries. It's a pretty sweet band, you might want to check them out. Just email me back to get more details.

You could also check out my brother's band at http://www.myspace.com/cottageindustrymusic. I think that's it at least, I'm not sure though, I'll post another one, if that's wrong, I hope you check them out!

Hey again, sorry about that last post. Their myspace acount is http://www.myspace.com/cottageindustry. If that's not it I'll just ask my brother which one it is. Thanks, I hope that you check them out!

the hippo is about the only place for live music. you might want to see if The Bottling Co. has opened, suppose to bring in some live acts. wish you could be here on the weekend, there is good blue grass up the road at a trucking co., just local folks gathering to play and enjoy music, it is an experiance. when your in town try cresent city for some good chow. i am not sure about biloxi, don't know what is open and what is still down. if you hit jackson,ms try hal and mals for live music.

I see someone has already alerted you ro the BEST steak I have ever had. Donanellie's Bat and Grill on south HY 49 across from the south entrance to Camp Shelby. Also good grilled tuna steak. Sign out front says "You can't beat my meat". Hard to know what is left in Biloxi or New Orleans. My favorite resturante in New Orleans was Mothers. It was in the bussiness district so is probably ok. Hole in the wall kinda place with Crawfish etufe(sp?) to die for! Have fun!

Hey Tim, Hope you enjoyed your visit & stay in BR.
Sorry to have missed Saturday evening. It would have been 3 in a row for me, these days it's a push. I hope we can can in touch. Really enjoying my Pandora station. Johnny

Tim-

If you get a chance, search out John Vidacovich from the New Orleans funk/street beat group Astral Project (astralproject.com). He helped Snarky Puppy out a lot and is one of the most legendary drummers and educators on the planet. He taught jazz giant Brian Blade and Galactic drummer Stanton Moore, and he is a freakin riot to speak with. One of the most enthusiastic people I've ever met.

Enjoy N'awlins,
Michael

while in hattiesburg, definitely check out the thirsty hippo, but around the block there is a resaurant/bar called 206front, that is also the address-206 front st. there is usually a band playing on tuesday nights. lots of great musicians are employed by 206 including myself.the food is the best in town, definitely, i recomend the salmon pasta or the NY strip. while you're in town stop by t-bone's records on hardy st., they sell all the local band's cd's, you should definitely pick them up, we may be a small town but the music scene is really kickin.
you must check out: the griffenz, the squirms, an end to october, chance fisher, cary hudson, thomas jackson,cottage industry, that yellow bastard, kobayashi maru, mark mann, this orange four, and zarathustra.
and if you are further curious about the scene here go to www.deadmandancing.com, it'll tell you who plays where and usually has a link to the band's website, if they have one. there really is great some great talent in this town, you've just got to dig a little to find it.

great stuff everyone. Michael - Ill try to catch up to John V. It's very small world this music world...

Johnny P. thanks for the fun lunch and history lesson. Really great to chat with you. Had a great evening club hopping. I'll be posting on the Baton Rouge day shortly...

The Thirsty Hippo is my choice, though there are several other venues playing live music in the H'burg.

Thanks, Cody, for mentioning www.deadmandancing.com--for those of you who said you don't know where to find who is playing in town, be sure to check it out.

/shameless self-promotion.

You MUST go to the thirsty hippo on thurs 4/5. Kenny Brown will be there. He's played with some of the best blues guys around, R.L.Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, etc. deadmandancing.com is the only source you'll need 4 hattiesburg live music. Music venues? thirsty hippo tops the list, but there's also mugshots across town, mainly cover bands there if your into that sorta thing. You can also come check out the recording studio Mark Mann and I will be at wed. It is the most high tech studio in the state with a Pro Tools HD system. Mark has been writing songs and performing locally for some 16 years now. check his music out at myspace.com/markmannmusic or broadjam.com or markmannmusic.com thanks man

If you are passing through north Mississippi you should try to see the band Gabby Johnson. They play everywhere from the casinoes of Tunica to the small dives in Greenville to the casinoes on the coast (before the hurricane). http://www.gabbyjohnson.com

They are from Hernando, MS and they are awesome. I've seen them several times, but no description does them justice. (662)449-0589 ask for Sam Ellis.

when in New Orleans check out the cajin cabin and ask about the band "Mamou" they play the best zydeco/cajun music i have heard.

one suggestion you should not overlook. there is a place called artmosphere in lafayette, louisiana. live music every night. they host a monthly music experiment called 54321 on the second saturday of every month. musicians show up on the friday before to put their names in a hat draw to find out who they're playing with the following evening.

there are also 'rules' just to keep it interesting (some past rules have been something as specific as "the piece must be played in 9/4", or "you may only use dissonant chords", or "must be played in the doo-wop style".... or something silly or obscure like "must use balloons", "curtains!", "must sing about a woman named barbara Q")

anyway, after having 24 hours to come up with a piece, the musicians perform it on the following saturday evening. to find out more, go to http://www.myspace.com/54321composers.

artmosphere has great music every night, not just on 54321 nights. also, there is a wonderful jazz and blues club downtown called 307 which has some amazing performances as well.

these are just two places.... lafayette has tons of wonderful live music at various venues. there is a college in the city and it draws people in from around the globe for school, so the scene is such a melting pot.... and because it's not a huge metropolis, the sound isn't overplayed or overproduced. it's raw and real. check it out.

GOTTA GO TO OXFORD
The local bars have intense competition for the student drinking crowd. This means lots of bands at lots of bars. Aside from that, it's clost to Tupelo (Elvis) and Tunica, which after hurricane katrina and the recent shutdown of atlantic city, may be the 2nd largest casino town next to vegas in the United States. I'm not positive, because I don't know if all of the gulport/biloxi casinos are back yet, but I know some of them are.

TRY TO STOP IN NATCHITOCHES ON THE WAY TO SHREVEPORT. IT REALLY SHOULDN'T BE MISSED..... YOU WILL LOVE IT! HOWARD

I'd like to create a station on more general terms than "group" or "song". I'd like to choose a genre like "classic rock" or "contemporary Christian" because I like many different styles within a genre not just a style similar to one artist. OR it would be cool to blend two or more stations that I create.

Hey ya'll

When you go to Louisiana be sure to go to Lafayette - there is a fabulous music scene there - check out Grant Street Dance Hall - plus plenty of smaller clubs with very hot zydeco - blues - cajun -

TT

You cannot go to Baton Rouge and New Orleans without stopping (and staying for a bit)in Lafayette. You would be so sorry! The music scene, the food and the people are all wonderful. Check out www.bluemoonpresents.com. This is my favorite neighborhood bar and a great place for music and a whole lotta dancin'. It's also a hostel. There are a zillion things you need to see here and you have to get a taste of our local music!!! Love Pandora! Great job.

Tim~

Just found our about Pandora and am having so much fun creating my own stations. I was wondering if you were still on your Roadtrip.
I noticed you had been to Lafayette LA last time you were in the area.

If not please consider this your official invitation to come meet great people, eat incredible food and hear fantastic music.

The area is known for several festivals which would give a great opportunity to hear some local musicians. I hope you'll consider coming in the fall of '08 for the Festival L'Cadiane, which showcases cajun and zideco music.

I lived in Dallas for 25 years and when I came home my trip was not complete unless I went to the Blue Moon, which is a bar and hostel with consistantly has the best music in town. Grant Street is another good venue.

The people, food and music will live up to their legendary status. It will make you want to move Pandora to Lafayette so you and your staff can enjoy the region year round!

Thanks for the great music!

Cynthia