Vetiver prepares first New Orleans performance

Vetiver+prepares+first+New+Orleans+performance

Heather Andelsman, Staff Reporter

The weeks of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival attract huge amounts of national attention to  the New Orleans music scene, drawing artists to perform in the city, even without a coveted slot on the Jazz Fest lineup. At 7:00 p.m. Thursday (the day that kicks off the second weekend of Jazz Fest), Vetiver will perform at the Ace Hotel’s recently opened music venue, Three Keys.

Vetiver is featured on a bill of artists that includes the Preservation Hall Jazz Band as part of the Ace Hotel’s Six of Saturns event. The event, which began last Thursday and continues until Sunday, is set to provide even more musical excitement within the timeframe of Jazz Fest. Vetiver’s lead singer, Andy Cabic, expressed his anticipation about the upcoming concert.

“I’ve performed all over the world, all over the country, but oddly enough, never New Orleans,” Cabic said. “Everyone in the South is very friendly and engaged, so I expect to have a good time.”

The band began playing shows in 2002 and released its first self-titled record in 2004. Cabic named some of his inspirations, a list which included names such as The Velvet Underground, Neil Young and Louisiana-native Bobby Charles, but Vetiver has performed with numerous artists, many of the likes of The Shins and Fleet Foxes.

“My inspirations change all the time,” Cabic said. “It’s something that happens everyday and things always impact you in different ways.”

Vetiver’s latest is the DJ Daniel T remix of the former’s song “Stranger Still.” Cabic plans to continue playing shows and writing new songs in order to get another record ready, offering his advice on finding inspiration.

“Try to find the people that you think are doing something meaningful and interesting,” Cabic said. “Learn from them.”

Correction: An earlier version of this article mentioned Third Party Records as an artist featured at the Ace Hotel.

Leave a Comment