MEMOIR: In her hilarious memoir, After a While You Just Get Used to It: A Tale of Family Clutter, Gwendolyn Knapp spins tales about her eccentric Florida family. Hoarding, dysfunction and dating dilemmas of epic proportions ensue, and even a move to New Orleans can’t lift what starts to seem like a curse, especially when the author’s mother – along with all of her “collections” – moves to New Orleans to follow her. In the self-deprecating style of David Sedaris, Knapp weaves her upbringing into the story of her attempt to escape her family and struggle to make it in a new city, bouncing the narrative between Florida and New Orleans. Knapp is the editor of Eater NOLA and lives in New Orleans.
COUNTRY-SOUL: The influences of Hank Williams Sr., John Prine and Woody Guthrie are palpable when you tune into music by The Deslondes (formerly Tumbleweeds). The New Orleans band’s debut album with New West Records is due out this month. If the tracks, including “Fought the Blues and Won” and “The Real Deal,” are any indication, every living room in the city will be piping pedal steel and surf organ-infused honky tonk blues through the airwaves. Polish up your two-step, friends.
COOKBOOK: Chef, host of Travel Channel’s “American Grilled,” James Beard Award finalist and New Orleans-native David Guas Grill Nation: 200 Surefire Recipes, Tips and Techniques to Grill Like a Pro is the perfect gift for your grill-loving dad on Father’s Day. Ideal for the novice or experienced griller, it’s jammed with everything you need to get your grill on.
JAZZ: The Branford Marsalis Quartet re-released its Coltrane’s A Love Supreme: Live in Amsterdam DVD and CD in April. It celebrates the 50th anniversary of the 1965 release of the original John Coltrane “A Love Supreme,” album. This complete performance by Marsalis and his quartet was performed at Amsterdam’s Bimhuis in March 2003 and is a must-have for the collections of fans of Coltrane and Marsalis.
Please send submissions for consideration, attention: Melanie Spencer, 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005.
