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Red Stick Sounds: For Warmdaddy

Wess “Warmdaddy” Anderson was in the hospital for therapy, recovering from his third stroke earlier this year. Near his seat was his saxophone. As the doctor walked in, he looked at the local jazz legend and his instrument.

“You’re playing,” the doctor asked.

“I’m breathing, huh?” Anderson replied.

That determination has kept Anderson alive. In July, Anderson suffered another stroke right as he was getting back to playing after suffering what his wife, Desi, calls the “big one”—a second stroke in November 2012.

Nowadays, Anderson is doing well, thanks to continued therapy and his incessant urge to play.

“He’s going to play no matter what,” Desi says.

Anderson will perform with musicians in the second of two benefit shows at Lock & Key tonight. The event starts at 4:30 p.m. RSVP and get more information. Proceeds from the event will go to The Jazz Foundation of America to support Anderson’s therapy and health care. The event also includes a silent auction for whiskey baskets and a “Gumbo and Jazz” three-course meal for six, hosted by the Andersons.

Last night, Anderson played from 6 p.m.-11 p.m., with musicians from Baton Rouge and New Orleans. He was amazed at the support.

“It’s nice to see all these musicians come out and do what we call associating with their instruments,” he says. “The best thing for me is to hear them play with me. It helps me heal.”

Anderson says around 20 musicians were in attendance. Some of those talents included trumpet players John Gray and George Bell and vocalist Ed Perkins. Before the show, Anderson was worried about his performance. But once he started playing, his muscle memory took over, and he was part of a great jazz jam session.

“I have a hand that shakes since I had the stroke,” he says. “Before the musicians came, I was just very nervous about playing and what I was going to do. As soon as I starting playing, though, the hand knew what to do. It was an unbelievable experience. To have those people take time out of their schedule and be a part of this made me feel good. It gives me more inspiration to play.”

Live picks
MC Frontalot, a “nerdcore” rapper performs Friday at 9 p.m. at Hartley/Vey Studios. Tickets are $10 online and $12 at the door.

Lagniappe Records hosts its one-year anniversary Saturday. There is no cover, and the event features prizes, food, beer and music from Tess Brunet and The Black Orchids, The Chambers, Jetlagger and more. RSVP and get more information.

Molly Taylor and Erin Miley will perform at Chelsea’s Café Saturday at 9 p.m. Cover is $7. Check out my article on Taylor’s session at The Legendary Noise Floor from the latest issue of 225.

Clay Parker, Ryan Harris, Caroline Schaff and the indie rock band Gardens perform at Red Dragon Listening Room Sunday at 5 p.m. The show is part of Jive Flamingo’s “Back to School” series of shows. Cover is $5 with a student ID and $10 without. RSVP and get more information.

Song of the week
Death From Above 1979’s “Always On”
A decade after hitting the scene, the bass and drum duo Death From Above 1979 has returned with The Physical World. Like the band’s debut You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine, the sophomore release fits comfortably into heavy-hitting-yet grooving hard rock. Bassist Jesse F. Keeler is an absolute monster, and the riffs he creates will keep your eyelids peeled and your jaw dropped. While sexed-up rock ‘n’ roll grooves are the band’s forte, “Always On” comments on the state of the genre. “If we brought Kurt back to life, there’s no way he would suffice,” Sebastian Granger sings. “Not a day.” While the album loses some of its bravado after seven tracks, that lyric alone carries more power than the majority of what’s on modern radio. It’s scary in its truth, too.

Album of the week
Avi Buffalo’s At Best Cuckold
So many albums came out this week. There was Interpol and Ryan Adams trying to capture that old glory. Tennis released a follow-up to 2012’s criminally underrated Young & Old. Sloan and Hiss Golden Messenger also released some good albums.

Perhaps the most intriguing is At Best Cuckold, a sophomore album from the California alternative band led by singer-songwriter/guitarist Avi Zahner-Isenberg. This is a pretty chill indie record. At times, Zahner-Isenberg over-shares. There are moments where I want to tell him, “Less is more, bro.” But overall, this one is hitting the spot, and it’s perfect for a non-fussy ride along the backroads to nowhere.

Hear the album below: