Nice recap catsway, and I’m sorry too. I was on a fly-by to the bathroom when I saw you at intermission, and then I didn’t see you again afterward. It’s always a pleasure to see your smiling face. It would have been too cool if you could have jumped up there on the drums for a bit! By the way, what does catsway mean? When the cat’s away, the mice will play… I always think it means that you play on BN when the cat is away??

I guess like many of us!
It was a great night for all of us in attendance, and I hope it did well to benefit the New Orleans charities, New Orleans Artists Against Hunger and Homelessness
http://www.noaahh.org/index.html , and BORN - Better Opportunities Right Now
http://www.betteropportunitiesrightnow.org/ .
Cindi (balcony girls) and I had a wonderful evening as well! I found myself enjoying it too much to take any pictures. It was the first Nadirah show for the people who were by us in the crowd, and it was fun listening to their reactions as they were blown away, time and again. And even though it wasn’t our first time, it was fun reacting from getting blown away, time and again! I’d catch myself just shaking my head and smiling in amazement – at Nadirah’s vocals, moves, and dancing; and at Sonny on his guitars. He makes ‘em talk, I tell ya! And I also really enjoyed the talent and performances of the members of Outside Art - even though Nadirah recognized them all throughout the show and during the band intro, some of the names have escaped me.

Therefore, I'll just say I hope to see them all soon!
As catsway mentioned, they played 11 of the 14 tracks on Nod to the Storyteller, which was quite a treat, including perpetual favorite, ‘Give Henry the Receipt’! (I was a poet, and I know it!

) We found out it was the first time Sonny played "Let it Fly" for an audience, and it was cool to see Nadirah sit and sway on a speaker, watching Sonny admirably, and singing backup vocals. And Sonny had told us before playing "Blue Tarp Blues", that Nadirah had called him on Friday to say that she and her friends and family were listening to it, while driving in the 9th Ward.
Nadirah also mixed some surprises into the setlist... she closed the first set with "At Last", dedicated to her mom, in the audience, and her dad, who has passed. WOW! Just wow! The second set began and ended with a catchy little tune seemingly called “All We Need is a Drummer”!

That was improvised as a fun way to call her twice MIA brother Rasheed to the stage! Also during the second set, she sang a phenomenal version of "Who's Loving You", her ever-powerful "Just a Breath Away" from her 2005 release "Obsessed With Peace, Vol. I" , available at
http://cdbaby.com/cd/nadirah2 , and when called to the stage for an encore, she sang a song about Freedom while waiting for her brother, and then they finished up with a rockin' "Can't Get Next to You"! Great energy, great show!

I'm so glad we re-booked this trip when we found out she was playing!!
Nadirah had a nice group of family and friends at the show, and it was a pleasure getting to talk a little bit to some of them. Cindi almost left Margaritaville wearing Nadirah's mom's sandals

, but that's a story for another day!
I said it before, and I'll say it again... if you have the opportunity to see a Nadirah show? Go! You will be glad you did!!
