Big things are afoot for Peter Lamb and the Wolves. Raleigh reedman Lamb recently recited a litany of good news, from recent developments to upcoming events—including top billing at Durham’s Casbah New Year’s Eve, and the North Carolina Democratic Party’s Inaugural Ball in Arlington, Va., on January 21.
“Certainly the Casbah show we’re excited about, but then there’s the inauguration for the President, which is a big deal. We’re playing across from Arlington Cemetery,” Lamb says. “The other interesting thing is, we’re getting a lot of [air]play in New Orleans recently, on the major jazz station down there. It’s huge for me.”
New Year’s Eve also marks the start of the band’s new Kickstarter campaign, where they will be seeking to raise $10,000 to record, not just one, but two albums. The same design, recording and mastering team that produced the band’s most recent eponymous CD will reassemble to create one finished album of just the Wolves, performing originals and standards, as well as an official bootleg, available only as a Kickstarter incentive, brimming with local guests. Those contributors include Ed Stephenson, Steve Riley, Bernie Petteway, Mark Simonsen of The Old Ceremony, Mary Boone of the North Carolina Symphony, and th’ Bullfrog Willard McGhee. In addition, Paul Friedrich of The Onion Head Monster fame is creating artwork for new T-shirts and bumper stickers.
The Casbah show on New Year’s Eve will be two parts jazz and one part variety show, with Footnotes tap dancers and music duo Kate McGarry and Keith Ganz opening for the Wolves.
“The night is going to start as a sit-down jazz show. In the intermission, there’s going to be a tap ensemble performing a couple of numbers,” explains Lamb. “Then we’re going to come on and just rock it out.”
Lamb says he was delighted to welcome the Grammy-nominated McGarry to the bill.
“She’s new to town. She’s lived Manhattan for many years, and now she’s here,” he says. “She wants to get the word out, so I called her up and she said she’d love to do it.”
Tomorrow night’s show begins at 9 p.m. Tickets are $15.