Hurricane Katrina Recovery Concert

Big Sam's Funky Nation had the crowd on their feet the whole time

Two rollicking New Orleans bands filled the 6th and I Street Synagogue with songs on Thursday night at a concert to benefit Threadhead Records, a non-profit record label that supports Louisiana musicians.

The first act was Paul Sanchez and the Rolling Road Show, who played original songs accompanied by a sousaphone (a huge tuba), a washboard, and two guitars.

Next up was Big Sam's Funky Nation, a brass driven band led by Big Sam (who plays himself on the hit HBO series Treme). They played classics with a big energy, and the crowd danced until the final note.

The event was the brain child of former Big Easy residents Karen Sommer Shalett, now Editor-In-Chief of DC Magazine,  and her husband, Scott Shalett, who joined the Dewey Square Group after working as a political adviser in New Orleans for most of his career. The evening was sponsored by the Holster Project, a D.C. based record label that pairs musical acts with good causes.

— Report and photographs by Christina Wilkie

Threadhead president Chris Joseph and concert organizers Karen Sommer Shalett, Editor-In-Chief of DC Magazine, and her husband,Scott Shalett, of the Dewey Square Group

Kenyattah Robinson and Philippa Hughes

Laura Keene, Kelly Baker, Kelsey Kerr and Murphy Baker

Brie Morrow and Sarah Catanzaro

Steve Andronico and Justin Fishkin

Eugenia Edwards, Bailey Edwards, Anna Kimsey, and Jessica Mandell

Musicians Paul Sanchez and Alex McMurray

Jessica Douglas and Alex Ozenberger

Marc Adelman and Melissa Koenigsberg

Peter and Jodie Boyd

Dominic Gutierrez and Claudia Gilmore