Ivan Neville was the guest on the latest episode of JamBase partner Osiris Media’s Comes A Time podcast. The New Orleans legend and Dumpstaphunk keyboardist/bandleader spoke with hosts Oteil Burbridge and Mike Finoia about playing with Keith Richards, NOLA’s amazing music scene, his first gig and more.
The conversation started off with Neville speaking about his second bout with COVID-19, which thankfully was a milder case than his first. Mike points out that Ivan, wearing a Keith Richards t-shirt, has some good medicine going with “that guy on your shirt.” “He don’t get none of that crap,” Neville said of the famously iron-clad Keith.
Ivan recently performed with Richards at the Beacon Theatre in New York City for the 2022 Love Rocks NYC benefit concert which a saw a reunion of The X-Pensive Winos. Neville was a member of the Winos and gave some great details on getting back together with his old friends for the first time in 30 years. The conversation also touched on Richard’s other band, The Rolling Stones, who Neville has a long friendship and collaborative history with as well, with Dumpstaphunk most recently opening for The Stones at the Superdome in New Orleans in 2019.
Neville also spoke candidly about his decision to get clean and his 23 years of sobriety. Oteil brought up a point that some musicians use drugs or alcohol to calm nerves and Ivan gave a great response that while nerves are always present, preparation goes a long way in squashing them. Ivan also shared some great memories about playing with Oteil’s late brother Kofi Burbridge prompted by a story Kofi had told Oteil about playing “Indian Funk” with Ivan, who remembered Kofi’s expert ears and copious musical talent.
Ivan also gave a fascinating account, told to him by his uncle Cyril Neville, about how New Orleans’ famed sounds and rhythms evolved in a port-city melting pot of musical styles and culture. Additionally, Neville regaled Oteil and Mike with a story about his first gig and also spoke about his early career as well NOLA’s music scene and more.
Listen to Comes A Time podcast with Ivan Neville below:
