'Treme': Love at first sight with Big Chief Lambreaux

 

Two episodes into the HBO drama “Treme”, and the first strands of narrative are starting to reveal themselves. We’re getting a sense of character, witnessing the sprout of personalities and plot lines: Antoine Batiste has a lot of baby mamas, and he’s not too good to either the babies or their mamas. One of the latter, Ladonna Batiste Williams (Khandi Alexander), is being pulled away from New Orleans by her now-husband, living in Baton Rouge with her two sons while she tends bars and searches for her brother, apparently lost within the Louisiana prison system. 

Can Davis McAlary (Steve Zahn) ever be able to keep a job and avoid borrowing money from his – it seems -- rich parents? How will series creators Simon and Overmyer harness Creighton Bernette’s rage at the government, and will actor John Goodman’s heart be able to handle it?

But with all this creation going on, we’ve got one particular character, Big Chief Lambreaux, on the brain.

We can’t stop thinking about him. The first episode’s climax was the Chief’s incredible Indian dance, a cocksure, strutting ceremony in a darkened neighborhood. All of a sudden, Lambreaux, who we first met in a car headed back to New Orleans after three months away and who looked to be nothing more than a stubborn burden on his son and daughter, is this otherworldly figure whose character contains multitudes. As we are beginning to learn, his reputation precedes him, and, like a king returning from a period of exile, is known by name if not by face as he roams the city gathering up his scattered tribe.

HBO renews 'Treme' for second season

“Treme,” HBO’s new drama about a community of musicians in post-Katrina New Orleans, has already gotten the go-ahead for a second season.

The network announced Tuesday that it was renewing the series, which debuted Sunday to widespread acclaim from critics. Many have suggested that it is on par with creator David Simon’s series “The Wire,” which detailed the ills of urban America.

“I can’t think of another show that is more emblematic of what we aspire to be as a network than 'Treme,' ” said Michael Lombardo, president of HBO Programming.  “In the tradition of ‘The Wire,’ David Simon and Eric Overmeyer have embarked on an exploration of the soul of one of the world’s most unique cities through the lives of an exquisitely crafted cast of characters. We are thrilled that the press has recognized the profound artistry and intelligence of this show and are eager to see where David and Eric take us in a second season.”

Production will begin in New Orleans in the fall.

-- Matea Gold

'Treme' premiere offers less blood, and way more music, than 'The Wire'

If you’ve heard or seen anything at all about David Simon’s lauded new series "Treme," which premiered last night on HBO, chances are you’ve been told that “music is a main character,” which is true in the same basic way that the medical jargon and hospital setting are central to  "Grey’s Anatomy," or quirky Alaska and frozen nature are to "Northern Exposure" (and Sarah Palin’s "Real American Stories," for that matter), and the sexy bosoms and, er, chariot races are to "Spartacus: Blood and Sand." 

 A musical instrument, a melody or radio signal is central to nearly every scene in the first episode of "Treme" (pronounced “treh-MAY”), just as blood, crack and/or a gun peppered "The Wire." We'd be willing to wager that at some point in the 10 episodes that make up this new show’s debut season, a New Orleans boogie woogie or bounce cut will accompany a murder, some hot sex or a new birth -- and not just the big metaphorical creation-story that opens up the series.

 “That sounds like Rebirth,” says DJ Davis McAlary, a pot-smoking, guitar-wielding, community radio DJ/music freak/jive-ass white dude played by Steve Zahn. He says this while he’s waking up next to his kinda sorta girlfriend and hearing the faint sound of a brass band parading in the distance. Within moments he’s pulled his bare-butted self out of bed and is drawn to the music. The literal “Rebirth” of which he speaks is the Rebirth Brass Band, the legendary New Orleans party band marching outside; the metaphorical rebirth references the day of the first ceremonial musical march through the city after Katrina hit Aug. 29, 2005.