by Devin Bambrick

Hardcore fans of Nick Spitzer's public radio juggernaut American Routes are no doubt quivering in anticipation for tonight's celebration of the program's fifteen year anniversary at Rock N' Bowl. 

Tonight in Mid City, celebrate 15 years of American Routes with Nick Spitzer and a long list of the city’s best talents. Crystal Castles are at House of Blues, NOMA is screening a movie in the sculpture garden, and more. On this day in 1960, Louisiana elected Governor Jimmie Davis. Now, more to do to kick off your weekend.

In addition to knowing their way around a pie, Bywater's Michael Friedman and Greg Augarten have been picking up some other business know-how lately. The storefront that the duo behind Pizza Delicious are hoping to turn into a permanent restaurant has required some quick construction learning. And, as NPR points out, they've also had to navigate the unseemly waters of Facebook advertising. On today's Morning Edition, the Planet Money team spotlights the pizza duo's negligible success with Facebook advertising in front of the social media company's gargantuan IPO. Read the story here.

James Booker doesn't look out over JazzFest from high above a stage named after a car company, nor does he have a club named after his famous song. But the one-eyed piano legend bares perhaps just as much influence over New Orleans as Fess, and Lily Keber is hoping that making a documentary will help spread the glory of his left hand to the rest of the world. As they've been wont to do, NPR's Weekend Edition heads down to New Orleans to profile Keber's quest to get Bayou Maharrajah finished today. Read and listen here.

With all its gumbo references and all-star JazzFest lineups, New Orleans music is usually billed as one big happy family. But, this morning on NPR, local drummer Shannon Powell reminded us of some fault lines. In the piece, which played on Weekend Edtion, he drew a line in the sand between traditional New Orleans purveyors, and those - like chief exports Trombone Shorty and Rebirth Brass Band - who meld genres. "Don't say we playin' traditional New Orleans music if you playin' rock 'n' roll, that's what I'm sayin," Listen to what else he's sayin' in the full story here.

When the Mighty Mississippi came up earlier this year, the levees protected us. But, just before the bend in the river, on the other side of Leake Ave., there is a group who live on the margins of the flood protection system that were a little more at risk. The little enclave, known as the batture - or, down side of the levee -  is the latest facet of New Orleans life to get the NPR treatment. Words like whimsical are dispatched with ease. But there's also that nagging issue: Who owns the land? Listen and read John Burnett's story here.

Love them or hate 'em, NPR is America's National Public radio. (Literally.) Today, the rest of nation had the opportunity to catch up on Katrina, Danziger, and police corruption in New Orleans via a piece on Morning Edition. The piece focuses on the Danziger verdict's effects, and the potential that the ruling is a picovtal point in the campaign to change police culture. Listen and/or Read the Piece Here.

Before the days of the Allen Toussaint stable and Minit Records, a lot of the record producin' and promotin' was handled by a label from Mississippi. Johnny Vincent picked up a lot of his talent for Ace Records from Cosimo Matassa's Rampart St. studio, J&M. Huey "Piano" Smith, Guitar Slim and many others recorded for the label. Today, NPR's Fresh Air encapsulates the label's brief history. The music that accompanies the piece would be basic stuff for the Boudin Man, but hearing the story behind all those recordings makes it worth a listen.

So, sure...Metallica and Genesis beat him. But tonight, Mac Rebennack takes his place among the greats...in Cleveland. Dr. John will be inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame by John Legend (couldn't they have at least got a Batiste?) The Night Tripper has enjoyed a flurry of press since his nomination was announced, not at least of which is this NPR piece, in which he expounds on the "tricknology of life."

Ol' Mac Rebennack gets the full NPR treatment today, playing a solo session in the studio, talking about all that's been ailing his soul, and dishing about a collaboration that wasn't to be with fellow Luzyana legend Bobby Charles. The contrast between the public radio interviewer's mannered cadence and Dr. John's off-kilter Cajun modulations could be the stuff of double act legend.