The New Orleans BINGO! Show

Biography

The New Orleans BINGO! Show is an interactive theatrical cabaret and musical band originating from New Orleans, Louisiana, created in 2002 by singer/songwriter Clint Maedgen. The project began when Maedgen and Ron “Ronnie Numbers” Rona, who were working together at a restaurant in the French Quarter, started performing weekly Thursday night shows at Fiorella's on Decatur Street from 8pm to 11pm. These performances featured Maedgen on saxophone alongside a repertoire of up to 150 songs, blending musical performance with participatory theater that appealed to a wide audience aged roughly 27 to 67, creating an insulated bubble of experimental energy among New Orleans' youngest and most innovative artists.[1][2][4][5][6]

The band's musical style initially centered on rhythm and blues with theatrical elements, later transitioning to rock 'n' roll with new casts of characters, while maintaining its core as an interactive cabaret featuring original music by Maedgen. The shows gained notice from Preservation Hall's Ben Jaffe, who attended performances and was struck by their quintessential New Orleans vibe, leading to Maedgen's eventual involvement with Preservation Hall. This exposure highlighted the Bingo! Show's role in shaking up traditional jazz scenes through multimedia and approachable, personable performances amid the vibrant, non-judgmental New Orleans music ecosystem of the early 2000s.[2][3]

Though specific details on the band's lasting legacy are limited in available sources, its influence helped bridge experimental cabaret with established institutions like Preservation Hall, contributing to the evolution of New Orleans' live music culture. The show represented a playful, community-driven extension of the city's musical heritage, fostering collaborations and audience participation that embodied the pre-Katrina creative openness.[2]

Fun Facts

• The band formed spontaneously while Clint Maedgen and Ron Rona worked at a French Quarter restaurant, leading to packed weekly shows at Fiorella's.[1]
• Ben Jaffe called the Bingo! Show his most 'New Orleans experience' in over a decade after attending performances.[2]
• The show's audience spanned ages 27 to 67, creating a unique 'insulated bubble' of experimental theater.[2]
• Early shows featured Clint Maedgen playing saxophone over 150 songs with a strong theatrical sensibility.[2]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Ben Jaffe - Discovered and recruited Clint Maedgen after attending Bingo! Shows, leading to Preservation Hall involvement (Rehearsals with Rickie Monie, sitting in at Preservation Hall, 'Complicated Life' video) [Early 2000s]

Key Collaborators

• Ron “Ronnie Numbers” Rona - Co-founder and co-worker at French Quarter restaurant who started the band together (Thursday night shows at Fiorella's on Decatur Street) [Early 2000s]
• Rickie Monie - Pianist in rehearsals and performances arranged by Ben Jaffe (Preservation Hall sit-ins and rehearsals) [Early 2000s]
• Clint Maedgen - Creator, singer/songwriter, and saxophone player leading the show (Original music and up to 150 songs in repertoire) [2002 onward]

External Links

• Spotify
• MusicBrainz