Moore better funk

Stanton Moore couldn't stop smiling. And who could blame him? On-stage at a packed City Limits, the New Orleans funk drummer was in the cat-bird's seat, displaying huge chops and on-the-spot creativity alongside comrades Robert Walter on the Hammond B3 and Will Bernard on guitar. The all-star trio lived up to its rep over two crackling sets, as Walter trilled and filled and added bottom, Bernard scratched out rhythmic funk and went to the slide on stabbing solos and the bespectacled Moore drummed up a parade ground of shuffles and added color and swing and booty-shaking percussive propulsion. (For a taste, dig Emphasis! (on Parenthesis), the threesome's most-recent slab.)

Booking agent Jackie Bressler was able to snag Moore and co. on the fly, as the trio was wrapping its tour and the drummer was headed back to N.O. to rejoin his bandmates in Galactic for an upcoming East Coaster. While Moore may have moaned a bit about having to trek this far down the peninsula, gas prices being what they are, he didn't look or sound like he regretted the sidetrip in the least, finishing up a lenghty second set on a joyous note with the Blue Note-era-sounding "(Late Night at the) Maple Leaf," a tribute to the famed Carrollton nightspot.

This well-attended Sunday-night party represents one of the first big shows at the new City Limits, which recently reopened just across the railroad tracks (and across the street from its longtime former location) on Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach. Brick-walled and high-ceilinged, the location apparently once was a warehouse. While it's handsomely appointed, the venue's vibe is casual (though drinks ain't cheap; I shelled out $8 a pop for VO and Sevens.) And it's plenty roomy, with two wall-length bars running along the main performance space, a smaller bar off to one side behind it, and yet another in the comfortable upstairs space.

Bressler, who formerly booked bands at Revolution, has some exciting upcoming acts. On Friday (Sept. 19), Big Sam's Funky Nation (also playing at Hollywood's Clambake the following week) joins up with Miami's own Spam Allstars for what's sure to be one helluva fun double-bill. And on Oct. 4, Bressler pulled off a real coup in booking soul-blues legend Bobby "Blue" Bland. Check out newcitylimits.com or Myspace.com/citylimitsdelray for more. And look for more dispatches right here, as I know I'll be trekking up there again in the very near future.