After three years as a studio project, Toyesauce made its live debut this summer with a show at Tipitina’s in New Orleans. The rotating funk collective led by guitarist Leon Toye assembled an all-star NOLA krewe for its inaugural performance, including members of Galactic, Dumpstaphunk, George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners, and more.

Though this was Toyesauce’s first live performance, the band came into Tip’s with plenty of endorsements from the Crescent City musical community. Over the past three years, Toye has collaborated with George Porter Jr. (The Meters), Ivan Neville and Tony Hall (Dumpstaphunk), Stanton Moore (Galactic), Big Sam, and many others on a self-titled EP and a handful of standalone singles. On June 5th at Tip’s, the band also got a testimonial from Renard Poché—qualified New Orleans musical spokesperson if there ever was one, having worked with the Neville Brothers, Dr. John, Irma Thomas, Allen Toussaint, etc., etc.—who welcomed Toyesauce to the revered stage.

For this inaugural performance, Toyesauce included Runnin’ Pardners drummer Terrence Houston, Naughty Professor keyboardist Sam Kuslan and bassist Noah Young, Dumpstaphunk saxophonist Brad Walker, The Rumble’s Aurelien Barnes on trumpet and percussion, and toward the end of the show, Galactic vocalist Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph, with Toye on guitar. The band’s blistering, 38-minute set runs through nearly its entire discography.

For the first time in front of an audience, these originals are given the space to breathe. “Flea Market” is let out of the cage with infectious break-beats, ode to Japanese whiskey “From the Barrel” is uncorked for a smooth pour into a loose jam, and the band gets comfortable in the groove of “Good As It Gets Anymore”. Fittingly, the band capped off the set with a nod to The Meters with “Give It What You Can” (originally recorded by Sam & Dave), featuring Jelly on vocals.

The project remains as collaborative onstage as in-studio. Houston’s drumming routinely takes the spotlight with dizzying flurries of breaks, rolls, and solos, Brad’s saxophone provides the kinetic push inherent to NOLA funk, and Toye’s guitar is a consistent center. With a heavy, shreddy tone more akin to Eddie Van Halen than anything you’d find in the French Quarter, Toye puts his own unique stamp on the New Orleans funk tradition, alongside some of the finest musicians keeping it alive today.

Check out the full Toyesauce show from Tipitina’s below, and stream the live album on your preferred platform. The band has another rare performance coming up at the Olympia Funk Festival in Washington, January 30th–February 1st, 2026. Grab tickets here and follow Toyesauce on social media for announcements about future concerts and releases.

Toyesauce — Tipitina’s — New Orleans, LA — 6/5/25 — Full Video

Setlist: Toyesauce | Tipitina’s | New Orleans, LA | 6/5/25 

0:03 Intro
1:09 Yip Man
5:11 Flea Market
8:54 From The Barrel
14:06 The Burglar
17:50 I’ll Give It A Try
22:18 Chicken
28:56 Good As It Gets Anymore
34:02 Give It What You Can (James Tarbutton, Steve Cropper, Carl Marsh)