The hottest place to see live music in New Orleans is not in the French Quarter, but uptown at the original Tipitina’s. Tip’s is a no-frills juke joint. There are no cocktail waitresses and no chairs; the 1000-capacity venue is standing room only. So what’s the draw? Top-notch local and national acts and a superior sound system. Tipitina’s hosts local artists including the Neville Brothers, Rebirth Brass Band and Galactic, who have all recorded live albums there. National acts that fit the vibe also appear, including Lenny Kravitz, James Brown, Bonnie Raitt and Pearl Jam. The crowd is a cross section of students, tourists and locals who come ready to party and move to great music. To catch your breath, or the name of the person you’ve been dancing with, you can lounge outside on benches near the “Walk of Fame,” Tip’s answer to the Hollywood version, honoring legendary New Orleans musicians. Artists may not take the stage until midnight, or take their final encore until the wee hours of the morning – there is no curfew. Nobody seems to mind, since Tipitina’s is the place where musicians and music lovers come to get their groove on.