I was there last year, I had a hotel facing Toulouse and Bourbon St in the heart of the Quarter, so that is a given, lots of live bands and drinking there. Check out the House of Blues website for NOLA listings and see who is playing that weekend. Man too bad you aint there this coming weekend, it's Jazz fest. There is a Harras casino not too far from the Quarter.
There is a locals joint quite aways from the quarter called Jacques imos
www.jacquesimoscafe.com they have a truck parked in front of it with a table and chairs in the back of it, thats is seating if the place is packed, and it will be.
Fun time there!