Once you reach my ripe old age, sometimes you get tired and think, “Wouldn’t it be great if I could just win the lottery and get rid of all this and run away to a Pacific island for the rest of my life?”
It’s about that time for me; every year, towards the end of the year everybody gets a little weary after a hard year’s work. Hopefully, you readers are working at something you love and enjoy. To be able to labor at something that you really like to do is a blessing.
When I get a little down, it’s usually because I haven’t been able to relax and listen to some music. One of the greatest things I’ve learned in my life—from my dear friend Harold Battiste, Jr.—is that music has an enormous power to heal the soul and psyche. Ironically, the reason I started this magazine was because I loved music so deeply, and it’s always been a very important part of my life. But I don’t get to experience its healing effects as much as I’d like to—publishing a magazine is not conducive to being able to kick back with some great music.
So here’s my advice to all of our readers for the upcoming year (and advice which is my New Year’s Resolution): take the time to enjoy the music, smell the roses, taste the coffee, kiss your kids and be sure to tell your significant others that you love and appreciate them. Life is short—savor it.
Every year we at OffBeat do our best to show a little love and appreciation to the musicians and bands who are at the heart of what we do at the magazine. We throw a big ole party for the local music community, and give props to those who have been chosen by their peers and the public to have presented the best music of the year: The Best Of The Beat Awards and Party.
About a month ago, we mailed over 5,000 ballots to members of the Louisiana music community asking them to nominate their peers in 15 different types of musical genres. The nominating ballots are in and the results are now available for voting from the public at offbeat.com and at WWL-TV, our major media sponsor for the event this year, at wwltv.com/bestofthebeat/.
Voting gives you the opportunity to select the musicians and bands you think deserve recognition at this year’s Best Of The Beat Party on Friday, January 30, 2004 at Generations Hall (310 Andrew Higgins Blvd. in the Warehouse District). This year’s event will feature 15+ bands, including (in alphabetical order): Theresa Andersson, Ballzack,the Basin Street Allstars, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Eddie Bo, Bust, Henry Butler, Dr. À Go-Go, Lynn Drury, Ellipsis, Mistress Genevieve, Eric Lindell, Irvin Mayfield, Kermit Ruffins, Bobby Rush, Scratchmosis, Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes, and Walter “Wolfman” Washington & the Roadmasters, with surprise guests. We’ll have 25 great restaurants on board at the event with great food, and Abita beer. Eric Paulsen of WWL-TV will be our master of ceremonies. Tickets are only $15, and you can buy them online at offbeat.com or call (504) 944-4300. The event begins at 6 p.m. (awards start at 6:45 p.m. sharp) and will continue until 2 a.m.
We’ll also honor the behind-the-scenes music businesses at a separate event (closed to the public) on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at the new venue Chez Vodun, at 822 N. Rampart Street.
Chez Vodun is a three-story complex located directly across from Congo Square in Armstrong Park. It’s a living museum devoted to the practice, ritual and culture of voodoo and contains a museum and temple, bar and cafe, healing center, art gallery, museum store, ritual space, and special events room. Chez Vodunis decorated with murals, art, and flooring created and designed by local artists. The museum exhibits voodoo artifacts directly from Dahomey (voodoo country) West Africa.
The museum collection contains altars, statues, ritual items, paintings, and original photographs and video footage of voodoo scenes never before witnessed by the uninitiated. The museum will offer performances, authentic rituals and ceremonies, film festivals, storytelling festivals and other special events with the voodoo theme.
Dr. Sharon Caulder is an expert on the subject of voodoo and lectures on the African Vodun tradition. Find out more at www.africanvodun.com and www.chezvodun.com.
Winners of the Music Business Awards will also be announced at the Awards Party.
Hibernia National Bank is the presenting sponsor of both events, which are co-sponsored by WWL-TV and the City of New Orleans, Abita Beer, Propaganda Group, Renaissance World Entertainment, WWOZ, Louisiana Jukebox, Hpnotiq, Red Bull, Basin Street Records and Tipitina’s.
WAREHOUSE CAFÉ REOPENING
Once upon a time, two guys met in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, while they were in the military, hit it off, and decided that one day they would go into business together. So they started a great little music bar at 1179 Annunciation Street called the Warehouse Café.
Those two guys were Dave Baird and Jacques Leonardi. They owned the Warehouse Café for several years, and turned it into one of the hippest little music bars in town featuring ReBirth Brass Band, and the long-gone (and lamented) band Lump. Dave decided to return to the military, and Jack took it over. The place has since closed and been converted to the 1179 Restaurant.
Jack went to bone up on the restaurant business with a stint at Kelsey’s and then moved on to open Jacque-Imo’s, an incredible success story, which is still going strong.
Dave Baird is now retired from the military and is reopening the Warehouse Café adjacent to his new restaurant Le Citron Bistro on Orange Street, just off Tchoupitoulas Street.
“We’re finishing up renovations on property and getting ready to open the third week in January as Le Citron Bistro, which will be open for lunch and dinner” Baird says. “Warehouse Café is the actual place where everyone sits and will have a separate stage area where we’ll recreate the magic of the old Warehouse with ReBirth and other bands.” Leonardi is helping with staffing and consulting on the menu. “One of the things that Jack has proved is that there isn’t enough ‘Jacques-Imo’s’ in the city,” laughed Baird.
Le Citron will have a capacity of over 100 people and will have a menu priced in the affordable mid-teens for dinner and lunches under $10.
Baird will book music at the beginning, and is looking to incorporate music and food in the new restaurant/bar. “I think Snug Harbor is a great harmony of food and music, and that’s kind of where we’re going with this. But I think we won’t be perceived as a music club—more of restaurant with music.”
