Tell me, when will the city of New Orleans stop harassing the music industry? First the amusement tax, then retail in-stores, now musician and music club patron harassment??
Just before we went to press, an article appeared in the Times-Picayune: "N.O. music club [Donna’s] accuses police of harassment." Seems that some overzealous cops not only busted some local musicians there (including Tuba Fats and trombonist Keith "Wolf" Anderson), they also shook down several of Donna’s regular customers, including a group of conventioneers who had gone to Donna’s to experience some of the city’s homegrown brass band music.
According to owner Donna Sims, the problems started back in September, when the NOPD—apparently looking for drug dealers—stopped a patron of the convenience store near Donna’s. Charles Sims, Donna’s husband and partner, who was standing in the front doorway of the club, was "thrown up against the wall by these policemen because he was ‘watching’ them," says Donna. She was told by these officers not to report anything on the incident or they would bring down "heat" on the establishment. Later that night, as a group of fifteen conventioneers began leaving the club, the NOPD started shaking this group down, according to Donna, looking for violators of the city’s open container law. They found no violators, and the group decided to go to the Maple Leaf so they could get out of the Quarter, to some place "safe" (from the police?).
Two of Donna’s patrons who were arrested for "interfering with police and public intoxication" are local lawyers who simply approached the police to find out what was going on—I guess citizens don’t have that right in this city. Both patrons have hired an attorney to represent them. Donna has filed a complaint and is being represented by attorney-music activist Mary Howell.
Yes, we have a crime problem in this city. Yes, we have a drug problem too. But can’t the NOPD distinguish between musicians and legitimate music club patrons and junkies and crackheads? Please, give us a break! Doesn’t the city recognize what bad publicity this brings down on our police force and our city? Donna’s has been written up as a cool music joint in everything from OffBeat to the Washington Post. How’s this kind of negativity going to affect the perception of New Orleans to music-loving visitors? Can the officers called on to "protect and serve" please honor that pledge and not screw up our musicians and music lovers? We’d appreciate it, and so would the people from around the world who come to hear our music, and to enjoy it at local clubs without having to be afraid of being busted by a cop.
I’m proud (and relieved, after the setback we experienced from Hurricane Georges) to announce that the ninth edition of the Louisiana Music Directory has been delivered. The LMD contains listings of every music business and music group and musician we’re aware of in the state. We’ve already started taking orders for the LMD, which are available postpaid from OffBeat for $30. This year’s LMD contains tips for musicians on how to prepare for recording in the studio, and a special section on marketing recorded product. From time to time, we’ll report on changes or inaccuracies in the LMD as they’re reported to us. Some errata which have recently been noted: the Jamalar artist in their ad should be Roy Iglehart, not Ray Iglehart; Tom Thompson of RubyArts wants it to be known that he’s the manager of Kermit Ruffins and the Royal Street Players, as well as a booking agent for other performers. Henry Butler’s website address is www.rubyarts.com/henry
butler. David Tarantolo, the "Organ Doctor," should also have been listed as an organist and piano player. OffBeat regrets the errors.
OffBeat is stepping up our reporting of music-business news, and to that end, our new Grapevine reporter will be Andre Salvail, who has reported on the industry in the past via CityBusiness. Andre joins our staff of great writers and will be reporting on industry issues affecting the Louisiana music community.
Concerning the business of music in New Orleans: I just returned from a trip to Nashville, and made a few visits to music businesses there on Music Row. I don’t care what anyone says…New Orleans isn’t and never is going to be like Nashville.
I’ve heard lots of rhetoric from so-called music experts about how we can create a real New Orleans music industry. First thing is, the musicians have to really understand the business side of music. I heard a real good slogan to explain how the business of music works while I was in Music City, so listen up: Every time you hear music played—live, on the radio, on a jukebox, from a CD, a cassette, at a festival—money changes hands. It’s as simple as that. If our business community understood this, they’d appreciate the music industry more.
Here’s a great reason for developing music business education here: A friend and client of mine in Nashville—a New Orleans native who’s relocated there—says he has reservations about doing business in Louisiana because he knows that the people down here don’t really have a grasp on how the business works—so any business dealings are potentially fraught with misunderstandings, possible "rip-off" scenarios, etc. "It’s just easier not to do business with people there." What a shame in the world’s greatest "Music City"!
But, I digress—OffBeat is about promoting great music, and we’ve come up with some wonderful shows we’re sponsoring in November: Every Tuesday’s Swing Night at Mid-City Lanes—if you haven’t checked this out, you’re really missing something. Swing music is definitely "in" and the Rock ‘N’ Bowl Swing Night carries on a tradition of dancing that’s as indigenous to New Orleans as the crawfish boil. Lots of cool couples, but also mamas dancing with sons, kids with kids, daddies with daughters. "It’s carrying on a tradition that always been a thread through Louisiana culture," says John Blancher, Rock ‘N’ Bowl impresario. "I learned to dance from my mother and grandmother, and I see the same thing happening here," he says. "We have to find a way to expose kids to music—they’re the ones who keep it alive—and this dance scene is one of the best ways we have." Yeah you right John!
OffBeat is also continuing to sponsor the New Orleans Songwriters’ Night the last Sunday of each month at Carrollton Station in conjunction with local publishing firm Caffeine Music and LMNOP. This month’s event on Sunday 29th will include Lenny McDaniel, Tom Marron, Vicki Peterson and Jim McCormick.
We’ll also welcome you to some shows at the House of Blues this month: on Wednesday November 21st, WWOZ and OffBeat present Fat Possum Mississippi Juke Joint Caravan featuring R.L. Burnside with guests Elmo Williams, Hezekiah Early and Robert Cage. On the 25th at the House of Blues, OffBeat presents The Iguanas with ReBirth Brass Band opening. Should be some great shows at the city’s "premier music venue."
Another great OffBeat show will take place at Tipitina’s Uptown with a record release party for Rounder Records’ Ain’t No Funk Like New Orleans Funk (you got that right!). Performers include All That, The Flavor Kings, Iris May Tango, the New Orleans Nightcrawlers and much more. Catch us at Tip’s on November 21st.
Finally OffBeat and The Howlin’ Wolf will host Los Hombres Calientes for a two-night gig on November 27th and 28th.
Anyone who subscribes to OffBeat five days prior to the show event will be eligible to get a pair of free tickets to any of OffBeat-sponsored shows. Plus you get a free CD and a chance to win the 100 essential Louisiana CDs (see page 30).
One more thing—about the time our next issue goes to press, OffBeat’s five-year residence at the Masonic Temple Building at 333 St. Charles Avenue will be over. As of December 1, our offices will be relocated to a much groovier location at the corner at Frenchmen and Decatur Streets, right near the quarters, dawlin’—that’s 421 Frenchmen Street, Suite 200, New Orleans, LA 70116—right behind the fire station and cattycorner from the NO/AIDS Task Force. Our new phone number will be 504-944-4300, fax 504-944-4306. Web address and email will remain the same. We’ll miss the CBD, but are looking forward to our new digs in the heart of the Frenchmen Street happenings. We’ll also be opening a free music information center in the lobby of our new building with bulletin boards for musicians’ upcoming gigs, a board for musicians looking for gigs and personnel, free educational literature and more. See ya soon on Frenchmen!
