Believe it or not, OffBeat is the longest gig I’ve ever had. Fifteen years is a long time to work anywhere, but this has certainly been a labor of love. I’ve had the privilege to meet and get to know a lot of my personal musical heroes: Allen Toussaint, Danny Barker, Irma Thomas, Harold Battiste, Earl Palmer, Ellis Marsalis, the Meters, Dr. John, Kidd Jordan, Frankie Ford, Tommy Ridgley and so many, many more.
Through OffBeat, I’ve been able to promote our precious music and musicians, help improve our musical community, and give talented writers, artists and photographers a place to learn and practice their artistic crafts. We’re proud to say that most people who write about music in New Orleans learned the basics at OffBeat.
From the time I really got interested in improving the music scene here (in the early ’80s), there certainly have been a lot of improvements, though, frankly, things move way too slow for me.
If I’d had my way, there would have been an established music business curriculum at every university and community college; there would be music education in the schools; a “preservation center” for conserving musical sites and history. Armstrong Park would have been a center of music activity years ago. Rampart Street would be thriving with music-oriented businesses. There would be a venture capital firm dedicated to investing in music ventures. Louisiana banks would have loan officers who were knowledgeable in the music business—and they’d talk to musicians and music businesses who need banking advice. There would be a major online distributor of local music. Bourbon Street would have an ordinance dedicated to getting local music back on the street.
Jazz Fest would be three weekends a year. We’d have a huge interactive, state-of-the-art museum with a built-in Hall of Fame dedicated to Louisiana music, with hundreds of thousands of people enjoying it every year. All musicians would be making enough money to buy their own houses, pay their taxes and be able to play gigs close enough to home so they wouldn’t be on the road all summer. Louisiana would be known (and marketed and promoted as) the “most musical state in the union” and New Orleans would be known as the “birthplace of American music.” Local politicians would be more interested in improving the lives of their musical constituencies rather than promoting their own selfish interests. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Lots of wishes and dreams!
I just hope OffBeat is around to help make some of these dreams come true over the next 15 years!
Please take a look through the last 15 years of musical history that OffBeat has been privileged to document in this issue—and please let us know how you think we’re doing. We appreciate your support of the magazine and local music—more than you can possibly know! Come on down to our 15th Birthday Celebration at the Howlin’ Wolf on Friday, September 27. Free music, food and a big birthday cake…y’all come!
CHANGES COMING? UP TO YOU!
Scott Aiges is a man on a music (business) mission. He was virtually the first full-time music writer for the Times-Picayune, a manager, a music conference organizer. Now Aiges has recently been appointed Mayor Ray Nagin’s Director of Music Business Development for the city.
New Orleans has had a Music Commission for over 12 years. Sadly, its Music Commissioners and executive directors have done little or nothing to improve the music business here. But Aiges is out to change all that. In an open invitation to the New Orleans Music Community, Aiges will conduct a “Town Hall Meeting,” and give the local community the ability to ask questions, contribute ideas, and discuss ideas for the future.
The “Let’s Get Down To Business” meeting is Monday, September 9th at 7 p.m. at the Rock ‘n’ Bowl© Café, 4133 S. Carrollton Avenue, and is sponsored by OffBeat, Mid-City Lanes and the City of New Orleans Department of Economic Development/Division of Arts & Entertainment. The meeting is open to the public.
As far as I know this is the first time an administration has done this sort of thing for the public. “Commission meetings” don’t count (who knows about those things anyway?). So go with your ideas, forget about being negative, and offer some positive solutions to our problems, hey?
For more information, call (504) 565-8100, or e-mail: [email protected].
EVENT-O-RAMA
On Saturday, September 28 at the Howlin’ Wolf, an all-star concert will benefit musician Ravi’s Sunflowers in the Shade, a music enrichment program started earlier this year to provide musical instruments and education to homeless children in New Orleans. The concert will feature Ravi, Anders Osborne, Theresa Andersson, Jon Cleary and others to be announced. Eric Paulsen from WWL-TV will celebrity-host and the event will include a live art auction, with “dinner optional.” All revenue from ticket sales, event merchandise, and auction will go to benefit the charity.
On Thursday, August 15th, Tipitina’s presented the Joseph S. Clark and Booker T. Washington high school bands with instruments purchased from the proceeds of Instruments A Comin’ held on April 29th.The first annual Instruments A Comin’ benefit concert featured performances by notable New Orleans’ artists including Dr. John, Galactic, Cyril Neville, George Porter, Tab Benoit, Anders Osborne, Kermit Ruffins, Henry Butler, and ReBirth Brass Band. The event succeeded in raising $22,000 from door proceeds, an art auction, and donations with over 1,000 patrons attending. Tipitina’s created this event to generate support and awareness for music education in New Orleans’ public schools and insure that the Crescent City’s unique musical heritage will continue for many generations. Instruments were purchased by New Orleans Music Exchange, 3342 Magazine Street.
The second annual Interfest Multicultural Expo and Concert will take place in Armstrong Park on September 14 and 15. Organizer Rudy Mills and his Caribbean Funk Band and many other ethnic bands will play at the event, including the Thunder Blues Band, Alianza Flamenca, Kostini featuring Grayhawk Perkins, Pan Vibrations Steel Band, Kermit Ruffins, China Redd, Groupo Folklorico de Baile Garifuna, Panorama Jazz Band featuring vocalist Mindy Aguercia, Josephine Maria Mills, Minna Alegra and Surcos (formerly Ancestro). Admission is $5 per person. Call (504) 581-2860, email [email protected] or see www.inter-fest.org for more information.
FESTIVALS ACADIENS
Thousands of Cajun music fans will make the annual pilgrimage to Festivals Acadiens, September 20-22, at Girard Park in Lafayette. The live music schedule for this year’s festival, dedicated to the memory of Felix Richard, includes Zydeco Joe, Jason Fry, FeuFollet, Jambalaya, Steve Riley and the mamou Playboys, Veillée, Belton Richard and the Musical Aces, Richard LeBouef and Two-Step, Walter Mouton and the Scott Playboys, Charivari, Balfa Toujours and Bois Sec Ardoin, Bayou des Mysfères, Wayne Toups and Jo-El Sonnier. Admission to Girard Park is free. For more info, check out www.lafayettetravel.com.
