BACK ON THE ’BEAT
I am a longtime subscriber to OffBeat and Jazz Fest attendee and Louisiana music lover. My heart and positive thoughts are with New Orleans and Louisiana in these hard times. I have recently been approved by the board of directors of a new community sponsored radio station here in Sarasota, Florida (WSLR 96.5 FM) to do a Louisiana themed music show. I am calling it the “Louisiana Gumbo Show” featuring only Louisiana artists. I had the idea prior to Katrina and now thought it was even more important to keep the music and culture alive and well here in my small part of the world. The show will go on the air in January after I receive my training, etc. I have a decent collection of Louisiana music but want to get in touch with Louisiana artists so they can send in their CDs giving me a larger collection of the great music of Louisiana to feature. The station uses the Fogartyville Café in Bradenton for many of their benefit concerts. It would be great to have the artists play down here as well of course.
I saw Irene Sage in the area recently, she was given a home to stay in for a while, I got to talk to her, and she signed my copy of the OffBeat magazine with her in angel wings on the cover from a few years back. She had recently been at Checkpoint Charlie to perform which we discussed as well.
—John Osgood, Sarasota, FL
The first issue of a lifetime subscription arrived today, and I’m reminded not only of New Years past sitting in Snug Harbor for the late show with Astral Project on the stage, but of the city that I left upon high school graduation in 1986. Sure I got back to see others who were also on the college path at that time, but I’ve not lived there since. Now in a post-Katrina world in which my parents are packing their bags, OffBeat serves as a lifeline for me. Certainly some friends remain in the city who will provide the community that is New Orleans when I can and will visit again, but this magazine serves to carry a torch that needs to burn brightly for years to come as its continued presence heals.
—Louis Rothschild, Providence RI
As you can see, Mr. Kyriakoulis is not your only Greek reader. I have been an OffBeat subscriber for four years and I just renewed my subscription hoping that it will help you to rebuild the magazine and the music scene in general.
What I can promise is that very very soon my wife and I shall visit your city, not to see the monuments or the clubs, but to shake the hands of the strong people of New Orleans.
—Ioannis Karanikas, Katerini, Greece
OffBeat actually has three subscribers from Greece.—Ed.
I received it [OffBeat] today. I sat in the parking lot at the post office in Picayune, Mississippi and read it cover to cover.
—Earline Hutchinson, Chalmette, LA now in Picayune, MS
I’m so glad OffBeat is back! A sign of life dear to the hearts of so many of us, thanks for keeping it going. Without OffBeat and WWOZ, I don’t know where I’d be. I see your office window was blown out. You still managed to put out another great issue. The photo by Howie [Kaplan] was just fine. What a nice guy he is. I met him outside of his club [Howlin’ Wolf] on Halloween. If you see him say hello for me, tell him the lady with the washboard. Your slick paper is cool.
—Annie Lousteau Creel, Metairie, LA
Received the September and December OffBeat on December 27. In fact, that same day, the December OffBeat got here, too – very beaten up, as if it made the post office shuttle around the country.
Since I’m the editor of a small weekly paper, I know the post office hassles all too well.
Thank you and good luck.
—John Douglas, Berkley Springs, WV
Although our December issue was mailed a bit later than usual, on December 5, many subscribers failed to receive it in a timely manner. We mailed the magazine to ourselves and didn’t receive it until December 28. OffBeat apologizes for these delays and trusts that, like everything else, the postal system will improve.—Ed.
MISTAKEN IDENTITY
After 13 years as a musician in New Orleans it was nice to finally be part of a cover story for OffBeat. Thanks to Jeremy Deibel for the interview. However, what’s up with the photo of J. Bybee from Sabbath Crow instead of moi?
Maybe you guys should post a “likeness” of me in your letters column. I am residing in Austin, but still the presence of my beloved New Orleans surrounds me. I awoke two days ago to hear the ReBirth Brass Band rehearsing in my building. I live at the Austin Music Co-Op. Everywhere I go people buy me drinks because I represent a beauty of decadence that IS New Orleans. Much love and debauchery.
—Rhoades D’Ablo, New Orleans, LA, now in Austin, TX
FEST FEARS
Despite all the recent press to the contrary, we have been hearing rumors that there might not be a Jazz Fest this year or worse, it might be held in Houston, Memphis, or some city. We have attended every Jazz Fest since our first in 1988. It is Jazz Fest that introduced us to the great brass bands, the Mardi Gras Indians, and those wonderful R&B singers like Tommy Ridgley, Johnny Adams, Chuck Carbo, and others. It was Jazz Fest that started our love affair with New Orleans.
We came for a weekend in 1988 and immediately, made the decision to come back the following year. Soon we decided one weekend wasn’t enough, and reservations were made for both weekends and the three days in between. That one trip every spring soon turned into two trips a year, then three, and eventfully four. Until, in 2000 we purchased an uptown condo and furnished much of it from the various Jazz Fest craft vendors.
We’ve talked to many friends and relatives into vacationing in New Orleans. In short, we’ve become New Orleans’ biggest fans, and it’s all because of Jazz Fest. Please don’t let Jazz Fest die. As far as taking Jazz Fest out of New Orleans, that’s like taking Christ out of Christmas.
The beauty, fun, and joy of Jazz Fest have never been the big name acts. We can see them here in New York. Frankly, we can’t remember the last time we’ve been to the Acura stage (although we must admit those brand, new Acura cars do provide a perfectly quiet place to make a cell phone call for dinner reservations. We guess sponsorship is good for something.)
For us, and I dare say, most of the hardcore Jazz Fest fans like us, the beauty, fun, and joy of the Fest has always been second-lining behind a brass band through the fairgrounds or dancing in the Economy Hall Tent, rockin’ in the Gospel Tent, or listening to Germaine Bazzle weave her magic in the Jazz Tent, or finding some act we’ve never heard of that just blows us away.
If the Foundation must, cut it back, make it a smaller Fest this year with only local acts. We will come. So will others like us from across the country and from Europe and the Far East. We will come for the music, for the food, but mostly we will come for the spirit that is New Orleans.
—David and Ruth Marinello, New York, NY
This is in response to your December 2005 column, lauding the possibility of acquiring such great international musicians for 2006 Jazz Fest such as Elton John, U2, etc. In the aftermath of Katrina, why not improve the Jazz Fest even more and ask Quint Davis and associates to stop misrepresenting it to the public as the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, which it is not? They could rename it something more accurate like Baby Boomer/Yuppie Music Festival of New Orleans. The latter title certainly justifies the type of musicians often headlining Jazz Fest and may attract more of the genre you long to see and hear at Jazz Fest. Who wants to listen to New Orleans / Southern Louisiana styled traditional music anyway?
—Dave Penney, Las Vegas, NV
THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING
It was good to receive an issue of OffBeat! Glad you’re back in business. Is their an organization that benefits New Orleans/Gulf Coast musicians that you recommend for donations?
—Karen Richards, Fort Wayne, IN
OffBeat recommends the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic, New Orleans Musicians Hurricane Relief Fund,MusiCares and Tipitina’s Foundation. —Ed.
