The Cd Sis’tahs
Hi y’all. First off, congratulations on your 10th anniversary. Y’all are the best and we look forward to your issues each month.
Enclosed please find a photograph of two of your devoted fans (us). It was with great pride when your ad subscriptions included a quote from S.K. in Houston (“Fantastic! Your magazine is tops! This CD makes my subscription special. Thanks.”). It is with even greater pride that in 1998 your ad for subscriptions included a quote from B.K. in Houston (“This CD is fabulous. It made up my mind to stop reading OffBeat online and subscribe!”). We happen to be good friends (actually, I talked her into the subscription). So, please note this picture taken with us holding the ’96 and ’97 OffBeat CDs. We, and our CD players, are awaiting the arrival of the ’98 version. Hope ya’ll enjoy this.
Sincerely,
Sandy Kuehl & Bonnie Karpay, Houston, TX
Remember, all new subscribers get a free compilation CD with a one-year, first-class subscription. The ’98 version of which the CD sis’tahs speak is currently being pressed. So, what are you waiting on, a personalized invitation? -Ed.
What A Pal
Times flies when we are having fun! Right! It really has been ten years and you have achieved like no other. Your presence on the Louisiana music scene has enabled the industry to grow and accomplish far above the past generations. I can say that because there were millions prior to OffBeat who didn’t know where the “roots of all American music, i.e. Rock & Roll” began. The in-depth coverage by you and the OffBeat staff has contributed to the many successes accomplished by Louisiana artists and [the] music industry in the last decade. How else could the rest of the world have learned of our extensive, ever-evolving music heritage?
OffBeat’s contributions to Louisiana’s music industry are the basis for the infrastructure that is finally beginning to take shape. Without OffBeat, our unique “third world/banana republic posture” would not have gained the international recognition necessary for bands like Cowboy Mouth, Better Than Ezra, Dash Rip Rock, Galactic and Mystikal (just to name a few) to go any further than New Orleans.
I have always valued your opinion and friendship. Stay the way you are and your success will be never-ending! Congratulations.
Sincerely
Johnny R. Palazzotto, Baton Rouge, LA
Congratulations & Condolences
Would you believe that I read your magazine for the first time in 1989? I still own that little magazine. It was about 6″x9″ in size but packed full of information. Some of the best stuff that I had ever read. That little magazine turned me on, and every visit to New Orleans thereafter, I couldn’t get going until I had my OffBeat in hand…I still have that little magazine along with all of my other OffBeats. It’s my best library when it comes to New Orleans. You have introduced me, and educated me to thousands of singers, songwriters, restaurants, people, culture, politics, etc. Let me say that I can’t live without it. It’s part of my on-going learning process.
[On a more somber note] it was through OffBeat that I first heard of Johnny Adams’ illness. Along with my colleagues at [radio station] WGQR, we would like to extend our thoughts and prayers to Johnny’s wife, Judy, their daughter and the entire family. The music world has suffered another great loss. We thank him for the gift of his music and his unique voice. We thank you for the stories, interviews and coverage of Johnny. We will forever play the music of Johnny Adams.
As for me personally, I remain a loyal friend to OffBeat and New Orleans music.
Sincerely,
Libby Gates, North Carolina
Thanks, Libby, but it doesn’t appear as if everyone shares your warm sentiments. Read on. -Ed.
Proud To (Make) It Home
I have been a longtime fan of OffBeat magazine. I have for many years admired your commitment to New Orleans and the music that makes our city so magical. How disappointed I was to learn that OffBeat produces and promotes the “Proud to Call It Hell” t-shirts. I’m sure many of your loyal readers and New Orleans lovers will be as exasperated about it as I am and I urge those that are to contact you directly.
For the past five years I have worked on the “Proud to Call It Home” campaign. When we did the baseline research for “Proud,” we learned what a negative impact bashing New Orleans can have on our city and its future. We also learned that New Orleanians have a latent sense of pride about our city and-when provoked or prompted-they will defend the city they choose to call home.
I look to publications like yours to provide positive leadership and fair editorial to its readers. We are not denying that New Orleans can be a better place and, of course, New Orleans has its share of problems like all urban centers. Our organization works with over 30 projects to make New Orleans a stronger city.
When the Executive Director of the YLC contacted [the] publisher [of OffBeat] about this project, he was told, “It’s a joke.” Well, I take issue with that statement. Trashing New Orleans is no joke. We hope that you will reconsider this project. We have some great “Proud to Call It Home” t-shirts that you could feature for sale in your magazine instead. I bet your T-shirt sales would increase. Being “Proud to Call it Home” is just good business. We hope you agree.
Karyn E. Noles
Co-Founder of “Proud to Call It Home” Young Leadership Council, New Orleans
Thank you, Karyn, for your comments. We all know of the YLC’s commitment (and yours) in trying to make New Orleans a better place. The tongue-in-cheek parody of the “Proud” campaign is actually derived from a Bunny Matthews’ cartoon that ran in June ’98. And, after this year’s scorching summer, it felt like hell in a number of ways. Our commitment to New Orleans and Louisiana can be found in over 100 editions (nearly 10,000 circulated pages) of OffBeat which we have published since 1988. That we find a bit of humor in our Big Easy predicament, is our cross to bear and ours alone. Good luck making it home. -Ed.
Pass A Good Time Misses One
We are lovers of your magazine. It is always a privilege to pick it up each month. This month you, or perhaps your writer, Julie Posner (a former co-writer of the Cajun Country Guide, no less), wrote about Louisiana fairs and festivals in her column, “Pass a Good Time.” The column mentioned the Zydeco Festival in Plaisance, the Shrimp & Petroleum in Morgan City and the Louisiana Folk Festival in Monroe. However, we find it hard to believe that no mention was made of a festival that we have attended every year of this decade and (along with the Jazz Fest) prompted us to re-locate to New Orleans from New Jersey. I am speaking, of course, of the Festival Acadiens in Lafayette. Having just purchased an autographed copy of Michael Tisserand’s The Kingdom of Zydeco, we realize that the zydeco and Cajun worlds are growing together. We admire OffBeat and feel Festivals Acadiens deserves at least as much attention as the other festivals Posner describes. The motto of the Festival is “Allons Danser” and is considered by many to be the premier dance and music festival in this area. Perhaps Ms. Posner should re-examine her priorities or her calendar.
John & Carol Quigg, New Orleans
Since this pertains to Pass a Good Time, we’ll pass your comments along. Thank you for keeping us on our toes. -Ed.
The Moose Be Loose
Where is Big Moose? I said: Where is Big Moose? I turned on the radio this morning and no music came out of WWOZ. That’s right…in the Sunday morning jazz slot. Does the station management have something to do with this? I deeply miss hearing Big Moose’s show on Sunday morning. Sunday morning is the best time to really listen to music. Big Moose has delivered for many years. He has introduced me to the works of so many talented musicians of today and yesterday and made me feel like he knew every one of them. I know that Big Moose is not a young man and if he has gone back on home, he’s done his job well. But, if he is around, DANG IT, put him back on the air in his Sunday morning jazz slot where he belongs.
Harry Ballard, New Orleans
WWOZ Program Director Dwayne Breashears assures us that Don “Moose” Jamison is fine and well. Breashears says, “After 15 years of greatly appreciated service as the Sunday morning jazz host, Moose decided that it would be nice to sleep late and spend Sunday mornings with his family. But, Moose is still on the air and you can catch him every Monday during the New Orleans Music Show from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.” -Ed.
Or Unity Tour in N.O. Un-United
Once again, Ernest Kelly and [his] Orpus [Entertainment organization], has taken advantage of Louisiana reggae fans and angered reggae artists from all over the world. The “Unity Tour,” which included Steel Pulse, Shaggy, Barris Hammond and Lucky Dube, was scheduled for Aug. 8. The stage crews were on-site for a 20-hour-plus work day.
Over the years, the big joke at Reggae Riddums (the festival that Kelly has been pulling off by the skin of this teeth for the last 15 years), is “Who’s not going to show this year?” Reggae fans, it is time for us to stop joking because it is costing us money and Kelly ends up the only one laughing. As a fan, I am not aware of how much money it takes to pull off a big name show of this sort, but then neither does Kelly.
Many people were turned around at the gate because they had umbrellas and chairs. They were told that these items could be considered as weapons. In retrospect, Kelly probably had nightmares of sunchairs being tossed because-once again-he had disappointed his clientele. However, the peaceful exit by fans (after the announcement that the show was over before any of its headliners had performed) was what he anticipated and received.
Ernest Kelly needs to realize the rules of the big league. If you want to be a professional you must first act like one. Also, a full refund should be given to all participants.
Via FAX
L.A. Felton, New Orleans
SPIRIT OF UNITY SHAM?
[I am writing to you about] Orpus Entertainment’s refusal to refund concert and t-shirt fees from the Aug. 8 “Teva Spirit of Unity Tour.” My past experience with the Times-Picayune and Gambit Weekly is that they have no interest in publicizing corruption, fraud, etc., if committed by an institution or company and reported by a “non-elite.”
Legal action is not feasible either since a small claims action can be bumped to higher courts by the defendant, increasing the odds a lawyer will eventually be necessary [in order to pursue the claim]. Orpus’ offer of two tickets to the 1999 Reggae Riddums Festival (which is still 10 months away) is totally unacceptable. How do I know that I won’t get screwed [there] also?
Thanks!
John Burris, New Orleans
Ernest Kelly (who owns Orpus Entertainment) told us that he shouldn’t be held responsible if some of the acts didn’t perform. “When a band cancels a performance during a festival, there’s never a refund,” he said. Additionally, Kelly said that he wasn’t controlling the finances for this concert so he shouldn’t be held accountable. In fact, Kelly insists, his company lost over $60,000 on the deal. Kelly suggested that if fans (who bought tickets for the Aug. 8 show) want free tickets for the Reggae Riddums show next year, his company will send the ticket-holder a one-for-one refund, providing they have proof of purchase of the Aug. 8 show. The Orpus telephone number is (504) 367-1313. -Ed.
