True Believer
It feels good to be recognized and acknowledged by OffBeat, [True Believers by Laura DeFazio, November 2016] especially as I begin such an important musical journey.
This new project and the music I’ll be recording and performing is the culmination of everything that I’ve done thus far as a musician, and everything that I am as a person.
It’s kind of scary to step to the front of the stage as a singer, and ‘put it all out there’ with my original songwriting. And I have already sensed some pushback from folks who only know me as a bass player or a “Latin band guy” or a member of Honey Island. It’s definitely not easy to reinvent yourself in such a new way.
But support and encouragement from fans, friends and New Orleans music institutions like WWOZ and OffBeat Magazine is a huge inspiration and a great help.
—Sam Price, New Orleans, Louisiana
Frustrated
It keeps me frustrated at not being there [in New Orleans] but on the 3rd of December we are there. Any tips, please let me know. I want to go back to Mandina’s and to Frenchmen Street. Maybe get to play harp again with Al Carson.
Last time there was a special deal at Restaurant August for a cheaper lunch, and I was taken to Acme Oyster House. I’ll go back to Rock ’n’ Bowl but would love a new treat.
—Terry Carter, Sittingbourne, United Kingdom
Anders Osborne
I’m really happy for Anders that he got through this and has had the best creative period of his life. I’m a huge fan of him since the first album on Okeh. He was one of the first artists that I discovered through a friend of mine who was playing with Bryan Lee at the Tropical Isle bar more than 10 years ago. I had the chance to see him performing with Stanton Moore at the Blue Nile and that was a real blast. Wish he would visit us in France one of these days.
—Jean-Pierre Dangy (Jipes Blues), Mulhouse, Alsace, France
Great story. If I were a computer guy, I’d make an app where Friends of Bill could “check-in” at venues. Maybe with custom made emojis indicating you like to talk, you’re available to talk, or you’re just hanging listening to music.
—Terry Flanagan, Hampton Bays, New York
Mike Zito
Make Blues Not War is a hard-rockin’ blues-embellished work of art. I love it. It’s reminiscence of Zito recordings going back to the Blue Room.
—Cletus Flynn, Milton, Vermont
Journalism
The following letter is in response to Jan Ramsey’s October Mojo Mouth, “Oh, the Irony,” arguing that journalism used to provide information that people need to know about, not particularly what they want to know about.
I was very impressed with your editorial this month. I think you’ve put your finger on not only what’s wrong with journalism today, but on what people can do about it.
—Louie Ludwig, New Orleans, Louisiana
Three-year policy clarification
This year we have instituted a “three-year” nomination policy. If you’ve won a Best of the Beat Award three years in a row in a specific category, you cannot be nominated the fourth year. However, this does not disqualify you from being nominated again. Artists are not being retired forever. After winning three years in a row the artist cannot be nominated for the next two years, but can be nominated thereafter.—Ed.
