These letters are in response to Jan Ramsey’s Mojo Mouth “Killing the Goose” in the March 2020 issue.—ED.
I just read your [Jan Ramsey] blog and I just want to tell you I think it is well thought-out and well-written and thanks for that! I had never heard of the idea of a night mayor; interesting. As someone who played on Frenchmen Street in its hey-day, I have observed how it has changed, mostly not for the better. You are so right about people still being paid the same as they were 20 years ago. My own personal journey has taken me far away from the time when I used to play four or five times a week on Frenchmen Street. It was a wonderful time, very creative and inspiring. Thank you for fighting the good fight. All the best as we enter this troubled time of cancelled events and limitations on travel, the very antithesis of what New Orleans stands for. I actually went to the OffBeat site to see if maybe you had made some kind of statement there to address the current situation, and it made me realize as I did so how much I, and the New Orleans music community in general, rely on you for your insight and common sense.
—Neti Vaan, St. Lucia, West Indies
As one of those tourists, I come over and over to your great city for one main reason—the music. I have always avoided Bourbon Street like the plague, and have loved the music scene on Frenchmen for 20 plus years. St. Claude is often a better alternative these days since it seems more organic and less contrived, but it’s sad to see Frenchmen devolve the way you correctly describe. Unfettered capitalism is not always the answer, and some perspective and planning can help protect the things that make New Orleans so special and unlike any other city in the world—the musicians and music.
—Kevin Mulvey, San Francisco, California
These letters are in response to Jan Ramsey’s Mojo Mouth Blog “Battered, But Not Out” indicating that the April issue of OffBeat will be postponed.—ED.
Hey, do whatever you can do to keep yourselves healthy and well. Don’t worry about publishing a print copy—if you can maintain digital, that’s great. Wonderful to hear the news from New Orleans—depressing as it all is. Our thoughts are with all the people in New Orleans who depend on music in the broadest sense—financially, emotionally, etc.—and hope that we all get through this intact. We’ll all reconnect at some point when it’s safe to do so.
—Michael Gondek, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts
Sending peace and good vibes to you and all of New Orleans and Louisiana. Here in North Carolina we are hunkered down and paranoid, but we have music and ability to get out in nature. Sanity-preservers, if there ever was such a thing.
Hold on. Here’s hoping we get back to somewhat normal-ish fairly soon. As a subscriber of over 30 years (what the hell?), I became a lifetime subscriber after Katrina. I believe in music, New Orleans and OffBeat.
Y’all stay safe, clean-handed, and at home. This too will pass and hopefully will not destroy the spirit of New Orleans.
—Al Dunn, Salisbury, North Carolina
We have been so fortunate to have OffBeat and we continue to have our copy mailed to our home in Buffalo to share with our family. We are more months in New Orleans (and here currently) and of course pick it up locally at Canseco’s or Whole Foods.
Thank you, Jan [Ramsey] and your wonderful team for all that you do.
I enjoy overlapping during festivals with Noé [Cugny] and look forward to the fall when we all fest again.
In the meanwhile, stay well and thank you.
—Michele Goldfarb, Buffalo, New York
