NOT JUST MUSIC
Just a note to tell you how much I enjoyed the current issue. I think that there has been a subtle transformation at OffBeat to include all aspects of New Orleans culture, not just music. The piece on Susan Spicer was first rate.
—Bob Porter, Bergenfield, NJ
RAISON D’ETRE
There are many things that make New Orleans a great city. Our wonderful food and drink, our unique architecture and the majesty of the mighty Mississippi are all universally praised and appreciated by residents and visitors alike. However, the one thing that makes New Orleans one of the greatest cities is our unique contribution to the world’s musical culture. Our city’s contribution to jazz, blues and R&B and our spawning of the musicians who have brought this music to the world is undoubtedly the single most important reason for our greatness. In fact I would argue that it is our raison d’etre. That is why it is with great sadness that today we witness our city as it commits suicide by seeking to limit and possibly destroy our raison d’etre. Assaults have taken place upon our spontaneous neighborhood second line parades where our local musicians and residents seek to continue our traditional expression of music and culture. Limitations and restrictions have been placed upon our street musicians as they seek to entertain our tourists, to make a relatively honest buck, and to help continue another important cultural and musical tradition. Finally, it has recently been “noted” in passing that Donna’s has closed and that what had been the last live music venue on North Rampart Street has surrendered its “grandfathered” music license (apparently no new live music licenses have been made available on North Rampart Street for some time), as if to underscore the fact that the modern day assault upon our great musical tradition has finally been triumphant. After all, is there a more recognized street in American song and musical history than Rampart Street? It appears that a modern day tragedy has occurred whereby the citizens and leaders of New Orleans have sat idly by while our city voluntarily relinquished its raison d’etre. However, my personal “reason for being” and the reason that I choose to live in New Orleans is because of my love for all of our musical traditions. Therefore, I for one will continue to fight to restore New Orleans to its rightful place as the greatest musical city in the world. Thankfully, I’m not alone in this fight. Thank you OffBeat.
—Michael Russell, New Orleans, LA
MUSIC OR BULLETS?
These letters are in response to Jan Ramsey’s blog post “Music or Bullets?” and her comment, “People who love, love, love our music with a passion, can’t understand why more people who live here aren’t as passionate about it.”—Ed
I have a friend in the town in which I live in Mississippi who proudly proclaims at every chance that he’s from New Orleans. Your post made me ponder what exactly he means by that. Turns out, he’s from Metairie, born and raised, hates the French Quarter, loves the Saints and doesn’t have a clue about New Orleans music. I showed him Kermit Ruffins’ (who he had never heard of) Saints Christmas video and his only response was, “Let me get my umbrella.” He listens to classic rock and really carries nothing of the New Orleans culture with him. Is this just a “suburb” thing? Don’t know, but I find it ironic that I, being raised in Mississippi, know more than he does. I do think that he’s representative of a large portion of folks from New Orleans that uses the popular tourist perception of the city as a bragging point and nothing else.
—Kevan Kirkpatrick, Tupelo, MS
The thing about those of us that “love, love, love” the music is that we are often more tied to the city and the culture than many that live here! When I meet someone from New Orleans I always assume we’ll have an immediate connection, since that is the place my heart resides, but unless they embrace the music and culture they may as well be from Iowa. I think this is a question for all Americans, wherever they are from—“What is it that makes you feel a pride in a place of residence if you don’t take time to learn about the culture which surrounds it?”
—David Kunian, New Orleans, LA
