The staff at OffBeat works hard to get all our publications to you; sometimes we’re here ’til late at night, very often on weekends. We work so damn hard that we get rather, shall we say, burnt out.
Sometimes it takes listening to music that excites, soothes, refreshes, energizes, or amazes me to charge my emotional batteries. We work so hard you forget why, sometimes! So when we decided to do an issue of OffBeat that celebrates and connects food to music, the main subject matter of our magazine, I was interested to read a quote from Chef Paul Prudhomme: “I’ve seen for years, people would be so sick of standing in line and being upset and they come in the restaurant and they’re frustrated from being out there. You put some food on the table and it all goes away and they leave happy and they’re thanking you for everything in the world. I think the power of food is very, very understated.”
As is the power of music… food and music heal and sustain us, nowhere more intensely than in New Orleans and Louisiana. Just think how lucky you are to live here. And if you are reading this and you don’t live here, well, come on down!
Our June issue is traditionally the “Jazz Fest Redux” issue: the one where our writers (and readers, both local and out-of-towners) get to relive the good times they had during the Festival.
Despite its substantial financial problems last year after a lousy turnout, contract negotiations, bad press, and naysayers, the 2005 Jazz Fest was totally on target, back on course, and to my mind, very much improved. The perfect weather—well, almost perfect, save for the second Saturday’s blast of chilly air and rain—contributed to the great turnout, and certainly contributed to the good vibes.
Since everyone else has their shot at describing their “moments” at the 2005 fest, let me give you mine. Number one: Irma Thomas in the Blues Tent. Even with a group of soulful women (Tracy Nelson, Angela Strehli, Maria Muldaur and Marcia Ball), Irma’s voice and the emotion behind it was the most touching and emotional moment for me. Allen Toussaint says that Irma’s voice is so unique that it “lives in his head.” Yeah, mine, too! Remarkable.
I loved the Meters reunion. I saw them in 2000 in San Francisco, and this was way better. They had the crowd—which was one of the largest I’ve ever seen at that stage—in the palms of their funky little hands. (John Swenson says it better than me in his piece in “Jazz Fest Redux”).
I loved being able to say hello to all the OffBeat subscribers and friends who dropped by our tent during the Festival to wish us well, and say how happy they were to finally see us at the Festival. We thought so too. The only problem was that we were prohibited from giving OffBeat away to the thousands of people who requested it at our tent (no one is allowed to give anything away at the Fest, unfortunately).
It’s also been gratifying to hear that local clubs and musicians seem to have done well during Jazz Fest season this year. For obvious reason, musicians and music clubs love the Jazz Fest. It brings in business that patronize their clubs. Of course, so do restaurants, shops, tour operators, taxi drivers, and hotels.
OffBeat is a big supporter of any event where the agenda includes music and food, including the French Quarter Fest, Satchmo SummerFest, Voodoo Music Experience, Essence Fest, Swampfest, Festival International, and so many more, including a newly re-minted Creole Tomato Festival this June.
But Jazz Fest seems to have capitalized on the fact that New Orleans is a music city. Once the Fair Grounds close for the evening, the clubs gear up. It’s the only festival that totally focuses locals and visitors on our music scene, citywide.
I believe that if the other large festivals did this, it would have much more of an impact on the city’s economy, and of course, the music community. For example, why does French Quarter Fest continue ’til late at night? Why not close down the festival at 7 p.m. and encourage participants to go eat, drink and hear music in local establishments? Ditto Voodoo, Satchmo, etc. etc. Seems like a no-brainer to me that would be good for everyone. How about requiring Carnival parades to end no later than 10 p.m., so local clubs and bars could make a little more dough? (I know I’ll get shot down for that one!).
This brings up another point: why in the world do we continue to lag behind in developing New Orleans’ music and entertainment attractions? Where’s the music museum? Why isn’t Armstrong Park taking priority for its history and beauty in the scheme of local music history? Why don’t we have a music corridor on North Rampart and/or Basin Street? Why doesn’t the city have reasonable regulations for allowing music to be played, i.e., new music venues? In a “music city,” it shouldn’t be that difficult to get a license to provide live entertainment! Where are the music historical tours? Where are the landmarks? Where’s the concerted effort to coalesce all these factors into a huge marketing ongoing marketing push? Unfortunately music is often put near the bottom of the list as a part of the mix of attractions here in New Orleans.
I see national advertising for Las Vegas and it blows my mind! Yeah, Vegas has no “cultcha,” but they’re developing a huge market for entertainment—and it’s paying off. We don’t want to be like Vegas, but we can learn something from them on how to market our city to visitors other than conventioneers. How about Nashville? Austin? We’re missing a great opportunity here. The state of Louisiana is starting to “get it”—CDs and television commercials—but it can’t be a sporadic effort. It has to be ongoing and pervasive.
BASIN STREET REVIVAL
At least someone is taking marketing the city into his own hands: Michael Valentino, who owns several small hotels in New Orleans, as well as the web site frenchquarter.com, is completing work on a privately-owned tourist information center at Basin Street Station, located on Basin and St. Louis Streets. In addition to providing tourist information on his and other hotels, and restaurants, the center will contain a re-created shotgun-home “stoop” as a stage for storytelling or music, a gift shop, coffee shop and kiosks for tourist industry operators, such as walking tours. Valentino, whose brothers Bubby and Steve have both been involved in the music business, is eager to provide music information in the center as well.
MUSICIANS CLINIC FUNDRAISER
Please support the New Orleans Musicians Clinic at a fundraiser on Sunday, June 12 at 4 p.m. at the historic home of OffBeat Best of The Beat Music Awards “Heartbeat” winners Bethany and Johann Bultman, 1525 Louisiana Avenue, corner St. Charles Avenue. A $10 donation at the door gets you live music, food, and drinks. Donations will be split between the NOMC and the Jefferson Presbyterian Church’s Food Bank that feeds an increasing number of families every month.
Donations are desperately needed at both organizations. For more info on the
NOMC, see www.wwoz.org/clinic.
CUTS HIT LMC STAFF
Due to consolidation and cost saving efforts by the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, the Louisiana Music Commission Assistant Director position, currently held by Steve Picou, has been eliminated. Please contact the Music Commission for further information on how to contact him. The staff wishes him the best of luck in his future endeavors.
OFFBEAT’S NEW STUFF
If you haven’t already, check out OffBeat’s new website (same URL). We just premiered it during Jazz Fest week, and we’re tweaking as we go. It’s got a cool music jukebox, polls, breaking news, and more. We will also be premiering a new improved version of the Louisiana Music Directory in upcoming weeks, with its own site. Let me know if you like it and what features we can add that you’d appreciate.
We also just released our latest 2005 OffBeat CD that’s been done in partnership with the Louisiana Office of Tourism in their effort to “Export Music, Import Tourists.”
This CD was distributed to about 1800 members of the local hospitality industry during National Tourism Week; copies of the CD are being sent to our troops in Iraq; and the CD will be sent to travel industry professionals worldwide. The CD will also be played at all Louisiana welcome centers statewide.
Artists on the CD include Louisiana musicians from around the state: C.C. Adcock, Sonny Landreth, Amanda Shaw, Irvin Mayfield, T-Salé, Jon Cleary, Jason Marsalis, Irvin Mayfield & the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, the Iguanas, Henry Butler, Kermit Ruffins with the ReBirth Brass Band, Dr. Michael White, Los Hombres Calientes, Sons of William featuring Joe Stark, Theresa Andersson and Big Red & the Zydeco Playmakers.
Of course, this new CD is available to all OffBeat subscribers.
The Office of Tourism is also including many of these artists in a new television
campaign to attract visitors to the state. Thank you, for making sure music
is part of the marketing for the state.
BOWL ME, GONE?
Despite having a stellar Jazz Fest, proprietor John Blancher has closed the downstairs Bowl Me Under/Rock ‘N’ Bowl Café. Blancher’s lease for the café ends on May 31, and due to a disagreement with the building’s lessor, Hibernia Trust, regarding payments for movie shoots in the venue, Blancher has decided not to sign a new lease and to close the venue.
The murals of New Orleans have already been relocated to Ye Olde College Inn, also owned by Blancher, and the bars and other equipment are in storage. Blancher plans to open another restaurant in the Mid-City area in the near future. “Our lease in the café prevented us from being open during the same hours as Bangkok Cuisine,” says Blancher, which meant that the venue could only be open sporadically for music or private parties.
What will happen to the 2006 Ponderosa Stomp? Ira Padnos, Stomp producer, says they’re considering their options at this point. How about Rock ‘N’ Bowl itself? “I’m seriously considering moving to another location,” says Blancher. “I’d like it to be in Mid-City somewhere, on the streetcar line.”
