Okay, my usual rant this month on local government being "anti-music"–but with a twist towards a potentially positive result.

On Saturday October 2, the Maple Leaf Bar was closed by the "Quality of Life Unit" of the Second District New Orleans Police Department, for an alleged noise violation. Hank Staples, Maple Leaf owner, said the unit visited the Leaf around 11:30 p.m. due to complaints from a nearby neighbor on the noise. Walter "Wolfman" Washington and the Roadmasters were playing that Saturday night, and Staples told OffBeat that Walter’s mics and amps were turned down. John Mooney, who was in the Leaf that night, told us that he thought the sound was "really low, I could barely hear Walter’s vocals."

But around 1:30 in the morning, the police unit returned, herded all the patrons out of the club, and closed down the Leaf in the middle of Walter’s set.

"I’m wondering, what would be different about this Saturday night than any other of the nearly 500 times Walter has played the Leaf," Staples told OffBeat. "The sound is actually a lot lower than it used to be because we have our own sound system in the club now." Apparently a person living near the Leaf on Cambronne Street had been complaining about the noise, and the police reacted to the complaints, according to a spokesperson from the second district police station.

The unit returned to the Maple Leaf on the following Tuesday evening, told management that they had one hour to remove any flyers on telephone poles in the vicinity, caused many patrons of the club to leave (according to Staples), then proceeded to tow patrons’ cars on Oak Street outside the Leaf for parking violations.

A court date is set for December 1 to address the issue.

A number of other clubs have experienced similar problems: Tipitina’s Uptown, Le Bon Temps Roule, the Dream Palace, Donna’s. The police Quality of Life units seem to be responding primarily to noise violations (hel-looo neighbors of music clubs uptown, in the French Quarter or elsewhere! When you moved next door to a MUSIC CLUB, did you expect that you wouldn’t hear some music "noise" filtering out of the club? Duh!) Seems to me that a club that’s been around for 25 years in the same neighborhood like the Maple Leaf, that has the proper zoning and licenses, should get some consideration as well. They have a right to do business and showcase local music, which is so integral to our culture and which attracts literally hundreds of thousands of visitors.

The loitering issue seems to be a problem with the Quality of Life people, too (recall Donna’s problems some months back?). Hey, people in New Orleans like to hang outside, talk and drink a beer, especially at night when the temperature’s a bit cooler. It’s the sitting-on-the-stoop thing, neighborhood music club thing, a part of our culture. Granted, when drug deals are going down, you’ve got a problem–but frankly, I’d rather see the cops bust some of the local corner grocery stores where drugs are changing hands in broad daylight on a daily basis. Not to make judgments on how bad one drug is vis a vis another, but I’d rather see ’em bust the crack dealers than some poor schmuck who’s drinking a beer and smoking outside a music club, enjoying the weather. The two don’t equate, you know what I mean?

A call to Lieutenant Marlin Defillo, who is the NOPD’s public affairs spokesperson, yielded these comments: "Every police district station has its own Quality of Life unit, which consists of at least three officers per district. These officers’ main concerns are issues related to neighborhood problems, such as abandoned cars, blighted houses, noise nuisance complaints, pot holes, poor lighting, and others. The officers’ primary directive is to react promptly and respond to complaints, and to serve as liaisons to get the problems in the neighborhoods solved. They are active in the communities, attend community and neighborhood watch meetings and try to work with all parties involved to solve problems."

Defillo pointed out that a similar noise problem that caused a problem for Jimmy’s was solved when the neighbor who complained met with the club owner. "We haven’t had a problem since then," he said. Defillo suggested that the Maple Leaf operator and the neighbors who complained get together to hash out the problems.

Great idea, if it really works that way. Here’s what I suggest–something that I’ve been preaching for over 10 years to local music club owners–or anyone who has music in their establishment: form a Music Club Owners Association. I know that the Louisiana Association of Alcoholic Beverage Licensees (LABL) lobbies for bar owners. BUT–and I think this is key–having music needs to be the primary criterion for this group. It’ll give you guys some political clout, of which you have little or none now (unless you own a place on Bourbon Street). I’ve offered to host meetings for this proposed group, and the offer still stands. Call me at 504-944-4300 or email to [email protected] to get something going. There is power in numbers!

I think a comment, from New Orleans reader Anthony Schweitzer, via email, who responded to a post on our web site on this issue, sums it up:

"Neighborhood music clubs are what makes New Orleans so special, they are a treasure that should be maintained at all cost. Every city in the world has got some nameless faceless four walls and a stage, but their is only one Leaf; there is only one Tips; to lose them is to lose a valuable part of the city. Let me know if there is anything that I can do to petition the city to keep neighborhood music alive and well in New Orleans." Thanks, Anthony, we may take you up on your offer.

Subscribers Get a Little Lagniappe

Subcribers to OffBeat will notice a little lagniappe this month: a Mardi Gras Records catalog, a Gumbo Shop offer, and a Vanguard Records CD sample from Tab Benoit, this month’s featured cover artist. Enjoy…there’s more to come when you’re an OffBeat subscriber.

Best of The Beat Time!

OffBeat’s Best of The Beat ballots went out October 15. If you didn’t get a ballot, it’s because we didn’t have your band’s mailing address in the Louisiana Music Directory–call us or come by the office to get a ballot. This year’s voting will be a bit different. The initial ballots, which were mailed to musicians and music industry regionally, will serve as a nominating tool. The top three nominees per category will be tabulated from these ballots, and we’ll publish them with a vote from the public in our December issue, and on-line. Look for the official ballot in next month’s issue, and VOTE, if you want your favorite band, musician, or music business to win! This year’s Best of The Beat Awards are set for February 1, 2000 at the House of Blues, and on January 31, 2000 for the Best of The Beat Business Awards.

Other news of note…

Putumayo Entertainment president Dan Storper will be in town in November scouting out the possibility of getting more involved in producing more Louisiana music for his company. Putumayo, which puts out superb-quality compilation recordings, is set to release zydeco and R&B discs in the next few months. Perhaps there will be more to come to come after his trip.

Leo Sacks, the late Raymond Myles’ producer (and producer of the recent Sony box set of the Isley Brothers), who’s now living in New York, says he and local music entepreneur/producer Jerry Brock are collaborating to produce a local group which Sacks enthusiastically calls "the next Boyz 2 Men." The group is based in gospel music in New Orleans; we’ll keep you posted in our next issue, which will focus on the city’s gospel music scene.

We’re receiving lots of comments about our newly expanded Reviews. Joseph Irrera, who came on-board full-time in December as Managing Editor, has managed to turn our reviews into a major new shining star of the magazine. Readers’ comments have been overwhelmingly positive, with some criticisms, of course. If you disagree with some of our reviewers’ opinions, or have a comment on a specific review, please feel free to send a letter to the editor stating your views. Mail them to us or email them to [email protected].

Congratulations to Fredy Omar who’s been tapped to open at a major New Year’s Eve event in Los Angeles. Omar will open for Jimmy Buffett at the Universal Amphitheater in Universal City, California at a "mythical Margaritaville," according to Rolling Stone. We also hear Fredy is tearing up the joint during his gig at Le Pavillion Hotel here in town.

Finally, we reluctantly bid adieu to consulting editor John Swenson. John, who’s helped us immeasurably with his suggestions, good cheer, enthusiasm and editorial guidance over the past few months will end his duties as editor, but will contribute his wonderful writing to the magazine regularly. Thank you, Mr. Swenson, look forward to working with you soon!