Thanks for the Love, NOLA, Glad You're Back
I saw some really great bands in New Orleans a couple of weeks ago, and it made me notice how I never see those sorts of bands here. Maybe it was mostly because the bands that impressed me most were somewhat in the New Orleans vein; One was an all-black-brass-band dressed like gangstas, called Rebirth, at a bar called the Maple Leaf. The other was an ensemble of about six of the finest players of trombones, fiddles, and guitars, etcetera I’d seen in…maybe ever, who called themselves the New Orleans Jazz Vipers at the Spotted Cat on Frenchmen Street.
Both nights the bands were phenomenal, with every member showcasing amazing talent. I realize we do get a variety of acts in the bay area, but on a Monday and Tuesday night, when these bands were playing their souls out, one is hard pressed to find anything other than karaoke, open-mic, or something stupid like poker nights at the local venues.
But beyond comparing NOLA's music scene to our own, which is actually not really a fair fight, I had the realization that New Orleans is in fact alive and well three years after the debacle that was Katrina, because here these bands were, driving-the-young-folks-crazy on a school night.
So in the wake of the Tampa Bay area being missed by yet another storm that somehow killed something like 11 Floridians, that nagging Fay, I’m happy to report, in my best Tony Montana voice, that no stinking storm can destroy New Orleans; No fucking way, ma-in.
Also, I'm here to note that a lot of people are still jamming out high school band instruments, only now…they’re the coolest kids in the room.
