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IAC Prime Member
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Stoneman
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7/16/2011 9:52:47 AM
Oh The Joy
My wife and I just arrived in New Orleans for a 10 day vacation. I just had a great big helping of fried catfish, hush puppies and shrimp. Oh man! The absolute best! Tonight we begin our assault on the infamous music scene in the French Quarter. Best believe the old guy (me) is quite excited to hear some of that good old Southern Blues, Jazz and R&R. From the place where it all began! Oh Boy!
Stoneman
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SILVERWOODSTUDIO
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7/16/2011 7:00:00 PM
This makes me smile---it's what i would dream of doing when and if we return to the 'States
New York ---to see Ricard Scotti
Nashvile---for obvious reasons, (grand ol oprey etc)
New Orleans--for the real soul, and blues, n jazz
Please post some of your experiences sir!
Rob
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Shoe City Sound
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7/17/2011 9:52:01 AM
Sounds fantastic! Have a ball!!
D
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Stoneman
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7/18/2011 10:57:04 AM
Okay, you asked for it so here it go...........
New Orleans is unbeleivable! I know you probably want to hear more about the music here but I can't possibly leave out a few bits about the food. In a word, Yuuuuummmmmmy! I have had some great dishes like gator tots, crawfish balls, Catfish, Rabbit, Red Beans & Rice, Pralines (at Aunt Sally's), Beignets at the infamous Cafe Dumonde, an assortment of shimp, crawfish and red fish Po boys. Jeesh! I must be gaining weight as I write this.
The music scene here is remarkable. There is music all around you everywhere you go. Most of it is live! We were walking down the street and a tall man who looked like he was homeless suddenly started singing a gospel song with a Paul Robeson type of barritone. I was blown away by the power of his voice as it permeated the entire crowd. People stopped and crowded around as he sang one selection after another. I looked for a donation cup but instead he just said welcome to New Orleans and disappeared into the crowd. Amazing! Further down the road on Canal st. I could hear a marching band coming but when they started to paly it was all Dixie land jazz as the brass section kicked up some lively solo elements. Nice! Sudden parades seem to be a normal occurance.
But we kept going and as we passed several bars and restaurants I heard a varried collection of Blues, Reggae, Funk, Cajun and Zydego music. If you are into great food and music, this is a must visit place for your bucket list. There are also an assortment of singer songwriters with guitars that play for coins. Plus, every now and then a trupeteer or saxophonist begins to wail some tasy Jazz as if silence is against the law. But these guys are not your regular street musicians. They actually sound phenomenal and deserve a shot at organized music success.
Last night we went out clubbing. Oh boy! What a treat. We went to a place called Maison. They had a Jaz trio that played vintage Coltrain, Cannonball Adderly and Turrentine. They were awesome. Upstairs they had a Hip-Hop group with live musicians accompanying the turn tables. Upstairs was packed with young folks dancing and grooving to an unusual mix of R&B/Hip-Hop with horns, two drummers, percussionists a B3 Organist guitars, Bass, and a female vocalist that was really hot!
When went back downstairs a new jazz group had taken over and they had an older female vocalist who wailed all over the place. So, we decided to take a stoill down the bloic and dropped into several bars that had bands ranging from Reggae, Funk, Blues and Jazz. Plus, there is the occasional percussion troupe playing on the street. It was late at night and we were on the backend of the French Quarter. Seems like this city never sleeps. Just constant music all day and all night. Keep in mind that it was Sunday night! What a city! It was about 1:00 AM when we were headed back to our resort and we saw about 300 people standing in line for the House Of Blues. I don't know who was playing but they sure know how to pull the late at night crowd.
Well, gotta go because we are going to take a couple of tours and a Ferry across the mighty Mississippi River today. I should mention our brief resprite at Jackson Square. There is a cathedral there that reminds me of the Disneyland Castle. It is several hundred years old and it looks like new. Everything here is old. All the businesses have to keep the exterior of their buildings exactly the way it was way back in the day. But the insides are mostly new and modern. Very interesting preservation laws here.
Okay I'm out, I hear a Catfish sandwich calling me................ Here kitty, kitty, Yumyum!
Stoneman
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Stoneman
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7/19/2011 11:19:27 AM
THE BLUES
Last night we went to a B.B. King Blues review on Bourbon street. The band never introduced themselves but listening their heartfelt renditions of B.B. Kings many Blues hits made me feel like I knew them all personally. The show was about 2 hours long and I recognized every song they played as I once played them all myself. My two favorites are "The Thrill Is Gone" and "Why I Sing the Blues" I'm telling you these four old guys played and sang each song masterfully. What a treat.
I was reminded of my youth when I use to hang out with these three old alcoholics that played and sang the blues all day long on the side of the liquor store in my old neighborhood of South Central Los Angeles. I would bring my guitar that I could barely play down there and mimic everything they did. One of them (Papa Joe) would always ask me : Boy, What Chu know 'bout da blues? I would say "I Don't Know". He said, if you ever been in misery, you know something about the Blues.Then he would explain about the origins of the blues and how the slaves invented the genre in order to find an outlet for the misery they lived. He talked about how the slaves were not allowed to complain about the beatings, torture, lynchings,wives being raped and children being sold to some far off plantation. Complaining would get you a beating or killed. So, their outlet became music. The Blues became their mode of protest because the slave owner always thought the slaves were happy when they played music. But the Blues was not only about the misery of slavery, it was used as code for uprisings and escape.
Anyway, Papa Joe taught me everything I knew about the Blues. He was from New Orleans where he claimed the Blues was born. It is such an honor to be here and hear the authenticity of the Blues. Papa Joe taught me the basic chords for the Blues. He said that almost every song had the same chords and song form. He said the words are the life blood of the Blues. The words tell the story of some deep seated misery and the guitar solo was the preacher that gave every word a heartfelt amen! Of course, after the slaves were freed and migrated up north to places like Chicago and New York, the Blues began to evolve into what it is today. The invention of the electric guitar gave birth to the sound of modern day Blues which began gave forth many offshoots such as R&B, Jazz, Rock Black Gospel and a host of other genres. Papa Joe once told me that Jimi Hendrix was one of the best Blues men he had ever heard. I protested that he was a Rock & Roll artist and he said no son, He is a Blues man because he preaches through his guitar. He claimed that he could feel Jimi's pain in his playing. That to him meant he was playing the Blues. Pap Joe said that if a song didn't have no feeling to it, It was not the Blues. I'm sure a lot of rockers would debate his take on Jimi Hendrix. Go figure?
Anyway, here are the word to my favorite B.B. King Blues song. I would love to do a remake (Stoneman Style) of it some day.
Everybody wants to know
Why I sing the blues
Yes, I say everybody wanna know
Why I sing the blues
Well, I've been around a long time
I really have paid my dues
When I first got the blues
They brought me over on a ship
Men were standing over me
And a lot more with a whip
And everybody wanna know
Why I sing the blues
Well, I've been around a long time
Mm, I've really paid my dues
I've laid in a ghetto flat
Cold and numb
I heard the rats tell the bedbugs
To give the roaches some
Everybody wanna know
Why I'm singing the blues
Yes, I've been around a long time
People, I've paid my dues
I stood in line
Down at the County Hall
I heard a man say, "We're gonna build
Some new apartments for y'all"
And everybody wanna know
Yes, they wanna know
Why I'm singing the blues
Yes, I've been around a long, long time
Yes, I've really, really paid my dues
Now I'm gonna play Lucille.
My kid's gonna grow up
Gonna grow up to be a fool
'Cause they ain't got no more room
No more room for him in school
And everybody wanna know
Everybody wanna know
Why I'm singing the blues
I say I've been around a long time
Yes, I've really paid some dues
Yeah, you know the company told me
Guess you're born to lose
Everybody around me, people
It seems like everybody got the blues
But I had 'em a long time
I've really, really paid my dues
You know I ain't ashamed of it, people
I just love to sing my blues
I walk through the cities, people
On my bare feet
I had a fill of catfish and chitterlings
Up and down Beal Street
You know I'm singing the blues
Yes, I really
I just have to sing my blues
I've been around a long time
People, I've really, really paid my dues
Now Father Time is catching up with me
Gone is my youth
I look in the mirror everyday
And let it tell me the truth
I'm singing the blues
Mm, I just have to sing the blues
I've been around a long time
Yes, yes, I've really paid some dues
Yeah, they told me everything
Would be better out in the country
Everything was fine
I caught me a bus uptown, baby
And every people, all the people
Got the same trouble as mine
I got the blues, huh huh
I say I've been around a long time
I've really paid some dues
One more time, fellows!
Blind man on the corner
Begging for a dime
The rollers come and caught him
And throw him in the jail for a crime
I got the blues
Mm, I'm singing my blues
I've been around a long time
Mm, I've really paid some dues
Can we do just one more?
Oh I thought I'd go down to the welfare
To get myself some grits and stuff
But a lady stand up and she said
"You haven't been around long enough"
That's why I got the blues
Mm, the blues
I say, I've been around a long time
I've really, really paid my dues
Fellows, tell them one more time.
Ha, ha, ha. That's all right, fellows.
Yeah!
I'm not sure about what we are going to do today and tonight but whatever it is, its gonna be funky!
Respect,
Stoneman
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SILVERWOODSTUDIO
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7/19/2011 5:17:40 PM
Sure am loving this---the pictures you paint with your words bring the music alive
Yes the BB King song---do it !!
I hope you don't get home with a few extra pounds around the middle, the food sounds like something from a fantasy tale!!
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Stoneman
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7/19/2011 5:40:00 PM
Just got back from a long day out on the town. we went to the Insectorium where we saw insects from the swamp and all over the world. My wife was a little creeped out when I petted some wierd looking grasshopper. It was cool though. That bad boy was huge. They had a shop to buy roasted, fried and chocolate covered bugs. We passed on that one.
Then we went on a carriage ride through the french quarters. Our driver was very informative and he pointed out all the great music venues to check out. We may hit those tonight. we saw some pretty cool architecture and we even saw Brad & Angelina's place. The horse pulling the carriage stole my watch off my arm but I got it back. Not sure how they taught him to do that!
Afterwards we went back to Cafe Dumonde for some more Beignets. I think I am hooked on those things. Tonight, after a break in our room at the Wyndham Labelle hotel, we are going out to hear some Jazz! We may even do some dancing. I am in the mood for some Tequila shots! Don Julio Anejo! Olay!
I am loving this trip.
Stoneman
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Chandra Moon
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7/20/2011 6:39:03 AM
Wow thanks for sharing so much of your trip with us - really interesting reading - makes me feel I should share more of the amazing gigs and trips I go on through the UK festival season. Will try!!
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Stoneman
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7/21/2011 11:21:09 AM
Okay, have you ever been somewhere that was so lively and fun filled that it was hard to concentrate on one thing? Last night on Bourbon street was sort of like that. It was like being in a dream in some fantasy land that couldn't possibly exist in real life. We decided to go out late last night just to get a drink or two, and check out more of the music scene. When we arrived on Bourbon street there were huge crowds of people walking up and down the road. The entire street had been cordoned off so no cars could drive on it. We were hungry so we chose a restaurant called La Bayou! The food was awesome but I kept hearing all kinds of music all around us as all the clubs surrounding the restaurant had live bands. So, while we ate I could hear hard rock, R&b, Jazz and African drums competing for air space. It was very confusing at times and I couldn't wait to finish eating and check it all out.
After eating we went to the club next door who had a band that was playing all the R&B hits and several top 40 jams. My wife and I watched all the people on the dance floor for a while and then finally decided to ditch our walking canes and get out there and boogie. We had so much fun! The band was so tight and their transitions from song to song were flawless. They played for a whole hour and were still playing when stumbled our tired asses out. One thing of note about Bourbon street is that they have a liberal drinking law. People walk up and down the streets with drinks in their hands and they go into to the clubs with their drinks in tow. We decided to explore Bourbon street a lot more. We went into about 15 clubs and each club had a live band.
Now, I don't want you to think I am exaggerating but I have been around the world 3 times in my life. I have seen South America, Asia, Africa, Europe and a large part of the USA. But what I have seen in New Orleans is unlike anything I have ever seen. It is amazing! This city never sleeps. Non stop music venues are going day and night. The mood here is a party till you drop mood. All the bands are so good. I have seen bands that I would sign in a hotlink if I was signing musicians. Singers with unbelievable range. Bands that are so tight that you can't find a single flaw. It is unbelievable and I am totally blown away by it all.
There is also a weird aspect to New Orleans. There is an overt on the occult. Lots of commercialized Voo Doo, Hoo Doo, Haunting ghostly references. There are all kinds of ghost tours as they say the city is the most haunted city in the world. All the stores sell Voo Doo dolls and other stuff related to that religion. Kind of creepy for my taste.
Also, after a certain time of night the city becomes a sexual Buffet of sort. There are so many gentlemen clubs and what look like whore houses to me all up and down Bourbon street. You know you have reached the lewd zone when some scantily clad woman sticks her tongue out and simulates oral sex for you right in front of your wife who is holding your hand. The nasty stuff might go over well for the single guys but it is just embarrassing for a married and committed man like me. But yeah, I saw bare asses all night as I walked down the street. Quite the marriage stimulant (if you know what I mean).
But in between all of that is another dance or jazz club and they all have excellent live music. You see people dancing as they walk down the street and the festive atmosphere is contagious as you can't resist shaking your own booty to the marvelous sounds floating from bar to bar. I am convinced that this is the party capitol of the world.
I talked with one musician who said that all the bands survive on tips. The clubs don't pay them much or in many cases don't pay them at all. But I looked at the tip jars and could see that people here are very generous. No wonder the bands come out and play every night. They make good money on tips. If you are into live music, excellent food and a festive atmosphere, you have got see New Orleans at least once. I am sure we will be back again some day.
We have one more day and night here and then we are going to drive to Shreveport. So consider this my last report. Hope you enjoyed hearing about New Orleans and it fabulous music scene. I will upload some pictures when we return home next week.
Respect Always,
Stoneman
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Steve April
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7/21/2011 12:44:30 PM
---- Updated 7/21/2011 2:57:46 PM
kudos...
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Shoe City Sound
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7/21/2011 7:22:42 PM
Gotta comment again Stoneman - thanks for posting all this. The way you describe it, it's hard to believe that a city like this is actually in the U.S. haha - it will be great to see the pictures
D
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Conversation Suicide
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7/23/2011 4:28:12 PM
wonderful travel exploits, stoneman. Princezzz and I made it to New Orleans recently ourselves, what a culture-filled, artsy-musical place!
glad it was amazing 4 U 2
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SILVERWOODSTUDIO
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7/25/2011 3:57:44 PM
words making pictures----gobsmacking!
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Stoneman
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8/2/2011 10:50:21 AM
Put a few pictures up on my IAC slide show. Pictures don't come close to describing the trip though. Enjoy!
Much Respect,
Stoneman
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