Musicians and Katrina survivors. (cross-post)

[Kurovski]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x751361

Today's thread by Plaid Adder focuses on groups that assist musicians in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

A lot of good info, including how you can donate unused instruments to folks in the region. Here's a bit from the post:

"While encouraged by the flow of money into the Red Cross for basic needs, we decided that a specific effort was needed to help the city’s musicians. It’s a simple economic equation: once a musician has an instrument in his hands, he can get back to work. Little economies will spin up around each instrument, in all the relocation cities. Money for the long trip home can be earned, and the soul of New Orleans will be saved..."

Please kick and recommend her post to keep the information upfront, thanks!

[mopinko]

1. hey, you beat me to it.

i was just about to post this.
for those of you in the chicago area, i hope to have some details this week sometime about some sort of drive here.

[Kurovski]

2. If you like, you can do a cross-post in the Louisiana forum?

Just to request that folks kick and recommend the thread...

Hey, you! if you take a break from DU, you better make it a short one! :hug: :loveya:

[mopinko]

4. i'm addicted, don't worry.

i just need to stop fighting the trolls. it's a waste of energy, which is why they are here.

[Kurovski]

5. Well, if you've gotta be addicted to something

it may as well be this! :thumbsup: Glad to hear it, mopinko. :hug:

[mopinko]

7. sometimes i think i should spend more time

drinking beer. but i am getting too old for that shit.

[Swamp Rat]

3. Thanks

Are there any other musicians from New Orleans here besides myself?

[mopinko]

6. what do you play? how are you doing?

will you be at the fest?

[Swamp Rat]

8. guitar and percussion

I'm ok. Thanks for asking. At least I can take a hot shower in the apartment below me... now that Winter is over. :eyes: The holes in the ceiling let lots of big roaches in every night and there are many of spiders too (I got bit real bad last week, though I don't think it was a brown recluse - made me sick, though).

I'd like to play at the Jazz Fest, but I don't know if my group will be in town or even allowed to play. Most of the acts are no longer local (at least the decently paying gigs, except for the Marsalises and the Nevilles). It's tough to see people like Dave Matthews twanging away for 5-10k, playing for thousands of yuppies when you've been playing for 35 years, have multiple college degrees in music performance, yet make only $200.00 or less... and anyway, most of the native New Orleanians cannot even afford the entrance tickets! :eyes:

They shouldn't even call it the Jazz fest. They should call it the "New Orleans Pop Music Fest, With a Side Order of Jazz and Blues," or just "The Yuppie Pop Music Fest That Happens to be in New Orleans."

The last decent acts I saw was a show put on by some of my musician friends/colleagues from Brasil, Celia Cruz, and Elvin Jones.... oh and my Jazz Fest favorite, Charmaine Neville.

On the other hand, I did enjoy Steve Miller's show, but that's because he had Meters and Neville Bros. playing with him and he funkified all his tunes.

There are great local musicians but they are paid NOTHING compared to the pop icons. Also, now the stages are owned by Nokia, etc. and no local beer is allowed to be sold. :wtf: Who wants to drink alligator piss Miller Light? Hell, our Abita beer is a million times better!

The best shows during Jazz Fest are the ones later at night in the local clubs. ;)

[mopinko]

9. abita- turbo dog mmmm good.

i'm sure alligator piss has more taste than miller lite.

yeah, not much value put on artistry in this country. grateful to live in chicago, where at least a few more people make enough to eat. not that many, tho. most have day jobs. no middle class, no art.
so, is it like the chicago blues fest where the locals and smaller acts play little stages all day? that's usually the best stuff.
so, did your (and your group's) instruments survive the flood?

[Swamp Rat]

10. Not all of the equipment was salvageable.

I lost a guitar, a guitar amp, two clarinets and sheet music, and members of my samba group lost congas, etc. (the wooden instruments).

I love Chicago, especially the South Side. The last place I went to was the Checkerboard to hear some real Chicago blues. I was treated with great hospitality because I am from New Orleans. ;)

[mopinko]

11. have you been able to replace them?

what kind of a guitar was it? have y'all checked in with the union? that is who is distributing these instruments.
sheet music- this is something that i am going to try to look for. i have to scrounge the used book stores this week for books for my kids school for a book exchange. i am hoping to come across some sheet music as well.

there is, for sure, a deep connection between nola and chitown. especially in the music community. (but we do love visitors from anywhere!)

[Swamp Rat]

12. nope

Not much has changed except for the new roof on the house... still have holes in the ceilings, bugs, screwed up instruments, etc. At least my main instruments that I use all the time are in good condition, and most of my sheet music and books survived... but it's hurricane season again, things are heating up, and everyone's worried. :(