AND THE BEAT GOES ON
I, too, agree with Mr. Peterson’s letter in January’s OffBeat. I moved to New Orleans in 2001, but also will be moving back to Los Angeles (who gave many rock bands such as Guns-n-Roses fame). I am a rock musician myself. Now, for a city like New Orleans, who had a big part in the start of rock ‘n’ roll (Fats Domino, Little Richard records recorded here), it does seem like a city moving backwards ever since. New Orleans seems to be a city in love with itself with no good reason to be! It has a bad hangover that it just can’t get rid of (damn, those drive-thru daiquiri places). No one (media and more) seems to step up and help the N.O. rock scene. (Voodoo Fest is the only positive thing I’ve seen.) Radio is horrible here (WRNO the stone age “Rock of New Orleans” is a joke even for a classic rock station. Nobody needs to hear two songs in a row from REO Speedwagon, Styx, Foghat or Lynyrd Skynyrd!) You hardly ever hear local rock bands on your local radio. Why not? Check into Rodney B. (KROQ radio L.A). His new movie, Mayor Of The Sunset Strip, and what one man did for L.A. rock bands and even people like David Bowie! Watch…I bet his movie won’t even play New Orleans in 2004. Just about all the rock music clubs have gone down or just bad. Now another one lost (El Matador). How can one city have such bad luck? Also…why is the best alternative/rock record store (Rocks Off on Magazine Street) in New Orleans as tiny as a shoebox? Tower/Virgin are only for tourists—mall shopper types. Next year the best New Orleans (rock) music store will be some guy selling stuff out of his rented U-Haul van (wanna make a bet?) driving around the city. Before I say goodbye, it’s no surprise to me that New Orleans almost gave Ray Davies (the Kinks) his final exit out of rock ‘n’ roll!
—Gary Reid, New Orleans, LA
BITCHIN’
I was trying to e-mail or call you personally [Robert Fontenot] but to no avail. I am Ursulla Tadlock from the band Atomic Bitch. I wanted to personally say thanks for finally getting it right. Your review of our debut album in the November rock issue was written extremely well. We are not used to having our own appreciate exactly where we are coming from and why we left.
Atomic Bitch will be making their way to town in March. We would like to do a CD release/promotional date for What’s Inside with the Joneses and Gang of Creeps. We would love to have you as our guest and will be in touch with further info. Thanks again for a great review and the effort you took to give credit where it’s due.
—Ursulla Tadlock, Atomic Bitch, Los Angeles, CA
SAY IT AIN’T SO, RIO!
In your [Bunny Matthews] “Dis ‘n’ Dat” column, in the most recent OffBeat, you say “I peek into my prophetic crystal ball and—poof!—El Matador Lounge disappears! Like magic. Say it ain’t so, Rio!” Is he closing the bar? I know he has other projects, in the inebriatorial realm, but, where else will I get cheap cans of Tecate, in the Quarters, or anywhere else? Am I behind in my monitoring of local gossip sources? Why? What is right? Thanks for any enlightenment.
—Stephen K. Bellaire Jr., New Orleans, LA
Much to the dismay of music lovers and owner Rio Hackford, El Matador Lounge has lost its lease and shut its doors forever, to be replaced by a “magic club” owned by comedian Harry Anderson. Part of Rio’s dismay can be attributed to the fact that his father, movie director Taylor Hackford, was the building’s owner and Rio was as surprised as anyone at the sudden turn of events. Meanwhile, Rio will continue to operate Pal’s Lounge in Mid-City.—ED
POLITICAL RANTINGS
Here’s part of Michael Dominici’s January 2004 “review” of the new Ladysmith Black Mambazo CD: “I was a big fan of Ladysmith Black Mambazo in the mid-’80s when their soulful a cappella African gospel music served as a much needed tonic to the crap heard on the radio as well as the crap coming out of Ronald Reagan’s mouth. Anyway, here we are nearly two decades later, needing not just a tonic, but the gin too! George W. Bush is ruining the world, and then this little slice of heaven finds it way to me.”
It’s obvious that many of your writers are leftist relics from a time when the SDS was going to save the world, and socialism was the cure-all to everything. But shouldn’t they save their political rantings for another forum? Some intelligent music lovers actually respect Ronald Reagan, and your magazine apparently writes those people off as unimportant (or at least the type of idiots who wouldn’t read a review of an African vocal group).
—Jim Blanchard, New Orleans, LA
WHERE’S THE ADULT RADIO?
Recently on WLAE TV Live From the Mountain Stage has been airing. The show had good singer-songwriter, roots-rock and country talent and it’s great to finally see this music on TV again as I’ve had a hard time catching Austin City Limits, a similar program. At concerts in the House of Blues, acts like Lucinda Williams, Nancy Griffith and Emmy Lou Harris and Los Lobos always sell out, but you never hear them on radio anywhere. New Orleans seems to be very much behind other cities when it comes to local radio adults listen to. Having been a traffic reporter on local radio, I know a little about how inept program directors are here. It seems all we have are oldies station playing 200 song playlists over and over again for years. WRNO, LT 105, Cool 95, WTIX are good examples. Isn’t there any one of these willing to take a chance on the typical Americana format. The Jazz Fest has sometimes presented this type of music like Lucinda Williams and I’m sure they are happy about it. I don’t like to complain. There are positive things in music to discuss, but perhaps this letter will get the attention of local adult radio programmers, and a change could occur.
—William “Chip” Waguespack, New Orleans, LA
A PITCH FOR COSIMO
Every year I write this same note to OffBeat Magazine around this time; when the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees are named. It’s nothing that you people don’t know. Last year my note wasn’t published. Maybe it’s becoming old hat.
I don’t have a whole lot of respect for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I really do not question their choices as much as I question their exclusions. Here comes my yearly pitch. Under the category of Non-Performers Cosimo Matassa, the man who recorded Fats Domino, Little Richard, Allen Toussaint, Shirley and Lee, Aaron Neville etc. has not been inducted yet.
Damn! Without Mr. Matassa we would not have the rich musical background of New Orleans music. Shame on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for not recognizing him yet. Shame!
—John Donabie, CFRB Radio Toronto
Cosimo’s co-conspirators have been inducted in the Non-Performers category: Dave Bartholomew in 1992 and Allen Toussaint in 1999. While we’re on the subject, our restaurant reviewer Ian McNulty incorrectly stated in the December issue that Matassa’s Market in the French Quarter was once a recording studio. Cosimo’s three studios were on North Rampart Street, Governor Nicholls Street and Camp Street.—Ed.
ACADIANA SEDUCTIONS
Being a Cajun/zydeco music lover in Seattle is a long distance affair. As such it demands at least one trip a year to Acadiana with its seductions of music, food, and friendly people. With Borque’s, Richard’s Club and the Dewey Balfa Camp on the schedule one can get their fill of Louisiana dance hall, with frequent stops at the daiquiri shacks and barbeque joints for sustenance.
After 12 years of traveling to your state I was introduced to this publication by Michele Boulet.
Your reviews of the Mamou Playboys’ Bon Reve, and the Savoy Family Band album were right on target.
Steve Riley and the band have come up with some great arrangements to add to their extraordinary musicianship.
In addition to Marc, Wilson and Joel Savoy, many other extremely talented musicians were evidence at the fall Balfa Camp at Chicot State Park outside Ville Platte. The whole Ardoin family appeared at the Heritage Day festivities; Bois Sec Ardoin, his sons, Morris and Lawrence “Black” Ardoin and their sons, Dexter and Chris (Double Clutchin’) Ardoin.
—John Morris, Seattle, WA
VALUABLE CLASIFIEDS
Thanks so much for placing my “oldies bass player available” ad in the classifieds. The ad produced a good connection to a like-minded musician, and although I was able to find a placement in a band, I shall keep his info for future reference. And I shall tell all of my musician friends about this valuable classified resource!
—Connie Zimmermann, New Orleans, LA