ALLOW ROCK TO BE LOVED
I was going to let the recent “My Two Cents” section of Jan Ramsey’s editorial slip by without any comment or such, but I heard that OffBeat has had problems with its message board because of unruly responses. I can imagine the content; I’m mad, and each friend who’s read the piece is just as incensed. I thought the magazine could use at least one thought-out and (hopefully) intelligent rebuttal.
Let me say this: No one is mad at OffBeat for putting major coverage on “traditional” Louisiana musicians or focusing on jazz, zydeco, etc. Those genres of music need to be covered and covered well because they’re important in their own right. Where Jan Ramsey gets it wrong is that she makes those genres, and what OffBeat covers, more important than other genres, including rock and roll.
Her piece is insulting to the intelligence of any fan of music who’s under 30, including mine (I’m 25). I don’t think I’m “hot shit,” and refuse to bow to the idea that because I’m younger the music I listen to is invalidated. In case Ramsey has missed something, rock and roll is not “pop culture” and didn’t recently squeeze out from under a rock; it’s been around for a long time and it’s not going anywhere soon. The local “oldies” stations play rock and roll from the ’50s and ’60s, and recently added music from the ’70s. In 20 years, some of the music I listened to in the ’90s will be added. At their beginnings, people didn’t give rock, new styles of jazz, or hip-hop any chance of succeeding or having any staying power. All have thrived and will continue to do so, with or without Jan Ramsey.
What I find funny is that Ramsey solicits respect from the “under-30 crowd” but refuses to dole it out. I think most musicians, regardless of genre, appreciate and respect what has come before. If they don’t, they’re probably neither serious nor successful. You cannot, as Ramsey does, respect the past at the expense of the present. There are many advocates of every genre of music not covered in OffBeat that are perpetually enthusiastic about what they love while being respectful to everything else.
Which brings us back to New Orleans. The fact is we have a rock scene that is woefully under-covered. Many great bands form, get a few gigs, and then either break up or move away. Part of the reason is that few people know about the scene. Is that OffBeat’s fault? Not at all. OffBeat’s got its niche, and that’s fine. But for the New Orleans rock scene to endure, something’s got to change. I’m one of those individuals who want to allow rock to be loved as much as any other genre. The only way to do that is to let people know about it. And to Jan Ramsey, or others who doubt a person’s love for anything, especially music, simply because of their age, I say “heart cannot be discounted.”
—Leo McGovern, Imbibe Productions, New Orleans, LA
RITA LOVED IT!
I sent [retired exotic dancer] Rita Alexander a copy of this month’s OffBeat. She loved it. She enjoyed the interview with her former drummer, Smokey Johnson. She also was amused by your [Bunny Matthews] interview with Miss Chris Owens. She enjoyed your questions and comments. I think OffBeat has improved much since you started there.
—Rick Delaup, New Orleans, LA
AIN’T NO SUNSHINE
We had been wondering why the sun has not been so bright lately and then realized that we had not seen an OffBeat for some time. Is this because our sub has expired or we failed to let you know of our recent change of address? Or both? However we want to get our lives back in order and get back on the mailing list again. What is our current status. I thought our sub still had a year to run but time does fly past so quickly these days. Cheers.
—John Smith and Lyn Dawson, Christchurch NZ
For a staff of ten [two administrative, four editorial, four advertising executives], y’all should be proud. The columns are never lacking and the layout flows. The addition of the rock column is fantastic, as well. Applause for the new guy.
These days, most of my reading comes from magazines (and the Internet). Probably an A.D.D. thing. Nevertheless, I know a great magazine and that’s why OffBeat is such a thrill to receive. It’s the best of NOLA in a nutshell. Thanks guys!
—Wendy Edwards, Fall River, MA
JAZZ FEST SOLD?
In the April 1 edition of OffBeat’s Weekly Beat email newsletter, the following grim announcement appeared:
That’s right—you read it here first.
The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation has sold the Jazz Festival for an undisclosed sum to media giant Clear Channel Worldwide, owner of over 1200 radio stations, 36 television stations and one of the largest outdoor advertising companies in the world. According to a Clear Channel spokesperson, “We are tremendously excited about the future of the New Orleans Jazz Festival although frankly, we don’t get the emphasis on ‘heritage.’ We believe that the Jazz Festival needs more pop stars performing the kind of music you hear on Clear Channel radio stations-the kind of music the majority of Americans prefer.” According to the spokesperson, jazz, zydeco, gospel, rhythm and blues, folk and “weird” music will no longer be featured at Jazz Fest.
And in case you haven’t checked today’s calendar, it’s April Fools’ Day!
We had no idea what intense anxiety our little prank would cause. Among the horrified responses were the following:
Good morning. That was real mean! My heart fell to the floor when I read the bogus press on selling the Jazz Fest. Okay, so you got me.—Sterling LeJeune
Terrible news about Jazz Fest. Who are they going to book? Hillary Duff?!? I can’t stand Disney and their crap media. Kathleen Abernathy of the FCC is a disgusting woman. LET THERE BE INDEPENDENT MEDIA!—Jim Knowles
Hey there….. Yup… Got me infuriated… got me laughing … what a nightmare that could be for Jazz Fest… Good one! Looking forward to French Quarter Fest. Thanks for all that you do!!!—Marco & Monica in Sarasota, FL
What a cruel, cruel April Fools joke! I admit, you got me. Thank goodness it was a joke!!! Holding onto the Heritage.—Wendy
Very funny about Clear Channel! Just moved back to New Orleans and almost started packing up until I read further and yep—April Fools. Clear Channel, huh, that’s as bad as Bush being the m.c.—Lorraine Devita
You shouldn’t joke like that, even on April Fools day. Not funny (maybe a little bit).—Craig Klein
GOOD ONE! I was about to puke ’til I looked at my calendar halfway through the article.—Mark Wolf
Okay very funny. You guys are wacky. See you soon!!—John Doran, an avid New Orleans junkie
That really had me going! My heart was racing and my mind was searching for ways to begin a campaign to stop the whole thing. Thank God it was just an April Fools’ joke.
What a great prank… even if it did scare the pants off me!—Liz Antin, A loyal Jazz Fest (just the way it is!) enthusiast
Your April Fools joke about gave me a heart attack, looking forward to Jazz Fest.—Michael
You people are TWISTED!! And you got me!! Thanks for a good joke!—Liz Brazelton