MUSIC IN MID-CITY
In a letter to the editor, someone suggested that the clubs pipe out the greatest music station in the world, WWOZ. I chuckled. If you venture out to Mid-City, I have a speaker outside of Banks Street Bar that plays WWOZ after 10 a.m. (to be polite to the neighbors) and well unto the night.
Trombone Shorty grew up in Mid-City, and all of the Andrews family for that matter. Michael Harvey, who plays many times a week with Ron Hotstream, NOLA County, and lots of other bands, produced the Grammy-nominated album for the Hot 8 Brass Band and lives right here in Mid-City. Music is alive and well in Mid-City and has been for decades at Banks Street Bar.
—Richard Fendley, New Orleans, Louisiana
RATS WITH DIAMONDS
Spot on about the album covers! I always make a point to look at the covers after reading the reviews—most of the time I’m shaking my head trying to figure the connection. Kept staring at Derrick Freeman’s thinking, “What the hell am I missing?!” Then there was Swamp Dogg… I was laughing my butt off. Who knew there were rats on the inside? I’ve rescued domestic rats for 15 years! I so would have gone with the rats in diamonds!
—Deb Kyle, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
SERIOUS TIME
Once or twice a year, we spend (serious) time in New Orleans. But in the meantime, your magazine is the next best thing. You have no idea (well, you probably have, otherwise you would not keep up that high standard constantly) how important you are for lovers of the culture of that great city.
—Anton Vandorpe, Kortrijk, Belgium
SALVATION
Thank you so very much for this extraordinary recognition (OffBeat’s 2014 Producer of The Year for guiding Glen David Andrews’ Redemption CD). Thanks to the musicians who played with such passion. Thanks to everyone who listened with an open mind and heart. Most of all, thanks to Glen for his faith and trust when I encouraged him to sing more vulnerably.
“Man,” he said, “I’m from Treme. We don’t do ‘vulnerable.’”
“Well, then, can you give me tender?” – “Like a ghetto love song?”
It was our moment of truth. “Tender, we can do.’”
A special thank you to Jan Ramsey—no one works harder to reflect the values we cherish as a musical and spiritual community.
—Leo Sacks, Cold Spring, New York
KIM FOWLEY
I wanted you know how much I enjoyed your Kim Fowley story—couldn’t have been more representative of the man if he had written the piece himself. The closing paragraph was “Priceless!”
—Don Williams, Ventura, California
I enjoyed reading the Kim Fowley obituary. My total knowledge of Fowley was from the film “The Runaways,” which I watched with my daughters a few years ago, and the New York Times obituary. So you [Joseph Irrera] fleshed him out for me, though there were no surprises. I thought, after reading the obit, and seeing a picture of Fowley, that Michael Shannon, the actor, had nailed the personality. Having read what you wrote, I’m convinced Shannon got it right.
—Mike Paduano, Toms River, New Jersey
BEST OF THE BEAT
Awesome! Thank you so much OffBeat! I had the BEST time! I definitely will try to come back for the awards next year.
—Lauren Swenson, Houston, Texas
CORRECTION
We regret that the sub-head for the Big Chief Thomas Sparks article was incorrect. Chief Thomas is the oldest Mardi Gras Indian still on the streets, not the oldest Indian alive.—Ed.
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