exlrrp
05-08-2002, 09:33 AM
I don?t know as there?s anything I do anymore that makes me as glad and proud to be an American as go to the jazzfest and crawdad fest. This is where our culture, history and way of life all come together in one place for me . They should call this the American Music Fest.
I think this aspect of our culture is America in microcosm. You can?t get over the black influence in our culture and this is also brought out here, but also all the rest (except Hispanic!). The various music genres exhibited here?Jazz in all its manifestations, blues, Zydeco, Rock and roll?these started with black people but they are not ?black? music , it took a bunch of diffferent kinds of people?Americans of all races-- to create this, a real cultural melting pot. Black people don?t play this music in Africa, No, this was put together by Americans-Louis Armstorng and Elvis, BB King and Stevie Ray Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald and the Dixie Chicks.
Ive heard it said that there is no ONE American culture but this opinion doesn?t look far enough?American culture is the circus tent that covers all the side shows, the context that holds it all together.
I love America?its history and culture, there?s nothing like it anywhere?others are mere copies. And I think our greatest strength lies in our diversity, the teriffically rich and differing expanse of our American experience?I see this everyday, there is no more diverse place in America than Richmond CA, more so than Berkeley for sure but we don?t take on big about it?its just the way it is.
I love the South, too, its part of my home, too and sometimes its my favorite part of the country. My favorite place in the country is usually the one I?m standing on at the moment?home is where you thow down yr webgear. Yall think you got the bragging rights on southern history but its my history too?I?m the son of a Southerner and a Westerner and ALL American?and CA?s history is yours too, as much as mine, so?s Minnesota?s, New Jersey?s and Colorado?s. That?s what makes our history really, REALLY rich?and its ALL ours, yours and mine.
Going to the fests I can really see this?people from all over our country come here for this?and no matter what the history, this is where America gets down and boogies together. Its no accident this happens in the South.
Sue and I flew into Baton Rouge on Wed?we like to go in and out of smaller airports(as opposed to NOLA or SFO) if possible, its easier. They were oversold on the flight from Houston to BR so they were asking if people would take a later flight?we weren?t in a hurry so we took it?they flew us to Lafayette and vanned us to BR, about 60 miles. We got there bout 1 ? hrs later than expected but they gave us a $300 fly anywhere certificate apiece?there?s Augusts trip to HI free (I stay with friends) We drove to NO, about 75 miles of the nicest freeway anywhere..
First thing th ol lrrpster does when he hits NO, after thowing down the LBE this time at the Williams Ave Holiday Inn, is to head for The Levee. This means jackson Square in the Quarter, buying some caf? Au Lait an beignets at the Caf? Du Monde and walking up and sitting on the Riverwalk park there and watching the Ole Miss roll by. I been doing this pretty steady since 1977.
This is another All American view, like looking out the Golden Gate or the Front Range. Or walking thru the French Quarter?this is another thing I do?I love walking through the dark streets of The Quarter late at night when its cool?this is when you see ghosts of people like jean Lafitte, Stanley Kowalski and the Vampire Lestat walking the streets?more Americans. This is Ambience Noir with a capital A N, the darkness with the air of intrigue and danger. One of the things I love about this place is that, tho its getting kinda themeparky, its still a WORKING themepark?people live and work there, its still home and funky, not spiffy clean and Disney. It?s a sensual experience, as is the rest of the south. I used to restore old buildings and still see a lot of work to be done here. They?ve had the good sense to develop it without changing the look and feel of it, the narrow streets, the ironwork, the smells of exotic food, music and laughter falling out the open doors.
I love to sit in an open air caf? or restaurant and watch the horses and buggies clop by?its easy to imagine being in the 18th or 19th century. I sometimes think I was born in the wrong century and sometimes here, it feels right. Safe, too, I feel MUCH better walking here than downtown San Francisco?I have to say I never encounter panhandlers and aggressive weird homeless here like as usual in SF.
I got my favorite restaurants, bars and cafe?s here too, esp Irene?s, Rita?s, th Caf? Du Monde and The Secret Garden. Southern Cuisine usually falls into 2 categories: Fried and Deep Fried but not in the Quarter?this may be the best food area in the south for diversity, nuance and exquisite taste.
Having got our feet on the ground, we just hung out and chilled Wed night.
Thu AM went down to the JazzFest?I told last year bout our little trick of parking right next to the rear entrance on La Salle Ave around the corner form th main police station?skip the $8 apiece shuttle fee that way and the cops at the back gate watch it all day? few know about this and its the safest place in the state which ain?t saying much?you still have the highest crime rate in the country, coonasses, altho you may be chahming in other aspects.
The Jazz and Heritage Fest is held on the racetrack/fairgrounds bout 2 miles outside of downtown near carrolton.There?s about 8 stages, each with a different flavor: Jazz(all kinds),Dixieland, Blues, Gospel, Cajun/Zydeco, Country, Rock, African, and a new one now: Native American. They have a bunch of side stages too besides this with history and culture talks, dance and food shows and whatnot?it?s a whole experience, not just music?think nationwide couty fair carwrecks with Rock concert.
It?s a family experience, too and here?s where you see the South-As-Family as good as anywhere. These people are used to living with each other and here you can see they actually enjoy it?little black school kids standing right next to Rebel outlaw bikers in the ice cream line and it looks good. There?s a big black school kid presence in their uniforms and a big biker presence here too which tells you about the diversity of our American experience and our tolerance and acceptance for each other also. Also similarities of taste. Lots of interracial couples and kids. There?s a low profile police presence, them strolling around dressed lightweight, heads bobbin to the music, most of em are black. Lots of herb smokin pretty openly.
Basically the day for me is strolling around doing everything but C/Z?we get PLENTY of that later in Breaux Bridge and Rockin Bowl.
For me the day is the experience?its not just the music, its watching everyone having a good time. Its also catching up with friends Ive met over the years, there?s groups coming in from everywhere and Zydeco people from all over the country hang and chill together.
We had a terrific time but that?s as usual-the lrrpster don?t go aywhere that far and pay that much money and not have a good time?I?m just cheap that way. It was hot, into the 90s so we didn?t dance that much but some. Bought one of those little battery fans with the water spray?an ALLTIME great Southern invention, don?t let the damyankees tell you they got all the ingenuity, no sirree ,not by a damsite!
The headliner of the day was Blues Travelers and they were terific, I bought couple of their CDs. We snuck out the back gate with the last song playing in our ears.We went back to the H Inn and we had it mostly to ourselves, cept for a college baseball team from Louisville, which Sue liked ogling in the pool a LOT?hadda look at her mighty stern to attract her attention. We must watch this. Tourism?s taken a big hit since 911, the shuttle van driver ( a talkative disbarred lawyer) told me his business was back to 50% down, up from 70% down. (Heheheh, he also told me some VERY scandalously cogent things bout baton Rouge politics for when the next time I?m slugging it out postwise with some unreconstructed Southerners)
Then it was HO for the Quarter again for Shrimp Patrick at the Secret Garden at Royal and St Dumaine, my secret find. Sue was feeling bad, female wise so I went out by myself, (Aw, gee, I HATE when that happens[snicker] )
Well there aint no better dance hall ANYWHERE than Mid City Lanes AKA The Rockin Bowl, its world famous. It?s a bowling alley on Carrolton and tulane with 2 seperate dance halls in it. Thu is Zydeco night and the big names are always there?tonite: Geno Delafosse and French Rockin Boogie in one and Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas in the other, $12 admission gets both. The crowd is mostly older, 30s to 50s, this is mostly boomers nationwide?see people here Ive been dancing with for years.
Well there also aint any better dance music than Zydeco anywhere, in my opinion and the ol lrrpster can swing a mighty efficent shoe in this category if I do say so?there?s others here that have seen me do it, I?ll go by what they say, not that I care. Don?t have no problem getting dance partners anyway, It may be just the huge smile on my face while I?m doing it.
It?s a great dance, sorta the louisiana lambada. People dance it different, but its customary for the woman to straddle yr right knee and sorta grind on it depending on how good a dancer you are and how they like you. Can be very stimulating for both parties, I?ll ?fess up to having to walk scrooch, legged sometimes to hide the more obvious signs. Lotsa belles looking atcha all slantendicular?this is a good sign and also when youre glad not to have the ol B & C around to fling you dagger looks. Next year I?m going by myself, first time in 5 years or maybe I?ll take my son?he was sposed to come this year but he?s still in Chile or maybe Peru now.
Well I did enjoy myself dancing and still got back in time to hit the pool and whirlpool at the HI. This is when the old lrrp likes to sit by himself and laugh his ass off thinking bout the times in VN when I thought I wasn?t going to make it. STILL Happy just to be alive, thanks to the One. It?s a religious experience, I tell ya.
Gotta go for now, I?ll finish this later
James
I think this aspect of our culture is America in microcosm. You can?t get over the black influence in our culture and this is also brought out here, but also all the rest (except Hispanic!). The various music genres exhibited here?Jazz in all its manifestations, blues, Zydeco, Rock and roll?these started with black people but they are not ?black? music , it took a bunch of diffferent kinds of people?Americans of all races-- to create this, a real cultural melting pot. Black people don?t play this music in Africa, No, this was put together by Americans-Louis Armstorng and Elvis, BB King and Stevie Ray Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald and the Dixie Chicks.
Ive heard it said that there is no ONE American culture but this opinion doesn?t look far enough?American culture is the circus tent that covers all the side shows, the context that holds it all together.
I love America?its history and culture, there?s nothing like it anywhere?others are mere copies. And I think our greatest strength lies in our diversity, the teriffically rich and differing expanse of our American experience?I see this everyday, there is no more diverse place in America than Richmond CA, more so than Berkeley for sure but we don?t take on big about it?its just the way it is.
I love the South, too, its part of my home, too and sometimes its my favorite part of the country. My favorite place in the country is usually the one I?m standing on at the moment?home is where you thow down yr webgear. Yall think you got the bragging rights on southern history but its my history too?I?m the son of a Southerner and a Westerner and ALL American?and CA?s history is yours too, as much as mine, so?s Minnesota?s, New Jersey?s and Colorado?s. That?s what makes our history really, REALLY rich?and its ALL ours, yours and mine.
Going to the fests I can really see this?people from all over our country come here for this?and no matter what the history, this is where America gets down and boogies together. Its no accident this happens in the South.
Sue and I flew into Baton Rouge on Wed?we like to go in and out of smaller airports(as opposed to NOLA or SFO) if possible, its easier. They were oversold on the flight from Houston to BR so they were asking if people would take a later flight?we weren?t in a hurry so we took it?they flew us to Lafayette and vanned us to BR, about 60 miles. We got there bout 1 ? hrs later than expected but they gave us a $300 fly anywhere certificate apiece?there?s Augusts trip to HI free (I stay with friends) We drove to NO, about 75 miles of the nicest freeway anywhere..
First thing th ol lrrpster does when he hits NO, after thowing down the LBE this time at the Williams Ave Holiday Inn, is to head for The Levee. This means jackson Square in the Quarter, buying some caf? Au Lait an beignets at the Caf? Du Monde and walking up and sitting on the Riverwalk park there and watching the Ole Miss roll by. I been doing this pretty steady since 1977.
This is another All American view, like looking out the Golden Gate or the Front Range. Or walking thru the French Quarter?this is another thing I do?I love walking through the dark streets of The Quarter late at night when its cool?this is when you see ghosts of people like jean Lafitte, Stanley Kowalski and the Vampire Lestat walking the streets?more Americans. This is Ambience Noir with a capital A N, the darkness with the air of intrigue and danger. One of the things I love about this place is that, tho its getting kinda themeparky, its still a WORKING themepark?people live and work there, its still home and funky, not spiffy clean and Disney. It?s a sensual experience, as is the rest of the south. I used to restore old buildings and still see a lot of work to be done here. They?ve had the good sense to develop it without changing the look and feel of it, the narrow streets, the ironwork, the smells of exotic food, music and laughter falling out the open doors.
I love to sit in an open air caf? or restaurant and watch the horses and buggies clop by?its easy to imagine being in the 18th or 19th century. I sometimes think I was born in the wrong century and sometimes here, it feels right. Safe, too, I feel MUCH better walking here than downtown San Francisco?I have to say I never encounter panhandlers and aggressive weird homeless here like as usual in SF.
I got my favorite restaurants, bars and cafe?s here too, esp Irene?s, Rita?s, th Caf? Du Monde and The Secret Garden. Southern Cuisine usually falls into 2 categories: Fried and Deep Fried but not in the Quarter?this may be the best food area in the south for diversity, nuance and exquisite taste.
Having got our feet on the ground, we just hung out and chilled Wed night.
Thu AM went down to the JazzFest?I told last year bout our little trick of parking right next to the rear entrance on La Salle Ave around the corner form th main police station?skip the $8 apiece shuttle fee that way and the cops at the back gate watch it all day? few know about this and its the safest place in the state which ain?t saying much?you still have the highest crime rate in the country, coonasses, altho you may be chahming in other aspects.
The Jazz and Heritage Fest is held on the racetrack/fairgrounds bout 2 miles outside of downtown near carrolton.There?s about 8 stages, each with a different flavor: Jazz(all kinds),Dixieland, Blues, Gospel, Cajun/Zydeco, Country, Rock, African, and a new one now: Native American. They have a bunch of side stages too besides this with history and culture talks, dance and food shows and whatnot?it?s a whole experience, not just music?think nationwide couty fair carwrecks with Rock concert.
It?s a family experience, too and here?s where you see the South-As-Family as good as anywhere. These people are used to living with each other and here you can see they actually enjoy it?little black school kids standing right next to Rebel outlaw bikers in the ice cream line and it looks good. There?s a big black school kid presence in their uniforms and a big biker presence here too which tells you about the diversity of our American experience and our tolerance and acceptance for each other also. Also similarities of taste. Lots of interracial couples and kids. There?s a low profile police presence, them strolling around dressed lightweight, heads bobbin to the music, most of em are black. Lots of herb smokin pretty openly.
Basically the day for me is strolling around doing everything but C/Z?we get PLENTY of that later in Breaux Bridge and Rockin Bowl.
For me the day is the experience?its not just the music, its watching everyone having a good time. Its also catching up with friends Ive met over the years, there?s groups coming in from everywhere and Zydeco people from all over the country hang and chill together.
We had a terrific time but that?s as usual-the lrrpster don?t go aywhere that far and pay that much money and not have a good time?I?m just cheap that way. It was hot, into the 90s so we didn?t dance that much but some. Bought one of those little battery fans with the water spray?an ALLTIME great Southern invention, don?t let the damyankees tell you they got all the ingenuity, no sirree ,not by a damsite!
The headliner of the day was Blues Travelers and they were terific, I bought couple of their CDs. We snuck out the back gate with the last song playing in our ears.We went back to the H Inn and we had it mostly to ourselves, cept for a college baseball team from Louisville, which Sue liked ogling in the pool a LOT?hadda look at her mighty stern to attract her attention. We must watch this. Tourism?s taken a big hit since 911, the shuttle van driver ( a talkative disbarred lawyer) told me his business was back to 50% down, up from 70% down. (Heheheh, he also told me some VERY scandalously cogent things bout baton Rouge politics for when the next time I?m slugging it out postwise with some unreconstructed Southerners)
Then it was HO for the Quarter again for Shrimp Patrick at the Secret Garden at Royal and St Dumaine, my secret find. Sue was feeling bad, female wise so I went out by myself, (Aw, gee, I HATE when that happens[snicker] )
Well there aint no better dance hall ANYWHERE than Mid City Lanes AKA The Rockin Bowl, its world famous. It?s a bowling alley on Carrolton and tulane with 2 seperate dance halls in it. Thu is Zydeco night and the big names are always there?tonite: Geno Delafosse and French Rockin Boogie in one and Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas in the other, $12 admission gets both. The crowd is mostly older, 30s to 50s, this is mostly boomers nationwide?see people here Ive been dancing with for years.
Well there also aint any better dance music than Zydeco anywhere, in my opinion and the ol lrrpster can swing a mighty efficent shoe in this category if I do say so?there?s others here that have seen me do it, I?ll go by what they say, not that I care. Don?t have no problem getting dance partners anyway, It may be just the huge smile on my face while I?m doing it.
It?s a great dance, sorta the louisiana lambada. People dance it different, but its customary for the woman to straddle yr right knee and sorta grind on it depending on how good a dancer you are and how they like you. Can be very stimulating for both parties, I?ll ?fess up to having to walk scrooch, legged sometimes to hide the more obvious signs. Lotsa belles looking atcha all slantendicular?this is a good sign and also when youre glad not to have the ol B & C around to fling you dagger looks. Next year I?m going by myself, first time in 5 years or maybe I?ll take my son?he was sposed to come this year but he?s still in Chile or maybe Peru now.
Well I did enjoy myself dancing and still got back in time to hit the pool and whirlpool at the HI. This is when the old lrrp likes to sit by himself and laugh his ass off thinking bout the times in VN when I thought I wasn?t going to make it. STILL Happy just to be alive, thanks to the One. It?s a religious experience, I tell ya.
Gotta go for now, I?ll finish this later
James