Would You Like Fries With That? #2

I'm sitting here typing this wondering how much longer I'll have power.  I've already lost it once today for about two hours.  Isaac is bearing down on New Orleans almost exactly seven years since Katrina.  There's no comparing the two hurricanes.  Isaac I'm sitting in my home, intending to ride out the storm.  By this time in Katrina's path I was up in Tennessee staying at my Uncle's house.

It's always a decision on whether to leave for a hurricane.  For those that don't live down here you might be sitting there scratching your head and wondering what there is to think about.  There's a hurricane coming, get out of town.  For those of us that call New Orleans home (and even though I'm not in the city proper but live across the lake on what is called the Northshore I consider myself from New Orleans) hurricanes are part of our lives.  It's not a perverse sense of courting danger, even though it might seem that way with Hurricane Parties and such going on as a storm advances towards the city.  You don't live in this area for long without realizing that more so than in a lot of other cities and states the weather is part of your life here.  You consider the weather to be part of the city and something you have to live with and just learn to accommodate.  I've lived elsewhere and while you talk about the weather somewhere else you live with the weather here.

So when word comes that there's a storm brewing out in the gulf you start wondering if it will come here.  Even when they start out heading towards Florida and are projected to come on land in that state you know that hurricanes never follow the path expected.  Isaac was not supposed to be a problem for us, maybe some rain, but that was the extent.  Now it's bearing down for the mouth of the Mississippi.  Luckily it is a fairly weak hurricane, as far as that goes.  Weak being relative here, any wind that comes through at 100 plus miles and rainfall of perhaps twenty inches is still more than strong enough to cause a lot of damage and destruction.

Right now the wind is whipping through, every now and than you can feel it shake the house.  Looking outside the trees are bending to the strength of the wind.  Still the wind is nowhere where it'll be, maybe at the moment around forty miles an hour, double that coming.  The hurricane is coming ashore and heading towards us.

At first I was going to ride Katrina out.  I went to work that Sunday morning to finish preparing the store where I worked as best as possible for a hurricane and boarding up the last of the windows and doors.  When I went to bed the night before I had resolved to stay.  My parents were going to head towards Tennessee to stay with relatives of my Mom.  That morning the news was reporting that Katrina was likely to be a category 5 and heading right towards the city.  As I worked getting the store prepped I decided that I should head out and not risk it.  I called my Mom and Dad and told them I would be coming with them.

Even though I've decided to stay for Isaac and the strength of this storm will be nothing like Katrina there is always that moment when you stay that you second guess yourself.  I've stayed for most hurricanes, only leaving for a few and there is always that moment you wonder.  You're sitting there, more than likely in the dark because the power is gone, and the walls are rattling from the wind and you can hear the roar of the wind from outside and you think to yourself that maybe this was a mistake.  It goes, but there is always that moment you have to wonder.

After Katrina there was a lot of music made from the storm and the negligence of aid afterwards.  I've written on this site before about Bruce Springsteen's show at the first Jazz Fest after the storm.  Listening to John Boutte take the Randy Newman song "Louisiana 1927" and remake with the truth of Katrina is enough to bring tears to the most hardened of hearts.  But of all the songs I've heard about the storm my favorite is "Washed by the Water" by Will Hoge.



This version of "Louisiana 1927" features Paul Sanchez, John Boutté, John Thomas Griffith, and Sonia Tetlow perform an updated version of Randy Newman's Louisiana 1927 at Schuba's Tavern in Chicago, July 24, 2006. 

Take care.

BUY THIS ALBUM!

Ok, I can't give any better recommendation than the fact that I did buy this album, even though I'm supposed to be getting a free copy in the mail.  (You can still send it Mary, I bought it on ITunes and would still enjoy having a physical copy of the album.)  I've been excited about this album for awhile now, even before she decided to record it.

The album is Mary Lasseigne's Mary Jane and the Brian Surgeon.

I first became a fan of Mary Lasseigne when I saw her singing background for other acts.  She been around for awhile now, singing as part of a group or doing backups with such artists as Susan Cowsill or Paul Sanchez.  For a brief while she was a member of Cowboy Mouth.

This is pop music at its best.  Mary has a wonderful voice and her music is as good if not better than anything out there right now.  While the music bounces the lyrics deal with love lost, parents missed and memories of Katrina.

Till now she's been content to be in the background.  To be a member of a group.  I hope this won't be the only solo album we see from her.  Coming up soon will be our first full length Voices to hear interview and Mary Lasseigne will be our first interviewee.

French Quarter Fest: John Boutte

I should know by now that I am going to be amazed at a John Boutte show.  Everytime I have seen him live he pulls some song out that just leaves my mouth hanging open with the sheer artistry of it.  The first time I ever saw him, not really being that familiar with him I was literally blown away by his version of "City of New Orleans."  That was always a song I loved by Arlo Gutherie but after hearing John Boutte sing it live that song now belonged to him.  In fact I was so taken with that song by him I made it my phone ringer.  Than at a New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Show he did a version of Paul Simon's "American Tune" with just Paul Sanchez on guitar that again left me speechless.

Today's show was supposed to be another of Paul Sanchez's Rolling Road shows.  Paul acts as the ringleader for these shows, but he always brings a lot of guest musicians.  John Boutte was one of those that was supposed to appear with Paul today.  Unfortunately Paul was too sick to attend, so the show fell on John Boutte's shoulders.  You could tell that he wasn't prepared for this to be a solo Boutte show.  The musicians and he weren't on the same page of what songs they were supposed to play.  They braved their way through it, with a lot of long pauses between songs while they conferred on what to do next.  Up to that point I was enjoying the show, but it was really nothing spectacular.  Honestly they were taking too long inbetween songs when they only had ninety minutes to do their show.

Than John let the other musicians take a break and he did an Acapella version of Lennon/McCartney's "Blackbird."   Again he was creating art as he sang.  The band came back and he brought one of his sisters out to sing.  She did a couple songs and proved that talent did indeed run in the Boutte family.  Than again the band left and he did "American Tune" with no instruments but his voice.  Again he has taken a song best known by another and made it his own.

Than he did something I thought almost impossible.  He sat down at the piano and began the Leonard Cohen song "Hallelujah."  Now once upon a time I liked this song, but over the last year or so you can't escape it, especially Jeff Buckley's version of it.  Every TV show has to feature it at some point.  Truthfully I've grown tired of the song.  But as John played at the piano and sang I heard the wizardy in this song again.  As he sang Susan Cowsill came out with John's sister and they started providing harmony.  This song took on a new life.  I could only wish that these shows were taped like at the Jazz Fest, but regrettably are not.

Afterwards the band came back and they finished with a few more numbers.  It's shows like this that help me realize why I love music so much.

SONG OF THE DAY

Today's song is from Mary Lasseigne (who used to go by the name Mary LaSang) singing "Rebeca Sunshine."  This version was done from last year's New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival with Paul Sanchez and his Rolling Road Show.  After being parts of numerous bands over the years Mary is finally releasing a solo album this month called Mary Jane and the Brain Surgeon.  Mary is another local favorite and I am really excited about the fact of her new solo album and can't wait to hear it.  You'll hear more here the next few weeks.

Video Wednesday:

John Boutte and Paul Sanchez.

SONG OF THE DAY

Today we feature New Orlean's Paul Sanchez and "Exit To Mystery" from his live show at last year's year New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

SONG OF THE WEEK

When I first heard this performance I was literally blown away. Every now and than you hear something live that just reaches out and grabs ahold of you and moves you. That's what the best music does. And that's what this song did. It was at the recent New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. The singer was John Boutte and he was accompanied only by Paul Sanchez on guitar. John is a singer in the tradition of Sam Cooke and can take a song from another writer and make it uniquely his own. That's what he did with this song, "American Tune" by Paul Simon. And Paul's playing is gorgeous.

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Jazz Fest: John Boutte

John Boutte gave one of his inspired performances at this year's Jazz Fest. Why this man isn't a bigger star I have no idea. His friend and frequent musical collaborator Paul Sanchez sat in with him for an amazing acoustic version of Paul Simon's "American Tune." With just Paul on guitar and John singing this was about as good as Jazz Fest gets.

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French Quarter Fest: Susan Cowsill

Today at the French Quarter Fest Susan Cowsill performed another amazing show. Paul Sanchez sat in for a couple songs. Mary LaSang played bass with the band and did one of her own songs.

Susan, as always, put on a great show. Her shows are always good and they are so much fun. She likes to talk to the audience and let them know what she's thinking and what was on her mind when she wrote some of the songs she's playing. This is her first show I've seen in awhile and she's brought a new mix of songs to the table. For the first time that I've seen she does an old Cowsills number. She drops in more than a few Continental Drifters songs and quite a few new ones from her upcoming album. The new songs sound great and I can't wait for the new album.

Everytime I see her live though I come away with one burning question. Why isn't this woman a star? She writes some of the best pop songs ever and her voice is as good or better than just about anyone on the radio today. I just can't understand why she is still struggling to put her music out and so much of what we hear on the radio is dreck.

Song of the Week

This week's song is an old familiar done new. The song is Paul Simon's "American Tune" from his second solo album There Goes Rhymin' Simon. It is done today by New Orleans' John Boutte and Paul Sanchez and is from their collaborative effort Stew Called New Orleans.

SIMPLY SIX: Mary LaSang

Mary is a singer/songwriter/bandmember/bass player from Louisiana. She was a member of Cowboy Mouth for awhile. She performs with Paul Sanchez and the Rolling Road Show. She is a member of the new group The Kinky Tuscaderos. She says she likes being a member of a group and has put plans for her solo album on hold for the moment. Hopefully she'll reconsider that thought and continue work on her solo album. Go to her MySpace Page and check out how good she is as an artist in her own right.

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew they wanted to be a singer. For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show, to another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan half a decade later. Is there such a defining moment for you?

I'd say it was during the first and only performance of my first band, The Electric Bananas. I was 8 and thought I had I convinced 3 of my brothers to sing and dance to "The Locomotion". We rehearsed; we held bananas for mics. When I left to knock on my neighbors' doors to tell them of our upcoming performance, to which a few came, my brothers bailed out on me. I performed as a solo act, with the philosophy of "the show must go on" already burned into my young little psyche. I think I watched too many episode of The Banana Splits.

2. When you’re not creating music what are you listening to? Who are some of your favorites?

I am a music fan first; that's what feeds my inspiration as a writer. I have great friends who turn me onto lots of new music in all genres. In my car right now, I have been listening to MIA, Santogold, Lupe' Fiasco, Blur, The Sugarcubes, Lucinda Williams, Keane, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The White Stripes, Beck - I could go on and on. I think the newest genre I've been turned on to is hip hop, and rap. Great rhythm is to be found there.

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live?

I haven't had that one defining, career changing moment on record yet. I feel it's coming soon though.

As far as live, I'd have to say that I have 2: the first was when my Mom, who had Alzheimer's, came with my family to see me perform. It was hard for her to be away from her familiar surroundings, but my Dad (her caretaker) wanted to come to my performance. My Mom stood there and watched me perform, quietly, proudly, and content for the entire hour and a half. That moment told me so much about the power of music, an effect of me playing it, and how much I was loved.

The second moment came while I was performing at a festival, right before Velvet Revolver. I looked back offstage, and saw Duff McKagan watching us. He caught my eye to give me the thumbs up. Still amazes me.

4. Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to? How much can music influence current events?

I'm not sure if life imitates art, or art imitates life. I think both to be true. I believe that music can and does change moments in the world, in small and large ways. I helped build a school in Tanzania by performing at a fundraiser with Susan Cowsill. That performance raised the money. I also played at a small, rural festival in Germany, where most of the people spoke no English - but I'll be damned if they didn't know every word to John Denver's "Country Road", which we got pressured into playing, when they spontaneously broke into the song as an encore. It warmed my heart, as I'm sure it does others. Moments like that help bring peace, even for just a minute. Makes life more tolerable and lovable.
Music changes the whole world. All art does.

5. How has technology affected the music industry? How has technology affected your career as a musician?

Music downloading affected all of us. In our unsigned case, it also helps get our music out across the world. I hate that record companies took such a big hit, which in turn made bands take a huge hit. I'm hopeful, and appreciative about things like myspace, which has connected us with numerous gigs, and quite possibly to the funding of my upcoming cd (due to a blog I posted!). Technology has forced us to change - that's always hard. But it seems to be good for our purposes.

6. Now for my Barbara Walters question: If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be?

Chuck Taylors!

Interview: Paul Sanchez

Paul Sanchez was a founding member of Cowboy Mouth. He's recently left the group and is now on his own. His concerts are billed as the Paul Sanchez and the Rolling Road Show where he performs with different special guests. At the French Quarter Fest this year I happened to catch his show there with John Boutte, Shamar Allen and Susan Cowsill. To call it one of my favorite concert moments is an understatement.


1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew they wanted to be a singer. For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show, to another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan half a decade later. Is there such a defining moment for you?

I was asked this question a few years ago in a spontaneous moment and before I had time to think I answered. I remember that my father died when I was five and that is when I also started singing. I don't know that I was especially talented but I was encouraged to sing by my whole family. Looking back I realized it was probably that the sound of a five year old singing was prettier then a houseful of people crying.
I have been attracted to playing solo acoustic and my earliest t.v. music memory is McCartney performing Yesterday on the Ed Sullivan Show.

2. When you’re not creating music what are you listening to? Who are some of your favorites?

I like Sinatra, Dr. John, the Nevilles, John Boutte, the Boss, the Beatles, Nat King Cole, Cole Porter, a good tune and a great lyric.

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live?

I really dig the sense of community a great live show has and that is more difficult to put on a disc, energy and community are intangibles that have to be lived and felt in the recording before they can be heard in the listening. I played in one of the most energetic live bands to come out of New Orleans and for ten releases we made albums lacking in energy and passion. I'm most proud that Dave Pirner, who produced Exit To Mystery Street, was able to put the energy that was bouncing off the walls, on to the disc for people to hear.

4. Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to? How much can music influence current events?

Listening to music is a liberating feeling, giving one's self over to its joys. you can change your world and how you feel about it and connect to it with music. I believe in that way music does, has and will continue to change the world. It starts with a person, spreads to a crowd and echoes to forever.

5. How has technology affected the music industry? How has technology affected your career as a musician?

It is easier to make demos, cheaper to record records, easier to share music with musicians and promoters. I'm still basically an acoustic guitar guy with a batch of songs but it easier to spread the tunes around now.

6. Now for my Barbara Walters question: If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be?

The comfortable kind that you slide into and remember you've always loved, the pair you never knew you missed and don't want to take off.