so much music: week two

Tuesday, I did a volunteer shift and met some very bored college students. It was a HOT (85 degrees F plus 90% humidity) day so I walked in the shade as much as I could. Later on, had a video chat with family and a sweltering dinner in.

 

On Wednesday I found a cheaper grocery store (hooray), worked some, then toured a co-working space hoping to find a backup to this unstable wifi at my rental; the co-working space is amply furnished with beefy internet, luscious a/c and all you can drink coffee. Um, yes please. After a friend Zoom hh, we walked to Bacchanal to check out the Wednesday night wine situation. http://www.bacchanalwine.com/ 3 youngish white dudes were playing the most atonal jazz, so aggressively unmelodic that I’m pretty sure they were having a laugh on all of us. The courtyard is magical though, lit with solar fairy lights under the fragrant sky. To refresh ourselves, we stopped afterward at https://www.parleauxbeerlab.com/ Parleaux Beer Lab for a tasty drink on a nearly empty patio.

 

Thursday was horrendous work-wise, and also a day to go back to the pharmacy (no joy, they wouldn't refill my prescription for another day), then wander down Frenchmen to check out The Three Muses We perched at a bar table and enjoyed rootsy jazz played by a clarinetist and pianist, older gentlemen whom you might have taken for accountants. Also made a pit stop at Louisiana Music Factory to peruse the incredible collection of New Orleans and Louisiana music, as well as the instructional books. 

Friday. The weekend! I staggered through two stressful meetings amid bad moods and crashing wifi, went back to the pharmacy and this time successfully got my stuff, dropped by St. Roch Market for roti canai and a beer at Laksa NOLA — St. Roch Market (strochmarket.com), then down to Congo Square in the balmy evening to check out the Reggae Festival. Nola Reggae Fest (neworleans.com). While the music wasn't stellar--the sound guy spent at least 2 hours jumping on and off the stage, to the consternation of the very good local band--the passing scene was amazing, the crowd dressed to impress, vendors selling African-inspired goods, delicious food, cold beer, and a pleasant vibe all around.

Saturday we were determined, despite heavy heat and humidity, to get to the Crescent City BBQ and Blues Festival at Lafayette Square. Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival - The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation, Inc. (jazzandheritage.org) We pre-gamed with coffee and avocado sandwiches from Satsuma (both surprisingly meh), made a quick stop at the Pepper Palace to stock up on hot sauce, Pepper Palace - From Wild to Mild!, then made our way, already hot and tired, to a very crowded square, sipping on a vegan Vietnamese iced coffee from the Orange Couch.  The Orange Couch (theorangecouchcoffee.com) We spread out a blanket and waited as a fairly whiny white girl finished up a set (why did she say she was from California), then enjoyed Mem Shannon and the Membership. The food lines were too long to get barbecue, so we abandoned ship and walked toward home, stopping by the reggae festival (sound still not good), then by Loretta's for a praline and a warm bag of praline-stuffed beignets (OMG)Loretta's Authentic Pralines – Loretta's Authentic Pralines (lorettaspralines.com). At home I laid on an ice pack for awhile, feeling achy and overheated, facilitated a call for a conference, then summoned all my energy to go back to Lafayette Square for the evening. It was not my best night; tired, hot, cranky. I apologize again to my very patient partner. We got ourselves happy with beers and other libations and settled in to enjoy the confident, rich delta blues of harmonica-master Charlie Musselwhite.

Sunday was my partner's last day to party for awhile, so we fortified ourselves with bloody Marys at J & J's, went home to hydrate, waited out a blistering rainstorm, then headed out in the hot wet afternoon, up St. Claude to grab an umbrella, then bean and avocado tacos and a Mexican beer at Rosalita's Backyard Tacos (rosalitas-nola.com). It was a three band night and each one was a pleasure. (The Bourbon Street crowds, including a lot of drunk and happy Bengals fans, were not great.) First up, the Marla Dixon Band at Live jazz - Fritzel's Jazz Bar | Nightly live jazz performances (fritzelsjazz.com). Marla Dixon plays trumpet and belts out classic jazz songs like a pro, pausing and vibing when the Sunday night crowd of street-racer cars roll by outside on Bourbon Street.  After that was a quick hot slice of cheese pizza from Mango Mango (surprisingly tasty) and then Marty Peters and the Party Meters at 21^st Amendment, a tiny space which the 4-piece band good-naturedly filled with well-played jazz classics. Last stop of the night was d.b.a. for our beloved Treme Brass Band. Treme Brass Band | New Orleans LA | Facebook. As the first time I saw them years ago, founder and drummer Benny sat on a pew outside the bathrooms, patiently waiting for the set to start. I wished him a good evening and kept going. The band started quietly and patiently and built to full-throated jazz celebration, with a Sousaphone, a piano, and at least two guest horns sitting in. When the singer came to the barroom floor to pass the bucket and sing Basin Street Blues I felt teary and happy. 

My third week begins somewhat quietly and sadly. More to say in the days to come.