On The Road with ….

FROM THE BIG APPLE                   TO THE BIG EASY NEW YORK CITY’S CONCERT FOR THE GULF COAST Madison Square Garden September 20, 2005

Shortly after Hurricane Katrina devastated parts of the Gulf Coast Region in August of 2005 it seemed that everyone in the entertainment industry, and in government was willing to help the people of Mississippi, Alabama and New Orleans. We all remember the blame game between the Louisiana Governor, New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin, Department of Homeland Security, FEMA and President George W. Bush. It seemed that in the immediate wake of the hurricane that some folks were jockeying for position and on air camera time. I think that’s why it’s taken me nearly one-year to put this piece together for ZydecoRoad.com. I was actually waiting to see how long it would take for the media, politicians, and entertainers to forget about the region and the people who were so drastically impacted by Katrina. Surely not every media outlet, government official or entertainer has forgotten. Mayor Nagin was re-elected to another term as the Mayor of New Orleans and keeps the fight going. Anderson Cooper was catapulted to fame as he covered the story for CNN, and he’s vowed to keep the story of rebuilding the Gulf Coast region alive. And, Louisiana artists such as The Nevilles, Dr. John, Buckwheat Zydeco, and Harry Connick, Jr. continue to remind their audiences that support is still needed in the region to rebuild lives and bring back the vital economy of New Orleans.

So here we are in September 2005 and New York City is ready to announce a major entertainment event to help in the relief efforts in the Gulf Coast region. Of course as expected, Madison Square Garden is selected as the venue to host this event, which will feature some of the biggest names in music (i.e., Elton John, Jimmy Buffet, Bette Midler, Simon and Garfunkel), and it’s being underwritten by some of New York’s major corporations (i.e., Cablevision, KeySpan, Bear Stearns). And also included on the bill are some of Louisiana’s major artists (i.e., Buckwheat Zydeco, Irma Thomas, The Nevilles, Allen Toussaint, Kermit Ruffins, The Rebirth Brass Band and others) that I know from promoting their work on ZydecoRoad.com. The event is being appropriately billed as: “From the Big Apple to the Big Easy” and by the second week in September this thing is getting all sorts of media attention on television, radio and in the newspapers. Now, I’m starting to feel envious and motivated at the same time to see if in the sea of such media outlets as: Entertainment Tonight; Access Hollywood; People Magazine; CBS; NBC; ABC; Fox; and CNN is there a snowball’s chance in hell that press credentials would be issued to K-Paule, cub reporter for www.ZydecoRoad.com? Being a type A aggressive personality, especially when I’m passionate about something like helping the people of New Orleans, I start to do a little research and send an email to the people handling the press credentials for the event. Of course I direct them to ZydecoRoad.com and let them know that I’m respected by such Louisiana as: Irma Thomas; Buckwheat Zydeco; The Nevilles; and C.J. Chenier (who’s put on the bill the night of the show because he’s already in NYC performing). Within 48 hours I receive a response granting me press credentials and backstage access passes for two. Now I’m thinking about a conversation I had with Ted Fox, Buckwheat Zydeco’s manager about seven years ago when he referred to ZydecoRoad.com as a “fanzine” and although he and Buck appreciate our work he implied that we’re sought of a fan based website and I didn’t have the credibility of other media sources (i.e, Off Beat Magazine and ZydeZine). Of course, seven years later ZydecoRoad.com is right up there at the top in annual hits to our electronic publication and Rich Arfin’s other venture, www.Podarama.com is racking up incredible download numbers for Zydeco music and together we’re helping to drive sales for the Louisiana music industry and Zydeco artists across the country. And, that’s why we started ZydecoRoad.com in the first place. And, we still don’t earn or take one penny for what we do on ZydecoRoad.com, but enough of my editorializing. Now, I‘ve got press credentials and backstage passes for “From The Big Apple to The Big Easy” that I had to travel into Manhattan to pick up 3 hours before showtime and than travel back to Long Island to pick up my wife and get back to the Garden in order to be ushered into the Press Room before 7:00 PM, when the show would be broadcasted live on Pay-Per-View.

So, now we’re in the Press Room with several other journalists representing such diverse media outlets as: The New York Times; The Daily News; The New York Post; WB11; CBS News; Fox 5; and others. Outside of the Press Room, other media outlets have been given prime real estate to set up their television cameras, backdrops and sound equipment in order to provide live feeds from the venue. News 12 Long Island (which is owned by Cablevision, who also happens to own Madison Square Garden), Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, and some other folks are camped out right behind the stage exit to capture the artists as soon as they finish their sets. Needless to say, some of the television crews inside the Press Room are upset, to say the least about their position in the bullpen with the likes of The New York Times and ZydecoRoad.com. But, I don’t care because I’m being fed, showered with literature, and I’ve got this very cool press credential hanging from my neck. I’m also now resigned to the reality that, I’m not getting into the main arena or close to the dressing rooms. My view of “From the Big Apple to the Big Easy” will be completely from a television monitor in the Press Room, which is less than 50 feet from main arena, and right next door to the backstage entrance. At this point I’m hoping to say hello to Irma Thomas, Stanley “Buckwheat” Dural, Jr., Kermit Ruffins and a few other artists who have always been generous to me. I don’t think for a second that I’m going to rub elbows with Elton John, Bette Midler, Jimmy Buffet, Dave Matthews, or President Clinton.

The show starts precisely at 7:00 PM with The Rebirth Brass Band and Trombone Shorty entering the arena playing “Dirge/Celebrate,” a mournful Jazz funeral tune to set the mood. They’re followed on stage by Allen Toussant who performs (Southern Nights). Art Neville joins Allen Toussant and his band for a rendition of (All These Things) followed by Lenny Kravitz (Hercules) and Elvis Costello (On Your Way Down/Yes We Can Can) medley. By now, Allen Toussant has become a staple on the stage. Mr. Toussaint is now backing up Clarence “Frogman” Henry (Ain’t Got No Home), Paul Simon (Just A Dream), Jimmy Buffet (Fortune Teller), Aaron Neville (A Change is Going to Come), and Cyril Neville (Big Chief). This ends the male artists segment of the show according to my schedule and press kit. Actress Jessica Lange takes the stage and introduces the “Ladies of the Big Easy” to perform. Irma Thomas (It’s Raining/Time is on My Side), Cyndi Lauper (Last Train/I Know You Don’t Want Me No More), The Dixie Cups (Chapel of Love) and they all get together for (Brother John/Iko Iko). Of course, Ms. Lauper is not from New Orleans. It’s now after 8:00 PM and no performer has come into the Press Room.

Elvis Costello from the stage is addressing the audience and the Bush administration by stating that, we must “make sure that promises are kept.” (He’s referring to the relief efforts in the gulf coast). Cyril Neville has sparked some controversy by sporting a t-shirt that says, “Ethnic Cleansing in New Orleans” that the cameras keep panning to. Meanwhile on stage: Bette Midler (I Think It’s Going to Rain Today); Elton John with a collection of his hits; Ry Cooder, Buckwheat Zydeco and Lenny Kravitz (Hello Josephine). It’s now almost 9:00 PM and it’s becoming apparent that the performers are being encouraged to come to the Press Room for photos and questions, but no one’s taking the bait. They’re right outside in front of the cameras, just 3 feet from the Press Room, the media coordinators are trying their best to hook a celebrity, but it’s not working. Finally, a celebrity! Louisiana Senator Mary Landreau comes into the Press Room. She makes a brief statement answers a question or two, poses for photo and is gone.

Moments later Jimmy Buffet comes into the room to greet the press. Buffet describes the evening as a “call to arms that we the music community had to respond to.” He states that this is the first of many events that must be produced to assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Buffet is now gone. In a few seconds Allen Toussaint enters and fields questions about how he was personally devastated and lost his possessions. Up on stage: Buckwheat Zydeco and company (Rock Me Baby and When The Levee Breaks); Irma Thomas and Ry Cooder (Backwater Blues), Jimmy Buffet (Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes, Heart of Gold, Saxophones, and slew of his hits). He’s then joined on stage by Paul Simon (Sea Cruise).

President Clinton takes the stage and addresses the audience about the need to donate to the relief efforts in the gulf coast states. It’s now after 10:00 PM and the Press Room is quiet. I’m getting tired and so I decide to send my regrets to John Fogerty, Dave Bartholomew, Diana Krall, Kermit Ruffins, Simon and Garfunkel, The Neville Brothers, Ed Bradley, Scarlett Johannson, C.J. Chenier and The Meters who are yet scheduled to perform or speak.

I’m sure that “From the Big Apple to the Big Easy” was a huge success. The concert certainly brought some of the top names in music together. Not only were the artists able to perform their music for a sell-out crowd, they were able to make political and social statements to a large Pay-Per-View audience, and maybe in the process influence public policy in an effort to help the people of New Orleans. And although the event raised a great deal of money, the question must be raised relative to what happens after this evening. Are there other concerts being planned? Are the headliners of this event lending their names and talents to other events across the country to benefit the people of New Orleans?

Certainly, some of the performers have remained very vocal with regard to the relief efforts in New Orleans. The Nevilles, Dr. John, Harry Connick, Jr. and others continue to speak about the need to rebuild and rediscover New Orleans. Others have traveled to Louisiana to perform at JazzFest 2006, and many local artists have appeared in both television and film documentaries to discuss the impact of Hurricane Katrina on their lives.

It will probably be another 3 or even 5 years until New Orleans begins to totally clean up and rebuild, and even more time until it recaptures most of what it has lost. But this is not the time for America to become complacent. The people of New Orleans who remained, and those who want so desperately to return to their city, still need our help. The artists who rely upon the city’s music venues still need national opportunities to expand their earning potential while they wait to reclaim their lives. The political landscape in our country is undoubtedly in need of some change if we are to insure that what happened in the wake of Katrina is never allowed to happen again. The music community has a very powerful voice. Artists can reach millions of people with their messages, and some of the messages relative to Hurricane Katrina must be political in nature. Bravo to Cyril Neville and his t-shirt. Bravo to Elvis Costello for all the work he’s been doing in recording with New Orleans artists to help their incomes. Bravo to New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin for his re-election and for remaining outspoken about how Washington failed the people of New Orleans. And bravo to those of us that continue to buy CDs and concert tickets from Louisiana artists and continue to help in our own individual way.

In the end, it was special to be in the Press Room at Madison Square Garden that evening, even if I never got to say hello to Irma, or Aaron, or Buckwheat. It’s even more special to know that so many of you that read this piece will log onto Zydecoroad.com to support our great Louisiana artists.