Rights & Prejudice

I’m sure the DavidDukes of the world are threatened by this, but I was happy to see that CA just overturned a same-sex marriage ban. I’m sure this isn’t the end of the issue, but it’s a good step. This after last night we celebrated Ron & Tim’s 29th year together. Congrats, fellas.

UPDATE:  I feel like an idiot for not being more skeptical about the timing of the ruling, which once again may prove to be lethal to the Dems.  As much as I wish we could just get to full equality, perhaps we can lose the battle and win the war if the 3 candidates are in agreement here.  CA will still scare some fence-sitters into voting for McCain though, as the WV folks all over the web saying they don’t like Obama because he’s Muslim or hates America–or is Black–indicate.  But Michael Kinsley had the real answer several years ago.

Not to lower the level of debate or anything, it looks to me as though Manu and Tim are celebrating the ruling already (pic from ESPN.com):

My crusade

I’ve decided that I’m going to start removing as many of those racist bumper stickers that are all over town.  I don’t know exactly who puts them up, but I’m tired of them.  I don’t know why I’ve always just ignored them til now, but I think I’ve been a little afraid that people might think I was putting them up rather than taking them down.

Yesterday I was taking one off a sign at the light at Carrollton and Oak, and I had to stand on the base of the sign post to get to it, which took me a minute.  A sheriff’s car was waiting at the light, and he passed as I was getting the sticker off.  The driver, of ambiguous ethnicity, waved at me, so I feel encouraged.

I know taking down the stickers won’t get rid of racism, but it couldn’t hurt.

Coffeeshop culture

At this time of year, I have a lot of work to do, but I get to do it in shorts and t-shirts at the coffee shop.  I love that.  It’s always more interesting than staying home, and I feel like I can still get work done.

Right now I’m sharing space at Sound Cafe with Jacques Morial, who’s hanging with some cute young thing on the couch with computers.

Yesterday at Rue, Jerry the owner was sitting outside with a manager-seeming employee.  No less than five times, Jerry would light a cig, take about 2 drags, and throw the thing in the street.  He must be pretty highstrung.

And damn, I’m glad Zots doesn’t let people smoke anymore.

NOLA: Hoopstown, USA

The Cornets looked good again last night, so we’re all hoping for a road win tomorrow night.  Even if the series goes 7, the Nest is proving to be a formidable environment.

Strong work here, fan:

Belated JazzFest Wrapup

On the left is Karen (L), with E(R). If you’re a BrassPasser, you know her as the wonderful woman who is always cheerful and on-task, checking you in. We’ve seen her there for years but didn’t know her name until we saw her at a Hornets game. One JF I’d forgotten my pass, went home and got it, and she told me she could’ve let me in on credit because she knows us. She’s one of the people who make JF great.

I’m one of those every-day JazzFesters. I know it’s expensive and has its problems, but I feel so in-my-element there that I can’t resist. I love it so much that I’ve decided to bury the hatchet with Cyril. I’m sure he’s relieved. Some quick-hits:

Best non-local set–The Roots. I’d seen them a couple times before, but this one was incredible. Strains of In a Gaga Davida, into Apache. Cover of Bob Dylan’s Masters of War to the tune of the Star Spangled Banner. Lots of other great stuff, plus a visit from Ludacris, who urged us to take care of the environment. Gotta love a hip hop band with a sousaphone, y’all.

Best local set–Trombone Shorty’s was wonderful, and I’m glad to see that he and James are cutting down on the talking and getting back to the playing. Terrific stuff. But maybe the best was the surprise of the Midnite Disturbers, who comprised members of Galactic, Big Sam, and many more. Awesome, especially in the middle of the pouring rain.

Revelation–New Orleans Bingo! Show, whom I’d never managed to see before now. I’ll be catching them again soon. Great theatrics, great music, great sense of humor. Can’t believe I went this long without seeing them.

George Porter/Eddie Christmas Award for Busiest Fest Musician–This year it’s Shamarr Allen in a walk. Damn, that guy’s everywhere, not that I’m complaining! And Matt Perine was ubiquitous too. Great musicians.  And then of course there’s this guy (I can never catch his name) and Lady Tambourine, who’s pissed because Team Quint won’t let her on stage all the time.

Grub–Still love the veggie red beans, and the jama jama. I don’t need anything else there but beer.  Well, ok, the occasional falafel.

Chief Complaint–SURELY there’s a way to do something about that stink, especially around the food. The mud kills more business than the rain that made it.

Musical Query I–Why did Alejandro Escovedo quit so early? He was rockin’.

Query II–Was Anders TRYING to look like Hunter S. Thompson? 

Query III–Any idea what Bela Fleck is doing here?

Coolest Tattoo–The Giving Tree 

Coolest Button–I’m Not OK

Blogger Laugh–When I was showing E all my pix, she saw this one of Adrastos & Dr. A (whom she’s never met) and said, “Oh, that’s Androgynous or whatever!”  All I could say was Dayam.

Thanks to everyone at JazzFest for keeping it real.  Some people will complain, but I’d pay a lot of money to keep seeing Kirk Joseph, Kermit, Bonerama, Michael White, Uncle Lionel, and the rest keep doing their thing.

If anyone’s inclined, I’ve posted all my JF pix in my first Collection on Flickr here.

Cinco de Mayo @ Casa de HammHawk

Cinco de Mayo

Originally uploaded by HammHawk

“Unearned Arrogance”

Those were the off-hand words that my esteemed boss* used to describe our “Zah” Dr. Edward Blakely. The man knows how to turn a phrase, and he doesn’t suffer fools gladly. After a week in which he kept company with the leaders of the US, Mexico, Canada, Qatar, and the Catholic church, as well as McCain and PlasticWife on campus, he knows about what he speaketh, and he clearly doesn’t hold this guy in high regard.

*E advised me not to link to my boss, but most of you know who he is, and that he’s pretty damn solid, as bosses go.

Musical ambivalence

I’ll try to recap my kickass weekend at JazzFest soon, but for now, I’m torn on how to feel about musicians coming back to NO.  Of course the ones who really had to leave–and regretted it–I welcome with open arms and rejoice about their return.  But for those who trashed the city as they left, what about them?

Gary sent me this snippet from an article about the silent march last fall, and it’s interesting:

New Orleans musicians are not alone in griping about lack of work. Musicians in Austin, Texas, another city with a big art and music scene, share the feeling.

“Nobody comes to see live music in Austin,” said singer and songwriter John Pointer. “I’ve got nine Austin music awards and have appeared in five national television commercials and I can’t draw a crowd in Austin.”

More prodigal sons on the way?

Damn

Ashley, we miss you.  I’m watching a chickflick in your honor (horror?).

Reflections on Ashley

Alright, I’m the first to admit that I didn’t know Ashley as well as most, and I promised myself I wouldn’t blog after drinking, but Ashley would probably be ok with it, so here you are.

Damn, hell of a tribute, Howie, Ray, and the rest.  I mean really sweet.  I truly hope they’ll post their text soon.

I’ve thought a lot about Ashley this week, and I probably have nothing new to add, but I’ll try anyway.

Hana, you have more strength than I do, and I admire you and wish I could do more to help you.

Bart & Xy, I hope Persephone stays in town and catches the NOLA bug.  For all the reasons I didn’t reproduce, I hope your spawn makes the world better.  And I expect that’ll be the case.

FWIW, Maitri, your post was my news that Ashley had died, and you delivered the news as well as anyone could have.

It was a thrill to meet Dangerblond, and Howieluvzus, you rock.  Ray, that was the greatest eulogy short of (or maybe exceeding) my friend Michael Pierce playing Amazing Grace for his dad, who lived next door to us.

Ashley, I meant to bring you some booze, but as Maitri said, you had plenty, and I toasted you at Juan’s with G Jack.  We WILL miss you, friend.

The main thing I would’ve said about Ashley is how he welcomed me to the blogosphere.  I commented on his blog, and he said he’d put me on his blogroll.  Of course my numbers soared, and then ebbed, but that’s about right.  He and I chewed the fat at float construction for KdV, and again, he made me feel like I belonged.  Wish I’d told him how much I appreciated that.

Speaking of which, I got a call from Stewart tonight, who’d been hipped to my my blog from a friend, and it reminded me how much those posts can matter.

So, I hereby pledge, every now and then, to say FUCK, in Ashley’s honor.

Ashley, we miss you, and we feel empty without you.  Folks, we all need to be a little more free to prophecy, as Howie told us, and I’ll be there, even if it makes me uncomfortable.