neworleans: May 2008 Archives

Dr. John is pissed off -- about oil companies eating up the Wetlands, presidents and congressman and mayors turning their backs on New Orleans, and policemen trying to shut down second-line parades, among other things. His new CD, City That Care Forgot, channels his rage in powerful groove-laden fashion. Here's a link to my review.

Politics were in the air during jazzfest -- literally. While the Neville Brothers closed the event on the Acura stage, a plane circled above the Fair Grounds towing a banner that read: "Shell, Hear the Music. Fix the Coast You Broke." Not all the commentary was so overt, and none as visible, but it was there if you kept your eyes and ears open. Mind you, it's too easy in New Orleans these days to read meaning and purpose into every lyric or song choice -- was Sheryl Crow making a statement by covering "Gimme Shelter," or was she just doing a Stones tune? -- yet some of the messages were timely, pointed, and worth remembering.

Here's my reflection on all that in a piece for the website Truthdig.