New Orleans Music in Exile

Despite my earlier report that I do not have the Starz InBlack channel, in fact I do and I managed to TIVO the Music in Exile piece and finally watch it. The piece focused on musicians scattered to Austin, Houston, and Memphis.

I know someone else already posted on this but I keep dwelling on it and so I have to comment. Kermit Ruffins had to try out at open mike night at some lame ass smooth Jazz club in order to get a gig in Houston? For a manager who somewhat sheepishly said he didn't know who he was and the club was now inspired to change their format since Kermit was so good? The indignity of it. That really pisses me off. Kermit, come back to New Orleans. We know who you are.

Of course it's easy for me to say. The documentary explained how the number of gigs in the city is so reduced now it's hard to support groups that used to have no trouble playing multiple venues in one day. Also I think the Funky Butt is closed which is one place I saw Kermit play so that's at least one less club for him to come back to.

Perhaps as the convention trade in the city picks back up our musicians will come back to pick up as many of their old gigs as they can.