First, I should note that the Saints did indeed go to the Super Bowl, as everyone in town told us they would last Fall. Not only that, but then they went and bloody won it, too. Amazing. Alli and I celebrated the match and the win with a gathering here at the cottage, complete with homebrew, ladderball and even a little sunshine.
But back to Road Trip '09. I know, so last year.
By the time we left Anahuac with our lives and our rental car intact, we were done with small towns for a while. New Orleans to the rescue, and once again William Shatner helped us find an excellent hotel, for peanuts, putting us bang in the middle of the French quarter.
Of course, we immediately sucked down several hurricanes, and then careered up and down Bourbon street and the surrounding area. I think it was when I told a barmaid she didn't even look like a stripper (she wasn't) and received a frosty stare to go with a round of Jagerbombs that we knew we needed to change gear. We weren't keeping it real.
And New Orleans seems like the kind of place which helps you change gear when you need it. A chance conversation led us out of the French Quarter and up to Merigny and Frenchmen Street, where we found a neat neighbourhood club and a cool band playing through the early hours. It turned into an excellent night. Good times.
We spent a couple of nights in town, and there was plenty more to do, including an unintended wander around the Iberville project, street-cars across the city, Cafe du Monde and Absinthe in a pirate bar. But for the music, the atmosphere and the food, you've gotta get to this town.
Oh yeah, how about some of that music? We got chatting to a awesome trombone player on a street corner one night, and here's a clip of him 'boning:
(The world is very small. A while ago a commenter on this blog recommended a favorite band of his, the Hot 8. Turns out this trombonist plays for them.)
And this is John Lisi, whose band we saw playing in Merigny:
Now that's pretty cool.
7 comments:
I like the guitarist.
We were chatting to him afterwards, and he was all like "you guys are from England? That's awesome! I played some shows in London."
I was thinking, New Orleans is definitely more awesome than Croydon.
Oh, I think you are being unduly harsh on Croydon. It is, after all, the home of some stuff.
Hey James,
Have been out of touch for a while. Really enjoyed your blog, as always. Hadn't heard of John Lisi before, but I'll be sure to check him out.
Hope you're keepng well.
From Dublin - All the best.
David.
hi.. just dropping by here... have a nice day! http://kantahanan.blogspot.com/
Is William Shatner good for hotel bookings? I need to check that out.
James - You need to post more. Your blog is gathering dust.
David---John Lisi was great. No idea how much of his music is out there, but if you're ever in New Orleans he seems to have the house band at that bar on Frenchman St....
Peter---Croydon definitely has some stuff.
Kev---see the latest post, this is the end of Twelve Bells, at least in its current form. Sad, I know.
I've been enjoying your postings, but it's probably all about twitter nowadays. Writing paragraphs is so last decade.
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