All hands been held up for a couple of weeks at this marvelous recording studio in the Garden District of New Orleans.  We’ve recorded 15 bed tracks (drums, bass, rhythm guitars etc) and a few lead vocals and background parts.  We hope to be about three quarters finished by them time we break for Christmas in a few days.  It’s a great studio.  It’s a real pro place that just housed the likes of REM and Robert Plant.

We have a big 6 Bedroom house about 20 minutes walk from here to accommodate the five GBS dudes and Uber Cool producer Steve Berlin. The path between the studio and the house is lined with cool shops and houses and bars.  After a 14-hour day in the studio, it is easy to find a spot to and chat with the lads or cool locals.  Some nights it goes later than it should. 

We’ve done a noble job of avoiding lost nights in the infamous French Quarter, though I have a sneaky suspicion that restraint may fall tonight as there is a plan to eat a late supper in that area of town.

Been getting to see the real New Orleans.  The city that lives beyond the Mardi Gras and the boobs for beads exchange of Bourbon Street.  Have seen the fortunate and not so fortunate mingle and intermingle in a way that does not happen in big cities.  Million dollar mansions next to empty lots and a stone’s throw from sketchy housing areas.  High-end restaurants with $5 Po Boy menus.  And everyone united and strong in their love for the Saints.  Very cool.

I saw a brass band the other night called Rebirth.  I’ve never seen anything like it anywhere.  Trumpets, trombones, a sax, a tuba, bass drum and a snare.  All crammed onto a stage in a smoky indie music bar that was jammed to the doors with onlookers.  They played the coolest mix of powerful jazz to hip hop-ish tunes and cool arrangements of funk and pop songs.  I chatted to one local dude and told him I felt like one of the most special musical evenings I’d ever lucked upon.

He replied, “Dude, they play here every Tuesday, and have for over a decade.”

Jaysus, what a town.

Not without it’s problems.  Big problems, too.  But still a National Treasure to be guarded and protected. 

I was running this morning and bumped my foot on one of the many heaved up sections of sidewalk.  A result of flooding, I suspect.  I went down in a heap.  Rolled once I think and would have slipped into the oncoming traffic if not for a sign post.  I quickly gathered myself, as I am generally clumsy and am thankfully well used to falling down.  When I stood, I noticed three different cars had stopped to make sure I was alright.  One gent got out of his big expensive SUV and was coming to pick me up.  At the same time, another gent who appeared to be homeless walked from a park bench to help me. Friggin nice people here.

I grinned and said thanks and gave them a thumbs up and a wave and continued on. 

I’ve said it before, so forgive my repetition.

I love New Orleans.

Cheers,
Alan