Sounds of Nawlins

Last Wednesday the 14th, our group had the day off from building houses in Slidell, and we took our tour bus into the city for a day of sight seeing and cultural experiences. After walking around the French Quarter for a few hours buying token tourist t-shirts and food, my friends and I made our way to Burbon Street to check out the clubs. We had passed bye a few Jazz clubs, including the famous Jazz Emporium, but none were open early in the afternoon. As we walked by The 544 club, my ears were attracted to the funky and bluesy sounds coming from within. We all walked in and sat there, enjoying the fantastic guitarist, rhythm section and keyboards. Later that night we came back to the same club to watch a similar group play for a much larger crowd.

I wasn't sure of what to expect in the French Quarter almost two years after Katrina, but the vibe seemed so positive and fulfilling that it was hard to notice any struggle by the artists or clubs around. These small clubs with no name bands should provide enough of a foundation for the music community to thrive in the area for a long time. So do yourself a favor and check out local clubs of your taste to support budding live bands across the country.