One thing you've got to say for New Orleans: with all the political corruption, broken promises and partisan bickering it's a comedy gold mine. The local comedy magazine The Levee has been scoring hit after hit attacking giant pinatas like David Vitter and Ray Nagin, plus it had the best Jazz Fest coverage in the city, with a front page headline about Quint Davis hiring the deceased Clarence Gatemouth Brown to headline Jazz Fest and a lengthy testimonal piece from New Orleans musicians about the validity of Bon Jovi (Kermit Ruffins describing Richie Sambora's influence on his trumpet playing is one of the best pieces of music writing I've read since Lester Bangs passed away).
Even more impressive is the online newsletter nola.fugees, which mixes satire with relevant political reporting you won't see in Gambit or the Times Picayune and profiles of local Ninth Ward homesteaders. The current issue has a terrific piece on my neighbor Tanya Solomon's home on St. Claude Avenue, a real story about life in New Orleans that explains why she had to destroy her own stoop in her ongoing fight with crack dealers. Solomon's Wonder Farm Cabaret puts on its last performance today (Sunday 5/24 at the Hi-Ho Lounge).
The site also has a pictoral essay on the messy Piety Street wharf fire.
By all means check out:
www.nolafugees.com
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