Phillyist Interviews... Robin Parry from Philly to New Orleans

To answer this I am copying an insightful article written by the general manager of NOLA radio station WWOZ.  Recently some of the managers from WXPN went to New Orleans for a radio conference and they brought this back for me.  

When our colleagues visit our city for the radio conference, it is imperative that they take the "blood-and-guts" tour. They will see with their own eyes block-after-block of destroyed and uninhabited houses, many still reeking from mold. But what they can't really see is one of the things that worry us the most at WWOZ—the long-term destruction to the very soul and spirit of what it means to be New Orleans.

It has always been self-evident that the community WWOZ served, first and foremost, was our musical community. That is no longer self-evident. How can we be a community radio station without our community?

Among the missing 250,000 residents of New Orleans, are a substantial number of musicians. Without our musicians, New Orleans can't help but be a different place—an infinitely poorer place. So, for us at WWOZ, the struggle is not just to rebuild our community radio station, but, even more importantly, to do what we can to rebuild our community.

The number one issue for the entire city is housing. To date, there has been little movement. Most people have been overwhelmed by the uncertainty of it all: will the city ever be truly protected from another such Flood? Will we ever trust the Army Corps of Engineers again, or our so-called Levee Boards? Will property values in the flooded out areas justify rebuilding? Will insurance rates and requirements make rebuilding economically unviable? Will city services such as police, fire and garbage pick-up be restored to their neighborhood? And if so, when?

Will water-pressure be restored to the water system and, if so, when? This is a huge issue: the system has been in disrepair for more than 50 years and is currently leaking 80 to 100 million gallons of potable water a day—2 gallons for every gallon used! If the entire system has to be replaced, it is difficult to see how it will be financed and how long such a project might take. Will there be sufficient medical facilities, and if so when? Currently there are only 2 hospitals about 10 miles apart on the East Bank, and an "emergency center" set up in what was a Lord & Taylor department store.

Will there be adequate schools? At this writing, and with the school year about 6 weeks away—the inability to hire qualified teachers and identify organizations willing to run these schools may result in a shortage. Will there be a public transportation system? What will the cost of utilities be? Both of these systems are bankrupt and their future is uncertain. Service will either be drastically reduced, or costs will dramatically increase, or both, unless some deus ex machina descends upon the scenes. The list goes on, but this should be enough to help you imagine why you, too, would be paralyzed, were you to ponder moving back or rebuilding in New Orleans.

Not all of our 250,000 former residents want to return. And the longer these displaced New Orleanians stay away, the more likely they are to become rooted into the life of their new location—through work, personal relationships, school enrollment of their children, etc. But many, probably most, do want to return. And the number one obstacle is finding a place to live. The heart and soul of New Orleans is its people. It is the way we live our lives, our values, our traditions and our diversity that defines this city and makes it unique. To lose nearly half of our population is to seriously dilute our identity.

-David Freeman general manager of WWOZ New Orleans

Why "the hand up, not a hand-out approach?"
As I said before this is not a situation that simply requires throwing some cash and a band aide.  America must remember that what occurred in New Orleans was more than just a hurricane.  It was a national failure, an embarrassment of historic importance.  All the money in the world does not really repair that kind of damage.  (However it could build one hell of a showboat casino land.) I have the feeling that if artists and supporters rally together to rebuild and preserve New Orleans it will not only be effective but it will enrich our American culture as a whole. To be an actual part of the process will be rewarding for both sides.

Tell me a little about the Philly to New Orleans benefits.
Each month we will hold a benefit to raise money to pay the expenses for a team of locals to go help build homes for displaced NOLA musicians. These benefit concerts will be the second Thursdays at World Cafe Live and will often feature artists who will actually be volunteering.  Hopefully other venues will want to participate and we can do more shows each month making it possible to send more volunteers.  Volunteers will also be responsible for other supplemental fundraising activities as the need arises such as collecting goods and services for silent auction and raffle and hopefully t-shirt and button sales at Philly to New Orleans events.

What has the response been like from local artists and venues? How about musicians from New Orleans?
I started to tell people 2 weeks ago at the ALL About the Music Festival and it has been amazing!  I am starting to get music written and recorded by local artists about New Orleans that they wrote broken hearted and put away thinking that no one would hear them.  I have gotten phone calls from local artists who have gone national wanting to get involved.  Not just by playing a benefit but wanting to know if they can go and volunteer.  I bartend (and co-host) the Philly Rising open mic at WCL and the response from the musicians who come there is even better than I had predicted.  Last night I even got our first donations!  $20 for the volunteers from a girl who recently worked with Hands on New Orleans and said it was one of the most fulfilling experiences of her life and a $20 check to go to our school in New Orleans!

I haven't yet had a moment to even think about other venues because I am still working on all the details of the program but I am setting it up so that it will be easily adaptable.  As far as the musicians from NOLA, remember this is really new. However, Susan Cowsill of the 60's group the Cowsills, played WCL last week right after I announced the program.  I said that we were going to be raising money to send our musicians to help build houses for NOLA displaced musicians and they cried "that's us!"  It really blew me away.  They played that night and talked about their experiences during and after the storm.  Susan lost her house and her brother to Katrina.  They have yet to return home.  (She has a song called Crescent City Snow that is up on our my space page.)  When she learned what we were doing she was so thankful and offered to help any way she could. Two days later three guys came to the bar (at World Cafe Live) and said they had heard that there was a bartender doing something to help the musicians in New Orleans and they were here on a mini tour playing the North Star and wanted to stop by and say thanks!  They hung out all night and jammed with our open mic regulars.

Why do you think New Orleans and its culture resonates so much with people, even here in Philadelphia?
Again, I truly believe that it is the cradle of American music and possibly American culture.  Kind of the Vienna of the new world. 

One of your program partners is the Tipitina's Foundation.  Why have you chosen to work with them?

During all my research their name constantly came up as taking the lead to help, preserve and rebuild the New Orleans music community.  In addition, I have talked to so many musicians who have been helped by this foundation before and after the storm.  Even before Katrina the Tipitina's Foundation had established itself as an organization unparalleled in its work with artists and for the arts.

Has there been any interest from the musical communities in other cities to coordinate similar efforts?
I have been talking to someone from a club in Baltimore, the 8x10, who is interested in booking Big easy Saturdays at his club which will be fabulous as it will give the NOLA bands a good base to build a circuit from.

Have you had any interaction with the students of Philly to New Orleans adopted school, Canal Streets's Warren Easton High School (for whose music school I understand Philly to New Orleans will be raising money)?  If so, what has their reaction been like?
No-not yet.  (However, coincidentally, our hostess at World Cafe Life, Aaliyah Ogletree, came to us after Katrina from New Orleans and she graduated from Warren Easton!)  This part of the program is also yet to be fully developed although we are accepting donations now.  Checks can be made to The Tipitina's Foundation and the memo should read "Philly to Nola/Warren Easton High."  I would love to see some of our music teachers get interactive with their students and the students at Warren Easton.  I also have the dream of one day having the band come play for us at World Cafe Live!!

How can people get involved with your efforts?
Absolutely come out to the events.  Contact me through my space or phillytoneworleans@gmail.com.

We need volunteers, we need bands with great draws to help raise money to send our teams to New Orleans, and we could use donations for auctions on E-bay and for raffles and auctions at events.  We can use donations of services like printing, t-shirts, buttons.  People to work the tables at events.  Venues for benefits, hotel accommodations for visiting bands from New Orleans here and rooms for our folks down there.  Airline deals!

I could really use all the help I can get. 

I also want to encourage venues and artists to promote New Orleans as a tourist destination-keep some brochures available, add a link to your web sites.  Stock Abita Restoration Ale; $1 per 6pk goes to the LA disaster recovery fund.

I am also looking for original songs by local artists about New Orleans/Katrina. 

Philly to New Orleans will depend on support from the music community as a whole.