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N.O. wants no one left behind

Filed under: Stories

Times-Picayune (New Orleans)

July 24, 2005 Sunday

In storm, N.O. wants no one left behind;
Number of people without cars makes evacuation difficult

By Bruce Nolan, Staff writer

City, state and federal emergency officials are preparing to give the poorest of New Orleans' poor a historically blunt message: In the event of a major hurricane, you're on your own.

In scripted appearances being recorded now, officials such as Mayor Ray Nagin, local Red Cross Executive Director Kay Wilkins and City Council President Oliver Thomas drive home the word that the city does not have the resources to move out of harm's way an estimated 134,000 people without transportation.

In the video, made by the anti-poverty agency Total Community Action, they urge those people to make arrangements now by finding their own ways to leave the city in the event of an evacuation.

"You're responsible for your safety, and you should be responsible for the person next to you," Wilkins said in an interview. "If you have some room to get that person out of town, the Red Cross will have a space for that person outside the area. We can help you.

"But we don't have the transportation."

Officials are recording the evacuation message even as recent research by the University of New Orleans indicated that as many as 60 percent of the residents of most southeast Louisiana parishes would remain in their homes in the event of a Category 3 hurricane.

Their message will be distributed on hundreds of DVDs across the city. The DVDs' basic get-out-of-town message applies to all audiences, but the it is especially targeted to scores of churches and other groups heavily concentrated in Central City and other vulnerable, low-income neighborhoods, said the Rev. Marshall Truehill, head of Total Community Action.

"The primary message is that each person is primarily responsible for themselves, for their own family and friends," Truehill said.

In addition to the plea from Nagin, Thomas and Wilkins, video exhortations to make evacuation plans come from representatives of State Police and the National Weather Service, and from local officials such as Sen. Ann Duplessis, D-New Orleans, and State Rep. Arthur Morrell, D-New Orleans, said Allan Katz, whose advertising company is coordinating officials' scripts and doing the recording.

The speakers explain what to bring and what to leave behind. They advise viewers to bring personal medicines and critical legal documents, and tell them how to create a family communication plan. Even a representative of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals weighs in with a message on how to make the best arrangements for pets left behind.

Production likely will continue through August. Officials want to get the DVDs into the hands of pastors and community leaders as hurricane season reaches its height in September, Katz said.

Fleeing the storm

Believing that the low-lying city is too dangerous a place to shelter refugees, the Red Cross positioned its storm shelters on higher ground north of Interstate 10 several years ago. It dropped plans to care for storm victims in schools or other institutions in town.

Truehill, Wilkins and others said emergency preparedness officials still plan to deploy some Regional Transit Authority buses, school buses and perhaps even Amtrak trains to move some people before a storm.

An RTA emergency plan dedicates 64 buses and 10 lift vans to move people somewhere; whether that means out of town or to local shelters of last resort would depend on emergency planners' decision at that moment, RTA spokeswoman Rosalind Cook said.

But even the larger buses hold only about 60 people each, a rescue capacity that is dwarfed by the unmet need.

In an interview at the opening of this year's hurricane season, New Orleans Emergency Preparedness Director Joseph Matthews acknowledged that the city is overmatched.

"It's important to emphasize that we just don't have the resources to take everybody out," he said in a interview in late May.

A helping hand

In the absence of public transportation resources, Total Community Action and the Red Cross have been developing a private initiative called Operation Brother's Keeper that, fully formed, would enlist churches in a vast, decentralized effort to make space for the poor and the infirm in church members' cars when they evacuate.

However, the program is only in the first year of a three-year experiment and involves only four local churches so far.

The Red Cross and Total Community Action are trying to invent a program that would show churches how to inventory their members, match those with space in their cars with those needing a ride, and put all the information in a useful framework, Wilkins said.

But the complexities so far are daunting, she said.

The inventories go only at the pace of the volunteers doing them. Where churches recruit partner churches out of the storm area to shelter them, volunteers in both places need to be trained in running shelters, she said.

People also have to think carefully about what makes good evacuation matches. Wilkins said that when ride arrangements are made, the volunteers must be sure to tell their passengers where their planned destination is if they are evacuated.

Moreover, although the Archdiocese of New Orleans has endorsed the project in principle, it doesn't want its 142 parishes to participate until insurance problems have been solved with new legislation that reduces liability risks, Wilkins said.

At the end of three years, organizers of Operation Brother's Keeper hope to have trained 90 congregations how to develop evacuation plans for their own members.

The church connection

Meanwhile, some churches appear to have moved on their own to create evacuation plans that assist members without cars.

Since the Hurricane Ivan evacuation of 2004, Mormon churches have begun matching members who have empty seats in cars with those needing seats, said Scott Conlin, president of the church's local stake. Eleven local congregations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints share a common evacuation plan, and many church members have three-day emergency kits packed and ready to go, he said.

Mormon churches in Jackson, Miss., Hattiesburg, Miss., and Alexandria, La., have arranged to receive evacuees. The denomination also maintains a toll-free telephone number that functions as a central information drop, where members on the road can leave information about their whereabouts that church leaders can pick up and relay as necessary, Conlin said.

Posted by Peter S. Scholtes at September 8, 2005 4:22 PM

I get up early, early in the morning...

Filed under: Imported

 

 

"I get up early, early in the morning 'cause I can't sleep at night/Keep on wondering, baby, why you won't act right."

-- Professor Longhair, "Misery" 1957

"The federal government did not even know about the convention center people until today."

-- FEMA Director Michael Brown in an interview on Thursday (video here)

"They don't have a clue what's going on down here... Excuse my French, everybody in America, but I am pissed... ."

-- Mayor Ray Nagin in radio interview on Friday

"The guy who runs this building I'm in... His mother was trapped in St. Bernard nursing home and every day she called him and said, 'Are you coming, son? Is somebody coming?' And he said, 'Yeah, Mama, somebody's coming to get you. Somebody's coming to get you on Tuesday. Somebody's coming to get you on Wednesday. Somebody's coming to get you on Thursday. Somebody's coming to get you on Friday.' And she drowned Friday night. She drowned Friday night...

 

[crying]

 

"Nobody's coming to get us. Nobody's coming to get us. The secretary has promised. Everybody's promised. They've had press conferences. I'm sick of the press conferences. For God sakes, shut up and send us somebody."

-- Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard, on Meet the Press Sunday (video here)

-- Kanye West during NBC's Concert for Hurricane Relief Friday (video here); the remark was edited out of the West Coast broadcast; comments at Hiphopmusic.com

-- Mayor Ray Nagin in the Times-Picayune on Sunday

"I'm not surprised at what the feds say... They're keeping the body counts down because they don't want to horrify the nation... They just don't want to know how many were murdered by bureaucracy."

-- Broussard on Monday

"We're angry, Mr. President."

-- Monday editorial in the New Orleans Times-Picayune calling for every FEMA official to be fired 

--AP report at 7:02 p.m. on Tuesday

-- my friend Machelle on Monday, among thousands of New Orleans residents staying to help cleanup efforts (via VatulBlog)

"Effective immediately, any public safety officer... is hereby instructed and authorized to compel the evacuation of all persons from the City of New Orleans."

-- order issued on Tuesday evening night by Mayor Ray Nagin

"We've already been through the worst of it, so to be forced out now is kind of frustrating."

-- my friend Machelle speaking on the phone Tuesday at 10:13 p.m.

The best New Orleans news links continue to be: UPDATED THURSDAY: the WWL-TV blog (click near top of page), the Times-Picayune blog (see the archive), WDSU, WDSU video, the Interdictor group blog (and message board), this Livejournal of a New Orleans nurse, Fox, CNN's Katrina blog, NPR radio, Josh Britton's blog, Home of the Groove Audioblog, WWOZ (back up and running!), VatulBlog, Democracy Now radio, City Pages Blotter, Talking Points Memo, Crooks and Liars (video), and Times-Picayune photos.

I also recommend New York Newday's blog on New Orleans, KLRZ-FM radio in Louisiana (more here), this list of Katrina-concerned blogs, Yahoo's most viewed photos, this helpful Katrina thread at ILE, and this ILE thread on the political fallout. More links and background can be found posted on Complicated Fun last week: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

I've posted a page of cool charity events in Minneapolis/St. Paul in September, but don't miss New Orleans' own ReBirth Brass Band this Saturday at the Cabooze. To many, they embody the spirit that won't be drowned, burned, starved, or dispersed.

Please donate to the Red Cross, or consider helping Acorn's Katrina relocation effort, the Minneapolis Relief Effort, or Hurricanehousing.org. (Here's a complete list of charities from Instapundit.) Village Voice Media will match employee contributions up to $15,000 to the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies' (AAN) fund for Gambit Weekly employees, whose newspaper was flooded. As posted here last Wednesday, former City Pages staff writer Katy Reckdahl and her family are safe. Here's the story of how her baby became one of the last born in New Orleans, and here's a forum for sharing more information to help displaced Gambit staff.

Now when you buy the 4-CD Big Ol' Box of New Orleans, record label Shout! Factory will donate all profits to New Orleans disaster relief efforts (order here). Despite my minor quibbles, it's a pretty wonderful introduction to the music of the city (the music Katy and her family love). The Strummernews message board also reminds fans of the late Joe Strummer of his love of New Orleans, and urges them to donate to various charities. See also the Aid for New Orleans Musicians fund. Lets replace more lost trombones.

UPDATE THURSDAY: I've just learned that Madison's Mama Digdown's Brass Band and Minnesota's Jack Brass Band have organized a fund to help New Orleans brass band musicians. Write checks payable to Mike Olander (reliable and honest drummer in the Jack Brass Band) with the subject line "Brass Band Relief" and send them to Mike Olander, 13712 Susan Lane, Burnsville, MN 55337. You can also send checks payable to Tipitina's Foundation with the subject line "Brass Band Relief" to the same address. They're doing basically the same thing, but for all New Orleans musicians. The money will go to relief, instruments, and setting up gigs for destitute musicians. If you want to donate an instrument, contact Mike at 612.207.2727. For inspiration, he's Keith Spera in the Times-Picayune: "Hurricane disbands N.O. Musical Community"

Below are links to a few key stories of the past few days. I really don't know what to add, except that this disaster will turn out to be some kind of a turning point, for the better, I hope.

Photo credits: Freddie Hicks, front, and Michael Knight paddle through New Orleans on Sunday, photographed by the AP; Sgt. Robert Stanley of the 82nd Airborne Division patrols the French Quarter on Sunday, photographed by David Smith/AP; oak trees on Northline Drive in Old Metairie today, photographed by Rusty Costanza/Times-Picayune; a makeshift tomb in the Garden District on Sunday, concealing a body left by a hit-and-run, photographed by Dave Martin/AP; Louisiana Superdome after evacuation on Sunday, photographed by Greg Pearson/AP/The Times.

Days 4 through 9 of an American disaster

 

Man in flood water undernearth Interstate-10 on Monday, photographed by Eric Gay/AP

UPDATE FRIDAY MORNING: Before/during/after photo site.

New Orleans musicians taking to Houston stages, starting with ReBirth's friends (and relatives) the New Birth Brass Band tonight at the Rhythm Room. Apparently they played a jazz funeral for Katrina last night at a place that's being called "Treme, Texas," Sammy's at 2016 Main.

Well of course: Business elite hope for future without the poor, reports the Times of London.

Classic: "George Bush Doesn't Like Black People" (MP3) remixed by the Legendary K.O., words by Big Mon and Damien, a.k.a. Dem Knock-Out Boyz.

"Part of the effect of Katrina is making the usually invisible visible" Nicholas LeMann in the New Yorker (thanks to Emdashes)

From today's New Orleans Times-Picayune:

Even on Tuesday, as still-rising waters covered most of New Orleans, FEMA official Bill Lokey sounded a reassuring note in a Baton Rouge briefing.

"I don't want to alarm everybody that, you know, New Orleans is filling up like a bowl," Lokey said. "That's just not happening."

A Katrina timeline from Talking Points Memo

Gun dealers doing brisk business in Baton Rouge.

Mike Davis is a prophet and I think you ought to listen to him.

It's possible to agree with the fact cited in Jack Shafer's Slate article "Don't Rebuild New Orleans" and still see that he's dead wrong. Jesus, of course it's a poor, corrupt city. But this is a chance to keep it beautiful (and black) while improving and reforming the place. Meanwhile, Hitchens loses me when he calls Nagin "flaky."

Times-Picayune on July 24: "City, state and federal emergency officials are preparing to give the poorest of New Orleans' poor a historically blunt message: In the event of a major hurricane, you're on your own."

Cynthia Tucker: "At least Nagin and his fellow city officials were trying to figure out how to get the poor out of town if disaster struck."

The Minneapolis Public Library has put together a list of government documents relating to the dangers of a high magnitude hurricane�specifically affecting the U.S. Gulf states. Log on to Mplib.org and click on "hot topics," then find the topic "Hurricane Katrina."

Valid questions from the right about the state and city emergency plans

Wesley Pruden attacks the attackers and repeats lie about the state of emergency declaration

Cheney told to go f*$# himself while explaining, essentially, that the feds won't pay for the cleanup.

Pew research center: Huge Racial Divide Over Katrina and Its Consequences

Please reach out to your Republican friends and argue with them. According to the NYT: "More than two-thirds of Republicans said Bush is doing a great or good job."

F*$#ing amazing: According to polls, 62 percent of Americans believe the "response progress" has been satisfactory.

Mississippi and Alabama had no plan for those without transportation.

Jesus, who needs the Onion? NYT: Barbara Bush calls evacuees better off

Prince has recorded a song for Katrina (thanks MNSpeak)

Eric Foner on "the Power of Outrage"

Steve Perry: An account from within the convention center

This Fox video clip reported that people were being locked in the convention center on Sunday and not being allowed to leave New Orleans.

Public Enemy's Chuck D recorded a new song over Labor Day weekend for New Orleans: "Hell No We Ain�t Alright." Lyrics here.

Charmaine Neville's harrowing story on video (thanks to Hiphopmusic.com)

Why was the Red Cross banned from bringing food and supplies into New Orleans as late as Saturday?

The Washington Post and Newsweek passed along the White House lie that Louisiana's governor neglected to declare a state of emergency (only the Post issued a correction)

Cockburn: "Katrina the aftermath is payback time for decades of stupidity, greed, pillage, racism."

Times on police suicides

Katrina Could Prompt New Black "Great Migration"

New Orleans fouled water going into river, and the flood water will harm the lake

 

National Guardsman fighting fire in the Lower Garden District on Tuesday, photographed by Rick Bowmer/AP

Friday email about my friend Machelle (see more recent quotes above):

I just received some good news from Machelle. Troops are arriving. She saw a TX Nat'l Guard military truck a couple blocks away from the house.

Later Friday email on Machelle:

Ok, this is the lowdown from Machelle, whom I talked to about an hour ago: The troops are in New Orleans. Helicopters all over the sky and there is a marked troop presence. Apparently, the president just landed in New Orleans. (A part of me wonders if all of the helicopter coverage is solely to cover the C-in-C.) Military trucks have been sighted a couple of blocks from Mac's residence in the Lower Garden Dist. and "normal people" are wandering the streets after days of them being empty.

St. Charles Ave. has been a bit scary, but they are hoping that these people will be incarcerated, allowing people to leave their homes to start the cleanup and rebuilding effort. Machelle and company have food and water for a few weeks. They are hoping rations enter the city soon for troops, relief workers and residents. As long as the troops don't kick them out, MACHELLE AND HER FRIENDS ARE STAYING IN THE CITY to help the troops and kickstart New Orleans' recuperation.

I will remain updated (as will her sister, Amy) as long as she remains in New Orleans. After ample warnings not to let herself turn into the Florence Nightingale of this mission, I let Machelle go. Please hope that she stays safe. Frankly, I hope the troops kick her bodacious butt out of the city, but in a small, teensy-weensy way I find her resolve admirable.

Sorry, Kevin, I tried the best I could to convince Mac to leave when the troops showed. But, she stood her ground and said, "If it makes you feel any better, I can pretend I'm leaving, but I'm not." We all know how much we can convince Machelle to change her mind even in times of jeopardy. What we can do now is hope that harm stays out of her way. Something tells me she will be fine: she's going to be of use to New Orleans or a soldier will pick her up by her waist and carry her kicking and screaming out of the city limits. I can't do anything but try and be positive about it now and support her in her decision.

UPDATE THURSDAY MORNING: From my email:

Machelle is safely out fo New Orleans. She left with her friend Rob and headed to Florida. I received a call from her late last night, and they were in Florida. She said she wasn't sure what she would do, but she wanted to get some sleep before she tried to make any decisions.

Personal note: I haven't yet tracked down David Jeffries (a.k.a. DJ) or Nona Honere and her family. If anyone hears anything, please let me know.

From the department of unrelated good news:

CBGB: "open until the cops come"

Posted by Peter S. Scholtes at September 7, 2005 7:32 AM

Baby let me hold your hand: Katrina benefit shows archive

Filed under: Imported

Stafford "Freaky Pete" Agee of the ReBirth Brass Band (photographed in 1998 by M. Sheehan ) performed Sept. 10 at the Cabooze with a donated trombone

This is the archive for Katrina relief benefits in Minneapolis/St. Paul. For upcoming shows, go to complicatedfun.com/katrina. Thanks to to the Star-Tribune for a few of these items, and apologies for the formatting issues.

_______________________________________________________ Archive of past Katrina benefit shows:

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 7 [This was delicious.] Live zydeco music and cajun buffet at JJ's Dry Dock in the Minneapolis Warehouse District, 401 N. Third St., ground level at back of building (same building as City Pages). All proceeds benefit relief efforts. 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Drink for relief  Wednesday and Thursday, when Azia Restaurant is donating 100 percent of its profits from both nights to disaster relief.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 8 Drink for relief Wednesday and Thursday, when Azia Restaurant is donating 100 percent of its profits from both nights to disaster relief. 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 9 Storm Aid: Minnesota?s River of Relief Radio K (KUOM ?770 AM/ 106.5/100.7 FM)Some 20 Twin Cities radio stations will team up to broadcast a live radiothon from  6:00 a.m. to noon, from the Washington Avenue Bridge, to raise money for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. During the broadcasts there will be live interviews with victims, experts from the American Red Cross, the University of Minnesota and more.

TheBirthday Suits (new band featuring former Sweet J.A.P. members) benefit at Big V's, with Human Eye and Die Electric. The Suits are heedin the call of Goner Records in Memphis to provide relief assistance to New Orleans and southern Mississippi-area rock'n'roll scene members and their families who have become displaced and homeless.

Chubby Carrier The already-scheduled South Louisiana accordion man helps raise money for the Salvation Army. 9:00 p.m. Famous Dave's Uptown, 3001 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls. $10.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 10 New Orleans legends ReBirth Brass Band play the Cabooze with the Jack Brass Band. This concert  doubles as a benefit for Southern Baptist Convention's Katrina relief, and for the headliners themselves (some members lost everything, including their instruments, in the flood). See interview below. Jack Brass Band (review of recent show here) have played an unique role in helping round up New Orleans brass musicians and get them in contact with each other. They also throw a hell of a party, so come early. 18+ 8:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 11 New Orleans Dixieland Jazz Benefit for Hurricane Victims at Wesley United Methodist Church 3:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. 3:30 PM   Bill Evans Jazz Band4:45 PM   Pig's Eye Jazz Band6:00 PM  Jumpin' Jehosafats7:15 PM  Minnesota Dixie8:30 PM  Mouldy Figs "New Orleans was the birthplace of jazz and all jazz musicians feel a loss at the destruction of this wonderful city which gave us the roots of our music today," says organizer Jim Torok. (How many of these historic neighborhoods have been destroyed?) Wesley United Methodist Church is located in downtown Minneapolis, on the corner of Grant and Marquette (1st Avenue South). Parking is free behind the church and the underground ramp across the street. Admission is by donation, and will aid the Minneapolis Relief Fund for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, through the Minneapolis Foundation, and the New Orleans Musicians Clinic (NOMC).

Bill Summers, the New Orleans jazz percussionist of Los Hombres Calientes and Headhunters, will play a just-now-confirmed gig at the Dakota tonight (6:00 p.m. solo, then 7:00 p.m. with the Girls), 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis. He also joins the weekly set by Mint Condition's Afro-Cuban side band Joto on Tuesday 9:00 p.m. Babalú, 800 Washington Av., Mpls.)

A Hurricane Katrina Benefit Concert at the Fine Line, 6:00 p.m. to close Mint Condition have joined the lineup! Featuring... DJ Booka B, DJ Cheap Cologne, Charlie O. (6:00 p.m.), Nathan Miller (6:15), Fitzgerald (6:40), Mint Condition (7:15), Romantica (8:00), Neale/Haberman (8:35), Skywynd (9:20), Leroy Smokes (10:05), Desdamona (10:50), New Congress (11:25). The evening will be hosted by Felix of Heiruspecs and I Self Devine Doors:5:30 p.m. Cover $7 18+ show 100% of cover proceeds will go to the Red Cross Hurricane 2005 Relief Fund. There will also be Red Cross volunteers present to take donations directly as well. Multiple silent auction items will be on hand from local business for public bidding. FINE LINE MUSIC CAFÉ, 318 1st Ave. No. Mpls, MN 55401, 612.338.8100. Links to come!

TUESDAY, SEPT. 13 Poetry Slam at Kieran's in Minneapolis will donate all proceeds and accept donations to evacuees: Visit Slammn.org for more info. Details to come. Bill Summers The New Orleans jazz percussionist (Los Hombres Calientes, Headhunters) joins the weekly set by Mint Condition's Afro-Cuban side band Joto tonight (9:00 p.m. Babalú, 800 Washington Av., Mpls.) (I missed posting this until too late): Hurricane benefit at Gastoff's, Budda Tye, Twisted Linguistics, and more.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 MN MUSIC HURRICANE RELIEF BENEFIT First Avenue Main Room 8:00 PM Mainroom, 701 1st Ave N., Minneapolis 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. All Ages, $6 (you can give more) Belles of Skin City (MMA Best New Band nominee)Big Quarters (City Pages cover boys)Brother and Sister (Ice Rod?s Band) DJ Snuggles (Beatbox Champ/State Fair Champ)Doomtree (Sims, Dessa, Mictlan)Green (Jazz Band) Guardians of Balance T-Hud (MN Timberwolves) The C.O.R.E.Unknown Prophets Hosted by Sentwali and Sam Soulprano Proceeds from this event will go directly to 3 different families. A Literary Benefit for those Affected by Hurricane Katrina at The Loft Literary Center 7:30 p.m. Please join us as at The Loft Literary Center as we come together as a community to celebrate the rich literary history of the Delta and to raise funds for those displaced by Hurricane Katrina. The evening will feature readings and theatrical performances by celebrated local authors, artists, and community leaders including Patricia Hampl, Angela Shannon, Louis Alemayehu, and many others. The program  will be hosted by  legendary jazz commentator Leigh Kamman with live music by Dan Chiounard, and the music of New Orleans spun by Brian Engel-Fuentes, Soul and Funk DJ.  Experience the spirit of New Orleans all evening long as you step in and out of the reading, enjoy the music, and participate yourself by contributing stories and messages of welcome to a special book that will be sent to the families arriving in Minneapolis from parts of the devastated areas. Proceeds from the event will go to benefit Habitat for Humanity. Donations of gently-used children's literature for Project Book Share will also be accepted and forwarded to those arriving at Camp Ripley. The suggested donation for the event is $25; all are welcome, however, and encouraged to give what they can. The Loft also welcomes your thoughts, feelings, and response to Hurricane Katrina, its aftermath, and the events surrounding the worst natural disaster in our nation's history. Please send any pieces of writing addressing the current situation to cwilson@loft.org. ; Selections from those pieces submitted may appear on the Loft Website or in the program for the benefit. Please include your name and contact information when submitting your work.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 ARISE! PRESENTS HURRICANE RELIEF BENEFIT in the Entry GANGLION with The Black Thorns, Knife World, Woodcat, and Raw Beast $6.00 door 8:00 PM / 21+ Details to come

SATURDAY, SEPT. 17 Relief 2: Electro Boogaloo benefit for the Red Cross featuring Lolly Pop at CLUB UNDERGROUND in Northeast: With Lolly Pop, Femme Fatality from Saint Louis, DJ Samo, Mach Fox, and more. Club Underground at Spring St. Station, 355 NE Monroe St. Minneapolis, MN 55400 

SUNDAY, SEPT. 18 Kid Merv Campbell, the New Orleans evacuee who comes north with Katy Reckdahl and their new son, plays a Katrina benefit at the Dakota. Crescent City Shakedown: A Benefit for New Orleans Musicians with performances by the Butanes, Dean McGraw w/Chris Castino and Andy Miller of the Big Wu, Paul Metsa, Spider John Koerner & Tony Glover, Butch Thompson, and Day Old Bread. $10 minimum donation. All proceeds go to the Tipitina's Foundation Artists Relief Fund in New Orleans, Louisiana. Cabooze. 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 22

THURSDAY, SEPT. 22 Impact: a benefit for the Red Cross hosted by Industry Minnie-Zine from 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. at BarFly, 400 Hennepin Avenue (view map) The Twin Cities finest electronic DJs and producers perform original music live all night. Lineup:Roomsa feat. Jason Heinrichs and Lady Sarah (Aphrodisio) Monte Hilleman feat D'monica (Vino Records)Bryan Gerrard (Celebrity Records)Jevne (One Thirty Recordings)E-tones (Aphrodisio)DVS1 . Dr. Strangelove (Stereofreq)Dustin HazeFour Feet Jake Encinas Live percussion by WinstonSpecial performances by Teopelli productions. There will be opportunities to contribute additionally throughout the night through a raffle, photo booth, massage by the minute and more.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 23 Hip-Hop Benefit for Hurricane Katrina featuring Knowledge, RDM, Jimmy Donn, Capaciti, Infitity, Shawn Skie, EMS, and more at the Rock Nightclub in Maplewood.  Gulf Coast Benefit at Manhattan Loft: All Proceeds go to Hurricane Katrina victims. Live Performances by: LeNor Barry (folk singer/songwriter), Rad Jacket (alt jazz)Talkin' Roots Band feat. David Daniels, Mpls Junction (conscience hip hop) Sept. 23 @ 7pmManhattan Loft (on U of M campus)802 Washington Ave. SE 612.627.9737 Mplsredcross.org 612.871.7676

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 Restoring the Rhythm: Hurricane Katrina Benefit Concert featuring the Violent Femmes, and New Orleans's own Cowboy Mouth. At the U.S. Bank Theater at the Target Center, 4:30 p.m. (Doors open at 4:00 p.m.) On Sale Info: Tickets for this event go on sale Thursday, September 15, at NOON at the Target Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, online at ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 651.989.5151. $29.75 - ALL SEATS GENERAL ADMISSION. 100% of net ticket sales proceeds from this concert will be donated to America's Second Harvest and the Tipitina's Foundation. For more information, go to Targetcenter.com.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 29

Dixie's Jambalaya Jam 5 p.m. - midnight Be a part of real southern hospitality at Dixie's Jambalaya Jam! A benefit for the survivors of Hurricane Katrina that includes southern-style cooking, live entertainment and an extraordinary live raffle. Proceeds will benefit Second Harvest Heartland Tickets are $25 per person, Dixie's on Grand, 695 Grand Ave. St. Paul, 651.222.7345

I missed publicizing this: Krewe de Walleye dance benefit for Katrina victims on Friday Sept. 30 at the Marion Knights of Columbus Hall. Dudes, send me an email! I know I've missed others, too, and will try to compile them here soon...

The Stooges (formerly the Lil' Stooges Brass Band) play next Thursday, Oct. 6, at Lili's Burlesque in Minneapolis. Link this page: complicatedfun.com/katrina

THURSDAY, OCT. 6

Stooges Brass Band plays Lili's Burlesque on Thursday, October 6. If you missed the ReBirth Brass Band show on Sept. 10, it was a historic good time; none of these bands sound like Preservation Hall or Dixieland, and they aren't jammy. They're funky in a way that makes you want to clap and move. Seriously, you won't regret seeing this... Audio samples here.

The Stooges Brass Band to play at Lili's Cabaret on Oct. 6 with local bands Jack Brass and The South Side Aces. Flooded out of Homes by Katrina, One New Orleans Brass Band Marches on... in Minneapolis. Lili's Cabaret today announced it will host New Orleans's own Stooges Brass Band for a 3-hour show on Sept. 29, 2005 as part of the band's "March On" North American Tour. The eight members of the Stooges Brass Band are embarking on their tour despite being displaced from their homes in New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina. Members of the Stooges evacuated New Orleans after Katrina's landfall and reunited in Atlanta with little more than the clothes on their backs. The "March On" tour is an important part of rebuilding their lives by allowing them to play the music they love and letting them get back to work. Most of the Stooges band members' homes were in the Crescent City's 9th Ward - one of the hardest hit areas of the city. They lost their homes, their belongings, and even their instruments. Musicians from Minnesota helped organize the "March On" tour, and shipped the band donated replacement instruments. Locally, members of the South Side Aces and Jack Brass assisted the band in booking the 15-city tour. The Stooges Brass Band has been a major contributor to the brass band renaissance in Louisiana, which includes bands the likes of The Dirty Dozen and the Rebirth Brass Band. Regular participants in the annual New Orleans Heritage and Jazz Festival and jazz funerals, the Stooges have helped bring brass band music to the world, having traveled across the United States and Europe. But they are also well aware of their roots, playing for many of the more than 55 social aid and pleasure clubs, each of which holds a parade once a year in the Big Easy. Other cities included on the Stooges March On tour include: New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Madison, Iowa City, and St. Louis. 9:00PM, Oct. 6, 2005, Lili's Cabaret, 327 2nd Second Ave. N., Minneapolis27 2

Contacts: Erik Jacobson, 612-325-0987, Band details, Kate Galloway, 612-871-6591, Venue details.

FRIDAY, OCT. 7

The Stooges are special guests of an already-booked show featuring the Evening Glow, John Charles, Electric Glide, and Brake Lazy, at the Nomad World Pub, 501 S. Cedar Ave., West Bank, Minneapolis 55454, 612.338.6424

Benefit: Habitat For Humanity. "Operation Home Delivery" benefit for Hurricane Katrina evacuees at the Turf Club. Rich Mattson performs at 8:00 p.m. for a 30 minute set, followed by many others. I'm going to try to talk the Stooges into club hopping from the Nomad over here.

SATURDAY, OCT. 15

Hurricane Katrina Relief Show with Cue the Doves, Crashing By Design, Four Letter Lie, Escape From Earth, The Lie in Believing, Out There, Now and Forever. Doors @ 6:15, $8. All Ages. At the Garage in Burnsville.

SATURDAY, OCT. 22

The Spittin' Cobras and others at the Uptown Bar.

Bakery On Bourbon. From the Rake: "A rather quaint Hurricane Katrina benefit event... This may be the last in a long line of Hurricane Katrina benefits, which, at least locally, have slowed to a trickle. [Um, no they haven't] Bakery On Grand, a glazed donut shop turned gourmet French bistro in south Minneapolis, seems the appropriate setting for such a small Creole-inspired food and music event. Reservations are required. Call soon. 6 to 9:30 p.m.; 3804 Grand Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-822-8260

FRIDAY, OCT. 28

Hurricane Relief Masquerade Ball. All day at J.J.'s Dry Dock Cafe (401 N. 3rd St., first floor, Designer's Guild building, 612.746.5064). Live music from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00-ish p.m. Silent auction, costume contest. NOLA buffet (cooked by former New Orleans resident Louis Champs) includes shrimp ettofee, jambalaya, smoked turkey creole soup, bourbon pecan pie, and much more. Proceeds benefit the Champs family in Louisiana.

SUNDAY, OCT. 30

North Side Communities at Large harvest of Hope Benefit Show for Hurricane Survivors Admission: non-perishable items Performers include: Contac, Sandman, AK, Black, Unknown, Kool, MDG Family, R World Family, Mya, Naadirah, Coach's Team, plus "you and you and you," for more info call Uncle Don: 612.743.5613. Red Sea Bar and Restaurant 316 Cedar So. near U of M

FOR CURRENT SHOWS, SEE COMPLICATEDFUN.COM/KATRINA

Posted by Peter S. Scholtes at September 7, 2005 6:52 AM

 

New Orleans is gone. Please help New Orleanians

Filed under: Imported

Send donations to the Red Cross. I'm sending my $100 now. This is my small thanks to New Orleans and its people. There's no question that the city, specifically these neighborhoods (many now destroyed), is the cradle of American music as we know it.

The best New Orleans news links continue to be: the WWL-TV blog, Fox, the Times-Picayune blog, WDSU, WDSU video, WWL-TV's online video broadcasts, Steve Perry's straight-talking Blotter posts (read "Key questions for the days ahead"), the Interdictor group blog (and the Interdictor message board), this detailed satellite photo allowing you to zoom in on different areas, and Josh Britton's blog. See yesterday and Tuesday for more. Also see this complete list of charities from Instapundit, and FEMA's list of suggested charities. Today is Blog for Relief Day, and here's a roundup of blogging on New Orleans. Also, here's an evacuation route. I'm off for New York at dawn, but New Orleans will be on my mind.

Photo credits: flooded St. Claude Avenue on Wednesday photographed by David Grunfeld of the New Orleans Times-Picayune; refugee Thursday morning also photographed by Grunfeld; Charity Hospital photographed by Brett Duke of the same paper; residents waiting to be rescued Thursday photographed by David J. Phillip of AP; bottom of this post: Louisiana Superdome on Wednesday photographed by Grunfeld

More New Orleans news links:

New Orleans Mayor Issues 'Desperate SOS': "Fights and fires broke out, corpses lay out in the open, and rescue helicopters and law enforcement officers were shot at as flooded-out New Orleans descended into anarchy Thursday. 'This is a desperate SOS," the mayor said." UPDATE 11:21 P.M.: Fats Domino and Irma Thomas have been found (the same column has an update on CBGB), other New Orleans musicians are still there, Alex Chilton is OK, Juvenile's house destroyed, and Master P to help flood victims, Dave Pirner might also be homeless

The armed thugs are real, Craigslist offering housing to Katrina victims, but will anyone see it?, try hurricanehousing.org, "New Orleans is Gone" says Gambit editor (though as noted, Katy Reckdahl is okay), Bush doesn't "think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees," conservatives bash Bush speech, pissed-off EPA worker: flood waters named "Lake George"

Scenes from the evacuation to Texas, Washington Post article about the Superdome's conditions, Katrina audio feeds, MSNBC photos, more satellite images, photos from Hattiesburg, Thursday radio broadcast: Bill Quigley in New Orleans Hospital: "No Water, Sick, Call Somebody for Help", Why no mention of race or class in Katrina TV coverage?, French Quarter relatively undamaged, the zoo and the museums are fine (so much for that shark myth, which was hilarious), in case you didn't think there would be, some sad and racist stuff on the Nola forum, the cultural loss of New Orleans, those Goths defending the bar are okay

From my email, an update on my friend:

"Machelle is still holding up in New Orleans with friends. I apologize that I didn't email sooner. I'm not sure what the latest is as far as troops reaching the city. On behalf of Machelle, please contact your senator/reps to let them know that you do have a family member/friend who is in the part of the city that isn't flooded. She and numbers of other families are perfectly fine and safe, but they need troops sent into New Orleans to restore order in the city. These families want to get out of their homes to do what they can to help, but the fear of violence and looting is keeping them trapped in their homes.

"Machelle said last night they grilled out some excellent steaks and shrimp from a restaurant someone worked at - they don't want to let all that food go to waste. Today they went to a coffee shop someone else worked at and got a huge cooler full of ice. It has been extremely hot & humid, but today it rained which helped to cool things down. In this way they still have the supplies of food and water that they need.

"So Machelle and company are staying put and doing fine. They are only going place in groups. If you want to do something, their greatest need right now is the national guard."

Machelle's friend Maitri has more at her New Orleans blog, which I'll keep checking from New York over the weekend. Apparently, Machelle wants to stay to help rebuild the city.

New Orleans music links:

For a glimpse of the history behind these flooded neighborhoods, read Backbeat: Earl Palmer's Story, and check out... Offbeat.com
Peachesrecordsandtapes.com
Professorlonghair.com
Barnburnermusic.com
Rebirthbrassband.com
Louisianamusicfactory.com Tipitinas.com
WWOZ.org Goodtimesroll.org/shows/programs.shtml
Rhinorecords.com
Shoutfactory.com
Souljazzrecords.co.uk Acerecords.co.uk

Here's Dylan's tribute to New Orleans music and culture.

UPDATE 1:34 A.M. FRIDAY

From the department of unrelated good news:

Minutemen documentary opens today in Minneapolis

CBGB's not dead yet

Posted by Peter S. Scholtes at September 1, 2005 5:50 PM

 

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