Reflecting on Music
The music scene in New Orleans is very diverse. Since I am staying with a friend who is studying music industry, we went to several house shows that showcased local and college bands, usually comprised of younger people. The music tended to be on the grungier side, with influences of rock and punk as well as a decent amount of young rappers and DJs. The music played by these people rarely had any influence from New Orleans traditional sounds. The music played in restaurants, or that you hear coming out of every bar on every street (often live) is much more soulful and matches what one thinks of when imagining music in New Orleans. I realized that the traditional sounds are very much now desired by tourists who are trying to make a complete experience. The trumpets and brass bands pair so well with the oysters! I think that the music and food of New Orleans are very intertwined historically to the point where the two naturally go hand in hand in the city.
Rhythm and blues and jazz are often considered to be birthed from New Orleans, but the music is just as much of a gumbo as the food. So many different cultures influence the overarching culture that exists today, so in my opinion there really isn’t one word to describe the music with a single word. One thing is for certain, and that is that some of the greatest and most influential artists and genres in American music history have come out of the Big Easy. Funk itself is said to have emerged from the second line, which is a type of parade/music/dancing that originates with jazz funerals.
New Orleans is a city that is answering the questions raised by my ILC proposal. I don’t think that all cultures or places are as intensely influenced by pleasurable things such as music and food, but most seem to have at least some traditions surrounding it. I have noticed that, more than any other place I have been, people in New Orleans are very aware of taste and sound. Activation of the senses for pleasure is an essential part of life.
I spent most of my time walking due to lack of transportation and curiosity. This lead me to have a very up-close relationship with where I was. Instead of zooming past things in a car, I had time to observe all types of places that I may not have even looked at before. My favorite observation I noted during these walks is also my favorite example of answers to my questions. In almost every neighborhood, regardless of the size or quality of the homes, people sat on their front porches. Not only did this activity span to every type of person, but it included their families or friends as company, often enjoyed along with music and food.