Another crappy day for weather. I was nursing a grade ten hangover so I just lazed around until about lunch time. I had plans to see the Mardi Gras museum but I got totally lost trying to walk to it. I did find the Hurricane Katrina Memorial which was quite poignant.
I gave up and checked out the Harrahs Casino. Well nothing to report there. It was a bit like being in a poker machine museum, there was stuff there I hadn't seen for years. Some of the old time slots still had the handle and only three wheels. I soon tired of the diversion and grabbed a burger from Fuddruckers. They do things a little differently to us. The burger came out open and you went to the salad bar to add your lettuce, tomato, pickles, etc.
I was still in a world of pain from the previous eveing so I headed back to the hotel to have a nap before hitting Bourbon Street that night. Its like a permanent street party all night, every night. Before I could do that however it turned out that The Assembly of God was saving sinners that night and that I was candidate number one. This is desite the fact that I was probably the only one in a collared shirt, I didn't have a drink n my hand (yet) nor was I smoking anything. Cigar bars are a big thing here and everyone is getting around chomping on a stogie. This guy asked me if I'd "like to talk about Jesus?" I replied "well what is it you would like to know?" That only temporarily threw him off his game and he proceeded to bear his testimony to me. I asked him what he was expecting and he said he would like me to go to church with him. I explained I was only town for one more night and that I thought there were better if somewhat less receptive candidates in our immediate midst. I shook his hand and wished him the best of luck. Now I really did need a drink.
In terms of Blues and Jazz though it was a little thin on the ground. My expectations weren't high as I had such an amazing time the evening before. I cheked out a few places, firstly The Funky Pirate which had a halfway decent blues band playing called the Blues Masters. I pushed on and tried out the Beach on Bourbon which had a massive 7 piece band who were just going through the motions. They had full production, an awesome sound system, clearly had the chops but they had just done the same thing so many times before that it really lacked lustre and the crowd could tell. When the DJ and the manager are on the stage trying to do smooth dance moves along with the uninspired band I knew it was time to move one.
I grabbed some dinner from a hot dog vendor and the tried one last place. There was a rather excellent jazz quintet playing old school jazz but the entire effect was lost as they were opposite a venue that a screaming 70's cover band playing at who drowned them out and took away much of the subtly. The cover band was excellent doing a smoking hot version of Hotel California by The Eagles and Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd, however that was not the point. There was some truly excellent music on Bourbon Street, multiple cover bands, duelling pianos, karaoke, singer guitarists and singer keyboardists. What there wasn't was Jazz and Blues.
I did learn one cool thing though. I ordered a wine and it came in its own plastic glass with a peel off lid, ideal for festivals and outdoor events.
I gave up and checked out the Harrahs Casino. Well nothing to report there. It was a bit like being in a poker machine museum, there was stuff there I hadn't seen for years. Some of the old time slots still had the handle and only three wheels. I soon tired of the diversion and grabbed a burger from Fuddruckers. They do things a little differently to us. The burger came out open and you went to the salad bar to add your lettuce, tomato, pickles, etc.
I was still in a world of pain from the previous eveing so I headed back to the hotel to have a nap before hitting Bourbon Street that night. Its like a permanent street party all night, every night. Before I could do that however it turned out that The Assembly of God was saving sinners that night and that I was candidate number one. This is desite the fact that I was probably the only one in a collared shirt, I didn't have a drink n my hand (yet) nor was I smoking anything. Cigar bars are a big thing here and everyone is getting around chomping on a stogie. This guy asked me if I'd "like to talk about Jesus?" I replied "well what is it you would like to know?" That only temporarily threw him off his game and he proceeded to bear his testimony to me. I asked him what he was expecting and he said he would like me to go to church with him. I explained I was only town for one more night and that I thought there were better if somewhat less receptive candidates in our immediate midst. I shook his hand and wished him the best of luck. Now I really did need a drink.
In terms of Blues and Jazz though it was a little thin on the ground. My expectations weren't high as I had such an amazing time the evening before. I cheked out a few places, firstly The Funky Pirate which had a halfway decent blues band playing called the Blues Masters. I pushed on and tried out the Beach on Bourbon which had a massive 7 piece band who were just going through the motions. They had full production, an awesome sound system, clearly had the chops but they had just done the same thing so many times before that it really lacked lustre and the crowd could tell. When the DJ and the manager are on the stage trying to do smooth dance moves along with the uninspired band I knew it was time to move one.
I grabbed some dinner from a hot dog vendor and the tried one last place. There was a rather excellent jazz quintet playing old school jazz but the entire effect was lost as they were opposite a venue that a screaming 70's cover band playing at who drowned them out and took away much of the subtly. The cover band was excellent doing a smoking hot version of Hotel California by The Eagles and Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd, however that was not the point. There was some truly excellent music on Bourbon Street, multiple cover bands, duelling pianos, karaoke, singer guitarists and singer keyboardists. What there wasn't was Jazz and Blues.
I did learn one cool thing though. I ordered a wine and it came in its own plastic glass with a peel off lid, ideal for festivals and outdoor events.
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