Harry Connick Jr. and the G20 - Part 2

Photo from Harry Connick Jr. Official Website

Well, we made it, and, WOW!  What a spectacular show of pure talent and energy.  Harry started off by thanking us all for coming - that he didn't think anyone would come because of everything going on in Toronto.    Well now that I have seen him perform live, I can understand why there is not much that would stop a person from getting to one of his shows.  I adored his N'awlins drawl, and he is VERY funny and entertaining and it is so obvious to see that he loves what he does.  One of the highlights was when Lucien Barbarin, an outstanding trombonist from New Orleans joined Harry and the band for a few tunes.  One of the songs was The St. James Infirmary Blues, and on You Tube I found this clip of Harry and Lucien playing it a couple of years ago.  I highly recommend watching it! 

http://youtube.com/watch?v=vQIa-JKFDsA

Once you are on You Tube, check out some of the other Harry Connick videos - there are many to choose from. 

And then there was the bald, tattooed fellow wearing a tank top and a baseball cap with the name of the band "Cannibal Corpses" on it in the front row, who Harry asked if he was at the right show!  I could go on, and on, and on..... but my words just cannot convey the level of entertainment, the absolute sense of enjoyment you could feel from the audience around you, and the talent and intensity and artistry of Harry Connick.  Suffice it to say, I will doing my best to see him in concert again. 

Now, on to the G20 "Nonsense".  The one "up" side to the security restrictions was seeing the Gardiner Expressway more lightly travelled that I have ever seen it.  Of course the Westbound lanes were  barren due to the complete closure from downtown to the 427. 

Yonge-Dundas Square had several dozen police officers on the perimeter, and as we walked down Yonge Street, there were small squads of officers on each street corner.  The picture above is the corner of Yonge and Adelaide.

As we walked back north towards the theatre and were stopped waiting to cross Queen Street, a cruiser approached from the west on Queen and turned south onto Yonge with speed and sirens sounding.  The officers from the corners at Queen and Yonge came together to block access to southbound Yonge street and from the east came a group of "Peaceful Protesters" (according to their chant) on bicycles. 

And they were peaceful protesters - the lack of black face coverings and the bucket hats were a good indication of the intentions of the group.  However there was one daring fellow with a vuvuzela near the end of the group that was definitely putting himself at risk!

 

But continuing our walk up Yonge, the smashed windows were a reminder of the senseless destruction from the previous day.  Below is a picture of the Starbucks that was featured quite prominently on Saturday's news.  I walked about ten paces north, then snapped the next picture looking towards the Canon Theatre where we were going to see Harry.  You can just see the "C" of the top of the sign, almost directly across from the SEARS sign.  The next picture is of one of numerous smashed windows on storefronts along the way. 

As we ate dinner we heard the sounds of the helicopters taking the dignitaries away at the end of the conference - and then the rains came!  We were very close by to the theatre, so it didn't bother us.  But we paid for the easy drive into the city earlier in the day - the rains caused flooding and road closures on the Lakeshore, making an already difficult drive even worse. 

Was it all worth it to see Harry?  Absolutely!  Would I do it again?  Without question! 

Well, I really should be getting back to some knitting, and try to get some "good" pictures taken for Etsy.

Jazz, Treme and New Orleans Music

Do any of you watch Treme on HBO?   In a nutshell, it is about music in New Orleans, post Katrina. I think it is a fabulous program - very well written and acted; I am learning so much about the culture and the music and of course I love to watch it to look for places I recognize and just to listen to the music.   Many actual New Orleans musicians are a part of the show making it so authentic and bringing them some well deserved attention and recognition.  Treme has just finished up it's first season, scheduled to be back in November.  I will be looking forward to it and re-watching the first season in the meantime.

 One of the main characters in Treme is Antoine Batiste, who is a trombone player.   Well, back in my younger years (a lifetime ago!)  I was also a trombone player.  I have my own trombone that I don't remember how to play and it didn't see the light of day for many years, but there was never any question that I wouldn't always keep it.    I must have known that someday I would find the perfect place for it. It now has a place of honour on a wall of our NOLA room in our home.  I think it must feel right at home among some of our New Orleans memorabilia!

But, back to the Music!  One of the most enjoyable things about New Orleans  for me is finding live music almost everywhere you walk in the Quarter.  During the day you will find it in front of St. Louis Cathedral, outside of Cafe du Monde, by the French Market, in the middle of Royal Street, on the Moonwalk, at Riverwalk and...... you get the picture!    Below are a couple of pictures of street performers we have come across.  Check out the "horn" handlebars on the motorcycle and the Saints helmet on the ground - what a character! The other group was a wonderful a capella group that were fabulous.  I can't believe that I haven't any photos of the horn players that you often find by the Cathedral and Cafe du Monde - I'll just have to go back for some of those!

There is so much music in New Orleans!  There are all the bars on Bourbon Street that have Rock and Roll Cover Bands, there's the House of Blues, all of the Jazz Clubs like Snug Harbour on Frenchman Street in Faubourg Marigny, the Zydeco music that the souvenier stores play that greet you as you walk past, or in as they would like you to do!   And of course, there is Preservation Hall.  It is probably my favorite thing to do in New Orleans - with the possible exception of eating of course.  I love to go there, especially when the Preservation Hall Jazz Band is playing (pictured below) - a treat that no words can properly describe! 

I know there is much about music in the Crescent City that I have missed, and I hope to correct that some day.  And please believe me when I say that I know only the tip of the music iceberg.  Another good reason to keep going back!

But the reason that this came to be my topic today, is that on Sunday, I am going to  Toronto to see a New Orleanian musical icon - Harry Connick Jr.  and his band - and I am SO excited!  Yes, we are going to battle all the G20 security "nonsense" to make our way there but there is no doubt in my mind that it will be worth it!  I'll report in after the show. 

Til next time..... laissez les bon temps rouler!