In the midst of the GOP Primaries, lots of hot issues come up. But, you know I’m always listening to what they’re saying about the beloved Gulf region. After all, what could possibly be more politically polarizing than that dirty ‘ol black gold? Talk of digging, drilling and piping oil has been a constant in the Republican primary debates. Let's dig a little deeper.

• Mitt Romney is not afraid of aggressive domestic energy exploration. He plans to expand domestic exploration and drilling in areas where it has been previously approved. Former GOP candidate, Rick Perry went as far as saying that drilling for more oil is the key to America's economic future. Both Romney and Perry have championed shifting the oversight responsibilities from the EPA to the 50 states. Newt Gingrich is also on board with this plan.
• The GOP candidates’ position on drilling is clear – keep drilling, keep expanding. Not only do the  GOP candidates wish to expand drilling in authorized locations, most wish to expand into territories that are currently blocked, such as Western shale oil deposits and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Nevertheless, Republican candidates’ opinions on regulation and green energy appear to range the entire spectrum.
• Even in this extremely volatile political environment, there is at least one issue that people of all political persuasions seem to agree on. I know this might sound crazy…but it’s true! A recent poll shows that 84% of Florida voters support a Senate bill – the RESTORE Act -- that would ensure that 80% of BP fines resulting from the spill are ultimately spent on Gulf restoration. While Florida is a state that was directly affected by the oil spill, it's still shocking to hear that “this is a case where … there’s kind of a common sense agreement that crosses party lines.” Also in Florida, 73% of Republican primary voters say they are more likely to vote for a Republican candidate who supports the RESTORE Act.
• Despite an apparent increase in voter morale among residents of the Gulf states, some are afraid that, because the oil can no longer be seen from the surface or on the beaches, it will also fade from the minds of the voters outside of the Gulf region. Enid Sisskin, director of Gulf Coast Environmental Defense, believes that drilling “will not be on the radar screen of most voters at all.”
• Hopefully these issues will be on the minds of voters as the primaries make their way to the Gulf Coast. Florida will be the first state in the region to vote for the upcoming Republican nominee when they hold their primary on January 31. Alabama and Mississippi will be next, with their primaries set for March 13. Lousiana and Texas will then follow with primaries on March 24 and April 3, respectively.

Let’s make sure this isn’t the case by continuing to stay informed on Gulf Coast issues. Do what you can to make the candidates pay attention. And don’t forget to check back with HeadCount for the latest on elections, music, and activisim!

And now the for the latest action in the Gulf oil spill accountability blame game – BP is alleging in federal court  that Halliburton intentionally destroyed evidence that would have exposed their negligent and procedurally unfounded cementing process used on the Macondo well. According to BP, Halliburton destroyed test samples that would show the cement used to seal the well was unstable.

Each one of these multi-billion dollar companies that have individually been found liable in some way, not just BP, are looking for any possible 'out' that would save them millions in damages. Even BP is winning legal battles and reaping the economic benefits that accompany a judgment in their favor. BP is due to receive $250 million in a settlement with Cameron International, a company used by BP to design the blowout preventer. “Today’s settlement allows BP and Cameron to put our legal issues behind us and move forward to improve safety in the drilling industry,” says BP CEO Bob Dudley. Now Cameron is removed from the chain of responsibility and BP makes more empty pledges to continue the clean-up.  Where is the progress going to begin?

The point I'm trying to make here is that all this time has passed and the people of America stand as the pawns in the blame game being put on by BP, Halliburton, Transocean and countless others. Where do the people come in? What about the environment? Instead of trying to fight for less in damages, these corporate giants should be fighting for the good of the people hurt by their shared negligence. The fact of the matter is that all has not been made right in the Gulf; actually, no one has stepped up to even come close.  BP continues to have a hand in the claims honoring process; Transocean won’t even take responsibility for their proven fault; and Halliburton may now be found to have intentionally destroyed incriminating evidence.  Give me a break! Corporations, step up to the plate and accept responsibility for what you have done.

Oh, and if you're hoping our friends in Washington will help officiate the blame game, think again: current legislation aiming to bring billions of dollars in fines directly to the affected states is being held up by an influential Ohio congressman.

Stories coming from the Gulf of late are a mix of "open for business" optimism and never-ending stains from last year's spill. And of course, the music never stops. So here's a quick update on what's happening in my favorite region of the country.

• Although Tropical Storm Lee may have largely spared the Gulf coast, Alabama beaches did not fair so well. Smelly, ugly tar balls have washed up on Alabama beaches. Tests by Auburn University have concluded that the oil and tar originate from the blown BP well that spewed millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico 18 months ago. Volunteers and some BP clean-up crews worked rapidly to assess and manage the situation. The city of Gulf Shores, Alabama (home of the Hangout Fest) requested that BP send more cleaning machinery down to their beaches, only to be DENIED!
• Interestingly, Shaul Zislin, a partner in the Hangout Fest and owner of the restaurant of the same name, is featured in a new TV ad from BP encouraging gulf tourism. Hangout sold out in advance this year, and will be back on May 20-22 of next year.
• Nearly a year and half after the spill, federal agencies have released their most comprehensive study of the spill yet. I won’t bore you with the details of the 200+ page blame-fest, but…I will tell you a little something that may not surprise you in the least bit…experts concluded that shortcuts and poor management decisions by BP are to blame for over 75% of the disaster. Among the many possible outcomes of these findings, some believe the chance of criminal charges for BP have just increased.
• Despite the fact that fatal drilling mistakes led to one of the worst environmental disasters in our nation’s history, drilling in the Gulf of Mexico is back to pre-spill levels. Major explorations have led to new discoveries of billions of barrels of oil. Even BP is getting a piece of the proverbial oil pie as they already have deals in the works that would bring their rigs into the Gulf of Mexico. Although Gulf residents involved in the oil industry are pleased to hear the news, there is much concern about whether new regulations will be effective and how safe the drilling will be thousands of feet under water.
• And now some news from the entertainment world. I think it is fair to say that when people thinkabout music in New Orleans they think of Jazz, not hip-hop. Well, the explosive New Orleans-born rapper Lil’ Wayne, is doing everything he can to break those barriers and get NOLA hip hop on the map. Weezy released his new, highly anticipated album, Tha Carter IV, on August 29th. The album dropped with almost record-breaking numbers and sat comfortable at the Numero Uno spot on the Billboard 200 for close to three weeks! Can anyone say Cash Money?
• Six years after Katrina – where are we now? In the words of one New Orleans reporter, “Most of the work is done. But scars remain. What’s left is hard, and only getting harder.” Things that have righted the course include civic leadership, education, and soon, health care facilities. However, in a sign of failed long-term recovery, some insiders are still reporting that the city’s levees and pumps are in no better shape than they were 6 years ago.
• New growth spotted in the Louisiana wetlands! A Mississippi River sediment diversion has successfully brought new life to Lousiana’s wetlands. A tiny, newly-formed island has been found in the West Bay area. The island’s formation has been attributed to this year’s floods, which passed through the West Bay freshwater diversion. Wetland wildlife has already sprouted up on the island, and birds common in the area have used it as a breeding ground. This is a powerful example of how sediment diversion projects can help to restore the precious Louisiana wetlands.

Thanks to everyone for staying in-tune with all things Gulf Coast. It is increasingly important to keep fighting for a healthy, clean Gulf of Mexico and for peace of mind for the people who live and work in, on and around it. Remember, you can always check back with theHeadCount Blog for news updates on the Gulf Coast, elections, music and more!

When Barack Obama was elected president, many environmentalists thought "their guy" was in the White House. Three years into his presidency though, many are so disappointed in his policies, that they've taken to getting arrested just to get his attention.

In fact, 1,253 were arrested last month for "blocking the road to the White House" including environmentalist Bill McKibben and actress Daryl Hannah. Some kept vigil in front of the White House for two weeks (check out this video.) According to some, this protest was the biggest civil disobedience action since 1977 and the most sustained of efforts since those of the civil rights movement.

So what's all this about?

A motherload of oil is sitting in "Tar Sands" in Canada, and there's a proposal to build a $13 billion dollar Keystone XL pipeline to get that oil to the U.S. Because it crosses an international border, the President can decide whether or not to approve it, without having to go before Congress.

The pipeline would stretch over 1,700 miles through many US states (including my home state of South Dakota) and is more than twice the length of the Trans-Alaska system.

Critics believe the way the oil is extracted from Alberta’s tar sands is detrimental to the environment and will result in more greenhouse gas emissions per barrel of final product versus the production of conventional oil. They also say it poses a threat to the Northern High Plains Aquifer system, which supplies 30 percent of water used in the U.S. for agriculture and irrigation. The nation’s top environmental organizations - who sometimes can't agree on anything - are unified against the pipeline.

However, supporters of the pipeline and a government-issued report say if it's not built, that oil would be transported to refineries by tankers and barges if not the Keystone XL.

The final decision is set to be made by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the President by the end of the year, and the last State Department hearing will be in early October--so expect more "civil disobedience" in Phase Two, if you will. The fight is far from over.

But all indications are the pipeline will get approved. The State Department released its final environmental assessment earlier this month. The report found there would be no significant impact to the vast majority of resources along the corridor. According to the State Department’s analysis, the likelihood of potential spills is limited.

Environmentalists are not convinced. They point to the fact that The TransCanada pipeline currently running through the Upper Midwest has already experienced 14 spills since opening operations just over a year ago, including a spill in North Dakota of 21,000 gallons.

Obviously there are will be a lot of factors ultimately involved in the Obama Administration's decision whether to support this project or not. How much would this pipeline help? How much will this decision affect his re-election campaign? If he doesn't support it, does he risk being painted as anti-jobs and hurting the economy? If he does, will he further erode support among his "base"? Only time will tell but unfortunately, time is running out.

Another disaster and another media hit and run in Louisiana. Just when are they going to catch a break? I am not sure about any of you but the last time I saw a headline about the Mississippi river flooding in the coastal states was almost the last time I wrote you! Anyways, here’s the break down about, well, the breakdown in the Gulf Coast states.

• According to the ever-reliable Army Corps of Engineers,  worst of the flooding in Louisiana is over. That may be so, but it gives no mention to the towns and people devastated by opened “spillways”: the Corp’s way of fixing the problem in order to spare major metropolitan areas. It was the first time in 38 years that this has been done. This video offers some shocking insight into current U.S. flood protection and how the precious bayous of Louisiana are designed to take of the brunt of it.
• The Mississippi river floods are on track to cause even more woes for Gulf Coast residents. This year’s flooding is expected to cause one of the largest dead zones on record. A dead zone is an area of water where no life can exist, and this one is expected to be large enough to cover New Jersey and Delaware combined! Dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico have often been attributed to increased levels of nitrogen and phosphorous from farm fertilizer and animal manure. The levels of these pollutants are expected to spike with the increased runoff from farm lands. Yet another example of the delicate line between human consumption and ecological preservation.
• In a surprise move, one oil company blames another for the Gulf oil spill. Transocean, the entity that owned the blasted rig, released a report finding that BP should be held responsible entirely for the disaster. This comes following BP’s report, press campaigns and lawsuit against Transocean. Will the finger pointing ever end?
• I’d like to give a shout out to HeadCount’s friends at the Gulf Restoration Network, who have teamed up with the environmental (and musical) non-profit Reverb for the Brett Dennen Loverboy Tour. On the tour, volunteers all over the country told people about the importance of carbon reduction, the need for more clean water, and of course MORE HELP for the Gulf of Mexico! GRN also does neat stuff like educating the folks at Bonnaroo about their work and keeping the world abreast of breaking news like the appearance of a new oil sheen seen off the Louisiana coast.
• In other NOLA related news, longtime crescent city band The Radiators played one of their final gigs, a benefit concert for HeadCount at the Brooklyn Bowl on June 1st. Between the delicious fried chicken and great live music it felt like a real New Orleans party! Following the benefit concert the Radz played their final three shows at the legendary rock sanctuary Tipitina’s to a very emotional crowd. The band has been a staple on the New Orleans music scene since the late 70’s and will be missed.

Whether you are located in the Gulf or elsewhere, remember there are things you can do to draw awareness in the Gulf. Look for volunteer opportunities, organize your own Hands Across the Sand, or simply share your own comments or opinions about the Gulf Coast happenings.

As the Mississippi River rises and Gulf residents prepare for flooding, it’s a good moment to reflect on what is happening to our friends and families in the vulnerable region. It's been a year since the oil spill and recovery hasn't been easy:

• Progress and Distress – this dichotomy accurately describes the Gulf Coast at the one-year anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon disaster. It’s getting increasingly difficult to rely on the mixed messages coming from the media and the government. Some very revealing coverage came from the Gulf Restoration Network’s tour of the marshes in Plaquemines Parish; The pictures they took document the destructive clean-up process BP is using to clean the already sensitive and endangered marsh grass.
• BP announced that it's giving $16 million to fund tourism in Alabama. This year’s Hangout Festival in Gulf Shores, AL received $1.5 million to assist with advertising and promotion, and it seemed to work! The festival sold out, brining tens of thousands of tourists to the Gulf this weekend. Widespread Panic, Paul Simon, Ween and Primus are among the performers. Roughly another $4 million will be granted to various concert series planned along the Gulf shores of Alabama to boost tourism.
• Meanwhile, BP has again set off residents of the Gulf Coast by refusing a group of them access to the annual shareholders meeting held in London, including residents holding valid proxies that would have otherwise allowed them to enter. BP officials cited safety as the reason for denying entry to the individuals. The Gulf residents said that they “were treated like criminals,” with security even lowering a metal security gate to restrict the group from entering.  Many of the Gulf residents who were present said that the action was not a protest; the group only wanted to inform the BP shareholders that “all is not well in the Gulf.”
• BP has gone on the offensive against Transocean, the company that owned and operated Deepwater Horizon, filing a $49 billion lawsuit for that company’s alleged part in the spill.  This suit has only been helped by the U.S. Coast Guard, which has recently stated that the rig operation firm had a “poor safety culture” and weaknesses in its emergency training process. BP is using this report as evidence that Transocean “missed several opportunities to prevent the spill.”
• The effect of the crisis on Gulf wildlife is one of the biggest long-term concerns stemming from the event. It’s hard to forget the stories and images of 199 dead sea turtles and 86 dead baby dolphins that have washed onto Gulf shores since January. May 1st was the beginning of the sea turtle nesting season in the gulf. Scientists and environmentalists are hoping for a successful season to replenish the population of those cute little sea creatures.

Feeling like you want to get involved? I encourage my readers to send their stories or comments my way. Just because the media has turned its attention away from the distress down south does not mean that we have to.

Since my last update, residents and tourists crowded the streets to see New Orleans at its finest. check out these photos of the Zulu parade on Mardi Gras day and the Bacchus and Endymion parades, held the Sunday before Mardi Gras. But it's not always about Mardi Gras. I’ve got another update for you, touching on Jazz Fest, the oil spill recovery efforts and the latest on off-shore drilling.

• The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival kicks off this month, on April 29th, spanning two weekends. The all-star artist lineup includes: Wilco, The Strokes, Robert Plant, John Legend,The Roots, Arcade Fire, Willie Nelson, Michael Franti & Spearhead and Galactic. Jazz Fest has also announced unexpected acts like Bon Jovi, John Mellencamp and Kid Rock, additions that put the festival on a decided path toward the mainstream. This genre shift has received generally positive reactions. As an article on Nola.Com said, “To remain vital, festivals require fresh blood. For 2011, the New Orleans Jazz Fest has administered itself a full-on transfusion.” The article went on to say that the chatter on Nola.com has been upbeat. Last year, news of the BP Oil Spill and a giant black slick were just beginning to spread as Jazz Fest got underway.
• A year later, Gulf Coast residents seeking recovery claims from the BP fund are expressing extreme frustration with the process currently in place. One boat captain reported that his deck hands got up to $30,000 each, while the owner and employer of three shrimp boats got $1,000. Claims administrator Kenneth Feinberg has been called out for red tape, a lack of transparency and intentional delays. Many feel that Feinberg and the fund, along with BP, are delaying payments to spill victims in order to force them into further financial hardship with the hope they will accept a lower settlement.
• Meanwhile, The New Yorker published a lengthy article that painted a generally positive picture of the response and cleanup (this, mind you, in a magazine known for muckraking and chronicling corruption and incompetence of those in power). Author Raffi Khatchadourian said that while there was “fragmentary, anecdotal” evidence to the contrary; BP and the government led a largely successful and well-coordinated effort to “prevent a large amount of oil from hitting land.” It involved forty-seven thousand people and nearly sixty million man-hours, constituting “the largest response to an environmental disaster of this kind in the history of our country.” Then again, not everyone is ready to exonerate BP. The company is currently being investigated for possible criminal charges relating to the April 20th explosion that killed 11 men.
• Last year’s spill sparked the debate on deep sea drilling off of U.S. shores. Because of safety concerns, people across the country are divided on whether or not the practice should be allowed to continue. Even the people of the Gulf Coast differ in these opinions. The Obama administration recently expressed their opinion on the issue by approving the first deep sea drilling permit in the Gulf since the Deepwater Horizon disaster. This is good news for those in need of work along the Gulf Coast, but has also drawn criticism because - among other reasons - the well's oil spill response plan is dated 2009, not incorporating any of the harsh lessons learned last year.

I hope that all NOLA-lovers, wherever you are, raised a glass to the Big Easy during Mardi Gras! Spread the word about what's happening in the Gulf, share your stories and send anything my way that you think I should include in the next update.

Well, it’s 2011, and the Oil Spill and Katrina anniversary are now behind us. But the Gulf Coast was very much on my mind when I spent Jam Cruise with New Orleans musical greats like George Porter, Jr., Anders Osborne, Rich Vogel of Galactic and Big Sam. They were kind enough to spend some time with me talking about the challenges Louisiana faces and some potential solutions. Widespread Panic’s JoJo Herman weighed in too. You can read some of their words on the HeadCount blog. Meanwhile, it seems those in power are quickly forgetting the BP oil spill.

• In a move that surprised the Louisiana congressional delegation and other Gulf residents, President Obama chose to omit the Deepwater Horizon Disaster, the Gulf Coast and its restoration from his State of the Union address. One editorial writer notes that in the 6,826 word address, there were 184 words about the rescue of the Chilean miners, yet not a single mention about the Gulf Coast.
• Despite anything you may have heard about the oil being gone or mostly cleaned up, oil continues to damage hundreds of miles of Louisiana coastline. This is potentially bad news for the migratory birds set to arrive in the region at the end of February.
• The National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling issued its final report in January. The Commission recommended that 80% of the eventual fines and penalties be paid by BP. The report depicts an industry in complete disarray and draws attention to the need for tangible changes. It even calls out CNN reporter Anderson Cooper for his alleged snubbing of two Louisiana residents that were supposed to appear on his show.
• Just when we all thought things couldn’t get much worse for Gulf Coast advocacy, the state of Louisiana is going to lose a congressional seat due to having the slowest population growth rate over the last 10 years.
• This year’s Jazz Fest 2011 line-up covers rock, funk, gospel and more. Spring will bring the sounds of Wilco, Jeff Beck, Robert Randolph, Maceo Parker and tons of other amazing acts to New Orleans. Be sure to catch the last weekend, as the final Sunday will have a farewell to the Radiators, a Jazz Fest staple for many years.

A new year calls for a fresh start, and that’s just what the Gulf Coast residents are in need of. We have to take it upon ourselves to spark the debate and get people talking about the present state of the Gulf Coast states.

Jam Cruise photo by Brad Hodge.

After seeing the SNL digital short, I thought I knew a thing or two about being on a boat.  But Jam Cruise 9 totally opened my eyes (and ears) to the excitement behind that phrase, “I’m on a boat!”  The best part about this particular boat, aside from the fact that it’s JAM CRUISE, is that I’m sailing around the Gulf of Mexico with some of my favorite artists from the Gulf Coast: Galactic, George Porter Jr., Ivan Neville, Leo Nocentelli, Big Sam, Anders Osborne…  and the list goes on! Jam Cruise has always embraced the music of New Orleans, but this year there seemed to be a funky New Orleans beat playing at all times. I also had the chance to sit down with some of these all-time greats and get their opinions on life, politics, music and rebuilding in the Gulf Coast - topics that truly fire their passions.

George Porter Jr.: "Get Pissed Off!", Galactic’s Rich Vogel: “At Who?”

It was day one at sea on Jam Cruise 9. The energy and spirits were high. George Porter, Jr., a five-year Jam Cruise veteran, was psyched to carry his bass on his back and head from stage to stage. We caught up during some down time to talk about the crazy past year in Louisiana and how the region can move forward. When I asked him how he would describe 2010 in Louisiana, he said, “The people of Louisiana are just not pissed off enough.” He lamented that complacency is becoming a big problem in Louisiana, and serious issues are being overlooked. He quoted his mother, saying, “The squeaky wheel gets the oil.”

Galactic’s Rich Vogel agreed with George, but added that there is some confusion about who exactly to be pissed off at.  One candidate, and I’m not talking presidential, is Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. Both George and Rich referred to Jindal as a "joke" although they were not amused.  There seems to be a common feeling among the artists I spoke with that Jindal is a strong leader that showed promise in the beginning of his term, but ever since talk of Jindal running for the Oval Office started surfacing, he has forgotten about his role as the leader of Louisiana.

At least for Big Sam and Anders Osborne, Nola's Mayor Mitch Landrieu is not a candidate for getting too pissed off at.  For the most part, Mayor Landrieu is scoring high marks among the New Orleans musicians I spoke with.  Despite the stir he caused by trying to ban street performers, both Big Sam and Anders agree that positive changes have been seen coming from City Hall.  Sam even said: “He’s like a pastor of a small church.”

Big oil vs. Louisiana – Strategies for Winning the Battle

It's important to be aware of the fact that the oil industry in Louisiana isn’t going anywhere.  Most of these musicians, along with other Louisiana residents, believe that more of the royalty revenue and oil money needs to come back to the state, in order to start undoing the damage that’s been done.  “We should be getting 90% of the oil revenue back to us,”

Rich Vogel of Galatic. Photo by Chad Smith

said George.  Both he and Rich agree that the give-and-take between Louisiana and the oil industry has been largely disproportionate for decades.  However, Rich pointed out that the oil industry and the sectors built around it provide “some of the best-paying jobs we have in this poor state that does not have a very diverse economy.”

Rich, who comes from a family of engineers, likes to talk engineering. He described one of his ideas for a way to combat the damage: stage a large-scale sediment re-diversion program in the Mississippi river, essentially channeling the parts of the river where the sediment goes toward the marsh, rather than into the deep ocean.  He said it’s much better than Bobby Jindal’s “political sideshow” of a solution, which was based on the premise that creating sandbars to stop oil and erosion was good science.  According to Rich,  now what is needed is better engineering across the board, from the wetlands to the levees, to undo the bad engineering that has set New Orleans and Louisiana up for failure.

Save Our Wetlands!

The whole New Orleans gang that I sat down with – George Porter, Jr., Rich Vogel, John “Jojo” Hermann, Big Sam and Anders Osborne – spoke up about saving the wetlands. Jojo, on the boat with his Mardi Gras Band but best known for the sound of his keys with Widespread Panic, refers to the wetlands as the lifeblood of New Orleans and the entire region.  (The indigenous Nola resident wonders why it is that Jojo, who is not a Louisiana native, can see how important the wetlands are, but our own government can’t figure it out.)  George pointed out that “Tab Benoit has been out there preaching [to Washington] about the wetlands for 25-30 years.” Tab goes to the politicians and talks about fixing the Gulf – or the Gulf un-fixing Louisiana – “but nobody listens to him.”

Despite the fact that the Saints were struggling through their first-round playoff game during our interview, Anders spoke passionately about his work with Tab Benoit and the Voice of the Wetlands organization. He and the others involved are trying to present a real “face of saving the wetlands in Louisiana.” The All-Stars do everything from tour the country playing great tunes to touring the marshes from the sky, all while filming and making commentary on the erosion. Anders is hoping for the Gulf to "find alternative resources…  Be more progressive.”

Not everyone understands the impact the oil has had and will continue to have on the Gulf ecosystem. Even though Rich 'fessed up to eating a shrimp po-boy from his corner store every once in a while, he said that he and his family have been more cautious about the seafood they eat. He said that it is important for people not to forget about the spill just because most of the oil is visibly gone. “Just because you can’t see the oil in the water doesn’t mean the water is right.” He spoke strongly about the importance of “monitoring the next couple of generations of seafood that will tell a lot about the story.”

Talking Katrina with Big Sam

Despite a long struggle in the years after Katrina, Big Sam still loves his city. He re-affirmed the story we've heard countless times: after the disaster, many musicians were out of work and had to relocate, sometimes making huge sacrifices to get gigs. “There were no gigs and nobody had any kind of income coming in. Unless you were an established band already on tour, you didn’t have any shows in New Orleans.”

Despite the fact that many have returned, some still feel kicked out or left behind by Louisiana. George attributes this to the fact that “The federal government came down and took almost 98,000 people out of New Orleans and shipped them all over the US and Canada.” According to Sam, “The prices are outrageous for apartments”; this leads to “people that want to come back that can’t, because they can’t afford it.”  As a matter of fact, the state is set to lose an advocate in the form of a congressional seat next term due to population loss.  George Porter and some of the other musicians see this sad fact as a step in the wrong direction in terms of bringing needed attention to the problems endured by the Gulf States.  As for the government's perspective on the relocated citizens?  “The idea of letting those people come back home was never there.” This is hard to hear from someone so closely connected to the city.

Musical Inspiration

On a much lighter note, Jojo Hermann was a blast to talk with.  The story of his side project gets down to the roots of New Orleans music.  “Somebody gave me a record by Professor Longhair and said, ‘You should listen to this!'” he says. After spending many years in New York learning the piano by listening to Doors records, he heard the Professor and dug the sound so much that he put together a side project almost completely dedicated to the Professor.  One of the greatest parts about it was that Jojo was able to hook up with Alfred “Uganda” Roberts, who started out playing with Professor Longhair, and who “really invented all those Afro-Cuban sounds.”

Big Sam’s musical journey is almost the exact opposite. New Orleans born and bred, he started fresh out of high school with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and had his life changed by an experience with Widespread Panic. “Who is Widespread Panic? Why are we playing to a big empty field?” he asked himself, during one of Dirty Dozen’s many dates opening for Panic. But later, Sam said, when 20,000 fans showed up, he realized the true power of music. Karl Denson and Tiny Universe also inspired him and even gave him the spark for the name of his band, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, which Karl’s drummer has described as “us on steroids.”  As always, Jam Cruise is a place where younger generations inspired by the older generations all share the same same stage.

What's Next?

So, what’s next musically from our friends in New Orleans?  Well, George is going to “boldly go where no man has gone before,” with Bill Kreutzman and the rest of the 7 Walkers, while Galactic is going to get down with the versatile vocal cords of Cory Glover, best known for his time as the front man for Living Colour (Rich Vogel describes him as a “bad dude." -- Nuff said).  Jojo Hermann was excited to talk about his work with the New Orleans Musicians Clinic. He, among many others, will be at Down on the Bayou again this year promoting that organization.  We can also look forward to the Widespread Panic 25th anniversary shows in Athens and Atlanta, Georgia next month.  Big Sam is going to keep his nation funky with more tour dates.  Anders, along with a very exciting west coast run with the Voice of the Wetlands All-stars, will be producing some other albums and will be heading back into the studio to record a new album that we can look out for in 2012.

Enjoying Jam Cruise with these musicians – as a fan, and as HeadCount’s Gulf Coast Recovery Issues Editor - was a once-in-a-lifetime event.  But here’s hoping that Jam Cruise continues to be an annual celebration of progress in the Gulf.

Pictures from the top:

George Porter, Jr. -- Photo by Michael Weintrob

Rich Vogel -- Photo by Chad Smith

Anders Osborne -- Photo by Dave Vann

Big Sam -- Photo by Dave Vann

Jojo Hermann -- Photo by Dave Vann

Where I can, I try to report on the positive things happening in the Gulf. But after my last update, I got a little wakeup call from Galactic guitarist Jeff Raines. He wrote in an e-mail…

Hey Whitney,

That all sounds great but in reality oil continues to wash ashore around Venice almost everyday. I happened to run into a excharter boat Captain last night who now is working for BP and he painted a gloomy picture of how things are looking down there. He said under no circumstances would he himself eat any seafood coming out of the gulf right now especially from the areas south of Louisiana. He said the tide comes up and when it recedes all the marine life like hermit crabs and the like are dead. There seems to be this perception that the oil has magically disappeared while in reality that is simply not the case.

Jeff Raines

I thank Jeff for his enlightening candor, and I welcome this sort of feedback from any reader. If you have observations of your own or come upon any interesting articles or videos on the Web, please send them my way at WhitneyD@HeadCount.org.

Jeff’s email also points to the fact that recovery in the Gulf is a slow process obscured by corporate, media and government spin. Here are some recent developments that – together – paint a picture of a region slowly overcoming great obstacles.

• In an effort to increase good spirits around the region, another concert series has been planned as a follow-up to this past summer’s musical festivities. This winter, Orange Beach, Ala. will host a series of gospel concerts with groups from around the nation.
• As the investigation continues in search for the cause of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, NPR and ABC’s Dateline took a submarine journey to the sea floor in the immediate vicinity of blown well. Their reports paint a picture of a lifeless sea floor covered in a slick of oil. As the NRDC summed up on their blog, “Dead coral looked like it had a frosting of petro-slime.” A lovely image indeed.
• If you don’t have immediate access to a submarine and are still confused about the state of the Gulf, and especially the health of the seafood coming from it, you are not alone. Many people have differing opinions on particular issue. While the U.S. Armed Forces are being urged to consume as much seafood as possible, people who live in the region are urging just the opposite. Fishermen are also questioning the safety of the seafood from the Gulf and the future health of their families and business.
• Gulf Coast representatives have been making waves in Washington. The Oil Spill Response Bill, currently before the Senate, is meant to hold BP fully accountable for all losses related to the spill while also urging increased focus on clean energy and an overall reform of offshore drilling safeguards. However, the change in control of the House of Representatives could pose challenges for getting this bill passed.
• Major online search engine Yahoo! revealed that the most searched story in 2010 was the Gulf Coast oil spill.  It’s good to know that folks gave more attention to the oil spill than to celebrities, who dominate the rest of the Top 10 list.

Just to leave you with some Holiday cheer, I’ll close with this… In a touching story published just after Thanksgiving, a family separated during Katrina re-united after five years. Just about to give up hope, community leaders in Detroit helped lead Jeremiah Thomas back to his mother and grandmother. The never-give-up mentality of the Gulf region has never been better exemplified.