I heard a guy on the radio who had managed to make it to Lafayette. The deejay mentioned Fats Domino. The guy said that most land lines and cellphones in NOLA aren't working so contact in or out was very difficult. Don't assume that no news is bad news was his point. If Alex Chilton hasn't been able to make it to the Superdome or some other refugee center it could be that he just hasn't found a way to get a message out. At least I hope that's the case.

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Just got this press release:

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Everyone knows that a huge part of New Orleans' culture is its music. But how can this be preserved so that it will be ready when the city rebuilds? A group of Houston musicians led by prominent pianist Paul English, vocalists Gigi Hill and Tianna Hall, Johan Keus and others have formed a group called "NOAH" (New Orleans and Houston) whose mission is to reach out and support the displaced New Orleans musicians by providing them with housing, venues in which to perform, instrument replacement, etc. The project is named: SHONOF (pronounced "sho'nuff": Safe Harbor for Our New Orleans Friends).

Primary goals are:

• To contact New Orleans musicians, wherever they are, and let them
know there is a support group in Houston ready to help them, provide housing, get gigs, etc.
1. To line up apartments, rooms, etc. for these people to live in until they can get on their feet.
2. To organize an instrument clearing house whereby the musicians can get access to needed instruments in order to perform and make a living.
3. To urge local venues -- clubs, restaurants, hotels, etc. -- to expand their use of live musicians.
4. To organize and hold benefit concerts featuring the New Orleans musicians, supplemented by the best of Houston musicians, to raise money to help the musicians and the project.
5. To share their current gigs with the New Orleans musicians, either by adding a player or two to their performing group or by relinquishing an entire gig.

While several government agencies and aid groups are focused on the thousands of people at the Astrodome and elsewhere, this important segment is largely ignored. It is NOAH's aim to not only help from a humanitarian standpoint, but to preserve an important part of the New Orleans culture and music scene.

The concept, barely two days old, has started catching on like wildfire. MSNBC has already contacted them, but more publicity is needed. A few musicians from New Orleans have landed in Houston but hundreds more have likely scattered and may welcome a chance to come together in a more cohesive environment. Besides, it makes for a very interesting story in the midst of this monumental tragedy.

Gigi Hill may be contacted on (713) 503-3518, gigi@noahleans.org. Their new website is www.noahleans.org

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I subscribe to some archival listservs, and I know there was talk about some musuems being flooded, including one with a significant Jazz and Blues artifacts collection. People were going to try get permission and go in and salvage what they can.

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New topic: Bands whose sound is so ubiquitous that even if you'd never heard the song before you know who performed it.

And my first offering: Sleater-Kinney.

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REM

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Steely Dan.

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And my first offering: Sleater-Kinney.

I have no idea what they sound like. AFAIK, the only song of theirs I've ever heard that I'm aware of was one on Lyra Jane's Buffista frankenmix CD, and it's been awhile, so I don't remember it.

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I was going to say the Rolling Stones but there are so many imitators I'm not sure it's really safe to say that.

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Dire Straits, maybe, because Knopfler's guitar style is so distinctive. And I agree about Steely Dan.

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Bands whose sound is so ubiquitous that even if you'd never heard the song before you know who performed it.

If you mean distinctive, and not ubiquitous, there are a few prolific indie bands that I can always ID by the guitar sound: Greg Sage of The Wipers and Nick Saloman of The Bevis Frond come immediately to mind. Even when Nick helped Mary Lou Lord on her album with Sony, his guitar sound stood out.

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