Less than a full day into the new relaxed restrictions of Phase III and big things are starting to happen for bands.
The local band The Top Cats are enjoying a renaissance with fresh bookings, according to drummer Robert Schulte.
“It was very exciting to receive an email yesterday saying ‘hey y’all ready to come back?’” Schulte says. “And it was like ‘oh my God, this is the biggest news since Covid started for us!’”
The band is getting phone calls and bookings to play wedding receptions, Mardi Gras balls and even New Year’s Eve at the Riverfront Ballroom at Jax Brewery. The renewed spirit is a sign the worst of the pandemic may be behind us.
“All of our weddings that we postponed since March to now, there’s about 30 of them, are all rebooked for the coming year into 2022!” Schulte says.
Schulte says the band shut down a year ago like a light switch turning off. Now calls are coming in for gigs and performances that are breathing new life in the quartet.
Meanwhile local venues in parishes around New Orleans are bringing back live music. Even with New Orleans still in a modified Phase II, people are contacting bands about playing down the road in Jefferson Parish, or even a little later in the year.
“I can feel it already, supply and demand,” Schulte says enthusiastically. “It’s pretty exciting we’re gonna be going back at it!”
Among them is the SouthPort Hall, which is featuring an outdoor performance by a band Wednesday night, the first night under the new Phase III relaxed restrictions signed into law by Governor John Bel Edwards on Tuesday.
“The news from the Governor, moving to Phase III, New Orleans is still waiting to hear, but we feel it’s going to be coming along very soon,” according to Schulte.
For musicians, singers, and bands it's been a long cold season in New Orleans and Louisiana.
But with the state moving into Phase III, all things music is coming back to life.
Schulte talked about getting back up to speed with regard to booking shows and performances, “It takes time to get production and booking and things all in line,” he says. “And with marketing and promotion to make things happen for this coming summer and I think by fall—we’re back in full swing!”
