Louisiana Music Factory's 15th Anniversary

[Orleansnj]

For those of you who do shop there and don't - Louisiana Music Factory (http://www.louisianamusicfactory.com) is THE place, in my opinion, to get your new orleans music and a whole lot more.

I think they are one of the best community supporters of the fest and all that goes with it - they have ROCKIN' in store performances that are free - they always have great music on hand - and they are so so so very nice if you need to call them and buy some stuff .....ALWAYS.

At any rate, they are celebrating their 15th anniversary on March 3, 2007 from 1:00 - 6:00 pm with some performances and a little sale.....

Deacon John, 1 p.m.
Little Freddy King, 2 p.m.
New Birth Brass Band, 3 p.m.
John Mooney, 4 p.m.
Kermit Ruffins, 5 p.m.

I would say, if anyone has a wish list of music - why not try to celebrate with them and show local business support by shopping on-line or by phone that morning ...(it's gonna be loud and hard to hear during the performances) and fulfill some of that list????;)

[Jordan]

A brilliant suggestion! I buy most of my music there and will do so on line for the anniversary. I also started a personal tradition that I highly recommend. Each year at jazzfest I go there, tell them what I'm into and ask for a recommendation of a good local act and buy it without listening to it. I've gotten some gems that way, that I never would have discovered otherwise (Rhudabega, Mulebone, etc). I figure, what's the worst that could happen, I put a little money into a local band's pocket, help a great local community business and have a small possibility of not liking the CD. Give it a try.

[Orleansnj]

Brilliant - no one has ever accused me of that ! HA HA HA HA.....

seriously - I have this THING about supporting local business -no matter where you live....you gotta support local business so that you can always have a choice in what you want.

Besides, when it comes to music - let's just say that the major retailers kinda screwed the city (ahem, Virgin - like their pockets weren't deep enough?????)....Tower did stay - and we like 'em for that - but my money is always going home grown when it can.

[ohio]

For those of you who do shop there and don't - Louisiana Music Factory (http://www.louisianamusicfactory.com) is THE place, in my opinion, to get your new orleans music and a whole lot more.

I think they are one of the best community supporters of the fest and all that goes with it - they have ROCKIN' in store performances that are free - they always have great music on hand - and they are so so so very nice if you need to call them and buy some stuff .....ALWAYS.

At any rate, they are celebrating their 15th anniversary on March 3, 2007 from 1:00 - 6:00 pm with some performances and a little sale.....

Deacon John, 1 p.m.
Little Freddy King, 2 p.m.
New Birth Brass Band, 3 p.m.
John Mooney, 4 p.m.
Kermit Ruffins, 5 p.m.

I would say, if anyone has a wish list of music - why not try to celebrate with them and show local business support by shopping on-line or by phone that morning ...(it's gonna be loud and hard to hear during the performances) and fulfill some of that list????;)The Threadheads are huge supporters of LMF! They used to give us a Threadhead discount in fact. Not sure if that is still true or not....?
Support your local retailers, screw Walmart!

[Orleansnj]

hee hee hee.....

Well, even if the threadheads don't get a discount - all WWOZ supporters get a discount too !! how cool is that? first you get a brass pass, then you get some other cool things (like a cd and a hoodie or fleece - which was nice) and then discounts !!!

even if there wasn't a discount - i'd shop there forever. those guys and gals sure do know their music - and as already said above - i've stumbled on some interesting stuff with their recommendations.

[funkkjunkie]

I just haven't had the heart to ask for either discount since the Thing.

[Orleansnj]

me either.....I just thought it was me.....

besides, I now live in the East (ugh) and I'm so used to paying obscene amounts of money for anything I just cannot justify asking for a discount when things are priced reasonably as the normal course of business....

[swag]

LMF is only 15 years old? I'm astounded. I always assumed they had been around since the 60's, at least.

[ScoopJohnD]

me either.....I just thought it was me.....

besides, I now live in the East (ugh)

Ahem..........

[grisgris]

I just act stupid & buy, buy, buy. I love walkin out of LMF with the LARGE bag. Never show the WWOZ card or ask for the Threadhead discount.
Long live LMF, the best store in the world.

[ScoopJohnD]

It is one great store!!

[mightyradgumbo]

I just act stupid & buy, buy, buy. I love walkin out of LMF with the LARGE bag. Never show the WWOZ card or ask for the Threadhead discount.
Long live LMF, the best store in the world.

YYR, Mel-I have the 'OZ card as well and never even think about to present it-too caught up in the great music I am buying I guess-Happy Anniversary, LMF Heres to the next 15 and beyond!:D

[Zydekitten]

YYR, Mel-I have the 'OZ card as well and never even think about to present it-too caught up in the great music I am buying I guess-Happy Anniversary, LMF Heres to the next 15 and beyond!:D

I'm wit chu guys . . . I just buy stuff and never even think about using the OZ card (I didn't even know there was a Threadhead discount - duh).

Very Happy Anniversary, LMF!!!

May you have many, many more (hopefully with us T-heads there)!!! :)

[NYMAMA]

LMF also has many cool tee shirts besides the music.I always buy both on line from them.

[NeenAtlanta]

LMF is only 15 years old? I'm astounded. I always assumed they had been around since the 60's, at least.

The shop I remember from pre-LMF was The Metronome. I can't remember where it was located, but every time I came to town, we went there to stock up on local vinyl.

[freebo]

The LMF was started by Jerry Brock, who also started WWOZ...

Here's a Gambit on line article from 5 years ago (2002):

It started with an unlikely partnership and an untested vision. When former petroleum engineer Barry Smith and community radio station impresario Jerry Brock joined forces 10 years ago to open Louisiana Music Factory, a retail record store focusing on Louisiana music, even their friends raised eyebrows over the new venture.

"We started with a very small private loan," remembers Smith, "and people close to us were skeptical that there wasn't enough business to go around, with Tower Records and the other established stores in the area."

A decade later, Louisiana Music Factory (210 Decatur St., 586-1094) now stands as one of the most respected independent record stores in the country, and a vital hub for the New Orleans and Louisiana music community. It stocks an unparalleled inventory of CDs and vinyl featuring indigenous music and local artists. Its Saturday afternoon live music in-store performances are a French Quarter mainstay. And that tradition hits new heights during the French Quarter Festival and Jazz Fest, when Louisiana Music Factory boasts a packed live performance schedule that helps turn the store into a mecca for music-hungry visitors.

To celebrate the store's 10th anniversary, a full lineup of stellar local talent is playing at Louisiana Music Factory this Saturday, Feb. 23. John Sinclair performs at 1 p.m.; Treme Brass Band hits at 2 p.m.; Anders Osborne takes the stage at 3 p.m.; Kermit Ruffins cooks at 4 p.m.; and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown caps the festivities with a set beginning at 5 p.m. If the event is anything like the store's joyous fifth anniversary celebration -- marked by an intimate, exuberant performance by Dave Bartholomew -- it'll be a day to remember. There will be one small change for the celebration, however; because of the anticipated crowd, Louisiana Music Factory won't be able to offer its standard complimentary Abita beer during the live music; instead Old Toons bar across the street has agreed to sell $1 Abita drafts. Smith never imagined having to make exceptions for overflow crowds in Louisiana Music Factory's infancy.

"It's beyond what I ever imagined," he says. "We spent a lot more time and money than originally expected getting the original store (located at 225 N. Peters St.) ready, and by the time we got through those expenses, we didn't have a lot to invest in inventory."

Louisiana Music Factory's early stock consisted only of two long CD bins -- with the CDs spread out as much as possible to make the bins appear full. As a fledgling enterprise, it faced the challenges of being a small, unproven business. "It was definitely a process of getting people to take you seriously," says Smith. "We were brand new, and for the initial orders, everybody wanted money up front, and all orders were C.O.D. It took a few months for people to even put us on their credit line. And it took several years before we started getting respect from record labels, as far as giving us advertising and promotional materials."

What the store lacked in established contacts, its owners made up for in knowledge, passion and determination. Louisiana music expert Brock was the co-founder of 90.7 WWOZ radio, and after leaving his petroleum engineer position, Smith worked for Tipitina's former booking agency and earned his master's degree in business from Loyola University. (Brock and Smith met while both were working at former retailer Record Ron's shop.) Their dedication paid off with steady growth and the encouragement of early supporters like Danny Barker, and led to the store's relocation to a much larger space in 1997. Musicians took note of Louisiana Music Factory's growing role in the music community, and now local artists frequently call Smith to play in-store performances.

"I'm flattered by the number of people who've played the store," he says. "The level of talent and names is pretty amazing, and it's hard to narrow down some of the incredible shows that we've had. It's always great to have Snooks (Eaglin) and Gatemouth, especially when they're doing the intimate solo sets that you wouldn't see when they play the clubs. The Wild Magnolias in full Mardi Gras Indian suits in the store was great. The Radiators played last year, too."

The store's reputation has also sparked visits from national musicians eager to sample local sounds. "Little Jimmy Scott came through last year, and that was quite an honor," says Smith. "David Byrne always comes in while he's in town, and Robert Plant and Jimmy Page have come in a couple of times -- once because they heard Snooks was playing."

Smith is now the sole owner of Louisiana Music Factory -- Grammy-award winning producer Brock left last year to pursue other opportunities -- and he looks forward to the challenges and rewards of the store's second decade. "I'd love to see the store keep growing," he says. "I plan on stocking an even bigger and deeper collection of R&B, jazz and soul."

[Orleansnj]

Ahem..........

I was born on this side of the country - but you gotta admit - that once you've been to New Orleans - that really is the BEST place on the face o-the-earth...
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t281/orleansnj/wickedwitch.jpg


BTW - don't want people to forget about the LMF bash next week - and hope we can all support them....

[MormonMatthew]

I just saw this thread, and looked down and noticed that I am wearing my Louisiana Music Factory T shirt...... Love the store, and the helpful folks that work there. Does anyone remember the old daze, when during the in-store performances they would have a keg of Abita in the corner and give beers away with reckless abandon? A music store, having great live music, with complementary beer?!?! Gottaluvit!!!

[Orleansnj]

hmmmm........don't remember that - I wonder why? now - across the street is a little dive bar down the way - (at the corner ) and they do two dollar' drafts when there are performances at the LMF - it's about as close to free as it gets....and they serve ABITA !!!!!
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t281/orleansnj/AbitaAmber.jpg

[MormonMatthew]

Hey Now Orleansnj I think the bar is called O'tooles, and yeah, the 2 dollar Abitas are always a nice addition to the In-store shows. Love the Louisiana Music Factory!!! Matthew

[ibjamn]

We had a nice little crowd going in Ol Toones on Lundi Gras after the Zulu fest on the river; corona, funkkjunkie, da potters, Juls & Charlie, Bethesdaboy & Girl, HockeyTom & Joy, the jamns. We were drinking something corona made up that was mandarin orange vodka and something else; so tasty I was eating hot peanuts, shell & all! ;)

[stlbarb]

Hey Now Orleansnj I think the bar is called O'tooles, and yeah, the 2 dollar Abitas are always a nice addition to the In-store shows. Love the Louisiana Music Factory!!! Matthew

air conditioned & flush toilets. its a regular old tavern. i think they have pickled food in big jars.
it rocks.

[Orleansnj]

Hey Now Orleansnj I think the bar is called O'tooles, and yeah, the 2 dollar Abitas are always a nice addition to the In-store shows. Love the Louisiana Music Factory!!! Matthew

Yeah - I think that's it. I hate to admit - I don't think I knew what it was called....how can one forget the name of a place serving $2 draft Abita that's good and cold and might I add - they serve a FULL to go cup.

[Orleansnj]

I'm repeating my earlier post because this happens TOMORROW !!!!

For those of you who do shop there and don't - Louisiana Music Factory (http://www.louisianamusicfactory.com)is THE place, in my opinion, to get your new orleans music and a whole lot more.

I think they are one of the best community supporters of the fest and all that goes with it - they have ROCKIN' in store performances that are free - they always have great music on hand - and they are so so so very nice if you need to call them and buy some stuff .....ALWAYS.

At any rate, they are celebrating their 15th anniversary on March 3, 2007 from 1:00 - 6:00 pm with some performances and a little sale.....

Deacon John, 1 p.m.
Little Freddy King, 2 p.m.
New Birth Brass Band, 3 p.m.
John Mooney, 4 p.m.
Kermit Ruffins, 5 p.m.

I would say, if anyone has a wish list of music - why not try to celebrate with them and show local business support by shopping on-line or by phone that morning ...(it's gonna be loud and hard to hear during the performances) and fulfill some of that list????

[chrisjoseph]

There's another thread with an article on LMF from today's Times-Picayune

[Orleansnj]

Didn't see it when I did the search for new posts this morning - that's werid - (wonder why that happened?) it's a GREAT article.

[funkkjunkie]

orleansnj, i think sometimes if new posts occur while we are on the forum, we don't see them. I've noticed the last couple times i've logged on that if i scroll up on a thread, there are sometimes posts i haven't read that aren't marked new. Hmmmm?

[NeenAtlanta]

I've had some problems with that too. If I come to the forum, threads are in bold that have new items in them. I read some of them. Then for some reason I have to log out (work). Then when I come back, the ones that I didn't read are no longer bolded, even though I never read them. So now I've been trying to keep track of what time I was on the board, so when I go back and can find threads with posts after that time.

A bit of a pain.

[Orleansnj]

For those of you who do shop there and don't - Louisiana Music Factory is THE place, in my opinion, to get your new orleans music and a whole lot more.

I think they are one of the best community supporters of the fest and all that goes with it - they have ROCKIN' in store performances that are free - they always have great music on hand - and they are so so so very nice if you need to call them and buy some stuff .....ALWAYS.

At any rate, they are celebrating their 15th anniversary on March 3, 2007 from 1:00 - 6:00 pm with some performances....

Deacon John, 1 p.m.
Little Freddy King, 2 p.m.
New Birth Brass Band, 3 p.m.
John Mooney, 4 p.m.
Kermit Ruffins, 5 p.m.

I would say, if anyone has a wish list of music - why not try to celebrate with them and show local business support by shopping on-line or by phone that morning ...(it's gonna be loud and hard to hear during the performances) and fulfill some of that list???? The number is 504-586-1094.

Their website is http://www.louisianamusicfactory.com

[Carolina Beadhead]

For those of you who do shop there and don't - Louisiana Music Factory is THE place, in my opinion, to get your new orleans music and a whole lot more.

I think they are one of the best community supporters of the fest and all that goes with it - they have ROCKIN' in store performances that are free - they always have great music on hand - and they are so so so very nice if you need to call them and buy some stuff .....ALWAYS.

At any rate, they are celebrating their 15th anniversary on March 3, 2007 from 1:00 - 6:00 pm with some performances....

Deacon John, 1 p.m.
Little Freddy King, 2 p.m.
New Birth Brass Band, 3 p.m.
John Mooney, 4 p.m.
Kermit Ruffins, 5 p.m.

I would say, if anyone has a wish list of music - why not try to celebrate with them and show local business support by shopping on-line or by phone that morning ...(it's gonna be loud and hard to hear during the performances) and fulfill some of that list???? The number is 504-586-1094.

Their website is http://www.louisianamusicfactory.com

At the very least, a note of appreciation is warranted, I think:

http://www.louisianamusicfactory.com/contact.asp

[katowoman]

I was a LMF newbie before Saturday, and this anniversary event was a great surprise! I loved rocking out to one of my favs New Birth Brass Band. Were any of you guys there?

Check out some of my photos at http://picasaweb.google.com/katowoman/NewBirthBrassBandAtTheMusicFactory

[NeenAtlanta]

Those are some wonderful photos, Kato.
It is a venue that is difficult to photograph - you did a great job.

[NOLA]

I was a LMF newbie before Saturday, and this anniversary event was a great surprise! I loved rocking out to one of my favs New Birth Brass Band. Were any of you guys there?

Check out some of my photos at http://picasaweb.google.com/katowoman/NewBirthBrassBandAtTheMusicFactory

Kato, I was there for the first three acts. Deacon John was great, especially once he shifted over to electric guitar. Little Freddie King was on, and New Birth sounded strong as well. I was in and out, back and forth to Ol' Toones for Abitas, hanging outside on the sidewalk, venturing back inside occasionally but man, it was crowded in there. Nobody could get to the merchandise to take advantage of the 20% off deal!

[Amyloves...]

I think Seefood/Ms. Seebass was supposed to be there. It pained me to miss it, but I had parental oblamagations.

[katowoman]

Yay, I was sharing space with Threadhead NOLA! I knew there was a special cool vibe to the place. I wish could have stayed for more, but I left with my friend to hook up with my husband and daughter to romp around the city. ;) It's great that you were there for more of the bands.

Neen, thanks for checking out the photos. I'm glad that I didn't bop the people around me with my camera. LOL

Amy, I can't wait to use the word "oblamagations". :)

[Cleophus]

Great photos Katowoman! I especially love the one of the streetcar, and the driver flashing the peace sign.

I didn't know tht Corey henry was playing with New Birth now.

[bluedog]

coolpics! Seeing pics of places in NOLA only makes wish to get there faster! My virgin eyes are thirsting for more! I'm already hooked and never even been to feel the "real" vibe that's there. Can't wait!

eta: Kato I was lurking at your blog spot ... what an awesome thing to do visiting your local Fema City every week. Great story! It must make your heart bigger and bigger each time you go.