WHEREWILDTHINGSARE
Families shopped for pumpkins
Going‘One on One’ with rock legend John Oates
If you’re looking forGeneration X, your search stops with me.
Wild Things, held each October at BayouLacombe Center,isone of the biggest public outreach efforts stagedbythe U.S. Fish &Wildlife Service annually Several thousand people flock to Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges headquarters in Lacombeeach year to enjoy dozens of family-friendly activities that spill acrossthe 110-acre property.The festival often offers the first bit of cooler autumn weather, too, and Oct. 12 was no exception. Organized by the Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges,Inc.group, the fundraising armfor local serviceefforts,Wild Thingsisa recreational andeducational experience for everyone.Dozens of exhibitors educate about wildlife conservation, and there areliveanimals,boat and canoe tours,a youth wildlife artexhibition, livemusic, tasty food and much moretosatisfy all sorts.
atthe First United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch in Slidell onOct. 5. Sales from the patch support the church’smission work and will continuedaily through the end of the month. The pumpkin patch opening was part of the 11th annual OldeTownePumpkin Festival, which featured games, activities, pony rides, apettingzoo, pumpkin chunkin’, inflatables andmore. It was also
fundraiser for RainbowChildcare.
Andrew Canulette
ANDREW’S ANGLE
Big hair,Swatch watches, John Hughes movies, the mall, NewCoke —all that was an integral part of my formative years. Well, all except New Coke. That was afriggin’ mistake and no one my age is quite over it. Sociologists somewhere call us the MTV Generation and that’s about as accurate adescription as I’ve found. As memoryserves, cable television came to St. TammanyParish sometimein1981 and that happens to be the sameyear Music Television (MTV) went on the air —Aug. 1, 1981, to be exact. MTV changed the way we kids (now 50-somethings) saw the world. Artists such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, Duran Duran, George Michael and Culture Club influenced our dress, our tastes and our attitudes.
Part of the MTV smorgasbord was a healthy helping of Oates. Yeah, maybe the Quaker variety forbreakfast, too, but morespecifically,I’m talking John Oates. He and his longtimemusical
Racesfor president, U.S. representative,more
BY ANDREWCANULETTE
Staff writer
ä See sample ballot. PAGE 4G
Early voting for the Nov.5presidential election will begin Oct. 18 andcontinue throughOct.29, with polls closed on Sundays (Oct. 20 andOct. 27).Votes can be castfrom 8:30 a.m. to 6p.m. during the early-voting period. In addition to theracefor president, St. TammanyParish voters will choose the District 1representative in the U.S. House. Voters across Louisiana also will decide on an amendment to the State Constitution that would require federal revenue received by the state from outer continental shelf alternative or renewable energy production be used for coastal protection and restoration projects. Voters who reside within Abita Springs’ townlimits will choose amember of its Town Council to replace Lynne Congemi, who diedinJanuary.Congemi’sterm ends in 2026, and three candidates seek to fill the remainder of her term
ä See EARLY, page 4
THRELKELD
choice forthe perfect pumpkinatthe
Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch in Slidell on Oct. 5.
PumpkinSpice makes the rounds at thepumpkin
PHOTOSBYGRANT THERKILDSEN
Jaxson David touches arare Louisiana pine snakeatthe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’sWild Things festival on Oct. 12 at the Bayou Lacombe Center
Anna and Grace Morrowbuild abirdfeeder at Wild Things.
Casen Seippel checks out the freshly painted bluebird art.
CANULETTE
Continued from page1A
partner Daryl Hallwereapower pop duo that rose to superstardom in the late 1970s,and they didn’t need MTV’shelp to get there, either. But the “Blue Eyed Soul” they served to the masses, not to mention their quirky videos and handsomelooks, made them anatural fit for MTV.And not surprisingly, the new medium helpedlaunch the Philadelphia duo into the stratosphere. Between 1974 and 1991, Hall & Oates amassed an astonishing 29
Top40hits, with six of those songs reaching No. 1inAmerica —“Rich Girl,” “Kiss on My List,” “Private Eyes,” “I Can’tGo For That (No Can Do),”“Maneater” and “Out of Touch.” By the time the guys had a fallingout last year and vowed to never play together again, they’d alreadyachievedheightsseldom seeninthe history of rock ‘n’roll. Both men are members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fameand the Songwriters Hall of Fame. They have astar on the Hollywood Walk ofFame, have sold nearly 100 million albums and are the most commercially successful duo in rock history That’sthe headiest of territories, friends.
Q&A WITH JOHN OATES
And now,John Oatesisbringing his part of the legacy to Covington. Sure, he’splayed gigs in New Orleans adozen times before and has nothing but fond memories of the time spent on stage in the Crescent City —from shows in the Superdome to Jazz Fest, to infamous (but long gone) clubs like The Warehouse on Tchoupitoulas and Ole Man Rivers on the West Bank. Oates is the headline act of this year’sOzone Songwriter Festival, which itself has continued to grow in size and scale since it was formed afew years ago.
An Evening of Songs and Storytelling with John Oates will take place Oct. 25 at Fuhrmann Auditorium and tickets are on sale
at ozonemusic.org. Thefestival continues with more than 100 other fantastic singer/songwriters performing on stages at and around the Covington Trailhead on Oct. 2627. And while they might notpack the legacy of aJohnOates, some of them could very well be superstars in their own right someday
It’sall for agood cause —to highlight local and regional music talent, but also with proceeds benefiting musiceducation programs that guide younger players in their craft.
Suffice to say,thismusicfan will be there —eyes wide and ears open. Where else?
Ihad the opportunity to interview John Oates earlier in the month and
he was gracious enough to spend more than half an hour with me. We talked aboutthe beginning of his almost unreal journey in the music industry and how New Orleans’ music has influenced his own sound. We also talked about some of those groovy outfits he sported in those MTV videos that Igrew up watching and, of course, the songs that have provided asoundtrack for nearly 60 years of popular music.
It was a“One on One” for the ages, at least for this unapologetic fan.
Email Andrew Canulette at acanulette@sttammanyfarmer net
Rocker is excitedagain abouthis music’spath
Following are excerpts edited for clarity and brevity from an interview held Oct. 9between legendary musician and songwriter John Oates andSt. Tammany Farmer Editor Andrew Canulette. Oates is headlining this year’s Ozone Songwriter Festival with aperformance at Covington’s Fuhrmann Auditorium. For more information and tickets, go online to ozonemusic.org.
FARMER: How’d you findout about theOzone Songwriter Fest? Do you know (Slidell native, Nashville resident and festival founder) Greg Barnhill? Did he talk you into coming down to perform?
OATES: We met and he’sbeentrying to get me down there for abit. I’mlooking forwardtoit. It sounds like agreat event. The showI’m doing is an evening of songs and stories, so it fits perfectly with what’she’sdoing. I’ve got agreat acoustic quartet Ibring with me, just some amazing musicians.
FARMER: This has to be thefirst time you will have played onthe northshore, but Itook alookat your extensive touring history and you have played in New Orleans a bunch of times. Do you remember the first time you playedhere?
OATES: When Daryl and Ifirst started out in the 1970s, we had these regional pockets of popularity.The Northeast where we’re from was one of them. Then, wehad apocket in the Portland, Oregon, area. Athird wasinLouisiana, and notnecessarilyNew Orleans. We played Thibodaux, we played NSU in Natchitoches.
FARMER: Well, there certainly is along tradition of nationalacts playing Louisiana college towns, but Idid my research and seethe first time you actuallyplayed in NewOrleans was on Nov.6,1977 at aplace called The Warehouse.It washugely popular
OATES: Iremember EricCarmen openingfor us, and he only did a few shows and then he went home. It was aweird deal.Idon’t know If he didn’twant to open for us or if he just packed it in because he didn’twant to be on the road. Then later on, Iremember playing Tipitina’s, of course. Then some bigger shows as timewent on in the ’80s when we gotmuch bigger.Played Jazz Fest. I’ve played Preservation Hall, satin with those guys.
FARMER: And then in the Superdome, at least once. It wasfor the (Endymion Extravaganza in 1989).
OATES: Oh, man. That was anight! It was super cold and we rode on the float the whole way anditwas rainy.Wegot to the Superdome
and playedatlike 2inthe morning. Ithink the Neville Brothers were on thatshow. It was very cool
FARMER: Let’stalk music and specifically songwriting. Everyone hasa different method of creating. What’syours?
OATES: The essence of it,the nuts and bolts, they never really change thatmuch. Youcan go back as far as you want.Without getting too hippie dippy about it, it’samagicalthing. And Ilove it. My collaboration with Daryl over the yearswas super crazy successful, but I’ve branched out Imoved toNashvilleand really have beenembraced by theAmericana music community. I’m workingand writingwith somereally great artists —bothestablished musicians and people totally new to it.
Still, you walk into aroom and youdon’tknowwhat’s gonna’ happen. …Every time Iwrite with people,there’s similaritybut there’s always adifferent chemistry
FARMER: Howoften do people seek you out for your wisdom?
OATES: Idon’tknowifit’swisdom, but Icollaborate all the time.That’s the beautyofbeing in Nashville. It’sall right there, and it presents so many opportunities. I’ve got asongwriting session comingupwith (former Sublime frontman) Rome Ramirez and then with ayoung guitarphenomenonnamed Grace Bowers. She’s 17 and she’samazing. …Soitreally runs thegamut.They bring their thing to the table and Itry and helpthem find it
FARMER: Your solo record “Arkansas” harked back to Delta music, country blues, even ragtime. That’s right in New Orleans wheelhouse. Which local artists do you listen to, and who from here has inspired you through the years?
OATES: Ihad such agreat experience organizing the Aspen, (Colo.) Songwriters Festival about 15 years ago. And Iwas fortunate enough to get Allen Toussaint to come up. I’m ahuge fan of his and he showed up and put on one of the greatest shows I’ve seen in my life. He blew everyone’smind, sitting at abeautiful piano in this Victorian theater.And he played for about two hours, and he never stopped. In between songs, he wove this tale of his childhood and visiting with his grandmother,sitting on the porch and thebreeze. But he did it in aseamless way.Hetold stories and asong would just evolve out of it
But Ilisten to alot of thegreat piano players —Professor Longhair,Fats Domino. I’m old enough to remember music before rock and roll. When it hit,I was young, but Iremember hearing “Blueberry Hill.” And to this 6-year old kid, Iasked ‘Where is this coming from?’ And theanswer was the soul. It’s the rootsofthis great American songbook, and it begins in New Orleans. It worked its way up theMississippi intothe Delta, stopping along the way in Memphis, on up to St. Louis and Chicago. Before you know it, it’s big-city rock and roll.
That record “Arkansas” you
mentioned, it was an homage. Iwanted people to realize how things tied together and that American music didn’tstart with rock and roll. …The wellspring is New Orleans. That music touched me. …Infact, Isometimes close my show with “What aWonderful World.” Iwas trying to write areally positive song during COVID, and Icouldn’t. So Isaid ‘hell with it” and learned that.
FARMER: Saying “small part” is quite an understatement considering the success you had through five-plus decades with Daryl. Now you’re working with some other really talented musicians, making new music. …Itsounds like you’re having alot of fun.
OATES: I’m having the time of my life. Daryl and Iare no longer working together and we will not be working together.There’s something that happened, it’salmost like anew lease on life. It’s achance to really focus on the latter part of my career.I’m in my 70s and Isee guys falling by the wayside, both younger and older And I’m thinking, “There but for fortune go you and I.” Ican still sing. Ican still play Ican still think. Ican still travel. Iwant to make the most of these years, whatever that may be. Because tomorrow,itmight not be there. Thisiswhy I’m so jazzed, so excited about what I’m doing now Ican give it 100% of my attention and my passion, my commitment.
FARMER: Will there be aHall and Oates hologram tour someday?
OATES: Well, not on my watch, I can tell you that. After I’m gone, I don’tknow what my son’sgoing to do with me. As long as he doesn’t put me out there with those pink pants Iwore in the ’80s (laughing).
FARMER: Funny you say that. I was right in the bull’s-eye of that MTV Generation, so of course I remember all those videos —“Private Eyes”, “Family Man”, “Out of Touch.” They were fun. And the pink pants may have gone out of style, but the music still resonates, yeah?
OATES: The best thing about the ’80s was the music. The clothes, the hairstyles, not so much. Ieven say on stage, “You folks out there have pictures of yourselves with bad hair and bad clothes tucked away in acloset somewhere. Mine are out there for forever.”
But absolutely,man. The ’80s were fun. There was no real war People were making money,especially in New York City,where I was at the time. It was aeuphoric time. The spirit of the videos reflect that, Ithink.
FARMER: And you’re still doing
fun things like that. Youwere on the Masked Singer as ‘Anteater’ recently? You’ve got to tell me about that!
OATES: Yes! And it was amazing who they thought Iwas, some really incredible people —Bob Seger, John Mellencamp, Bob Dylan.
FARMER: That had to blow your mind. That’sasupergroup right there.
OATES: It really was fun. Everything but the costume! It was a super positive experience, aoncein-a-lifetime thing.
FARMER: In alifetime of memorable moments, which of them stand out among the best?
OATES: Being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame afew years before the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, that one was really meaningful to me. To be included in the pantheon of George Gershwin, Lieber and Stoller,the real greats —that was special. But we wouldn’thave been inducted into the Rock Hall had we not written the songs that we wrote. I’m sure of that.
Playing Live Aid in 1985 was an incredible thing. We closed the show in Philadelphia with Mick Jagger and Tina Turner.Wehad Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin from the Temptations. Also, I played the Grand Old Opry for the first time,standing where Elvis Presley and Johnny Cashstood. That really hits me. But it’snot just the big moments. It’sthe small moments that add up, really.It’splaying the colleges in Thibodeaux and Natchitoches.It’sgoing to Europe and Japan for thefirsttime. That’sthe brick and mortar of acareer.Hall of Fame? That’sthe star on top the Christmas tree.
FARMER: Whatcan we expect from you in Covington?
OATES: It’samusical time-trip. I start out playing an old Jimmie Rodgerssongfrom the 1920s and Isay why.I play some of my solo music. I’ll give you fair warning. This isn’thalf of aHall and Oates show It’sachance for me to express myself and the music that Icare about. And Icontribute it to alot of people who came before me.
So, I’ll do aSmokey Robinson song, or aCurtis Mayfield song, a Mississippi John Hurtsong. Itry to show people the breadth and the width of my verylong musical experience.
FARMER: Andsomething tells me we might hear “What aWonderful World” when you’re down here, too.
OATES: Youjust might (laughing). Youjust might.
BY JESSICA SAGGIO
Contributing writer
The Slidell City Council is making moves to acquire two pieces of privately-owned landinthe city, onefor potential recreation and another for water retention
The parcels include a4-acre property at the intersection of West Hall and Carroll roads and a small 100-foot by 111-foot piece of land on South Park Place Streetin the Terrace Park Subdivision
The4-acre lotwas appraised at $350,000, but the city is buying it for areduced priceof$180,000. City officials are hopefulthis will
become the future sight of aretention pond to offset drainage issues from the unincorporated parishzoned properties nearby.However, no official plans for thelandhave been presented yet. It is beingsold by CollierRealEstateinvestments.
Thesmall plotoflandonSouth Park Place Street sits adjacent to the city’swastewatertreatment plant and is being purchased for $8,751. The land has sewer lines running beneath it that date back to the wastewater plant’s1984 origins. Becauseofthis, developers cannot build on thelandand owner William Triayisselling theplot to the city.According to city docu-
ments, the land was deemed space fora “future park,”but as of now, no plansare in progress to move forward with that, said Thomas Reeves, Slidell City Council administrator Both of these property acquisitions will be up for public hearing at the council’snext meeting Oct. 22 at 6:30 p.m. They were presented as part of thecouncil’sconsent calendar at its last meeting. Also at the last meeting, council members praised members of the St. Margaret Mary Men’sCluband philanthropists with the St. Tammany Gives Back organization. The men’sclub traveled to Hen-
dersonville, North Carolina, an area devastated by Hurricane Helene, in order to hand out more than 8,000 hot meals to hurricane victims in the area. Councilman Bill Borchert was not present at Tuesday’smeeting duetohis participationinthe effort with the men’sclub. Likewise,the online-based St Tammany Gives Back organization, ledbyGreg Johnson, also traveled to Hendersonville with supplies to donate,saidCouncilman Kenny Tamborella. “Wintergear,diapers, dogfood, cleaning supplies,” Tamborella continued. “Everythingthat we
know as acommunity who has been directly affected by these storms knows what these communities need to recover quickly before thegovernment cancomein and help them out with assistance and things of that nature, but to get back on their feet immediately We just want to say thank you to them.” Southside Café and the Fisk Foundation were also recognized for their efforts. Southside Café donated more than 1,000 meals. The Fisk Foundation donated three, 26foot box trucks for transport and drivers, as well as pallets of water and supplies.
PROVIDEDPHOTO
John Oates will playatthe Fuhrmann Auditorium in Covington on Oct. 25 as the showcase act of this year’sOzone Songwriter Festival. For more info and tickets, go online to ozonemusic.org