Clay Franks and New Orleans by King Texas / September 9
Inspirational doesn’t seem like the word to sum up Clay. He’s funny, adorable, intelligent, thoughtful, a giant, a King, and a overall beautiful person. Jeremy and Clay showed me around New Orleans, and although it was a small dose, I’ve been hooked ever since. It is one of the most capturing and incomparable cities I have ever been to in the United States. I remember when I left I felt like crying because I knew I was leaving something behind. Sure enough, I was leaving behind Jeremy who is the brother and friend I’ve never had before, and it is always sad to leave someone you love. However, when I left I felt as if I carried something with me that has only recently opened up its doors and allowed me in. Its a very vague and overwhelming thing to describe especially for someone whose not good at expressing anything through words. Ever since I came back from New Orleans, I’ve felt a little bit more safe. I don’t feel someone is watching over me, though. I feel someone is with me. When I’m uncertain about my next move, their voice guides me to the path I should be walking on. When I’m angry, their voice is what causes me to clam down and collect the tiny pieces of patience that has shattered on the floor. When my creativity is diminishing, their voice points me to books or music that will spark that fire in my heart all over again. Whoever it is, I’m totally safe and content and I thank New Orleans for that. I thank Jeremy for that. I thank Clay for that. However, I need to go back. Every time I hear Nina Simone’s ‘You’d be so nice to come to’ – I think about her: New Orleans.
Recently, Clay wrote about New Orleans and the Preservation Hall Jazz band. I think you should check it out.. here is a bit from the piece:
‘One note of a New Orleans horn is a shout out to generations of a city’s collective experience. It doesn’t matter if you hear that horn in Paris or New York City, the first bars of old standards like “Eh La Bah” will put you firmly in the holy city of New Orleans. Drunk on every ounce of the history. Every moment of the experience. It’s an understanding that once this place gets in you, you will never be able to see, able to taste, able to hear a place quite like you did this one. Go anywhere else in the world, and the smallest remembrance of New Orleans will make your eyes light up. As sure and steady as jazz rolling through the night, that’s a promise.’
T-Sides B-Sides: Preservation Hall Jazz Band (click here)
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