Skip to content
Reviews

Kravitz, Legend, Mos Def Headline Gulf Aid Concert

100517-gulfaid-main.jpg

On Sunday, the day BP inserted a catheter-like pipe inside the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico to help stem the spill, skepticism was in the air at Gulf Aid. “We need regulators who regulate,” said John Legend during a press conference after his set at the New Orleans benefit for those adversely affected by the oil pumping into Gulf waters since the Deepwater Horizon offshore oil well exploded April 20.

Legend, Lenny Kravitz, Mos Def, and Ani DiFranco headlined the show at Mardi Gras World that also included many of New Orleans’ finest musicians. Heavy morning rains caused casual street flooding and forced the stage to be moved indoors. Grammy-winning Cajun band BeauSoleil played on a stage erected in a warehouse surrounded by Mardi Gres floats.

Rapper Mos Def recently moved to New Orleans, and he performed with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. They debuted a new track that he recorded with Kravitz and New Orleans’ Trombone Shorty, a remake of the New Orleans classic “It Ain’t My Fault,” inspired by BP, Halliburton, and Transocean’s denials of responsibility during hearings last week. The benefit track will be available for download from iTunes today.

Legend previewed songs from Wake Up, his upcoming ?uestlove-produced album, including a cover of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes’ “Wake Up, Everybody,” but it was one of the few onstage political moments, and it was broadly so. More pointedly, Lenny Kravitz introduced “American Woman” as “an anti-war song, but tonight it’s an anti-oil song.”

Backstage, few held their tongue. Wetlands activist and blues guitarist Tab Benoit said, “We’re losing an acre (of coastal Louisiana land) an hour; we’re sacrificing the wetlands for oil and shipping.” Actor Tim Robbins called BP’s response to the disaster “shameful, irresponsible and criminal” and pointed to the history of offshore oil leaks. “If you’re going to drill offshore, you’re going to have spillage.”

The outrage was matched by concern about the impact of the spill. Experts cite the environmental damage done by the Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska in 1989 and the degree to which it has killed fishing in the waters off of Prince William Sound. In a region culinarily defined by seafood, the possible effects are frightening. On the human level, many commercial fishermen are out of work as parts of the Louisiana coastal waters are closed during the clean-up effort.

“What we’re trying to do here is build an emergency fund for those who’ll be affected,” Robbins said. “Citizens of Louisiana realize it’s up to them to take care of their own.”

Kravitz maintains a home in New Orleans, and he closed the night with a hard, tight show, skipping the jams that had been a major part of his recent New Orleans appearances. He only stretched out for “Let Love Rule,” calling out, “I need some New Orleans brass,” then turning over some solo time to trumpeter Shamarr Allen, trombonist Corey Henry, and Grammy-winning trumpeter Terence Blanchard.

“New Orleans is the soul of America,” Kravitz proclaimed from the stage. “It’s the flavor of America, the music of America, the food of America and the party of America. New Orleans is deep. She’s nasty, and I’m proud to live here.”