"I haven't seen this city so empty, except for when Katrina
passed through," said Walter "Wolfman" Washington. For many New Orleans
musicians, including Washington, this time in quarantine has been especially
uncertain as the city attempts to deal with the novel coronavirus and its effects.
"For, like, three weeks, I didn't pick up my guitar because
I didn't know what was gonna happen, and when I did, my fingers was kind of
sore," said Washington. "Damn, I won't let that happen no more, so I've been
shredding."
A New Orleans native, Washington is a beloved figure of the
city's music scene and has been so for decades. He's played with all the greats,
including Irma Thomas, Johnny Adams, and just about everyone in between. His
most recent 2018 album, My Future Is My Past, is one of Washington's
first delves into solo work, but Washington's mainstay band The Roadmasters have
been performing together since the 1980s.
"I definitely do miss performing. I definitely miss that,"
said Washington, who has performed in-person only once from his porch, for a
small group of neighbors, since lockdown began. "A lot of my neighbors didn't
realize I was a musician," said Washington, laughing.
For many musicians, the chance to share their music and feel
the push and pull of other performers is an integral part of their experience
as artists. In order to make in-person events possible once more, following
proper social-distancing procedures is of the utmost importance.
"A lot of people are really not taking heed to what really
has to be done," said Washington. "All I can say is, the public pay attention
to what we need to do so we can be over this crisis."
Washington's Facebook has a livestream
of him performing alongside others virtually, for fans and those who miss live
music to tune in to, as well as a link to donate to the musicians via the app
Venmo (@Michelle-Bushey-5).
