Bourbon Cowboy says “Fuck You” to New Orleans
So the other day I’m riding my bike home from work when I am assaulted by really low-grade music. You know that horrible sound that comes out of cheap speakers mounted in the engine compartment of vehicles. Living in St. Roch, I am accustomed to this blasting into my living room. Usually from the Chiquita Banana car or the Skittles mobile. And it is usually hip-hop.
But this is country music. And not good country music. I’m talking bullshit Nashville new country. And it is following me down Camp St.
Because this is a city and I’m on a bike, I keep passing and getting passed by this vehicle for a mile or so. The entire time I’m being assaulted by this music that I don’t particularly care to hear at any volume let alone blasting — not from the windows mind you — but from those low-budget exterior speaker.
That is the hell of it: I’m getting abused by this music that the guy inside the truck isn’t even listening to.
At Canal St., I end up stopped at the light with the offending SUV.
Its a . . . suburban? Yukon? . . . who cares but it has “Bourbon Cowboy” written in large letters on the windows and some confederate flag nonsense on the bumper.
The guys window is down so I turn and mention that it is a bit rude to blast this music at people all across the city. “What?” he says. I repeat that if he wants to listen to the music inside the truck that is fine but that it might be considered rude to force everyone else in the city to listen to it.
His next response: “Do I look like I fucking care?”
He had a point with that one.
For some unknown reason I tried one more time.
I said that I wasn’t trying to be a pain, just that he might not have realized that not everyone wanted to hear this music and . . .
“Why don’t you go save a fucking seal” he screams at me. The light changed. He headed into the quarter.
This was several weeks ago. So why am I still dwelling on it?
I think because it is another example of the coarsening of civil society. Some would be tempted to add “in post-katrina New Orleans.” But this guy clearly isn’t from here. He’s from some part of the South where they’ve developed a tin ear to music. He is from some sector of American society where the fact that you are advertising for your corporate crap bar in huge letters on your suburban doesn’t seem incongruous with being rude and cursing at people.
So if you are ever in New Orleans and find yourself on Bourbon Street in front of a bar called Bourbon Cowboy, just walk a few more paces and spend your money somewhere else.
They’re everywhere…everywhere. And the Cult of Rudeness has spread like a suburb into an epidemic.
Thanks for the spending tip (though, uh…that was never going to happen anyway…”Bourbon Cowboy?”).
Actually your an idiot and bourbon cowboy is the place to be!!!! maybe you should give it a chance and not talk so much shit!! it happens to be one of my favorite bars on bourbon. just bc that ONE guy insulted you doesnt mean you have to be a dick.
Yeah, that place sucks anyway. Everytime you go there everyone is drunk as hell and the staff tries to sleep with everyone. Not to mention one of the “DJs” ( i think his name is peter) has a huge chip on his shoulder like everyone wants him, but if you ask around he has a girlfriend and a child!!! the nerve. Bet she would like to know what goes on there!
What the hell does some guy driving down the street blaring country music have to do with fuck Bourbon Cowboy… i’m a TAD confused… your obviously a complete idiot…. Bourbon Cowboy is one of the few different bars on Bourbon… all the other play the same CRAP!!!!!
What happened to the freedom of expression? Why is anyone in the Big Easy so up tight? Bless that SUV driver’s little heart? Bless the bike rider’s little ears. I walked all the streets of NO, enjoyed a street show, drank enough to keep the local economy solvent for a week and listened to several bands in several bars. The place bringing out the most laughter and most child-like energy in patrons was that hokey little butt breaking bar, the Bourbon Cowboy. Ladies took many more turns on the bull ride than the men, resulting in much more fun for the male spectators. Please don’t go hatin anything in the Big Easy, the city needs all the positive energy it can get. Love you all, BB.
That’s right…I’m a quarter rat! I live, work, eat,drink and screw right here in the FQ. And, dude, you’re the one who sounds like a transplant from another city/state. The man in the truck was right, and you sir, are a touch sensitive and should call your mother more often. As a local I am constantly looking for a venue that has something other than 6hrs of straight Journey, and other pseudo-rock bands. Granted, Borbon Cowboy is all “canned music” but I’ve heard everything from Hank Williams Sr. to AC/DC in that place. If you get tired of looking at half-naked women bounce up and down on the bull, you can grab a BBQ sandwich and go sing some karaoke. Whats not to like? Finally. if you dont know by now, what most people learn their first weekend living in NOLA, if you dont like loud music, stay the hell of Bourbon!
@ Quarter Rat: I suspect that I have lived and worked in the city longer than you have. But that aside, note that I wasn’t on Bourbon St. — the driver and I were on Camp St.
_RE: As a local I am constantly looking for a venue that has something other than 6hrs of straight Journey, and other pseudo-rock bands._
If you get beyond the confines of the Quarter (or at least Bourbon St.) you will find plenty of venues meeting that criteria. I don’t recall ever being subjected to Journey or any other pseudo-rock bands on Frenchman Street, or in the Bywater, or on Oak St. or in Mid-City, etc. And if you don’t want to leave the quarter, try the Chart Room or Molly’s. The jukeboxs there are generally very good.