This section of the book continues to delve into the rich musical history and scene of New Orleans. The muscial scene is marked by an annual event, Jazz Fest, where not only the biggest names in the genre converge on the area for two weeks, but also the local treasures that give New Orleans' music it's character. While some of what Piazza writes comes off as esoteric, he does a good job of setting the scene, and explaining why and how the music is so engrained in the culture of the area.
Piazza also goes on to detail the the crime and corruption of New Orleans. While I had earlier written that the book seemed to be a "travel brochure on steroids," this part smacks the reader in the face with reality, and that not everything is bliss. It reminded me of 90's hip hop that came from the area (hip hop that was awful, by the way. i.e., Mater P, Lil Wayne, Hot Boyz) that spoke to the drugs, thuggery, and having the one of the highest murder rates in the country. This certainly lended a balance to the book. New Orleans matters because it is a real place, not just a utopia.
Also of note in this section, Piazaa for the first time details the Mardi Gras experience. I found it interesting that he waited almost 100 pages into the book to explore this topic, because, as an outsider, Mardi Gras is the first thing that comes to mind regarding New Orleans. Piazza does a good job explaining why it is important to the city, and not just a boozefest for out of towners.
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