"Paul Levinson's It's Real Life is a page-turning exploration into that multiverse known as rock and roll. But it is much more than a marvelous adventure narrated by a master storyteller...it is also an exquisite meditation on the very nature of alternate history." -- Jack Dann, The Fiction Writer's Guide to Alternate History

Monday, April 19, 2010

Treme 1.2: "If you ain't been to heaven, then you ain't been there."

"New Orleans" played over the closing credits of Treme 1.2 tonight - I don't know who the artist is, I didn't see any musical credits in those closing credits.   Sort of like the story of Treme and New Orleans - all kinds of genius but not enough credit.  Anyway, I'll let you know when I find out the name of the artist - it may be up on HBO's Treme site one of these days. Gary "US" Bonds' version, from 1959, is one of my favorite records (you can listen to it below)

*Added on 4/20/2010:  And the credit is now up on the HBO web site.  It's the late Willy DeVille.

Treme 1.2 began with another great rant by Creighton, this time lambasting everything from "digital media" (ouch!) to Harry Potter, all because his university canceled a whole bunch of more practical degrees in engineering and the like.   He does seem reminiscent of some Professors of English I've known over the years, down to the slaving over a yet-to-be-published novel.  (In contrast to professors of communication and media studies - we teach digital media, publish our heads off, and never complain.)

In between this end and beginning were the good stories of our struggling assortment of people.  Janette and her chef serving mouth-watering dishes to her parents, from whom she's seeking a bit of funding.  She gets a lot less than she needs.   Antoine getting the gigs with his trombone but still hurting for money.   Davis losing his job at the hotel, because he gave three college student-tourists directions to having a really good time (which they did, seeing the "real" New Orleans).  Delmond playing a brilliant horn, but that doesn't prevent him from being arrested by a white a-hole cop for smoking a roach.

Delmond's father Albert (Clarke Peters) has the most powerful story tonight, as he confronts and beats a looter.   He's also gradually reassembling his tribe.   And he does all this while being a pretty decent father to Delmond, and doing his best with daughter, now back in Texas, who doesn't approve of his Indian doings.

Toss in a great scene with Allen Toussaint and Elvis Costello on the producing end of a recording session - the mix of real and character musicians is one of the best parts of this show - and you have a second fine serving of this series.



6-min podcast review of Treme




See also Treme!


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"challenging fun" - Entertainment Weekly

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"Sierra Waters is sexy as hell" - curled up with a good book
 

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