Smoked Out
Musicians want breathing room at local venues
from New Orleans City Business, 9-22-2008 | by Emilie Bahr

There was a time when Pierre Pichon spent nearly every night of the week plying from the strings of his guitar the sounds that garnered his gypsy jazz band a faithful following at local music clubs. Today, his appearances are limited to a few private performances, agreed upon only once he is certain he won’t spend hours in a smoke-filled venue.

The change began last Mardi Gras when the 40-year-old guitarist, formerly of the band Vavavoom, contracted a strain of the flu that put him on his back for almost a month. Alarmed by his body’s vulnerability and hoping to hasten his recovery, he quit smoking and abandoned most of his regular gigs...

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