Gant Laborde, a Greater New Orleans resident, has been preparing for Rockin’1000’s upcoming Superdome performance since October. Just three years ago, he returned to practicing guitar after losing his instrument, along with many other belongings, to Hurricane Katrina.
“The experience of losing music after Katrina…it’s been difficult to find the time to come back to it,” Gant says. “You’ve got work, you’ve got life, you’ve got so many things kind of pressing you forward.”
With the opportunity to perform for Rockin’1000, a global group of musicians, Gant felt the timing, as he puts it, was a once in a lifetime moment.
“[My neighbor] across the street from me…tells me that this event is in the Guinness Book of World Records and their first time coming to the USA is to New Orleans. I said, well, fate, knock no more, I guess I’m going to try out.”
Shortly after submitting his audition tape, Gant learned he’d been accepted. While joining the traveling group of performers wasn’t practical, performing in his hometown felt essential.
“For me, this New Orleans show is the big one, this is it. I knew this was going to be amazing. It’s always fun to play music with another person…then I think that playing with 999 of my closest friends is going to be an unreal experience.”
From Solo Practice to Shared Stages
Most Rockin’1000 preparation happens solo, but Gant has also begun meeting local musicians he’ll share the stage with at informal “jams.” He attended his first in November at the Hard Rock Cafe on Bourbon Street.
“You’re going there and you’re thinking, ‘I don’t know any of these people.’ Then the first thing that happened to me was realizing, oh, I didn’t know I needed to bring a guitar stand…”
His uncertainty quickly gave way to belonging. “And then, this lady is like, ‘Oh yeah that happens all the time. Here, I brought an extra guitar stand. I knew somebody would need an extra one.’ I was like, wow–all right. That was sort of my welcome into the community of musicians that are just looking to play music and have fun.”
Aside from playing guitar for his family over morning coffee, the Bourbon Street jam was Gant’s first public performance. His next will be inside Ceasar’s Superdome.
Stepping Into the Sound
As show day approaches, Gant says he’s most excited about the sense of togetherness. “I’ll be there right next to other musicians. I’m going to be making more and more friends. I’ll be meeting people from all over the world. It’ll be one of those kinds of experiences that you tell people for forever because, why wouldn’t you?”
In the days leading up to the concert, performers will rehearse together in person for the first time. “We are basically going to be a family for three days,” he says.
Gant expects “absolute electricity” during the performance, describing a unifying moment for both musicians and the audience. “For 16 songs, we’re all going to be tuned in together. The whole room gets to sing, you know? Now just imagine that at the Dome.”
To make sure his family can spot him in the crowd, Gant says he chose the “gaudiest, weirdest suit possible.” Above all, having his family’s support in the crowd matters most.
Looking Beyond the Big Night
For Gant, the experience represents more than one night onstage.
“There’s a piece in picking guitar back up and sharing it with everybody that’s really special for me, because I didn’t know what I really put down. I didn’t have a choice, you know? You lose all of the stuff [during the hurricane]. But in picking it back up and playing here…it’s been one of the most fun things to do.”
Before Rockin’1000, he had only considered playing an open mic. Now, he’s looking ahead with new confidence.
“I might have to do that open mic now. I will be keeping in touch with the musicians that I’ve met who are local. You never know, maybe in a year or two I will be playing with a local and at a fair…or just even recording my own stuff because music’s here to stay.”
His return to music has already made an impact at home. After watching her father practice, Gant says his daughter wants to take guitar lessons.
The Big Night Ahead
Rockin’1000 takes place Saturday night at 8 p.m. at the Superdome and will feature 1,000 singers, drummers, guitarists, and musicians of all kinds. With Harry Connick Jr. serving as artistic director, the event will also include a Raising Cane’s pre-show featuring Cowboy Mouth.
For Gant, it’s a moment years in the making–and one he will remember for the rest of his life.
To learn more about Rockin’1000, visit neworleans.com/rockin1000.