Payson Tremayne VanOrden was a singer-songwriter active in the Freret neighborhood. On Friday night, July 12, after a traffic collision, we bore the loss of this torch-bearer for live music and local poetry. He led two open mics: One was at Rook Cafe, the other at Another Bar. Payson had many friends at the latter, including Kyle (the manager) and Towner (a bartender). Born and raised in Missouri, Payson came to New Orleans in 2018. He started working at Acropolis on Freret in 2019. Payson was bar manager and assistant manager there before becoming a rep for Casa Luigi and Seven Three Distilling Co. He also worked in hardware. He lived down the street at what he called “Castle Napoleon” where he was the building’s supervisor. Payson passed away at UMC hospital. He is survived by his brother, father, and mother, as well as his daughter and son. Payson’s loss comes at a difficult time in which local artists are missing a crucial late-night third space (or sober space) for performance. Much of the Neutral Ground Coffeehouse community found refuge at Payson’s Rook Open Mic after losing their lease at 5110 Danneel St. in early 2023 (they’ve since remained in exile). Payson had just bought a brand new Gibson guitar and was teaching Maddy, a visual artist who tends the coffee bar at Rook Cafe, to play guitar. I myself heard the sad news from Birdie Frosch of Rook on the following Saturday morning, which prompted me to do interviews and learn of how Payson sustained local creative outlets in the area. He was fond of saying: “I’m not a singer, I’m not a guitar player, I’m a songwriter.” This was not Payson depreciating his own unique talent, but his way of emphasizing to audiences his commitment to the craft of storytelling as an art. Freret Street will honor his memory in the music collective and those open mics he founded or led. New Orleans will remember a soul who will continue to guide us.
“He created community. He’s a cheerleader. Always uplifting. Such kind and genuine things to say. So alive and warm and real. His loss is felt.” —Sofia
“He encouraged people even if they didn’t play ‘well.’ He got me to pick my saxophone back up and play.” —Cesar
“He was the first person to be neighborly. To make you feel plugged-in and welcome to the music scene.” —Aubrey
“I knew him through the open mic scene. He was so kind to everyone. Very supportive of my art. As I’ve heard, very supportive of everyone’s. He led two open mics!” —Ellie
“First time I saw him, he was at the third of the Mixtape Open Mics. He said something self-deprecating, that he wasn’t good enough to do covers. I heckled him, ‘Stop that! Oh sure you are!’ He showed me his callouses. He had major callouses. I touched them and they felt like they were a quarter inch thick.” —Beau
“Payson was a friend and a wonderful musician. This is a moment that lacks words.” —Rescalla (Monday Mixtape Open Mic host)
“Payson worked at the restaurant [Acropolis on Freret] for three-and-a-half years. He had a good attitude and a big heart. He never judged anyone. He was a talented mixologist. He had a great vocabulary and was a storyteller, which made him a good bartender as well as a good writer and lyricist. He became a part of our Rotary Club. He was a civic leader and an organizer of Freret Fest. He was my family.” —CJ
“We met Payson when we first took over the Wayfare space. It was those half-a-minute conversations as he was shaking a drink or adding ingredients that he demonstrated his humility, professionalism, and an easy-to-talk-to demeanor. Our friendship continued even after the restaurant [Acropolis] closed. He was my brother.” —Bob
“I met Payson in February [2024]. I was doing standup and music to plug the open mic [Ben hosts an open mic with Flavius Maximus at The Domino on Tuesday nights]. The initial basis of our friendship was camaraderie. We helped each other out. I would like to be more like him. He cared a lot. The man was trying to build as much as he could. I don’t think he knew where it was going, but he had no agenda. He just wanted to see something built. If it was just him and the barista, he was still going at it like a stadium show.” —Ben
“I met him in 2019. The two of us had a deep philosophical discussion about ‘What is God?’ From then on, I knew we were going to be friends. Payson was a guest on our podcast [Another Podcast] four times and our first. He took over the open mic at Another Bar six months ago. He made it awesome. He’s a great writer. When our last host left, I asked: Would he be willing to take over? He was overjoyed to. He didn’t do much recording. He just wanted to play.” —Kyle
“We saw each other almost every day. He’d come over and we’d jam and share songs. We did painting and carpentry work together. I’ve never seen somebody with such diligence, even in the rain. He was very sacrificial of his time in particular. I offered to produce an album for him, but we never got around to that.” —Rob
“I met Payson at my very first open mic and he was one of the first to welcome me into this dear community. I remember when we chatted about what it means to be a singer-songwriter. To him, we are lyricists who could empathize and connect with all types of music and experiences that we all share. He told me that I am a singer-songwriter. He will no doubt continue to support us from wherever he is.” —Cece
Memorials were held at the Mixtape Open Mic at American Townhouse, the open mic at The Rook, the Thursday open mic at Another Bar, with a subsequent fundraiser at Another Bar. If you couldn’t make it or would like to donate to the artist’s family, please send any funds to this Venmo: @Chaunet-Jumonville and include the message “For Payson.”
Photo by CJ Jumonville
