Opening Day at Jazzfest

[Turbodog]

O.K., so I went out today with one of my oldest, bestst buds, and hooked up wth another one. It was one of the most pleasurable days I have ever spent at JF. The weather was almost perfect. It was not too crowded Food was good. I had 2 seervings of Creole Stuffed bread. Other items consumed were chicken and tasso over rice, some srt of crawfish sushi (I think), crawfish strudel. I consumed 2 Pilsner Urquell's, one large strawberry lemonade, one water and one Coors. The beer choices were Coors (reular), MGD 64 and Fosters. I found that odd.

Music.....Wow! Got out a lttle before 2pm and ent traight to LAngiapp Stage for Christian Serpas and Ghostown. Great set, good sound. George was strong on guitar.

Then to Gentilly for Amanda Shaw, now 18 and an adorale bundle of talent and energy. The Cute Guys were solid. Should I stay or Should I Go was a highlight. That is a powerfull song and she handles it well.

Nexxt, the long walk to Acura (oh my achin fee; its hell getting old) for DBT's and Bookert T. Booker T., the legend, just releasd a new record for the 1st time in 20 years. It is a collaberation with Drive By Truckers. Well, DBT's came ot and played 4-5 songs, very good. Then Booker T joins on organ for a selection of tunes (all floating instrmentals) from the new record. Then DBT's went back to their catalog for the remainder of the set, closing with the anthemic "Let there be Rock". Well, Patterson Hood never, saw Lynyrd Skynyrd, but I damn well did. Skynyred would be proud of Hood and his fellow Truckers. One of the best sets I have seen at JF ever.

Then, the long walk back to Gentilllly, for Spoon. I first saw this band 10 years or so ago. They have really improvedand hined heir sound, which is so well crafted. A rally nice set, augmented on a handful of tunes by three of the Dirty Dozen. A strong set by any standards.

On the way out, we caught Terrnce Simien doing "The Weight", then Wynton Marsallis witht the Jazz a Licoln Center Orchestra nd Yacub Addy and Odadaa! This was awesome if only for a couple of songs.

A wonderful day in NO, ans musically, one of the best days t JF in a long time. All highlights. No filler. I applaud the bookings by JF! I am critical when I want to be, but today, it was job wll done. My hat is of and I'm bowing (well visualizing it, actually, I guess its a virtual bow).

Tomorrow, its Third World and Wilco. Tipsy Chicks, if I go out erly.

[buzd]

I caught the beginning of DBT, and I thought they were only OK. We walked over to Trombone Shorty in the middle (at Gentilly) and he blew us away. Really, really funky. Irvin Mayfield got with him at the end, and they just jammed.

Odd thing - we went to the CD tent to get a CD from Trombone shorty, where he was to be signing them. They didn't have any CD's because he is in between record deals. He was selling and signing "download cards" that you could redeem for a 5 song EP online. Weird.

We saw some of the Wynton symphony set. It was really good, but very mellow. Can't say I cared for Spoon very much (I did like when they had the horns with them), but Joe Cocker was better than I thought he would be.

But, yes, a just about perfect day of jazz fest.

I had boudin, stuffed mushrooms and crawfish enchilada, Dibbi (steak pita), and a cochon de lait po boy. All standbys for me.

[justagirl]

All I ate yesterday was a Cuban out there. But I stayed hydrated with two huge Herbal Iced teas and a few waters. (Had dinner reservations for Rio Mar.)

I camed out at Acura for the day and enjoyed Dave Eagan, Marc Broussard and DBT with Booker T. Joe Cocker was great...damn he looks old, but he put on a good set.

The sun was shining, the breeze was blowing through and I enjoyed the hell out of all of it.


I love Patterson Hood and DBT! They played a private party I bartended Thursday night, Bettye Levette showed up for a few songs too, she's amazing. (She was my Jazz Fest favourite last year) Trumbone Shorty showed up with DBT after Booker T left. It was freaking awesome.

[BTG]

It was indeed a perfect day. I was out there from 7:15am until 6:30. Even the "work" part of the day was pretty fun as they let us drink beer the whole time and gave us food. I was done helping at the beer tent by 12:30, and then watched Benji Davis, McDonough 35 choir, DBT, and Joe Cocker.

Ate crawfish bread, crawfish monica, and fried alligator.

[Turbodog]

JAG, that sounds like a great party (the music, anyway). I can imagine that DBT's with Shorty was HOT! I know how great the Rads were with Mark Mullins (I think that's who it was) at Ruby's a few weeks ago. Horns can really augment a good rock band.

My 17 year old son (drummer) was out there, but not with me. Last night when I saw him, he said Joe Cocker (and his band) was great. He also said Shorty was the sh*t. I saw Shorty at 2008 FQ Fest and loved the set. He also said Spoon was better at Vodoo than yesterday.

All 3 of my boys (17, 21 23) left here together with a friend about 11am. Going to see Third World and Wilco (also Big Sam and Dumpstafunk). I may join them after the Hornet game. Another beautiful day in south Louisiana.

[Turbodog]

I went out today. Very crowded when I first got out (2:00). Had Stuffed Mushrooms and crawfish sushi roll. Drank a few beer and strolld around, cathing the end of Sonny Landreth's set. Caught the 1st 20=30 minutes of Robert Cray, then walked over to catch the Avett Brothers. I went out specifically to see them today. Got there just beore they started. I had been talking them up at Gentilly stage and was pleased to see most of the people I had been sitting round find me at Fais Dos Dos. They, me and everyone there loved these guys. Wow. Set of the Fest. At the end of the set, I said it was everyones new favorite band. Those around me confirmed this true. After their amazing set, I had a cochon de lait poboy (rockin!), and got a bbq chicken sandwich that I ate when I got home. Walkd over by Congo.......the humanity.....I have never seen that many people at Congo.....Earth, Wind and Fire......Shining Stars.....So many people. My drummer son said he dug the bass player's style..

Finished with some Etta James, thoroughly enjoyable, but then again, I had sen what I ame for and ws blown awayby the Avett Brothers. Thanks to Jazzfest Music Dept. for this excellent booking. There were several hundred people in line for them at the CD store after their set.

The only problem today was some damned helicopter flying over and ruining the sound. Boo.

[bam bam]

What are they stuffing the mushrooms with these days? The last time I had those at Jazzfest, I spotted a unicorn pooping on the fais do do stage.

[justagirl]

Today couldn't have been more perfect. Started off walking around checking out the art at the heritage area. Watched Jim McCormick's set at Fais dos dos stage then camped out at the Gentilly stage for most of the day...Papa Grows Funk, Sonny Landreth, Robert Cray band, Etta James....they were all wonderful. Checked out a song or two of Earth Wind and Fire but just wasn't catching the groove.

Today I had the combo plate with catfish menuire, merliton casserole and crab cake. It was yummy and very well seasoned. That and a few more Herbal Iced Teas made my day perfect.

Went to Carrollton Station to check out Jim McCormick again. He's hardly ever in town these days so I was getting in all I could.

A fantastic day. It's good to be JAG.

[nikinik]

I went Friday and Sunday and the weather and crowd were great both days!

Friday:
Marc Broussard - Phenomenal, as always.
Trombone Shorty - Tore it up and rocked the house big time!
Joe Cocker - Was surprised how great that set was.

Sunday:
Jake Smith - Wow! I want to buy his CD.
Better than Ezra - Oldie but goodie and it was a good show.
Kinky - They were o.k.
Dave Matthews Band - I've seen Dave live about 12 times and this was one of the best shows I've ever seen.

Now the food. Everything I ate was delicious. I had....

Crawfish bread (still wish they'd go back to using LA crawfish instead of the stuff from china)
Creole stuffed bread (had this both days)
Cochon du Lait po-boy
Crawfish Enchiladas (had these both days)
Cuban sandwich
Crawfish Monica
Mango Freeze
Mandarin Orange tea
Strawberry Lemonade

[Turbodog]

Was anyone else bothered by the helicopter?

Bam, I was laying down on a blanket one day at JF (at least 10 years ago). anyway, it was fairly early and not very crowded. Phish was playing that day. So I'm laying there, eyes closed between bands, oblivious to all (and hung over as hell from partying the night before) and something rubs against my leg. I reach down and its a baggie. I thought it was empty, but upon further inspection, it contained some dried mushrooms. Well, I was in no mood for such mind altering sustances, so I pondered what to do with them. A young (20's) couple saw me holding them and came over to ask me abou tthem. I told them I found them and they asked it the could have them if I didn't want them. I gave them to them. Never saw them again. That's my JF mushroom story.