The second weekend of Jazz Fest for me was on a wing and a prayer. I had to watch the weather, count the available funds left and still spend some quality time with my parents. It was a balancing act. While Thursdays weather was predicted to be nice, I decided to stay home and head back down Friday. The reward for Friday was catching Stevie Wonder. This was his first official appearance at the Jazz Fest, having sat in with the Meters back in 1973. He started off coming to the front of the stage with his beautiful daughter and commenting Yea a blind man can still shoot straight which brought applause and laughter from the crowd. He also did a moment of silence for the Katrina victims with festival producer Quint Davis at his side. Wonder also gave a plug for presidential candidate Barack Obama. He then was guided to his seat and began a musical journey of his best known songs among which were from Songs in the Key of Life.
Earlier in the day I caught Housemans set, Cocos set, Richard Thompson, John Butler Trio and and Indian second line. Friday night I managed to meet my friend Leslie Smith at where else? Big Als before heading to Govt Mule. Once there I got my merch which included a limited edition poster for the show and a t-shirt. With Red Bull and water in hand I made it up to the photo pit and caught the last 15 minutes of Grace Potter who was electrifying. I had the pleasure of meeting her in Phoenix soon after seeing her at Bonnaroo(see my Steel Train/Grace Potter review from 2006 at Modified Arts). After her show she came to the VIP area and we got reacquainted. She is so cordial.
The Mule show was perhaps the highlight of the fest for me. The line-up of special guests was a once in a lifetime event. I had to write them all down: John Butler,Walter Wolfman Washington,Mike Gordon, Papa Mali, DJ Logic, Ruthie Foster, Ivan Neville, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, members from Umphrey’s McGee, Particle, Henry Butler. I left at 2:40 am and it was still going. For me the highlights were Mule doing Dear Prudence and Grace and Jason joining them for Zeppelins Whole Lotta Love. My Jazz Fest moment for both weekends was Cyril Neville joining Mule for a 10 minute rendition of Alan Toussaints Fortune Teller. He reminded me of an ordained James Brown doing Its a Mans World. What a way to end the fest weekend.
Saturday morning brought a wild downpour and tornado warning below New Orleans. Since Alejandro Escovedo went on at 11:10 am I figured it was very iffy at best so I made the decision to begin my two day trek home. In Baton Rouge I had pre-ordered 30 pounds of Boudin (a cajun rice/pork/spice sausage) from Ronnies and after that made my way through Dallas. While there I was suppose to pick up a Texas micro brewery beer for a friend called Rio Blanco Pale Ale but Sunday blue laws (no beer sales on Sunday before noon) thwarted that. So, it was on to Albuquerque. I know I missed some incredible music(especially the return of the Neville Brothers) but I am a working stiff and lucky to have experienced 4 days and 3 nights of fest activities. Cant wait till next year.
