Day Thirty – Jazz Fest Day Two
Blues Idiom – Hoochie Coochie, Hootchie Cootchie – Coochie (also spelled Cootchie) is slang for ‘vagina.’ Hoochie (also spelled Hootchie) is slang for ‘whore’ or ‘hooker.’ A Hoochie- Choochie dancer is a stripper and a Hoochie – Coochie man is a pimp.

We got to Iggy’s just after the first shuttle had left. No problems as it will be back in 15 minutes. Time for a coke and a review of who (no pun intended) is on the bill for the second day of Jazz Fest. I was talking to a local about yesterday’s storms and as bad as they were he said we missed the worst of it. Just south of us the winds got up to 80MPH (129 KPH) plus heavy hail stones. It is hot and steamy (as usual) but the rain is staying away, for now.

When we got to the festival gate we were able to walk straight in. Already my tshirt is sticking to my back. I had to get something to eat and went for a favourite of mine Yaka Mein, a Vietnamese noodle soup with extra hot sauce added. Kate said I was crazy eating hot soup in the heat. She may be right but it does taste oh so good. Next a quick call into WWOZ for some fruit salad and iced coffee. WWOZ are broadcasting live from the hospitality tent and Washboard Chaz is being interviewed. He has on a gray tshirt and it is wringing wet with perspiration. If the locals are sweating this much then imagine how we are feeling.

We headed to the Gentilly Stage for Tommy Malone. Tommy is a great singer songwriter and he was also in the legendary New Orleans band the Suddudes. I like him a lot but he may be ‘to slow and meaningful’ for the girls.

We could see the weather closing in once again and made a dash for the safety of WWOZ. Rain and wind of biblical proportions and the tent quickly filled to bursting with punters seeking shelter. The volunteer staff closed up all the flying flaps and we sat out the storm in near darkness (it is only 1:15.) After about 45 minutes the rain relented just a little and we made a quick dash for the Blues tent. The music has continued in the various tents around the festival.

We saw the incredible Mali blues master Vieux Farka Toure. I volunteered to go out in the elements for beignets and chocolate milk for Kate. Before I lined up for the fried dough I walked over to the outdoor Acura stage to see if the scheduled music was still in progress. I was on the race track when I was stopped by the officials as the waived through 4 black limos. The first limo had Roger Daltrey riding up front and the second Pete Townsend. That was cool watching rock royalty drive by.

I found where the Iggy’s crew had set up. They had weathered the storm and were waiting for the Who to perform.

Back in the Blues tent and local slide guitar wizard Sonny Landreth was firing up. Sonny as always was mesmerizing It was getting close to the start time for the Who. The holy trinity of British rock who took America by storm was of course, the Beatles, the Stones and the Who. I am ashamed to say that I have never seen the Who play live. I was going out in whatever the conditions to fix that aberration, to my surprise both Wendy and Kate were also keen.
We trudged through the mud with Kate complaining that she was wearing $20 socks. She then nearly lost a Nike in a small patch of quick sand.
We found our friends and settled in for a sensational show. Roger Daltrey’s voice was so powerful and Townsend’s playing superb. Hit after hit with the crowd singing along. What a buzz. Kate said it must have been like Woodstock with the Who on stage,the mud and the smell of weed. Must ask her how come she knows what weed smells like.

We finished off leaving the stage around 6:30 and caught three songs from the Robert Cray band. He was really good as well.

A great day despite what the elements threw at us.

Rob Rowe