Day 33 – May 5^th

Without music, life would be a mistake. Friedrich Nietsche

I have been coughing and spluttering all night. I think the ghost from the other night has given me a cold. Great, a cold for the flight back home. That’s gunna be fun.

I got out to the festival around noon. I started the festival with a Yaka Mein and I am finishing off with a Yaka Mein for the last day as well

I mentioned in an earlier post that the 50^th anniversary t-shirt I fancied had sold-out. I checked back at one of the merchandise stalls on the off-chance that they may have restocked. They have, and I have another t-shirt to add to the small collection I have back home. There is a large marquee at the festival that sells live recording of many of the artists performances over the years (including this year). I knew that Los Lobos had been recorded the other day and so I picked myself up a copy of their set.

I went over to Gentilly to watch *Jon Cleary and his Absolute Monster Gentleman. Jon and band always put on a first class show The weather is bearable, a little overcast with a cooling breeze every now and then. Looks like today is going to be busy (punter wise) the track around the Gentilly stage is already packed with seats. To be honest I feel pretty crook, as the cold takes hold, I am determined to hang in as long as I can for this last day of music in New Orleans, before I head home on Wednesday.

*’Since moving over from the UK in the 80’s, Cleary has earned a place in the front-line of New Orleans blues singers and keyboardists. He won a Grammy Award for his CD GoGo Juice. At the 2018 Best of the Beat awards, Jon Cleary was named Songwriter of the year and Best Pianist.’ – Offbeat Jazz Bible

Next on the bill, and again on Gentilly, is *Little Feat. They started about 10 minutes late, which is frustrating as they can’t make up time at the end. It would not be fair on other artists.. The played a number of hits including, ‘Oh Atlanta’, ‘Fat Man In The Bathtub’, ‘Dixie Chicken’ (with guest Popa John Gros), and ‘Feats Don’t Fail Me Now’. I enjoyed the set but I thought they lacked some punch and jammed too long on their songs. Still I am glad I saw them again. It had been a while. The early 70’s at Festival Hall from (hazy) memory.

*Formed by the late Lowell George just after Frank Zappa sacked him for drug use, Little Feat had some of the most fluid jams and quirkiest songwriting in the 70’s. All four living members of the classic line-up are still aboard (they’ve lost Lowell George and drummer Richie Hayward), having shed a couple of later-day singers they’re are largely back to the vintage sound and material.’ – Offbeat Jazz Bible

I may get castigated, but I headed home at 5pm after Little Feat. I wanted to stay at Gentilly for John Fogarty and then some of Buddy Guy at the Blues Tent, to round out the 2019 Jazz Fest. I just feel to sick to stay. Another Jazz Fest under the belt. It has been good even with all the disappointments of the changes to the original line-up announcement. Maybe I will be back next year, I know Wendy is keen, my health is giving me the shits. I am just so God damn tired all the time.

Day Thirty-Two – May 4^th

For a list of all the ways technology has failed to improve the quality of life, please press three. Alice Khan

There has been a heavy Thunderstorm overnight. It is still raining when I get up. At eleven o’clock the Jazz Fest people have sent out word that today’s opening will be delayed until 12:30. More depressing news, there is another major Thunderstorm due around 4:00 pm. I made an executive decision (Captain’s call) to not got to the Fest today. My decision was to some degree based on the predicted storm but also to the fact that John Prine would not be closing out the days music in the Blues Tent (due to illness.)

William and I decided to hit the MRB bar around 3pm. The back patio area is packed, however, we managed to snag a couple of seats next to some out of town, young party goers. Three people from Chicago and two from Detroit. They seemed to take a liking to us and insisted on buying drinks for us. Beer for me and William’s favourite tipple, Vodka and diet coke. As the day wore on we were each given a shoe of Jager. On one occasion I went into the bar and a local bar-fly (Byron) thought I was Robert Plant, I guess due to me accent (he thought I was English) and they way I looked? Now, don’t laugh, but this is not the first time I have been asked the same question. If only they heard me sing!

William and I went into the bar to watch the live running of the 145^th Kentucky Derby. The race was run in foul weather, pouring rain and a very muddy track. They race on sand for the Derby. The race was won by the favourite, (Maximum Security), but then Maximim Security was controversially disqualified due to interference on the home turn. I read the next day that the President of the United States had nothing better to do whilst running the richest and most powerful country in the world, to Tweet that the Stewards were wrong and the it was Fake News due to Political Correctness gone mad. Is this man fair dinkum? What a moron he is.

William and I wandered back home around 7 pm, both a little worse for wear. And guess what? The predicted second storm did not occur.

Day Thirty-Two – May 4^th

There has been a heavy Thunderstorm overnight. It is still raining when I get up. At eleven o’clock the Jazz Fest people have sent out word that today’s opening will be delayed until 12:30. More depressing news, there is another major Thunderstorm due around 4:00 pm. I made an executive decision (Captain’s call) to not got to the Fest today. My decision was to some degree based on the predicted storm but also to the fact that John Prine would not be closing out the days music in the Blues Tent (due to illness.)

William and I decided to hit the MRB bar around 3pm. The back patio area is packed, however, we managed to snag a couple of seats next to some out of town, young party goers. Three people from Chicago and two from Detroit. They seemed to take a liking to us and insisted on buying drinks for us. Beer for me and William’s favourite tipple, Vodka and diet coke. As the day wore on we were each given a shoe of Jager. On one occasion I went into the bar and a local bar-fly (Byron) thought I was Robert Plant, I guess due to me accent (he thought I was English) and they way I looked? Now, don’t laugh, but this is not the first time I have been asked the same question. If only they heard me sing!

William and I went into the bar to watch the live running of the 145^th Kentucky Derby. The race was run in foul weather, pouring rain and a very muddy track. They race on sand for the Derby. The race was won by the favourite, (Maximum Security), but then Maximim Security was controversially disqualified due to interference on the home turn. I read the next day that the President of the United States had nothing better to do whilst running the richest and most powerful country in the world, to Tweet that the Stewards were wrong and the it was Fake News due to Political Correctness gone mad. Is this man fair dinkum? What a moron he is.

William and I wandered back home around 7 pm, both a little worse for wear. And guess what? The predicted second storm did not occur.

May 3^rd – Day Thirty-One

Begin at once to live, and count each separate day as a separate life. Seneca

I had to renew my phone plan to cover my few remaining days. Brian Wise has told me that he pays a $3 monthly fee so as to keep his U.S. cell number. Might explore that option.

Overcast and humid, the weather for tomorrow (Saturday) is not looking good.

Breakfast this morning at Jazz Fest was Vietnamese Egg Rolls and a BBQ Shrimp Skewer.

Stopped in at the Blues Tent for the last twenty minutes of *John Mooney & Bluesiana. Wicked slide-guitar.

Real enough to record for Ruf and Blind Pig and to sit in with Snooks Eglin and Fess himself, Mooney more or less invented welding Delta Blues to New Orleans funk. – Offbeat Jazz Fest Bible

Then over to the Lagniappe Stage for some of Susan Cowsill of the famous Cowsill Family group from the sixties.

The humidity is bad today. Sitting in the Blues tent becomes sauna like after ten minutes or so.

At 3pm I sat on the track at Gentilly and listened in to a full set of the * North Mississippi Allstars with special guest Anders Osborne. These younger guys sure know how to channel the old-time Hill Country blues. Love it.

*Southern rock and blues band from Mississippi, starring brothers Luther Dickinson (guitar) and Cody Dickinson (drums.) – Offbeat Jazz Bible

By four o’clock I was back in the Blues Tent for *Sonny Landreth. What a slide guitarist this man is. Totally unique. To think that a few years back we nearly had him play at WOW, sadly, the tour was canceled due to Sonny being ill at the time.

*’A thoughtful songwriter and scorching slide guitarist. Landreth can claim the likes of Clapton, Buffett, Hiatt and John Mayall as collaborators and fans’. – Offbeat Jazz fest Bible*’

My last gig for the day (again in the Blues Tent), was the legendary *Los Lobos. For me one of the highlight gigs of Jazz Fest. I enjoyed every minute of it. I sat next to WOW member Geoff and his lovely wife.

*They’re best known for two 80’s Richie Valens covers in ‘La Bamba’ and Come On, Let’s Go,’ but this five-piece band has been holding down the tradition of Mexican-American music since they changed all the rules of Latin rock with ‘Will the Wolf Survive.’ Too ahead of their time, they stuck around through sheer tenacity (like the wolf) and now serve as gatekeepers of border music from the Pacific to Port Arthur.’ – Offbeat Jazz Fest Bible

Day 30 – May 2^nd.

There’ll be two dates on your tombstone. And all your friends will read ‘em. But all that’s gonna matter is that little dash between ‘em. Kevin Welch

First day of the 50^th Jazz Fest. I am up late, last night went longer than planned. Today (2^nd weekend of the Fest), was the Rolling Stones day. It will be interesting to see the size of the crowd. A lot of people I have spoken to have received their ticket refunds and did not bother with getting a replacement ticket.

I didn’t get out to the Fairgrounds until after one. Walked straight in without the usual lines of punters waiting for the security check. Food was an urgent requirement. I had a serve of Lamb Tangine and Rice followed by a Crawfish Monica washed down with, an oh so sweet Strawberry Lemonade. I must have eaten 20 Lbs of Crawfish this trip.

It is an overcast day, humid, and then hot, when the sun breaks through periodically.

I went over to the Gentilly Stage for Marc Broussard. Marc played at FQF and I was not overly impressed on that occasion. This time around however I like what I heard.

I stayed at Gentilly for *Rita Coolidge. She looked fantastic, all in white. I was rapt to hear her sing, ‘Superstar’, from the epic release ‘Mad Dogs and Englishmen.’

*‘You know the honeyed voice if you’ve heard the 70’s soft rock rendition of ‘Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher’ or the epic power ballad ‘We’re All Alone,’ but before that Rita was one of rock’s most in-demand backup vocalists (Leon Russell) wrote ‘Delta Lady about her). – Offbeat Jazz Fest Bible

I have had my eye on a black and gold 50^th Anniversary t-shirt. Looks like everyone at the festival had the same mindset as they have sold out already.

Over to the Blues Tent for a favourite of ours, *Eric Lindell. Great as always. I hung around to buy his latest CD release from him. I was rather pleasantly surprised that he remembered my name from previous trips.

*Once a Californian skate- punk, Lindell had more success as a blue-eyed soul and blues-man after moving to New Orleans. His tight backing band explore the edges of Louisiana’s roots rock.’ – Offbeat Jazz Bible

It has been amazing the number of people who say something to me when I am wearing my Jerry Jeff Walker t-shirt. It is like we are part of a mystical family of Jerry Jeff fans. Another guy has just told me his Jerry Jeff story. ‘I saw Jerry Jeff in the early 70’s, he came on stage four hours late!’ He had just finished his second song, when he started to stumble backwards, doing a back-stroke maneuver.’ ‘He crashed through the drums and promptly fell asleep.’ ‘The drummer said, thanks for coming out to the show, it’s goodnight from Jerry Jeff.’ The storyteller said all this with a big smile on his face.

Pat must have seen me trying to get some photos and she came up to say hello. She is going to hang in for Mavis Staples and then go over to see her teenage heart-throb, Tom Jones.

My must see today is *Mavis Staples. She did not disappoint. For an eighty year old lady, she still has am amazing voice and energy. She at one stage said, ‘I am going to bring out my little brother.’ Trombone Shorty came out and lifted her performance even higher. You could see the great respect he had for Mavis. The Staple Singers with Pops at the helm were legendary in the sixties Civil Right’s movement. I was going to go and see some of Tom Jones myself, but how could I possible leave such a moving and riveting performance. I later read that Ton Jones had showed up at a Jon Cleary gig at Chickie Way Wah and sang a few songs. That would have been awesome. By all reports his Jazz Fest performance was top notch. And no, he did not sing, ‘What’s New Pussy Cat!’

*She’ll take you there. The Grand Dame of Gospel’s first family, who stoked her street cred when the 70’s on hits like ‘Respect Yourself’ and ‘I’ll Take You There, is getting even more respect today with her solo career; no one else at the Festival except from Al Green combines the sexy throaty passion of R’n’B with the sweet release of Gospel.’ – Offbeat Jazz Fest Bible

I must say that the homecoming bus trips have been a breeze compared to previous years. No long waits at all.

I had a knock on the door around 8pm and was invited in for dinner. Rick is an exceptional cook. He brought all his cooking stuff down from Kansas City. Had a Mexican soup with crushed tortillas, baby-back ribs and some mustard glazed corned-beef. Very tasty.

Day 29 – May 1^st.

‘It is no easy matter to go to Heaven by way of New Orleans ‘ – Rev. J Chandler Gregg

Wednesday in the Crescent City and one week of my trip to go. Where have those days gone?

News has just come through that John Prine has had to cancel his Saturday appearance at Jazz Fest. That’s a bummer as I had penciled him in as a must see. To date these are the cancellations from the original line-up. The Stones, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bob Seeger, Jimmy Cliff and then Fleetwood Mac who were to replace the Stones. ‘What a drag it is getting old.’

I went out early, and can proudly say, I have broken the back of my gift shopping.

Today is Crawfish Festival day at Central BBQ. Doors open at 3. I booked a United Cab and arrivds at 3:30. The outdoor area is pretty wet with a number of puddles around. Must have been a brief downpour that missed my place. Bugger, I forgot my seat.

The first act for the day is Papa Mali with Alvin Youngblood Hart. Enjoyable set of music. There are a number of Aussies in the house. Brian Wise and wife Karen with some of his tour group. Also Tony Wood, Baz Williams and Bryce.

I got my serve of Crawfish and fixins’ which is part of the entry cost. Must say I am getting pretty good at suckin’ the head and pinchin’ the tail. Certainly not as quick as the locals, but getting there. Another first, I have managed to keep my t-shirt free of Mud Bug guts.

Part of today’s festivities is a Crawfish cooking contest. Ten entries in all including the MRB bar. This is serious business. Woodie from MRB recognized me from Stew’s party.

Next on the bill (and the reason I choose this day of the three day festival), Anders Osborne and David Torkanowsky. Great music, more subdued that when Anders is in full band mode. I took a few photos of the Aussies around the festival.

Tony Wood and I had a couple of coldies and he told me that tomorrow night, Fiona Boyes will be playing with Johnny Sansone at the Monkey Bar. I know I will be too stuffed to go to that gig after the first day of Jazz Fest (tomorrow).

Day Twenty Eight – April 30^th

I have recently been examining all the known superstitions of the world, and do not find in our particular superstition (Christianity) one redeeming feature. They are all alike founded on fables and mythology. Thomas Jefferson

Not a lot to report in on today. Except of course my (what is now) traditional luncheon with William. For the last 5 years we have been going to the upmarket Mr B’s on Royal Street. We go there exclusively for the best BBQ Shrimp in town. You can check out Mr B’s here http://www.mrbsbistro.com/

The restaurant is one of the famous Brennan family businesses. Y’all can find the recipe for the shrimp at the above site. Just turn a blind eye to the amount of butter in the peppery sauce if you are on a diet. This is a dish that is eaten with your hands, to save your clothes from getting covered in the sauce you get to wear a paper bib.

Now I never like to create controversy and I am very mindful of being political correct (most of the time). However I have an observation from Jazz Fest that I’d like to share. Please take my observation with the humor that is intended.

I have noticed a number of (say) senior ladies dressed smartly, and on closer inspection, have had some work done to their faces. You know the ladies, no wrinkles, face skin unusually smooth. Botox, and this months new and expensive face cream made from Yak’s milk or something similar have warded off the ravages of time. They invariably wear shortish dresses and have a deep tan. The problem is, that when you glance down at their legs their skin in like an eighty year old rhinoceroses’ hide. I think there is a market for a new type of cream (would have to come in a very large container.) The cream would be used to get the said crinkly skin of the legs to match the odd looking smooth skin of those ladies that need to look younger. Just saying!