I was born in Algiers, twelve o’clock at night An’ the moon wasn’t shinin’, and it wasn’t a bit of light. —Charlie Spand, “Evil Woman Spell,” 1929

We awoke to a humid and overcast day and a strong possibility of rain in the forecast. We had no problems with getting an Uber. The driver gave us some very good advice about where to go to get an Uber at the end of the day’s music.

A different country’s cultural heritage is featured each year of Jazz Fest. This year it is Puerto Rico. So, I decided to try a traditional Puerto Rico meal (Trifondo) with pulled pork. It was delicious but, for $12, there was not a lot of it. As we sat and ate, we listened to Conduncto Tipico Samaritano.

Wendy and I again went to the Alison Minor stage and caught the last three songs of Anne Elise Hastings & her Revolving Cast of Characters. Pretty good. She must have had no luck in love as the songs we heard were all about unsavory past boyfriends.

At 12:35 local Lafayette singer/songwriter Lane Mack hits the stage. A strong Blues/Rock set. The weather is closing in and, being a Jazz Fest veteran, (this is my 10th.) we now move to the Blues Tent. The rest of the day’s artists in the Blues Tent are all worth a look and the added bonus is we will stay dry.

Photos: Lane Mack Band

We saw the closing songs of the Charmaine Neville band. Charmaine is always the entertainer.

Next up is Mitch Woods and his Rocket 88s. As can be read by the name, we are in for some “rocking delight”. He tore the house down with his New Orleans band which featured the mighty John Fohl on guitar. I loved the set. Boogie Woogie and Jump Blues at their very best.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitch_Woods

Mitch Woods

Bernie went out for a Ya Ka Mein run. He got back just as the downpour hit. So glad we have good seats as the tent quickly fills with people seeking shelter. This year the ushers are very strict and do not allow people to stand in the aisles.

Next up is Sonny Landreth. He played an awesome set. One of the most unique slide-guitarists in the world. Simply amazing. Bernie is having an epiphany next to me, I think I saw a tear roll down his cheek. To think that WOW almost had Sonny at Way Out West but his tour never got off the ground due to illness. Whatever music happens over the next days of Jazz Fest, this set will be hard to beat.

Landreth is best known for his slide guitar playing, having developed a technique where he also frets notes and plays chords and chord fragments by fretting behind the slide while he plays. Landreth plays with the slide on his little finger so that his other fingers have more room to fret behind the slide. He is also known for his right-hand technique, which involves tapping, slapping, and picking strings, using all of the fingers on his right hand. He wears a special thumb pick/flat pick hybrid on his thumb so that he can bear down on a pick while simultaneously using his finger-style technique for slide. (Wikipedia)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_Landreth

Sonny Landreth

We decided to stay put and listen to the Campbell Brothers. The information blurb said they were a little like the Robert Randolph band as they are also a Sacred Steel band. I have to say their musicianship is first class and the female singer has a voice to behold. But they are so damn religious to the point of being annoying. I know this is “church music” but I don’t want to hear a sermon. We all get encouraged to chant “Hell No, Heaven Yes”, then “Don’t Let The Devil Ride, He Will Want To Drive”. Bernie has threatened to abandon the Campbell Brothers and go over with the younguns to see Ed Sheeran!

Campbell Brothers

We stuck with the religious fervor because next up is Christone “Kingfish” Ingram. A twenty-three-year-old blues singer/guitarist who is taking the world by storm. Kingfish has recently toured Australia so I know many of you reading this will know who he is. Buddy Guy is so impressed that he has become his mentor. What a show and what a band he has backing him. I thought of WOW stalwarts Tommy Backus and John Spice back home while the Kingfish was ripping off a killer solo and how I was sure they would have been ‘crying tears in their beers’.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christone_%22Kingfish%22_Ingram

The Kingfish

The good news is the rain has cleared as we head out to walk to the location where it will be easier to pick up an Uber. All good and we are on our way back to the apartment. Bad news for those that stayed to see the end of Ed Sheeran as it is pouring rain again.

We headed out to Freret St for Pizza at Midway. Great restaurant. We started with Pigs in a Blanket and then ordered three large pizzas to share. One of them is a Chicago-style deep pan. The waitress shook her head saying that three pizzas may be a little too many for the four of us. She was correct! (see Hoff’s food blog for full details)