What happened on the 1st Sunday last week of Jazz Fest – wind and rain – happened again on Wednesday, the day before the 2nd weekend was to open. Just when everything was drying out, here came the pouring rain and it kept raining into the early opening hours of Jazz Fest on Thursday. But then, for the most part, it was gone. And all that was left was mud, mud everywhere.
Did it stop anyone? Not no, but hell no. Fans still showed up on Thursday, which once the rain had disappeared, it was cloudy, breezy and cool. When was the last time you remember it being almost cold for Jazz Fest? But it sure felt good.
By Friday, the skies were bright blue, the mud was vanishing in many places and a breeze was still blowing. As someone said in the Economy Hall Tent, “It’s warmer today but still excellent music.”
On Thursday, Widespread Panic fans were out in abundance to catch their favorite band headlining the main Acura Stage in true jamband form while Friday’s main headliner, Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds playing acoustic guitars as a duo, had their fans singing out loud from the first lines of the first song.
Other highlights on what is commonly known as “Locals Day” included:
The legendary Herb Alpert headlining the Jazz Tent, letting it be known that he is still one of the true masters of Jazz at 82 years old.
Lisa Fischer stepped away from singing with the Rolling Stones to bring her band, the Grand Baton, to headline the Blues Tent, belting out some Led Zeppelin maybe better than Ann Wilson of Heart.
Darius Rucker, although playing opposite Widespread Panic, drew a large crowd of his own, singing some Hootie & The Blowfish and solo hits.
Glide’s Artist To See was Eric Lindell in the Blues Tent.
Friday saw the marching groups out and about. From the Pussyfooters decked out in pink to various Mardi Gras Indians, you didn’t have to be camped out in front of a stage to be entertained. Artists and demonstrators were actually outside doing their thing, from creating statues to murals to showing everyone how to be a blacksmith. It was a good day to see art in action other than sonically.
Friday musical highlights:
The Revivalists, hometown favorites that rev up the crowds like no one else, returned to the main stage after spending the last several years on the fan-favorite Gentilly Stage. Playing ahead of Dave Matthews might have been an intimidating gig but this band had the crowd in the palm of their hand. And although singer Dave Shaw is used to being up close and personal with the fans all during a performance, with the Acura stage pretty high, he had limited face time with his favorite people. But he did it anyway … with the help of some pretty cut security guys.
Also on the main stage, Glide’s Artist To See of the day was guitar player Sonny Landreth, who started off seated before standing up and letting some slide wail; and Bonerama took on the Allman Brothers’ “Whippin Post” with Mark Mullins’ son Michael joining in on trombone for what has become a tradition.
Rhiannon Giddens lit the Blues Tent on fire, Anders Osborne tore up the Gentilly Stage, Feufollet continued their rise as THE Cajun Zydeco artists to see and Lake Street Dive, playing their first Jazz Fest, had fun on the Gentilly Stage.
Overall, Jazz Fest gave us legends, up & comers, New Orleans favorites and enough food to land you on the treadmill for the rest of the year. And that was just the past two days. Band-aid those blisters and rub on the sunscreen because there’s still two more days to go.
