We’re halfway through our yearly holiday.
One of the articles below says it better than I could. Jazz Fest has been something I’ve been lucky enough to attend maybe 30 times since my move to New Orleans in 1978.
I’ve always said I’ve never been out of the United States except when I go to New Orleans. It is so much a unique city I won’t even go into it.
Now I can also say I’ve never left the planet earth except for jazz fest. It’s like going to another planet. One day at a time. To say you leave the world outside the gate just doesn't do it justice.
I’m sure there’s another place on earth where you could watch Robert Plant sing backup on an Alison Kraus song, then watch 2 hours later when Sheryl Crow blasts a Robert Plant song on the same stage. You know you’ve caught lightning in a bottle and it will never happen again on planet earth. And I’m sure there’s another place where you can jump up and down to Cowboy Mouth (they insist on it) but where else would you have the guts to do it in the pouring rain, like a walrus in a gold parka, especially when you thought your jumping days were over. (Do yourself a favor – don’t visualize it.) (It was kind of cool to watch about 70,000 people when it started to rain, just routinely pull out their umbrellas and parkas and go on partying and dancing, - well maybe not so much dancing - most of us are of the rockin' and swaying age. I slipped on my very gold Southern Miss Golden Eagle parka and Jonathan said I looked like a giant condom. My wife said I looked like a goose, then retreated to the grandstand, muttering some wimpy comment about lightening and we're all gonna die.) By the way we now have a name for our group - "the living room." Yes we have a small, but growing group of people we sit with every year. We set up our area against the fence by the Acura Stage like a living room. We could use some lamps and running water next year, if you can carry them.
So, this weekend or next year, come to New Orleans to leave the country, and come to Jazz Fest to leave the planet.
I know, I know – it’s not for everyone. But I promise, give it a few times, drink it in, soak it up, let it come to you, and it will become another holiday on your yearly schedule and you wouldn’t miss it any more than you’d skip Thanksgiving and go get a burger. You know how you start thinking about that turkey and dressing early that week? I start tasting the Crawfish Monica about January.
Here's some great stuff to read on Cube Fest:
http://www.whereyat.com/745?PHPSESSID=0e3e66982a10b7b80fc200ed5bbb1e97
http://www.whereyat.com/765
http://blog.nola.com/chrisrose/2008/04/chris_rose_the_man_with_a_jazz.html
http://www.gumbopages.com/looka/
http://www.eatlikeanative.com/content/view/125/1/
