With Day 2 of the New Orleans Jazz Fest in the rearview, we’re still catching our breath from the hike between stages as we covered the fairgrounds to see Phish, Robert Plant, Anders Osborne and a whole lotta local weirdness down in NOLA. Check out our run of highlights and awards from Day 2 of Jazz Fest – after having a run through our Day 1 coverage of Avett Brothers, Public Enemy and more.
Best Fest Beard: Anders Osborne bassist Carl Dufrene
Local singer-songwriter Anders Osborne tends to sport the kind of Jazz Fest beard that looks like it came from the NHL Playoffs. Though there seems to be an overabundance of beards in the world, the Osborne gang is the originator of the fest facial hair look.
Headliner Highlights: Phish
The jam band masters christened their triumphant return to Jazzfest with three hours’ worth of material, gleefully digging deep. A particular highlight was a soulful rendition of “Lawn Boy”, which perfectly complemented the many mid-weekend headliners that have come before; Jimmy Buffet’s 2012 acoustic set most immediately coming to mind. Of all the bands to perform so far, no other group could get the crowd moving and swaying like Phish. Wide shots from the video walls flanking the stage showed a sea of fans swaying and dancing with little regard to rhythm or style.
Headliner Highlights: Robert Plant
Photo Gallery: Robert Plant at NOLA Jazz Fest
The one playful dig I will lob at Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant is simply that I’d love for him to be my sassy grandpa. Who wouldn’t? The sagacious Plant transformed Zep tracks with the type of world music flair that shows he’s still innovating, still reinventing his sound even after all these years. Backing band the Sensational Space Shifters turned “Black Dog” into a meandering work of art, as Plant issued a call and response from the audience as the beat waltzed on. It comes as little shock that Plant would be game to return to New Orleans despite no other tour stops in place: the singer clearly enjoys the city and recently pulled a surprise show at Bywater dive BJ’s that stretched on for hours.
Most Beloved (likely illegal) Vendor: The “how you gonna clap” guy
Rolling right in front of the Gentilly Blvd. entrance is perhaps the most legendary of all illegal Jazz Fest vendors. The “how you gonna clap” guy has been helping fans utilize their hands for the right reasons for years, ensuring that no mouth goes without the taste of booze. That “feedbag” sign crafted with nothing more than the backs of discarded Jazz Fest signs and a magic marker show that this man means business. And that apparently beer is breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Best Conspiracy Theory: The phish fan documentary
Goddamn it, do I really look like I’m savvy enough to make a documentary about anything? Don’t answer that, dear readers. Apparently the Phish fans of Jazzfest were feeling especially alienated today, as the two I approached for this photo were convinced I was making a documentary about them and would not hear me out about anything. They saw me taking pictures of the “how you gonna clap” guy before I entered and wrongly assumed he was also a Phish fan and that therefore this was a documentary. Um, nice try but you’re on the wrong drugs today.
Buzzkill Hike: Second stage to the main stage (Samsung to Acura)
What is this, Lollapalooza? It took me twenty minutes to run between stages, and I mean literally run and dodge. Between being weighed down by the heat, dehydration, and the disapproving eyes of many, many chair people wondering why you’d crowd their field of vision for even a millisecond, the trek across the Fair Grounds was highly unforgiving. For those unconcerned with musicians’ set times, there’s plenty to wander into between stages, however. The type of food options that make you weep buttery, deep-fried tears of joy await at seemingly every turn, along with sweet merchandise and bits of culture to up your NOLA IQ.
Photos: April Siese
