“NOLA Residency Week 5 – Sean and Sheri, and jazzfest Week Two”
Monday was a quiet recovery day. I had the Board Audit Committee meeting in the afternoon – all smooth and pretty dry.
I caught an early flight Austin on Tuesday morning, arriving at the office just as the Board Meeting started. This was our most productive meeting yet, and we finished early in the afternoon. I got checked into the hotel and then met our executive team at Comedor for dinner. I really love this restaurant and was pleased that Tim had chosen it.
Such creative preparations of steak tartare, octopus, and bone marrow tacos.
I flew back to New Orleans on Wednesday morning, entertained to see an outpost of the Saxon Pub at the airport. I arrived back in time to make a lunchtime visit to the chiropractor.
Sean and Sheri arrived at Denny and Anne’s cottage after midnight on Wednesday. We all met up for a delicious early dinner at La Petite Grocery on Thursday evening.
The food was better than ever – blue crab beignets appetizer and then my favourite – alligator Bolognese. The group was fired up and ready to go after dinner. We started with a stop at DMACs – apparently there was an entertaining band playing – I ended up sitting outside and chatting with some locals. Back to the condo to freshen up and regroup. Then Denny talked us into the Soul Rebels in the tiny back room of Le Bon Temps Rouler. We ended up getting our cover charge back as it was way too packed to even get to the back room.
Denny wasn’t giving up yet – there’s an excellent Papa Mail ska show at Chickie Wah Wah. Okay, okay, it’s Sean and Sheri’s first day – let’s do something crazy.
I’m so glad we opted to attend – the music was excellent and the place wasn’t crowded at all – even seats and tables available.
We arrived home around 4am – it’s been decades since that happened!
The Ogans and Meeksies were real troopers on Friday, making it back out to jazzfest, and reporting an excellent closing show by Jon Batiste. We took it easy in the morning and then enjoyed our typical Friday afternoon on the porch of the Columns. Alex, Laura, Kenny and Kara all joined us over the course of a pleasant couple of hours.
Saturday was a very rainy day and called for inside activities. We started with lunch at the Cochon Butcher’s shop – a counter service sandwich shop. The food was excellent and I can see why Denny’s been suggesting this place for a while.
After lunch, we made a visit to the Sazerac House – this is a very interesting and free museum about the Sazerac drink and associated other liquors. Highly recommended way to pass an hour or two – the building has been beautifully restored.
Denny suggested catching a bit of Mashaiya Lake at the 21st Amendment bar, before heading back Uptown. I always forget about this place and their typically solid musical offerings.
Some entertaining people watching ensued back on the Magazine Street balcony. A new white Rolls Royce pulled up and parked in front of the Buffalo Exchange thrift shop. I suspected a musician in town for jazzfest, but didn’t recognize the lady who exited the back door to head inside. Also didn’t recognize the man who joined her about 20 minutes later. He didn’t look like a chauffeur and didn’t open the door for her on return. Just interesting that she rides in the back while he drives. This is how we pass our time on the balcony…
On Saturday evening, Denny had arranged for us all to see Low Cut Connie perform at Gasa Gasa on Freret street. This is a small club and it was sold out. The piano player and lead singer was a terrific showman and we thoroughly enjoyed the show. Kind of a cross between Gerry Lee Lewis and Brian Setzer.
We made a relatively early night of it, knowing we were headed to jazzfest to set up camp in the morning. This time we used the normal entrance and I made a quick beeline for the area where I wanted to set up an expanded camp for everyone joining during the day.
The main stage opened with guess who? Low Cut Connie again. From a tiny club to the huge stage. They really got the early crowd going.
Diana walked 8 miles on Sunday – definitely the most solo rambling she’s ever done. Must be getting comfortable after so many visits. She found herself standing in front of Kenny and Anne at Fais Do Do, with none of them noticing initially.
Galactic put on a strong show in the early afternoon main stage slot. Greg and I enjoying the songs they played from the classic “Coolin’ Off” record.
Then it was time for a 2023 jazzfest highight. Mumford & Sons were joined onstage by Trombone Shorty and Jon Batiste for “House of the Rising Sun.” One of those moments that only happens in New Orleans:
Diana made a lap around the track to see Tom Jones perform a few classics at the Gentilly stage, followed by Melissa Etheridge in the Blues Tent. She got there just in time to enjoy “Come to My Window.”
We regrouped with Trombone Shorty closing out the festival, as he has for several years now. It took a while to exit and rejoin the crew for pizza at Midway on Freret Street. The 2023 edition of New Orleans jazzfest is in the books!
Coexist peacefully, with kindness and compassion for all!