We start the day $85 ahead- free breakfast at the hotel. No Eggs Benedict, no Bloody Marys, no Andy. I check my email anf find a note from the Denvers forgiving me for forgetting that they were (and still are) Frank and Kim. Thanks, guys. The Denvers are passing on Saturday's Fest, but plan to hit the Maple Leaf for Jon Cleary. Gumbo can't stay on the If it's gnu, let's do theme and suggests we meet Billy V over at Lucy's (Retired Surfer's Bar) for some Bloody Marys before we head out to the Fairgrounds. Weather is again threatening as we hike the seemingly 50 blocks. We order up the usual. Billy V arrives, completely unprepared for his first Fest visit- no hat, no sunscreen, no cheap plastic poncho, no music schedule. Okay, let's start with the hat. He makes our Jessica Alba-looking barkeep climb a ladder several times before settling for a spiffy red one. Good choice. Meanwhile, a call to the PHS finds Mark ready to head over alone because "the bear is not stirring." Music planning: Pearl Jam for the checkmark; Jumpin' Johnny Sansone is a must. Mark arrives in his usual understated manner, declines his usual Dewars and soda in favor of a Bloody Mary. Gumbo informs us he doesn't know who Jessica Alba is. Time to head out while Mark heads back to wake up the hibernating bear.
Billy V is now fully equipped after ripping out a Fest schedule and buying a cheap poncho. But he has a hefty wait to get tickets. He's had to endure the Gumbo tale of buying his tickets early in a financial coup, saving thousands of dollars (the legend grows). Anyway, while BV gets his ticket, we enter and head over to get ourselves some gospel from Betty Winn & One A-Chord singing Oh Happy Day as we enter the tent. Gumbo motions to a nearby lady doing some Elaine Benes-style dancing. BV catches up with us over at the Blues Tent, where we grab some beers and position ourselves along the right side of the open tent to hear Jumpin' Johnny Sansone & the XL Band. The harmonica/accordian-playing Johnny was great last year and knocks our socks off this year. During the show, a woman somehow misses her chair while attempting to sit and almost smashes her head against the concrete floor. The always nimble Gumbo rescues the maiden, props her back up and we're all good.
Choosing the right outhouse line is an inexact science, but the general rule is: guys go quicker. I find a pure guy line about eight deep, passing on a shorter mixed one. A girl gets in back of me telling me she's counting on me. I won't disappoint, I assure her. She recommends Band of Horses, who are currently touring in support of Pearl Jam. I'll try them. Time to.....go.
Band of Horses is decent, but not unbelievable. Was hoping Eddie Vedder might show, but didn't while I was there. Sonny Landreth was great and Billy V met a new friend (see pics), Pearl Jam's crowd was the biggest I've seen. Checkmark. Finished with Kenny Wayne Shepard.
Dinner at Cochon. Very good. more later.
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