Another Jazz Fest closed...

It's Sunday already?  And, after a couple hours of blogging with a bright sun blinding me through the hotel lobby windows, it has started to POUR!  Peter and I cross over St. Louis to the Gumbo File store to purchase some cheap rain ponchos just in case we will need it at the Fest today.  But the clouds start to clear, the rain slackens and we are off on our morning walk, choosing the Riverwalk route.

Atchafalaya Cafe

Around 11:30, once the Pool Hall Studs have arisen, we cab out to the Atchafalaya Cafe on Louisiana Avenue for some breakfast and Bloody Marys (you make your own), but all we get is a round of liquids for we had no reservations.  Too bad, cool place.  Undeterred, we walk down to Gott Gourmet Cafe on Magazine.  Boy, am I in the mood for some hash 'n eggs over easy!  Our waitress delivers the bad news- breakfast ends at noon, boys - sorry.  We immediately launch into our best Five Easy Pieces-era Jack Nicholson  'chicken salad sandwich' routine that gets us a smirk, but no breakfast.  No problem.

Dancing to the country swing
of Asleep at the Wheel

Out to the Fair Grounds. I notice that ELS is playing at Congo Square, but I assume it is not the golfer Ernie Els (although he IS known as the Big Easy).  The Studs rave about Glen David Andrews at the Blues Tent, while Peter and I have a very enjoyable chat with New Orleans sax player Derek Huston about his gigs with Gregg Allman, Elvis Costello & Nick Lowe (where they played each other's songs), James Hunter and more.  He will be playing at noon Monday with the Creole String Beans.  We say goodbye 'til tomorrow and head over to Acura to meet up with Peter's long-time family friend Laura, where we are graciously greeted with hugs and beers.  We stay for the opening of the Foo Fighters, but I'm not a big fan, so we make our trek to the opposite end of the Fair Grounds for Bonnie Raitt, stopping briefly to sample the Rebirth Brass Band.  I must admit that Bonnie is a bit disappointing starting out, lots of the middle of the road 90's (very successful) stuff.  Get out the slide, Bonnie!  One nice slow blues number.  A big sigh.  C'mon, Peter, let's check out Asleep At the Wheel over at Fais Do Do.  Great choice!  People dancing around to their western swing.  Great stuff.  A text from the Studs that they are at Bonnie, so we get back there in time to see her with the ubiquitous Allen Toussaint - and they both are great.  Nice recovery, Bonnie.

We plan to close with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band extravaganza, but I want to sample Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings at the Blues Tent.  We do.  From the right side of the tent, we have decent viewing, but the sound mix is really bad and we leave.  The Preservation show is a great finish, lots of guests (Steve Earle, Bonnie, Allen Toussaint, Ani DiFranco, etc.) and they are energetic and talented.  Perfect close.  A quick Abita at the Seahorse with a number of Jazz Fest friends as we exit, then back to the Quarter to clean up, get a bite to eat (I get my hash n eggs!), a nightcap at Laffite's and to bed.  Another Jazz Fest in the books.