The countdown to Jazz Fest begins!

Lunch yesterday at Anthony Jack's (great Shepard's Pie) with the Pool Hall Studs to plan out my ninth/their twentieth (ish) trip to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.  Barry picked up the lunch, while Mark broke Johnny Gumbo's longstanding rule of never having to tip the barkeep when you dine at the bar.

Down to a threesome this year, Gumbo deceased and Peter passing on a return engagement.  That means one room, two beds, with Mark (the Big Me) sleeping on the couch.  Hey, it's better than that first year when I had to sleep on the floor!  We are back to the Staybridge this year after several years away (they bumped us a couple times), directly across from Mother's (since Gumbo's infamous boycott is over, we may get to grab a po' boy there, although Barry KEEPS reminding us that he's been barfing for the last week - thanks for the update!).  The familiar cast of characters will be there:  Mark/Lisa from Jersey, with friends Kenny/Kip from out West, and Bob M; the famous Shoe Ladies with their extended family entourage; Marshall and his sizable krewe; perhaps a Scarlett O'Hara sighting.

Mark (smoothly) to Freaky Pete Murano, Shorty's guitar player,  "You guys
were really great when we saw you in Fairfield...and your girlfriend is hot."

The music looks very promising for the Second Weekend  Especially interesting, as Mark keenly points out, is the changing of the guard as to who closes the big stage on the final day of Jazz Fest.  It has forever been the Neville Brothers at Acura (with the Radiators at Gentilly), but this year Trombone Shorty steps up to become The Man!  Interestingly, Aaron Neville will be closing Gentilly with his latest project, which covers old doo wop songs from the 50s/early 60s.  I might just sample that!:
Thursday, May 2 
Friday, May 3
Saturday, May 4
Sunday, May 5

R.I.P. George Jones

Mark's impression/tribute to George Jones: