Jazz Fest: The tween days of Jazz Fest 2010

Well, we made it through the first weekend and were now down to just the three of us again. In trying to figure out what to do on the off days before weekend two, being good all-American boys, a baseball game seemed in order. The New Orleans Zephyrs are the AAA franchise of the Florida Marlins and just happened to be in the midst of a home stand against the Nashville Sounds, who represent for Brewers organization. Two good music towns in battle on the ball field!!

The cab ride was a bit pricey, since we couldn't manage to figure out the bus schedule, but it was a bright sunny day--- picture perfect for a ball game. Ten bucks got us seats 2 rows back from the screen (inexplicably marked as row 4) behind home plate.

Now if only the Zephyrs had bothered showing up!!! Hector Luna, the Zephyrs 3rd baseman (a former Cleveland Indians draft pick) got the fun started when, after failing to cleanly field a bunted ball early in the game, stood and stared at the ball as the Sounds pitcher (who had 3 hits on the day) went from 1st to 3rd on the bunted ball. And it was all downhill from there for the home team, who lost the game 12-1.

Still, there were up sides, like getting to shake hands with Zephyrs mascot, Boudreaux the Nutria----yes, their mascot is a big rat!!!

And as you can see, we all left with smiles on our faces!!

That evening we ate at our hotel's free dinner buffet in an attempt to save a bit of money since our trip expanded from 5 to 11 days this year. While it was no Emeril Lagasse meal, it was perfectly passable and there was free Abita Amber too!!

We had tickets this night for a very special evening show (again at The Howlin' Wolf). The drummer for the band Little Feat, Richie Hayward, has liver cancer and is in Canada now getting treatments and hoping for a chance at a transplant. As such, given Little Feat's huge presence in New Orleans through the years, several local musicians organized a benefit concert for Richie....and oh what a night it was!! The list of players who showed up was huge and included Brian Stoltz (Neville Bros and Funky Meters guitarist), The Radiator's Dave Malone, Anders Osborne, John Gros, Sonny Landreth, The Honey Island Swamp Band, Brian Blade, and 3 members of Little Feat (Paul Barrere, Kenny Gradney, and Fred Tackett) amongst others. It was an extensive 3 1/2 hour trip thru the Feat catalog. Highlights included a terrific "Easy Money" from the Swamp Band and an otherwordly guitar solo from Anders on "Fool Yourself". Nonmusical highlihts included Dave Malone calling Richie on his cell phone in the midst of the show to share the love with him in Canada!

It was also a terrific drinking night for 3 good friends from Ohio. Much Makers Mark and Abita Amber was consumed, and while it put a bit of a damper on my activities on our last day off before weekend two, it was well worth it for the great brotherhood with my two terrific friends Bob and David!!

The following are a few pics from this marvelous evening: