Let me start from the beginning. I almost had a panic attack that morning because my printer wouldn’t produce my ticket. It had ink, it was plugged in, and everything else seemed to be functioning normally, but the page kept coming out blank! Not good. Hyperventilating I walked over to the Mid-City Library where, after acquiring a library card and PIN, I was finally able to print my ticket. Phew! I was already sweating, so I hopped on the streetcar to City Park.
However, when I disembarked I realized I didn’t know how to get to the entrance. Embarrassing, I know - I am from here and yet I’d never been to the fairgrounds. Thankfully, the gods of live music festivals saw I was in peril and sent me a guardian angel of sorts. The woman walking in front of me on Esplanade made a friendly comment to me and I used that as an opening to say to her, “I take it you’re going to Jazz Fest?” Not that it was obvious or anything; she just had a folding chair slung over her shoulder and a wide-brimmed hat on. I asked her how to get to the entrance and we began to chat and she was nice enough to let me follow her. We got separated at the gate, but I was thankful to have met her because she was kind and gave me the lowdown. By the time I walked in I felt like a pro.
I headed straight to the Acura Stage to see Hurray for the Riff Raff. Alas, I was later than I hoped, but I did happen to catch their last two songs. By another stroke of luck, my dear friend Stephanie spotted me right away. We embraced and she introduced me to her friend Jasmine from vet school. “We brought study materials,” Stephanie declared happily showing me the plethora of Pathology notes in Jasmine’s backpack. “Nerds,” I retorted. It was kinda smart, actually. We were seeing Glen Hansard and then no one else until Florence + the Machine played about three and a half hours later. I secretly wished I had brought something to do during the downtime.
The aforementioned performances ended up being two of the best live acts I’ve ever seen. Glen Hansard has an incredible singing voice (and an Irish accent, in case you didn’t know). He is wonderful live, and very funny, too! He sang an Irish song about Lake Pontchartrain that the crowd loved. At the end of his set he asked for a drummer from the crowd to play a Bruce Springsteen song with him (it was just him and his guitar onstage). A random guy working Stage Krewe at Jazz Fest jumped onstage and took command of the drums. His name was Joe it must have been the best day of his life - getting to spontaneously perform at Jazz Fest. Sadly, Glen Hansard’s guitar string broke during the song and he had no replacement, so his set ended early.
Glen Hansard.
As soon as that was over we ate (I got a fried gator po’boy!) and headed over to the Gentilly Stage where Florence + the Machine would be playing in mere hours. We wanted a good spot and even though it was incredibly crowded we got one - right in the center and only two rows away from the barricade. We were stoked. (The only downside was the six foot tall man wearing a hat who was right in front of me. “No way he is a Florence fan,” Stephanie said. Apparently he was because he stayed. Curse him.)
I wanted more food, but my spot was too good to risk moving. Somehow three hours went by quickly - partially thanks to the wonderful musicians who make up Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk - and the appearance of Florence and her incredible band at 5:30 was well worth the wait. Flo (it’s appropriate for me to call her that, right?) was amazing. Like with Glen (he and I are on a first name basis, too*) I was amazed that she sounded so amazing in person, much better than a recording. She is so proper and British and quiet when she speaks, but then she manages to hit these notes that I didn’t even know existed. She looked great, too. As we hoped, she walked onstage wearing what looked like a cross between a wizard’s cloak and synthetic bat wings. Everything about her performance was beautiful.
Florence in her shiny academic robes.
We were so close!
Even though I was there for a whole day, I feel like I barely got to experience what Jazz Fest has to offer. I’ll certainly be back next year!
I’m at Jazz Fest today! Looking forward to seeing Hooray for the Riff Raff, Glen Hansard, and Florence + the Machine. Mostly excited to stuff my face, though.
Last Thursday I went to an event at Vernon Clothing on behalf of Slow Southern Style. Every Thursday they have a “Happy Hour” where they serve free drinks, sponsor free shoe shines, and give you 15% off all their clothes. Yeah, it was as awesome as it sounds.
On Wednesday night my friends dragged me (voluntarily) out to see The Ting Tings. If you haven’t heard of them they are the band of “That’s not my name!” fame (now you’ve got that song stuck in your head!). I was certainly a fan of the English duo before the show, but I had only listened to their first album (the second was released recently) and I hadn’t listened to it in quite some time. So, while I expected to enjoy the show, I did not think it would be the best live show I’d seen in a while. Which it was!
The Ting Tings.
Before I describe the show, you should know two things: 1) One of the friends that I went out with had just returned from a month long pilgrimage from Australia, so it was lovely to see her and 2) I ate a burrito before the show.
Basically, a recipe for a great night.
Courtney and Jason chowing down on tacos and margaritas.
The show was at the House of Blues and the moment we arrived we ran into my friend Nina and her boyfriend Matt. The night just kept getting better!
However, my life was nearly ruined when I reached the door and realized that I’d forgotten my license at home! Thankfully, I had my UNO staff ID. I approached the door man and told him, “I work at UNO. Just assume I’m under 21, I won’t drink!” He glared at me, but kindly let me in without a bracelet. Crisis averted.
A lady who goes by the stage name MNDR (It took us forever to decipher what she was saying. MIPR? MNPR? WXYZ?) opened for The Ting Tings and she was great! Her outfit was goth on top - black, skin tight mesh - and picnic-like on the bottom - her skirt was blue with flowers on it. I loved it. She sang and danced and made music by using that thing that makes sounds and looks like a turntable. Is it obvious I’m ignorant about most things musical? Wait, don’t answer that!
MNDR.
Finally, The Ting Tings took the stage. The duo - Jules de Martino and Katie White - have Bristh accents, are incredibly sexy, and can play every musical instrument ever between the two of them. Their energy did not cease. They played loud and it was a ton of fun. While singing “That’s Not My Name,” the last song of the night, the NOLA Cherry Bombs got on stage and danced with them. It was a non-stop fun fest.
Would I recommend seeing them live? I’ll answer that question with a question - Did you read this post at all?!
Here’s the video for a song of their’s that I like very much:
It’s here: the InvadeNOLA LOVES issue of the popular magazine! It’s great. This issue is full of things that the InvadeNOLA staff love about NOLA. Also, the Fashion section was written by yours truly.
Speaking of InvadeNOLA, I’ve been promoted from “Contributing Writer” to “Assistant Blog Editor.” Fancy, huh?
Have you used Neighborland? It is a website designed to encourage urban development in cities by getting ideas and feedback straight from the community itself. It began here in New Orleans and has since expanded to include Boulder and Houston with more to come. I love using the site to see and share other people’s ideas.
Today I decided to join the party by proposing an idea of my own - to redevelop the site where the amusement park Pontchartrain Beach was once located. Today it’s a sectioned-off, dirty stretch of beach where UNO students and other locals hang out and fish. The space is already being used so I think it deserves to be spruced up in order to make it safer and more comfortable and to draw more people in as well.
If you click on the link above you can support my idea. I would also love feedback and other suggestions as well. Thanks!
Even though it’s only April, tempuatures here in the South suggest it’s summer time. This has me dreaming about beaches - water, sand and sun. It also made me realize that I need to actually purchase a swimsuit!
My goal this summer is to get a luxurious tan (usually I have an awkward, uneven one). Thanks to my half-Italian heritage I am indeed capable of losing the paleness that I’ve inherited from my Dutch half. I am thinking of starting this weekend by laying out on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain. I’d love to be able to take advantage of Spring Break this week like the rest of UNO and go to a real beach, but Spring Break is apparently only for students and not for staff. So, instead of road trips I’m in meetings. Alas.
There are some cool things coming to the National World War II Museum.
Dignitaries and officials topped off the newest expansion with an evergreen tree at the highest point on the new building, the U.S. Freedom Pavilion.
The Pavilion, expected to open to the public this winter, will display the museum’s “macro” artifacts: airplanes, tanks, jeeps and a “simulated submarine ride in which 27 visitors at a time will feel the floor vibrate and the whoosh of a torpedo being fired.”
The exhibits on display here will have an interactive narrative element that will guide visitors through the experiences of a particular service member:
“Each visitor will receive a bar-coded version of a GI’s dog tag bearing a service member’s name. Throughout the exhibit, updates will be available at kiosks.”
The updates will be supplied via information the museum collected through oral-history interviews with the actual service members.
You guys, this is going to be so cool. I cannot wait. Isn’t history the best?!
I forgot to mention that I saw this on Saturday night at the Mahalia Jackson Theater. It was incredibly beautiful, hilarious and moving. I teared up a little. That’s all you need to know.
That and if you ever get the chance to see this do not miss out!
