Up Down, Down Up and down the river. Going…

Also, I’m going to see Up.

The day started in the race track’s stands listening to an interview with Pete Seeger.

While I was there I wrote down some interesting things I heard him say.

Paradoxical

“If it is true that if you don’t grow you die, isn’t it also true that the faster you grow the sooner you die?”

Eminently quotable

“Music and dancing and good food. … These are the things that will save the human race.”

“Q:You look and sound amazing for your age–what’s your secret?” “A:Ice cream.”

“We are all descended from good killers. The ones that weren’t didn’t have any descendants.”

In the same answer he talked more about why he likes to chop wood.

“It’s fun to go whack!”

After that, we went to the children’s tent and listened to a couple stories in honor of Colleen Sally.(Shes the one in the middle)

From there we went to the Gentilly Stage where Papa Grows Funk was playing. We listened/danced to a couple numbers but I wanted to hear some blues so we crossed the fair grounds to listen to part of Guitar Slim Jr.’s set.

But we were a little hungry after listening to the interview and the stories, so we stopped and grabbed some roman candy, which I didn’t like too much–too sticky and some Houma Indian Fry Bread, which was awesome.(I almost didn’t get a picture of it because we already started to consume it.)

We made our way around Congo Square and looked at the vendor’s wares. We stopped and chatted with Z of Z’s Tye Dye and bought some tye dye shirts from him. He makes good stuff and has been around for a while.

Finally we ended up at the blues tent in time to listen to Guitar Slim wail on his instrument like any good blues man should. It rocked. But, it also was standing room only. And soon it was time to meet up with Sara’s parents at the Economy Hall tent to listen to the Pfister Sisters.
Pfister Sisters

After listening/dancing to the Pfister Sisters, we were hungry again, so we got some real jambalaya. It was a lot less moist than I make it and used no tomatoes. What is called a brown jambalaya. Dare I say Yum Yum? I dare.

While we were eating jambalaya, the Pine Leaf Boys were playing. So, we did what anyone would do in such a situation. We Fais Do-Doed it up for a while.

From there, we made our way to the Jazz tent to listen to Terence Blanchard.

On the way there, song of New Orleans Allstar R&B Review(I read in the Times-Picayune the next day that it was the good bit) .

The jazz that the band played was very much modern jazz. Not the sort most people could dance to. But everytime I felt ready to leave, I would hear something more that made me want to stay and keep listening. Until we got up that is.

We got up to go back to Economy Hall to listen to Dr Michael White and his band play some traditional jazz. There were people dancing there again, like at the Pfister Sisters.

Then we skipped over to the kids tent and listened to Trout Fishing in America, which was totally awesome.

I wanted to see Earth Wind and Fire so we went out to the track and walked around to avoid the crowds. We stayed there and listened to a few songs, but Earth Wind and Fire was too mellow a way to end such an awesome day.

We went back to the Fais Do Do Stage and listened to Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band close out the evening and danced till we were out of breath.

I saw the Dixie Cups.

I saw Pete Seeger(who was one of the main reasons we picked the first weekend).

I saw Irma Thomas.

And James Taylor.

I also ate a bunch of interesting things.

Like sweet potato pie.

And crawfish strudel. Mmm, that flaky crust.

Good Music

Good Food

I had lots of fun.

The night before apparently. Two of my fandoms collided in what must have been a sweet explosion of goodness.

Chicago was fun though. We went up on Friday and spent Saturday afternoon wandering. We walked around downtown, and got internet at the library, after trying starbucks–forgetting that they changed wifi carriers and you need a special card now or something. Grr, corporate greed, grr. The library was this big, new building that felt like a WPA project but according to wikipedia was built in ’91.

A small culture shock was seeing several people watching porn on the lab computers. It was a little surprising. And distracting.

I didn’t have a Chicago pizza, but I did have a ridiculously dressed hot dog.

Hot Dog with everything

Summary:
The show was excellent. Chicago can be very expensive, but the hot dogs are delicious.