The French Quarter Fest has turned the proverbial corner. Near perfect weather and occasionally oppressive crowds created a new situation for the festival’s organizers to ponder over the upcoming year. When does big become too big?
I heard more complaints than ever before and witnessed lots of bad behavior on the part of the clearly record-setting crowd on Friday and Saturday. More on that later. Here are some musical highlights.
Festers unable or unwilling to get out early on Thursday morning missed an impressive set by jam/rock/funk ensemble Gravy. With a sax and trumpet front and center and a percolating organ and killer vocals calling to mind Stevie Winwood, the band, which has been together for eight years, gets my “most improved” award.
Immediately after they finished I scurried to the new Big River stage to hear Tank and the Bangas. This band, which is fronted by the vivacious Tarriona “Tank” Ball (pictured above and at top), is something special, playing original music that calls to mind a hodgepodge of influences from musical theater to Nicki Minaj and even Frank Zappa.
Mark Mullins’ (pictured below) trombone ensemble Bonerama put on a killer set and were joined by Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews. Wearing face paint no less.
When I arrived at 11 AM to hear Sweet Crude on the main stage on Friday, a hundred or so early risers had carefully staked out space to wait for Dr. John. The problem was they were all in chairs essentially claiming an area, which could easily have held 1,000 people. Later in the day, Mayor Mitch Landrieu joined trombonist Glen David Andrews and the youths in the Roots of Music band.
Conflicts flared almost immediately as other music fans tried to move into the area. I watched one hapless couple trying to navigate through the crowd to find a place to settle. Several people refused to give an inch.
Needless to say, I didn’t stay for the good doctor’s set. But if tensions were that high over four hours before he started, I can’t imagine what it was like closer to set time. Word to the wise—it’s time to institute no-chair zones at the main stages.
On Saturday, I enjoyed a great set by Magnetic Ear. With Joe Cabral (above right) subbing on baritone sax, they tore it up with leader Martin Krusche (above left, with Steve Glenn in background on sousaphone) blazing several solos on tenor while Paul Thibodeaux positively funked up the drum kit. They made challenging modern jazz, albeit played by what is ostensibly a brass band, eminently danceable.
I also checked out Hot Club of New Orleans on a small stage on Royal Street. On second thought, no-chair zones need to be established at all of the stages. During their set, the street was completely impassable as people in chairs were nearly right up to the stage. Incredibly, one couple, in a prime spot mere feet from violinist Matt Rhody, set up their chairs with their backs to the band!
I didn’t get there until late on Sunday because we were on the West Bank checking out the West Fest Mardi Gras Indian parade (full details tomorrow). Upon arriving downtown, we headed straight to the 600 block of Bourbon Street to hear Carl LeBlanc. I was dreading the same chair situation considering the location, but was relieved to see a nice sized crowd grooving to the band.
One of the challenges of a free festival is balancing the interests of the wide range of people on the streets and in the parks. French Quarter Fest is clearly the most diverse event in the city. But if the organizers are going to insist on bigger names each year, they need to begin managing the crowds in a way, which keeps the event inclusive.
Or we can just hope for bad weather.
PHOTOS: LIFESLICEZ/STEVE MORAN
