How did you first hear about JF?

[Papins]

It was back in 1990, and I was working in a record store. Some guy came in wearing a Jazz Fest tee-shirt, and on the back were all the preformers. I was reading his shirt and asked him about it. I don't recall his entire answer, but he closed with; dude ya gotta get there. Sixteen years later, I made it.

[mightyradgumbo]

I first heard about fest when I was a not so wee lad-me and some friends were at Newport Jazz(or maybe folk-many supplementals) fest and someone mentioned fest-got down dere first when I was a wandering minstral(or vagabond) hanging my hat in South FLA. Haven't made it back enough so I plan to go to both weekends for the rest of my earthly daze to make up for it.

[McGregor]

Parents were hippies!

[Mardigrasbaby35]

Basically born into it - I thought the first jazz fest i went to was when i played in the McDonagh (sp) 15 gradeschool band and we played at the kids tent (i would have been maybe 9ish) in the late 70s early 80s, BUT my ex-stepmother just told me this past christmas that i was apparently dancing to "devil with the red dress on" when i was about two years old at the Fest (topic came up when my boyfriend gave me a red cowboy hat for christmas, he doesn't get the jazzfest thing, but i had been going on since july about how i needed a red cowboy hat this year for jazz fest to go with the redcowboy r**n boots i found for the fest in June)....anyway those were apparentlyh the days when you could drive your cars (at that time, my dad and step mom had a VW bug) into the fairgrounds and park wherever......so i guess this year is probably about my 30th Jazz Fest, give or take a Fest or two....

[saturn]

I heard about Jazzfest from Greg when I first got to know him. He kept talking about reading and hearing about it and always wanting to go. So after we got married in 1999 and he was still going on about it (and not doing anything about it :rolleyes:), I decided to make it happen for 2002.

Started searching on the Internet, found this krewe and the inevitable happened. This will be our 6th year at fest. :D

[ibjamn]

I heard about fest from a bunch a musicians I knew that were playing a gig on Bourbon st at the old Ivanhoe. We were eating red beans at Martin's on St. Claude in the wee hours and they were talking about some music in Congo Square that weekend. I passed by and missed Mahalia, but caught a great brass band and was hooked.

[breambob]

'76, I was at LSU. Wild hair and went down for 2nd Sunday. I'd seen Fess and Gatemouth and Henry Butler in BR, but I got to see John Lee Hooker which was a first, and Wild Magnolias and Snooks were firsts too. It was about two years later that I really got hooked (but I'm not addicted).
I think the gate ticket was $7. Pretty good deal...

[GratefulDawg]

I first heard about Jazz Fest in 1995 when I was a student at Mississippi State. Some friends of mine had been before and told me all of the good things about it. Naturally, I had to join them.

I was blown away. The only thing like it that I had ever seen was possibly Dead tour, but instead of people just coming in for one band, they were there for everything. Such a wonderful vibe, and I've always gotten the best feelings about N.O. when I'm there for Jazz Fest!

I had my eyes opened by the jazz, funk, and African music. I didn't realize how good Louisiana music was until then. It's a shame that I didn't hear much music like that in north MS when I was growing up.

[jhjpotter]

amy dragged me kicking and screaming in 2003 and I don't think i'll miss one from here on out unless hell frezzes over....well if that happens, i'll ski down to fest and hope the horns don't freeze up!!

[breambob]

Oh, how did I hear about it? I'm sure I saw the "cubes" in the Daily Reveille (LSU newspaper) earlier in the week :)

[ozzie]

We were in town for a visit a couple of weeks before Fest (which we knew nothing about) a few years ago and came came across a trio of old ozzies playing down by the French Market. We said gidday and they told us all about Jazz Fest and how they were there for a month or so every year. As soon as we got home we started planning!

[pokerchick66]

Well, I'm from New Orleans so I can't really remember when the first time was that I heard about it. I know the first time I went was with my mother when I was in college but I wasn't really into it for some reason. We saw James Brown. I think he went to jail shortly after.

The second time I went was with my best friend and since she was a Saintsation, we got stage passes (I still have it) to see Boz Scaggs and Stevie Ray Vaughn. I got to actually take pictures of them while I was on stage. I still have a picture of Boz and me. Stevie Ray died later that year.

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o231/monica7966/MeBozScaggsJazzfest.jpg

The next time I went was when I really got it and caught the JF fever. I saw Chaka Kahn open up for Earth, Wind & Fire. Off the hook. I had the best time that day. I was in heaven. Now I'm a junkie.

[Lostcajun]

I new about it in 78 but I was too young and stupid to drive across the river and check it out, crap..I've missed a lot of music....

[Zydekitten]

Will Durst (S.F. standup comic and friend) and his wife, Deb had been telling me and my then-husband about Jazzfest and trying to convince us to "get on the bus" . . . he finally succeeded by getting us to see the Dirty Dozen at Slim's in S.F. - that show got us on the bus and I've been there ever since (this was 1993-4)!

:D

[Priestboy]

From my brother (mightyradgumbo) who's been going down for the last few years. In the past, the timing hasn't been right (like it seems with so many, many of life's other events!), but the stars have aligned themselves in such a way that I'm able to go this year for the first (but not last!) time! WHOOOHOO!:D

[mightyradgumbo]

Will Durst (S.F. standup comic and friend) and his wife, Deb had been telling me and my then-husband about Jazzfest and trying to convince us to "get on the bus" . . . he finally succeeded by getting us to see the Dirty Dozen at Slim's in S.F. - that show got us on the bus and I've been there ever since (this was 1993-4)!

:D

Durst is a funny bastid-love his political satire /sorry to hijack/

[stynger]

I was reading Rolling Stone random notes in 1987. They had a picture of BB King and mentioned a few acts. It said it was the biggest and best music festival in the country. I had been going to the Long Beach Blues Festival for a number of years and loved that. I figured it looked pretty interesting so I got my buddy to go with me the next year. I got a feeling of complete bliss and felt that I was in the absolute right place on earth for me. Still feel that way.

[Zydekitten]

Durst is a funny bastid-love his political satire /sorry to hijack/

Durst is da best and it's too bad Bill Maher (who's a real asshat) stole his format and made it big with it instead of Will.

I got to see Will and Deb out of the blue last year in the front of the Southern Comfort stage and it was great to see them again after many years (I used to hang out with them when I lived in S.F. quite a bit - they had the coolest New Year's Eve parties) - good times . . . :)

[Mardigrasbaby35]

Well, I'm from New Orleans so I can't really remember when the first time was that I heard about it. I know the first time I went was with my mother when I was in college but I wasn't really into it for some reason. We saw James Brown. I think he went to jail shortly after.

The second time I went was with my best friend and since she was a Saintsation, we got stage passes (I still have it) to see Boz Scaggs and Stevie Ray Vaughn. I got to actually take pictures of them while I was on stage. I still have a picture of Boz and me. Stevie Ray died later that year.

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o231/monica7966/MeBozScaggsJazzfest.jpg

The next time I went was when I really got it and caught the JF fever. I saw Chaka Kahn open up for Earth, Wind & Fire. Off the hook. I had the best time that day. I was in heaven. Now I'm a junkie. AHHHHH - i saw Chaka Kahn there.....JUST remembered!!!! Love the pic - was that late 80s early 90s?

[mariena]

I was there for Stevie Ray Vaughn. It was the first year after graduating high school and I went with a bunch of friends. It was one of our first road trips without the parental units. I also remember how sad I was, when I heard about Stevie's death later that year. The way I found out about Jazz Fest was through one of my best friends. Her parents went every year for the whole thing. It was their yearly vacation.
Thank you Broaches for the introduction.
Mariena

[funkkjunkie]

1998. Bonnie Raitt''s website and Keb Mo's website showed them both playing this festival called the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.:cool:

[csoul]

Basically born into it - I thought the first jazz fest i went to was when i played in the McDonagh (sp) 15 gradeschool band and we played at the kids tent (i would have been maybe 9ish) in the late 70s early 80s, BUT my ex-stepmother just told me this past christmas that i was apparently dancing to "devil with the red dress on" when i was about two years old at the Fest (topic came up when my boyfriend gave me a red cowboy hat for christmas, he doesn't get the jazzfest thing, but i had been going on since july about how i needed a red cowboy hat this year for jazz fest to go with the redcowboy r**n boots i found for the fest in June)....anyway those were apparentlyh the days when you could drive your cars (at that time, my dad and step mom had a VW bug) into the fairgrounds and park wherever......so i guess this year is probably about my 30th Jazz Fest, give or take a Fest or two....

Gawd, I'm so jealous. I wanna' come back in my next life as a NOLA native. So sad, my story of introduction to Jazz Fest. In 2002, a friend called me and said "We need a girl's weekend. Buffett is playing in New Orleans at something called Jazz Fest. Do you wanna' go?" Always up for a weekend of fun, I said "Sure". We went and, like so many other of ya'll, I felt like I was finally home. The other 3 nuckleheads who went with me did not get it. But I was hooked. Luckily, I talked about it non-stop for 3 years. Finally, Mr. Soul looked at me one day and said, "I've heard all about it. Now I wanna' see it for myself". So in '05, I took him. He SOOOO gets it, THANK GOD!!! So, we're lifers now. I honestly can't see us ever missing another year. It is the one thing we look forward to for 51 weeks each year.

[pokerchick66]

AHHHHH - i saw Chaka Kahn there.....JUST remembered!!!! Love the pic - was that late 80s early 90s?

lol, yes. It was 1990. Yikes.

[Mardigrasbaby35]

lol, yes. It was 1990. Yikes.

:D yep, thought i recognized that fashion style:D

[KeyWest Bruce]

I had been making brief visits to New Orleans in the late '70s and early '80s, and one of my trips was in April 1982. As much as I loved the city, I wasn't that much into the music at the time....enjoyed N.O. for the action, people and good vibe; also the music, but I was not aware of the Fest at that time. The weekend that I was there in '82, there were flyers in my hotel lobby advertising the fest, and when I saw that great lineup, I headed right out there, happy that I just happened to be in town for this great festival. I remember the smaller stages and how much more accessible they were. Chuck Berry was playing at a small stage, and afterward mingled with the fans and was signing autographs....I got one and still have it! This was also my introduction to gospel, which remains my favorite part of the fest. Somehow, I did not make it to the fest again until 1992. During those years, I was visiting Key West (where I eventually moved), New York, and traveling here and there. I did go back to N.O. but not specifically for fest. Come 1992 and it hit me.....this was the greatest thing I experienced...and the rest is history!

[pokerchick66]

:D yep, thought i recognized that fashion style:D

Stop it! :D

[ohio]

A few years out of high school, a photographer friend was making a career of his art and got a booth at Fest. That means it was about 1980 <eeeeesh!> Not much for night shows back then, but did catch James brown on the riverboat President and hung out at the Chart Room!

[breambob]

No BD, ohio. You only get to see a few seconds of them before and after the commercials, sux, the just broke away with about five seconds of "Lowrider".
Love your new avatar, even more preverted than before :)

[ohio]

No BD, ohio. You only get to see a few seconds of them before and after the commercials, sux, the just broke away with about five seconds of "Lowrider".
Love your new avatar, even more preverted than before :)
Thanks! Yeah, I caught a bit of it here on the pc!

[Zydekitten]

redcowboy r**n boots
Woo Hoo, red cowboy boots are my signature footwear, baby!!!! Kitten loves dem fiery bootses . . .

;)

[Corona]

:D yep, thought i recognized that fashion style:D
hee hee....me too ;) So cute Chippie!

I heard about fest when I was down there on one of my trips. I had already gone a few times and was completely in love with the city. Then I decided to check out this board and make rezzies for my first fest in 04. Best damn thing I've ever done! Made some incredible friends, fell deeply in love with the fest, the music, the vibe (4 out of 6 of us girls didn't get it either Csoul) and cannot see missing a fest. Now I'm doing both weekends and man does that take some pressure off. I get down to N.O. about every 3 months now. I consider myself very lucky and fortunate to have such good friends who will have me....Ms. Ibjamn :)

[Fred (Texas JF Fanatic)]

Not sure when I first heard of JF. Was living in Lafayette and always wanted to go. Made my first Fess in 1983 and have been every year since. I've only missed one weekend since 1989. You can catch me out at the Fair Grounds every day from 10AM to 7PM. This years lineup has to be one of the best since 89. Happy 2007 Jazz Fest everyone!!!

[funkkjunkie]

YYR! Happy jazzfest!

[NeenAtlanta]

My brother Mark and his wife moved down to NOLA around 1978. I brought a car full of college friends down to stay with him for Mardis Gras a couple of years. We never checked out Fest, because Mark was a student and the fest was around the time of finals. We had NO idea what we were missing!

Finally, I think it was 1980 or 81, he told us to come down and check out the fest, and I was hooked for life. My nephew was 1 year old then, and I remember pulling along a wagon filled with coolers of beer and food, and a little shade tent for the baby. You could bring anything in back then.

The stages were lower to the ground and closer to the fans. A whole lot of the music was local stuff I'd never heard and I was overwhelmed by how great it all was. I'll never forget dancing in front of this small stage to cajun and zydeco music that I was hearing for the first time in my life.

After that, made it to a few Mardis Gras, but tried to catch Fest as many years as I could.

[Staxsun]

While I had been a record collector since I was a young teenager and had been to New Orleans several times in college, I just never had heard about Jazzfest. In 1990, I went to visit an old girlfriend, her husband, and child in Chalmette. We had a good time and ate plenty of crawfish, but something disturbing happened. I read the newspaper every day, and the T-P was filled with info about this event that was going on (that I'd never heard of). I looked at the lineup and considered making an excuse (like having to see a sick aunt). Each day the paper presented new torture with more and more great things I was missing. I couldn't do anything about it that year, but I was there (by myself) the next year.

[Fred (Texas JF Fanatic)]

pokerchick/mariena I was there also when Boz Scaggs played before Stevie. It was the only time I saw Stevie and Jimmy Vaughan on stage together.

[UncleFester]

in 1990 a friend of mine went to NO in april for business and came back telling us about jazzfest. the next year the 3 of us went and were blown away. we've gone every year since.

[Zbonnie]

I first heard about JazzFest when I took my friend camping at the Labor Day weekend Cajun & Zydeco Festival in Escoheag, RI in '93. We had a ball and she said, "If you think this is fun, you have GOT to go the NO JazzFest!" (which she had been to once before). We made rezzies for 7 days '94, saw Beau Jocque for the first time at Rock n Bowl, heard NOLA brass band music for the first time, was hooked. Now when I go to the successor Rhythm and Roots festival in Ninigret RI and tell people about JazzFest, I describe it as "this times 1,000."

One more aside, at my second JF in '97 someone called out to me - LisaRI who recognized me from R&R - and said I had to check out this Pet de Kat Krewe online -- which eventually morphed into the Delphi PDKK forum, and then got started on the JF and OffBeat message boards and got hooked on them too (addictive personality, doncha know)!

[NOLA]

I moved to New Orleans (actually Slidell) in April 1994, and almost immediately started hearing from new friends and reading in the paper about this thing called Jazz Fest. For 3 years I wanted to check it out because I always loved live music (mostly in Houston and Austin), but my ex-wife (who loved music, sang and played the piano) showed no interest at all, so it didn't happen. After the divorce in 1997, I sold the house in Slidell and moved to the city. So finally in 1998, me and a bunch of folks from my office headed out around noon to the Fair Grounds for the second Friday. I remember eating crawfish bread and seeing Wayne Toups, Emmylou Harris and Buckwheat Zydeco all at the Ray Ban Stage. We never left that stage, and I thought, "well, this is OK but nothing particularly special." The next year, I'm living in this double in Lakeview and the girl living in the upstairs apartment (a New Orleans native and long-time Jazz Fest veteran) convinces me to go back and we end up spending most of the first weekend there - and I finally "got it". Unfortunately I had planned a fishing trip with some buddies for the second weekend (which was fun, but not Jazz Fest!). She gave me so much grief about planning something else over Jazz Fest that I had to swear then and there that I would never make that mistake again. I think I've missed just one day of Jazz Fest since then, and she and I still share Jazz Fest together every year. She now lives in Boulder (post-K) but is coming in for 2 weeks (and will be with me at the Patry this year!). I convinced my sister to come (from L.A.) the first time in about 2000 and she hasn't missed a year since (and is doing both weekends for the second time this year). She usually brings anywhere from 1 to 3 friends along, some veterans and usually a newbie or two.

[t.o..fester]

A good friend from San Diego had been going since mid-80's and was always bugging me to meet him in N.O. for Jazzfest. In 1991 I went just to shut him up. Very glad I did. Have missed only 3 since. I have introduced something like 20 odd people over the years to NOLA, most of whom continue to attend each year. Doesn't look like this year will happen for me, which I'm not too happy about. Unless of course I win a lottery before April. LOL. Can only hope.

[Frosty]

I'm not sure when I first heard of it since I read music mags in HS and college and knew some of the often mentioned festivals like Montreux and New Orleans. But, it didn't really hit my radar until I met my future wife. We'd been dating only several weeks when she went down with some friends she worked with. She loved it and came back with Iguanas and Subdudes CD's. The rest of the crowd loved getting drunk on Bourbon Street and just didn't get it. When she got back, I looked at the line up and said "Wow, Max Roach! Did you get to see him?" She hadn't, but said next time, she needed to take me so she wouldn't miss anything. So, we planned on going one day. Then came grad school, then daughter #1, then daughter #2, and a whole bunch of other excuses. Until, our tenth anniversary, 2005. She surprised me with tickets, scheduled the days off with my manager. I got Allen Touisaint tickets for Snug Harbor the night we flew in. We went to fest, Preservation Hall, saw the Subdudes up river, saw Marva Wright for brunch. I was hooked. I knew we'd be back. But it's really only because of The Thing, that returning became more than a desire, but a necessity. This will be my 4th trip back to the city post 8/29.

[Jordan]

Something like '92 my girlfriend went (before I new her) with a group of 3 other women. In '93 she took me for 1 weekend (our first vacation together)-- fast forward 15 years and now it's 2 kids, a mother-in-law and both weekends at fest. I believe she is responsible for over 100 NY-based newbies -- at least 1/2 who return each year.

[Orleansnj]

I was a frosh at Tulane in 1987 - and everyone was talking about the Fest in late March....so when the last weekend of April hit (and first weekend of May) I figured out how to get to the fairgrounds and basically stayed all day and all night......

Let's just say that my GPA reflected the lack of academic attention that year....ahem....... - but it was SO worth it...... haven't missed one since.

[mightyradgumbo]

Ain't it funny how most of us found about it through friends or just some random encounter. I guess that is what it takes if yain't locals.
I think it can be equated to the power of the fest and music in general, how it can take strangers and bring them together for such a fantastic event in such a great city.
I don't know the person who suggested it to me, never saw them before that fateful day, never saw them since (similar to my introduction to the grateful dead and almost 400 show later....) but if you are still in touch with the person..I suggest thanking them for such an introduction to such a vibe..just my .02 cents
What a great thread btw...Thanks Papins

[katowoman]

We heard about it during our first year living here in Baton Rouge. That was two years ago, and it wasn't until last year that we headed in for one day. It was a great experience for our 3 yr old daughter at the kid's tent, and even better yet in the midst of thousands of cool people connecting with Bruce.

We're hooked, and are planning on grabbing a hotel for one of the weekends with friends of ours who also have a little one. :)

[chrisjoseph]

In 1989, a friend of a friend showed me a small brochure...I had been to New Orleans for work, but never for fun...I thought: why not go? Been going ever since.

[Corona]

what amazes me is when you bring newbies with ya, only some get it and others don't. Of the 5 girls I brought with me the first year, only 2 of them took. The others actually left fest to hang out on Bourbon after 2 nights in a row!!! We had a discussion last year about what it is that grabs some people and not others...or what I mean is....what is it about a person that makes them get "it"? Thoughts?

I think I'm gonna start a thread about this. Being a social worker, I think about it a lot....I'd like to hear what you guys think. so don't post here, post on the new thread okay? Don't want to drift this one....

[katowoman]

Very true Corona about how people take differently even though they're in the same space. I'll look for your thread. Great idea. :)

[ncfunk]

My mother attended a business conference in New Orleans in January 1999 and she immediately fell in love with the city and decided she had to take me and my brother to see it. She heard of something called Jazzfest and thought it was as good an excuse as any to get us there. We didn't go back the next year, but I couldn't stand sitting at my desk reading about the music I was missing, and that was the last one I missed.

[Mardigrasbaby35]

My brother Mark and his wife moved down to NOLA around 1978. I brought a car full of college friends down to stay with him for Mardis Gras a couple of years. We never checked out Fest, because Mark was a student and the fest was around the time of finals. We had NO idea what we were missing!

Finally, I think it was 1980 or 81, he told us to come down and check out the fest, and I was hooked for life. My nephew was 1 year old then, and I remember pulling along a wagon filled with coolers of beer and food, and a little shade tent for the baby. You could bring anything in back then.

The stages were lower to the ground and closer to the fans. A whole lot of the music was local stuff I'd never heard and I was overwhelmed by how great it all was. I'll never forget dancing in front of this small stage to cajun and zydeco music that I was hearing for the first time in my life.

After that, made it to a few Mardis Gras, but tried to catch Fest as many years as I could.


Heh heh - that reminds me, when i was at Tulane Law, i always picked my classes for second semester based on the second semester exam schedule (they always posted that at registration to avoid conflicts)...yep, i avoided all conflicts with the second weekend of Jazz Fest, making sure that all of my classes had exams scheduled before the 2nd weekend (not sure that's really what the Tulane folks had in mind when it came to conflicts ;) )- it made for a lot of studying but a fabolous blow out when exams were over.....:D

[brooklyngal]

I first learned about JF from my girlfriend who lives in NOLA. Her husband works the fest and is from a long line of generations who have. He works in the construction crewe (Alligator Crewe). They got married at JF in the Gospel Tent 7 years ago! That was my first year and I've only missed one year since. It is the one place and the one time every year that I feel perfectly at peace and happy.

[steffie]

I wanted to see Buddy Guy and saw he was playing at this thing called the Jazzfest. I had been to NOLA before but was so sick I couldn't enjoy it. Soooo off I went to see Buddy and the rest is history.

[mendelj2]

Some college friends went with a buddy's older brother one year. I went the next and haven't stopped coming.

[tangledupinblue]

Well, it was back in '98 when my closest friends, who I had met through going to tons of Grateful Dead shows, ran out of that special vibe we used to get at the shows due to Jerry being gone.
I had just lost my Dad and I was really "lost" so they made me meet them in New Orleans for my very first JF. I have never been the same since.
Met the love of my life the last Sunday of Fest on Bourbon street and moved down to be with him 2 months later.
Amazing how I had never been to LA before but within 2 months I had a new family and life down there. I am now back in NY but he is now here with me!!!

My Dad surely had something to do with it! :)

[NeenAtlanta]

Heh heh - that reminds me, when i was at Tulane Law, i always picked my classes for second semester based on the second semester exam schedule (they always posted that at registration to avoid conflicts)...yep, i avoided all conflicts with the second weekend of Jazz Fest, making sure that all of my classes had exams scheduled before the 2nd weekend (not sure that's really what the Tulane folks had in mind when it came to conflicts ;) )- it made for a lot of studying but a fabolous blow out when exams were over.....:D

Yeah, my brother was a grad student at Tulane at the time too.

I do remember seeing students on blankets at the fest with piles of books, studying while they grooved to the music, though.

[funkkjunkie]

Oh, tangled, I love that story. Bless your papa.

[RitaZero]

Tangled: I used to travel to a lot of Grateful Dead shows too and was lost after Jerry left us. My mom died the same year.

A Deadhead friend from Florida (I am in California) that I met on tour and went to many shows with told me I had to come to JazzFest as well. I have never been the same either. It's great to stay in touch that way - we meet in NOLA every year for JazzFest.

[tangledupinblue]

You got that right Rita! What week-end are you coming this year? I will be there 2nd. Would love to meet ya! :D

[neverleft]

I first learned of Jazz Fest in 1985. Coming out of a Neville Brothers show in Hollywood, there were two very attractive woman standing outside passing out flyers. The flyers said come with us to New Orleans for 4 days and see the Neville Brothers and many more bands for $500. I talked to them and they said, you can drink and party for 4 days and also see the Neville's. That included flight, hotel, Fest tickets and transportation to and from Fest, a dinner, and a buggy ride. Needles to say, I had a good time. That was there first tour, and I think those two woman still do trips to Jazz Fest every year. It's called Festival Tours International, and the woman in charge is Nancy Covey. I want to thank Nancy for taking me to my first Fest.

[tangledupinblue]

I first learned of Jazz Fest in 1985. Coming out of a Neville Brothers show in Hollywood, there were two very attractive woman standing outside passing out flyers. The flyers said come with us to New Orleans for 4 days and see the Neville Brothers and many more bands for $500. I talked to them and they said, you can drink and party for 4 days and also see the Neville's. That included flight, hotel, Fest tickets and transportation to and from Fest, a dinner, and a buggy ride. Needles to say, I had a good time. That was there first tour, and I think those two woman still do trips to Jazz Fest every year. It's called Festival Tours International, and the woman in charge is Nancy Covey. I want to thank Nancy for taking me to my first Fest.

Man that is awesome. You were right on it and never looked back! Yea for the Nevilles and Nancy! People are put right in our paths for great reasons....

[Jaypee]

In 1997, I mentioned to my boss that Pass_da_peas (a sometime Threadhead) and I were turning 40 and wanted to do something cool to celebrate, like go to Mardi Gras. He suggested Jazz Fest instead (he is a 15 time veteran). So we sez, "OK, let's try it."

And that was that. This will be my 7th Fest out of the last ten years. And I've been to New Orleans 13 times in that time period. (Once in 1980, but not to JF). That (now former) boss and I usually ended up going opposite weekends so we've never seen each other there.

But last year we both hit it first weekend. As promised, he stopped by Ms. Lena's. He emerged out of a big blast of windstorm dust, reached across the counter, gave me a hug, and ordered a Foster's...I'm sure he was thinking, "You've come a long way baby!"

[MormonMatthew]

Hey Now The year after Garcia died, (1996) I was in big trouble. I had just graduated from the University of Utah, but without the Music and Magic that was the Grateful Dead, I was going nowhere real fast (during college, all my spare time was centered around hopping on a plane to hear Jerry Garcia-Grateful Dead play their music. Some of the most fulfilling nights of my life were spent in cities I had just flown into, sight unseen, and hopped a cab directly to the show). I was "searching for some direction", when I saw the lineup for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Van Morrison! The Funky Meters!! Neville Brothers!!! Radiators!!!! Every one a DIRECT connection to Jerry and The Grateful Dead.- I first saw the Nevilles open for the Jerry Garcia Band in 1989 and they stole the show- Jerry was good, but the Nevilles were on Cajun Hoodoo Fire..... Awesome!!! The Rads used to play in the same cities the Dead were playing, oftentimes, the shows would go until 3 or 4 in the morning, and this was after seeing the Grateful Dead play for 4+ hours; I already felt the Radiators were (are) the best bar band in the world, so to get to see them in thier home town seemed like a natural... Van's music was introduced to me directly by Garcia, as he covered several of Van Morrisons' more obscure tunes. Many times I heard Jerry play a beautifully poignant, hauntingly familiar song, turn to the person next to me and have them inform me that it was a Van Morrison composition..... When I saw the lineup, I knew that New Orleans was where I had to be...... I couldn't find anyone willing to come along with me, but I had a feeling there would be many kindred spirits to share the good times with. (I was right). I got on the flight with NO hotel reservations, NO idea where the Fairgrounds were, and NO preconcieved notions on what Jazzfest would or should be; all I had was some spending $$$, a couple of credit cards, and a ticket to Tipitinas to see the Meters on the last night of Fest...... I have been back every year since... I can not imagine my life without Jazzfest. God Bless New Orleans--- Matthew

[ohio]

and god bless you, Matthew! :)

[RitaZero]

You got that right Rita! What week-end are you coming this year? I will be there 2nd. Would love to meet ya! :D

I'll be there 4/25 to 5/7 - first year for both weekends! Would love to meet you too...when are you there?

I'm staying at the Springhill Suites in the Warehouse District, room is in the name "Chaffin." Call me at the hotel and let's get together for a meal, at the fest or some night shows! I haven't decided all my night shows yet, but did get a ticket for Dr. John at Tips 4/28.

I will show up at the threadhead meeting at Ms. Lena's, although I tend to lurk at that event. I'll try and be a little more outgoing this year!

[UkKeith]

My first fest was in 1989 when I travelled with a friend from the UK and joined up with Nancy Covey's Festival Tours party. I missed 1990 but have been every year since. I usually see Nancy at least once every year at the fest, so I am another 'fester' who says thanks Nancy. N'awlins is now my second home as I look forward each year to seeing so many friends I have made over the years. I just hope my 65year old body keeps going!

[MormonMatthew]

Hey Now Ohio, right back at ya!!!! See you soon, Matthew

[La Ti Da]

Around 1989/90 heard a dj on a local college radio station (WRIU) talking it up, he had just returned from there and was raving about what a great time he had.... also heard from other local louisiana-themed fests, and a live broadcast on NPR (WGBH). Finally made it down there to see for myselft a few years later!

[Terry]

I met a gal in Santa Fe who told me she had been going to Fest every year for many years. She moved back east and we lost track of each other. Then a couple of years ago I was sitting in Economy Tent behind a very tall person, so I moved over one seat next to this gal, and who does it turn out to be but that very same gal. She told me that she had moved to N.O. and bought a home there. This was the year before Katrina.Don't know how or to what extend she may have been affected by Katrina. Hope I see her again at Fest.

[NOLA]

Hey Now The year after Garcia died, (1996) I was in big trouble. I had just graduated from the University of Utah, but without the Music and Magic that was the Grateful Dead, I was going nowhere real fast (during college, all my spare time was centered around hopping on a plane to hear Jerry Garcia-Grateful Dead play their music. Some of the most fulfilling nights of my life were spent in cities I had just flown into, sight unseen, and hopped a cab directly to the show). I was "searching for some direction", when I saw the lineup for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Van Morrison! The Funky Meters!! Neville Brothers!!! Radiators!!!! Every one a DIRECT connection to Jerry and The Grateful Dead.- I first saw the Nevilles open for the Jerry Garcia Band in 1989 and they stole the show- Jerry was good, but the Nevilles were on Cajun Hoodoo Fire..... Awesome!!! The Rads used to play in the same cities the Dead were playing, oftentimes, the shows would go until 3 or 4 in the morning, and this was after seeing the Grateful Dead play for 4+ hours; I already felt the Radiators were (are) the best bar band in the world, so to get to see them in thier home town seemed like a natural... Van's music was introduced to me directly by Garcia, as he covered several of Van Morrisons' more obscure tunes. Many times I heard Jerry play a beautifully poignant, hauntingly familiar song, turn to the person next to me and have them inform me that it was a Van Morrison composition..... When I saw the lineup, I knew that New Orleans was where I had to be...... I couldn't find anyone willing to come along with me, but I had a feeling there would be many kindred spirits to share the good times with. (I was right). I got on the flight with NO hotel reservations, NO idea where the Fairgrounds were, and NO preconcieved notions on what Jazzfest would or should be; all I had was some spending $$$, a couple of credit cards, and a ticket to Tipitinas to see the Meters on the last night of Fest...... I have been back every year since... I can not imagine my life without Jazzfest. God Bless New Orleans--- Matthew

Hey Matthew, which weekend are you coming for this year? Are you planning on going to Insturments A Comin' again? Sorry I missed you last time you were in town!

[Goose]

Back in March of '97 my roomate at the time Don, brought me to my first Rads show at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. It was an acoustic show. I was having such a great time that night that he asked me if I wanted to go to the Jazzfest in New Orleans that coming April/May with him and his fest friends (one of them, Jon, who was also at the show that night, would later on down the road become my sweetie). :) I did end up going to fest that year and haven't missed one since. I am forever grateful to Don (and I tell him that every year at fest) for not only introducing me to the Rads and to Fest, but also to my sweetie Jon. :)

Love this thread by the way. Very fun reading everyone's posts.

[pokerchick66]

Liked yours, too, Goose. :)

[tangledupinblue]

I'll be there 4/25 to 5/7 - first year for both weekends! Would love to meet you too...when are you there?

I'm staying at the Springhill Suites in the Warehouse District, room is in the name "Chaffin." Call me at the hotel and let's get together for a meal, at the fest or some night shows! I haven't decided all my night shows yet, but did get a ticket for Dr. John at Tips 4/28.

I will show up at the threadhead meeting at Ms. Lena's, although I tend to lurk at that event. I'll try and be a little more outgoing this year!

Don't lurk at Ms. Lena's. Get on in there and mingle and drink with us! I am only there 2nd Thursday through Tuesday. We are staying at Chateau LeMoyne with a TON of other theads. Come to Friday's meetup at Ms. Lena's. I will be there for sure!!! Also stop by our hotel. Many lunatic's staying there!

Hey Mormonmatt, looks as though Jerry lead a bunch of us to JF! Great vibes...:D

[Carolina Beadhead]

I'll be there 4/25 to 5/7 - first year for both weekends! Would love to meet you too...when are you there?

I'm staying at the Springhill Suites in the Warehouse District, room is in the name "Chaffin." Call me at the hotel and let's get together for a meal, at the fest or some night shows! I haven't decided all my night shows yet, but did get a ticket for Dr. John at Tips 4/28.

I will show up at the threadhead meeting at Ms. Lena's, although I tend to lurk at that event. I'll try and be a little more outgoing this year!

DON'T LURK AT THE MEETING! Jump in! We all had to plunge into that group of "strangers" at some point and just say, "Hi! I'm ______________. Who are you?"

Or you can seek out Grisgris, "Our Lady of Perpetual Introductions" and she'll take care of that for you. :D

[Headless Hornman]

My first job out of school was as a field engineer for Schlumberger going offshore to run tests on oil wells. I started in early April '84; lived at the Holiday Inn in Gretna for 3 weeks before going out to Houston for a 3-month school. The last weekend in the hotel was free because there wasn't enough time for me to make another trip offshore before leaving for Houston. So I read about this thing called Jazz Fest in the Times Pic and figured if John Lee Hooker was going to be there, so was I.

I remember I McGuyvered a cooler for the Fairgrounds: a Holiday Inn ice bucket, wrapped in a room towel, sealed in a garbage bag, and carried in my backpack.

I could only handle the job for 2 years; hanging on just to that anniversary date before quitting. Then I stuck around New Orleans for another month to (of course) go to the Fest one more time before moving back to Florida.

[esnyc]

My first Fest was in 1999. A friend of mine was bringing a client to Fest (he was born and raised in N.O. but hadn't been back for years). Since I had a free place to stay, I tagged along and loved every minute of it. Next year, there were 4 or 5 of us. Year after that, 8 or 9 of us. Since then, it's down to just my sisters and I, but this'll be my 9th year in a row and it's on my calendar permanently. It feeds the soul - can't think of a better way to put it. :-) Well, feeds the stomach too LOL!

[Amy Winette]

lol, yes. It was 1990. Yikes.

Heh heh, I had those bangs right around the turn of that decade too ;)

[Amy Winette]

1998, I was finishing law school and getting divorced, my friend Steph had gone the year before and invited me along. I'd only been to NOLA once, as part of a family trip, sheltered girl from Montana I'd been horrified by the Bourbon Street sex shops etc. and had said I'd never go back to that dirty disgusting place! But I was newly single and it sounded like a great patry so what the heck!

Have gone back every year since, this will be my 10th in a row. Used to be happy with just 2nd weekend Thursday night through Sunday morning (can't miss much work you know!), partial days at the fairgrounds, lot of time on Bourbon Street. This board changed everything! Brought Jeff the first time almost 5 years ago (this will be his 5th fest), we started reading here, decided to fly a flag, get to fest early, check out night shows, etc. The number of days just keeps stretching until this year we're there Thursday before first weekend through Tuesday after second weekend. I'll figure out the work thing when the time comes ;)

Once a year doesn't seem to be enough anymore either . . . Post-K we've been back for a New Year's, a Swamp Fest (Festgiving) and now a Mardi Gras. Maybe next year we'll try St. Pat's :)

[Orleansnj]

St. Patrick's day at Parisols.....oh - it's killing me....I need to move back.....

[Bill/KC]

Back in the very early 90's (or maybe very late 80's), Showtime had a series of programs that was hosted by Herbie Hancock ("Showtime Coast to Coast" or something like that). He went around the checking out different things-not all music related. Anyway, one show featured Jazzfest and I decided then that I wanted to go sometime. Finally, in '93 I made plans, not really even knowing who the performers were going to be (this was before the Internet was as big as it is now). The weekend before JF started, I went to my local Borders and got the Sunday Times-Picyune and found out who was playing. We got to NOLA for the Fest and it rained almost the whole weekend.. We weren't prepared for it- wearing new tennies and raincoats (not a thing to do BTW). But I guess we "got it", because we went 11 more years straight!:)

[Lester_leaps_in]

When my daughter was a student at Tulane Law School, she said, "Dad, you need to know about this!" Bless her heart!

[linza22]

i was just looking for a festival to attend and BOOM...there it was! since 20001...i always go the first weekend...due to work in the old days, but now i can go either or both...that's my next step!

[electric_lady]

heard about it when I visited NOLA for the first time in 2001. everyone i met said, "screw mardi gras, you gotta come to jazz fest."

[Jada]

My mom moved to NOLA 17 years ago. That's when I became a JF addict.

[Theotherone]

I think we were turned on by a friend who attended Jazzfest in the 80’s to report for our local weekly music rag. We still attend and he goes on a less regular basis.

[mamaroux]

from my friend, Nick, back in the early 90's, who lives in New Orleans. He sort of took for granted that I knew about it. Then Steve Apple sort of keep telling me that I needed to go and Juju gave me a brass pass as a graduation gift, so I had to... and never regretted it.

[mamaroux]

I first heard about JazzFest when I took my friend camping at the Labor Day weekend Cajun & Zydeco Festival in Escoheag, RI in '93. We had a ball and she said, "If you think this is fun, you have GOT to go the NO JazzFest!" (which she had been to once before). We made rezzies for 7 days '94, saw Beau Jocque for the first time at Rock n Bowl, heard NOLA brass band music for the first time, was hooked. Now when I go to the successor Rhythm and Roots festival in Ninigret RI and tell people about JazzFest, I describe it as "this times 1,000."

One more aside, at my second JF in '97 someone called out to me - LisaRI who recognized me from R&R - and said I had to check out this Pet de Kat Krewe online -- which eventually morphed into the Delphi PDKK forum, and then got started on the JF and OffBeat message boards and got hooked on them too (addictive personality, doncha know)!

I'm glad you do, otherwise, I wouldn't have ever met ya, darlin'!

[mamaroux]

In 1989, a friend of a friend showed me a small brochure...I had been to New Orleans for work, but never for fun...I thought: why not go? Been going ever since.

are you saying that you went there for work and NEVER had fun while there on business?

You're kidding right?

[mamaroux]

I remember I McGuyvered a cooler for the Fairgrounds: a Holiday Inn ice bucket, wrapped in a room towel, sealed in a garbage bag, and carried in my backpack.


this just doesn't surprise me... it is so you! LOL I love it!

[Festering]

I found Fest by accident by following my ears!

A friend was renting an apartment at 1221 and a half (gotta love that address) N. Rendon and one morning while visiting in 1979 we woke up with the windows wide open and heard music wafting in. Followed the sounds on foot to the Gentilly gate and haven't missed very many Fests since.

-dan

[hikerlady]

In 2002 friends were going (repeaters) and invited us along. Fell in love with the fest and NO. Returned in 2004 with 8 fest virgins to celebrate my husband's 50th BD. Decided it'd be an every other year trip, but planned a bigger trip elsewhere last year (my 50 BD) so $$ was too tight. This year we're bringing our kids along to celebrate our 25th anniv. Hopefully we'll get on the every other year schedule and not rely on things like BDs to use as excuses - just the fest for the sake of the fest.

[t-bird]

1992 - went through a reeeeally hard divorce and a dear friend originally from Mandeville (also dumped by a faithless, cheatin' spouse :) ) went back home to something called JazzFest. That same year, The Bone Mama, a totally happenin' DJ back when KZON used to be a worthwhile listen, was reporting live from the Fest. hmmm, interesting...

1993 - FINALLY started coming out of the funk and realized that I had NEVER gone on a vacation where I had decided on the destination - pretty sad for someone in her early 40's - hmmmm, JazzFest, hmmmm... went that year and have missed only 1 since (I prefer not to think of the 3 months pre Fest or 10 months post Fest that year - neither do my friends). :)

My darlin' man likes Fest OK enough but isn't rabidly committed (he says he thinks I have a better time without him anyway which is hard to believe that possible) and the friends who've joined me are on-again/off-again (love 'em anyway) and it really has gotten to be a pain trying to find "put your money where your mouth is" folks. Soooo, it's not about "who's going?" anymore since Katrina - I can't NOT go. 2006 looked like I was going solo and a couple of friends joined at the last minute - this year, I don't really give a sh*t if I'm "by myself." IJDM!!!:)

So in the spirit of acknowledgement, thank you Ms. McCann and Mr. Mann for showing me the way, because JazzFest surely fills my soul and I find it incomprehensible to imagine my life without it! (but I'm not addicted)

[rosetree]

Soooo, it's not about "who's going?" anymore since Katrina - I can't NOT go. 2006 looked like I was going solo and a couple of friends joined at the last minute - this year, I don't really give a sh*t if I'm "by myself." IJDM!!!:)

So in the spirit of acknowledgement, thank you Ms. McCann and Mr. Mann for showing me the way, because JazzFest surely fills my soul and I find it incomprehensible to imagine my life without it! (but I'm not addicted)

Don't worry about goin it alone t-bird, there are plenty of people on this bored who can "pass a good time", so you'll never be alone (unless you want to be):D Go to Ms. Lena's, you'll find good company!

[t-bird]

Don't worry about goin it alone t-bird, there are plenty of people on this bored who can "pass a good time", so you'll never be alone (unless you want to be):D Go to Ms. Lena's, you'll find good company!yeah, I finally stopped lurking last year (how sick is it to lurk not only on the bored, but also at Ms. Lena's?!?). And you are soooo right about the good company I found - fine people all of you!!

[t-bird]

Brief Drift - how's your back, RT?

[rosetree]

Brief Drift - how's your back, RT?

Thanks for asking! To tell you the truth, it SUCKS. I'm starting to get real worried. It's been almost two weeks and I am taking one step forward and two steps back. It's not as bad as initially, but nowhere near right. The fact that I can not take any more time off of work is not helping. Blowing glass is a very physical thing, and I don't have anyone who can do what I do, so it's up to me. I am looking into a procedure that is just a needle in your back like an epidural, but instead of injecting, it removes the damaged part of the disc. The recovery time is supposed to be minimal---days, not weeks--and no PT. I have to read up a lot more about it. I am going to do a show next week in AL, so I should have three days without the exertion that I usually have so I'll see how it is after that....

[t-bird]

I am looking into a procedure that is just a needle in your back like an epidural, but instead of injecting, it removes the damaged part of the disc. The recovery time is supposed to be minimal---days, not weeks--and no PT. I have to read up a lot more about it. I am going to do a show next week in AL, so I should have three days without the exertion that I usually have so I'll see how it is after that....
Good wishes to you - hope it works out!

Back to the regularly scheduled thread...

[LaTiDa]

We always knew of it's existence, and always thought we would like to go someday, but didn't really "know about it."

About seven years ago My Phil's became a fireman and his Captain, who has been going down forever (at least 20 years for both weekends), gave us the push we needed to check it out... we will be eternally grateful!

[LaTiDa]

Thanks for asking! To tell you the truth, it SUCKS. I'm starting to get real worried. It's been almost two weeks and I am taking one step forward and two steps back. It's not as bad as initially, but nowhere near right. The fact that I can not take any more time off of work is not helping. Blowing glass is a very physical thing, and I don't have anyone who can do what I do, so it's up to me. I am looking into a procedure that is just a needle in your back like an epidural, but instead of injecting, it removes the damaged part of the disc. The recovery time is supposed to be minimal---days, not weeks--and no PT. I have to read up a lot more about it. I am going to do a show next week in AL, so I should have three days without the exertion that I usually have so I'll see how it is after that....

Sending happy thoughts and good mojo your way Rosetree!

[socaleric]

In December, my ex. left me for her ex. who lives in Shreveport; she cold dropped me one night. She always told me she wanted to move to Louisiana one day, I wasn't 100% committed to that idea; that was one of our conflicts. She loves LA, and told me stories of how magical it is.

After she broke up with, I have this need to discover the magic she feels. Initially, I felt pretty dead inside because of our break-up; like I really took her for granted and let life pass me by. The vibe I get from these boards is making me feel very alive again. I don't know what I'm searching for, but I hope this trip will make me feel happy again.

[Corona]

In December, my ex. left me for her ex. who lives in Shreveport; she cold dropped me one night. She always told me she wanted to move to Louisiana one day, I wasn't 100% committed to that idea; that was one of our conflicts. She loves LA, and told me stories of how magical it is.

After she broke up with, I have this need to discover the magic she feels. Initially, I felt pretty dead inside because of our break-up; like I really took her for granted and let life pass me by. The vibe I get from these boards is making me feel very alive again. I don't know what I'm searching for, but I hope this trip will make me feel happy again.
oh Eric, ya brought tears to my eyes with your post. The healing power of fest and this group here is amazing. It sounds like you're looking for something to make you "feel".....and you're looking for peace...and something to make you feel alive...if Nola and fest grab you....you WILL feel it. I went through a separation from my husband a couple of years ago and if it wasn't for this board and the friends I made as a result, I think I would have gone mad. Then the trips to New Orleans helped me heal even more. I hope the same for you.

[Corona]

Thanks for asking! To tell you the truth, it SUCKS. I'm starting to get real worried. It's been almost two weeks and I am taking one step forward and two steps back. It's not as bad as initially, but nowhere near right. The fact that I can not take any more time off of work is not helping. Blowing glass is a very physical thing, and I don't have anyone who can do what I do, so it's up to me. I am looking into a procedure that is just a needle in your back like an epidural, but instead of injecting, it removes the damaged part of the disc. The recovery time is supposed to be minimal---days, not weeks--and no PT. I have to read up a lot more about it. I am going to do a show next week in AL, so I should have three days without the exertion that I usually have so I'll see how it is after that....
oh RT, I didn't know you were having such serious back problems. I've watched you work and you're bent over quite a bit and there's a lot of lifting and manoevering around. Oh boy......I hope you get the most non-invasive procedure possible. Health karma on the way from Canaja for you my friend~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[rosetree]

oh RT, I didn't know you were having such serious back problems. I've watched you work and you're bent over quite a bit and there's a lot of lifting and manoevering around. Oh boy......I hope you get the most non-invasive procedure possible. Health karma on the way from Canaja for you my friend~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks Lis, LTD & t-bird....I'm spending all of today laying down in bed to try and relieve the pressure on the disc. I'm calling the neurosurgeon tomorrow to get an MRI and a cortisone shot. That will give me relief for the immediate problem and give me time to see about what comes next.:eek: I have to be functional right now 'cause I got people coming ova for Rosetreefest:D
p.s. it's hard to type laying on your back.....

[funkkjunkie]

Oh,rt, you take care of yourself. That back pain is the worst.

[hikerlady]

RT, my husband has gone through back pain but your's sounds worse. He did visit a reflexologist who had me give him heavy duty foot massages daily for 2 weeks and it helped clear up pain. if you live with a sucker (like me) maybe you could get daily foot massages too. At the worst, they;d just feel nice. good luck to ya.

[rosetree]

RT, my husband has gone through back pain but your's sounds worse. He did visit a reflexologist who had me give him heavy duty foot massages daily for 2 weeks and it helped clear up pain. if you live with a sucker (like me) maybe you could get daily foot massages too. At the worst, they;d just feel nice. good luck to ya.
Do I see cross-thread here???See that Corona, I could use that foot massage!:D
Thanks for the suggestion hikerlady, I just think that a foot massage can't put a herniated disc back in place.:( Although it won't hurt to try!!!

[pokerchick66]

Thanks for asking! To tell you the truth, it SUCKS. I'm starting to get real worried. It's been almost two weeks and I am taking one step forward and two steps back. It's not as bad as initially, but nowhere near right. The fact that I can not take any more time off of work is not helping. Blowing glass is a very physical thing, and I don't have anyone who can do what I do, so it's up to me. I am looking into a procedure that is just a needle in your back like an epidural, but instead of injecting, it removes the damaged part of the disc. The recovery time is supposed to be minimal---days, not weeks--and no PT. I have to read up a lot more about it. I am going to do a show next week in AL, so I should have three days without the exertion that I usually have so I'll see how it is after that....

Where in AL?

[stlbarb]

Do I see cross-thread here???See that Corona, I could use that foot massage!:D
Thanks for the suggestion hikerlady, I just think that a foot massage can't put a herniated disc back in place.:( Although it won't hurt to try!!!

my sister fixed my stomach problem via foot flexology. but i doubt it can repair a herniated disk.

[t-bird]

Do I see cross-thread here???

cross-thread is better than cross-eyed :)

[rosetree]

Where in AL?
Way south of you....Fairhope. Believe me, if I was going to be close to you, I'd let you know!!!!!;) :D :D

[pokerchick66]

Way south of you....Fairhope. Believe me, if I was going to be close to you, I'd let you know!!!!!;) :D :D

lol, that would have been a fun little outing. I could have had my own Rosetreefest!


I hope your back is feeling better soon, baby. :(

Get the shot! Get the shot! Get the shot!

[swampwoman]

1979 - grew up in New Orleans, and in high school, 2 of my friends and I went one weekend and watched Chuck Berry tear it up on stage - we were able to get some Schlitz beer (remember when Schlitz had the beer contract) and one of my compadres got very sick under the stage between the barricades

been going ever since

[BigDag]

Way south of you....Fairhope. Believe me, if I was going to be close to you, I'd let you know!!!!!;) :D :D

Hey RT, you're headed to the Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival? I'll be there next Friday morning; I'll come looking for you!

[rosetree]

Hey RT, you're headed to the Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival? I'll be there next Friday morning; I'll come looking for you!
Way Cool!It's a mini meet-up!!! They don't give us our location until we get there, I'm usually across from LateDa coffee shop. Can't remember the street name ..suffering from CRS. There aren't many other glassblowers, so I'm not too hard to find!

[mamaroux]

Thanks Lis, LTD & t-bird....I'm spending all of today laying down in bed to try and relieve the pressure on the disc. I'm calling the neurosurgeon tomorrow to get an MRI and a cortisone shot. That will give me relief for the immediate problem and give me time to see about what comes next.:eek: I have to be functional right now 'cause I got people coming ova for Rosetreefest:D
p.s. it's hard to type laying on your back.....

Isn't it though? I laid in bed, holding the macbookpro in one hand, the screen over head with the keyboard directly in front of me, doing one handed typing. I rarely used to us short cuts or abbreviations, but I sure did during that time. At least I'm basically off my back now and can sit up almost regularly and am off the crutches and only needing a cane, and my "cast" (cam boot) no longer needs to be on all night long, too. It's wonderful to be able to shower with my foot IN the tub and standing up rather than sitting with your foot hanging out of the tub (which is no easy task).

But I am sending you lots of good, healing vibes! Be sure to get yourself all rev'ed up with lots of good healthy things like extra vit c and take arnica, if you can.... from makemeheal.com "Additionally, the natural and safe remedies in this Store will help you minimize post-operative swelling and bruising, improve wound healing, limit scar appearance, help you have less pain and discomfort, promote repair and growth of tissues damaged by surgery, and protect the body from infection by enhancing the immune system defenses." Kajnkat recommended that to me, she's very into homeopathy and I have found it helpful, if you can take it, that is. Be well, dear RT!

[BigDag]

Way Cool!It's a mini meet-up!!! They don't give us our location until we get there, I'm usually across from LateDa coffee shop. Can't remember the street name ..suffering from CRS. There aren't many other glassblowers, so I'm not too hard to find!

I'll find you. I'm helping to produce a morning radio show during the set-up time Friday AM. We'll be live from 6-9 AM. We're looking for people to interview; maybe you can come by and do a plug for your business. We'll be located right beside the entertainment stage.

[mamaroux]

my sister fixed my stomach problem via foot flexology. but i doubt it can repair a herniated disk.

but it can't hurt, right? I think a foot massage of any sort is always helpful, probably because it helps you relax and just generally feel better.

... wow, just a thought, but a licensed massage therapist could make a LOT of money at JF doing chair massages or foot massages.

[Corona]

awww, I love Threadhead brotherly love.....so awesome BigDag :)

[rosetree]

I'll find you. I'm helping to produce a morning radio show during the set-up time Friday AM. We'll be live from 6-9 AM. We're looking for people to interview; maybe you can come by and do a plug for your business. We'll be located right beside the entertainment stage.
That would be great....I give good interview..LOL;)
So do I need to find you????

[BigDag]

That would be great....I give good interview..LOL;)
So do I need to find you????

E-mail me, dag at ccmobile dot com and we'll work something out!

[rosetree]

but it can't hurt, right? I think a foot massage of any sort is always helpful, probably because it helps you relax and just generally feel better.

... wow, just a thought, but a licensed massage therapist could make a LOT of money at JF doing chair massages or foot massages.
I've spoken to people about this....it would be a goldmine, but there are insurance questions....freakin' lawsuits:mad:

We have someone in CC who does massage to artists before opening:D It books up almost instantly

[rosetree]

Isn't it though? I laid in bed, holding the macbookpro in one hand, the screen over head with the keyboard directly in front of me, doing one handed typing. I rarely used to us short cuts or abbreviations, but I sure did during that time. At least I'm basically off my back now and can sit up almost regularly and am off the crutches and only needing a cane, and my "cast" (cam boot) no longer needs to be on all night long, too. It's wonderful to be able to shower with my foot IN the tub and standing up rather than sitting with your foot hanging out of the tub (which is no easy task).

But I am sending you lots of good, healing vibes! Be sure to get yourself all rev'ed up with lots of good healthy things like extra vit c and take arnica, if you can.... from makemeheal.com "Additionally, the natural and safe remedies in this Store will help you minimize post-operative swelling and bruising, improve wound healing, limit scar appearance, help you have less pain and discomfort, promote repair and growth of tissues damaged by surgery, and protect the body from infection by enhancing the immune system defenses." Kajnkat recommended that to me, she's very into homeopathy and I have found it helpful, if you can take it, that is. Be well, dear RT!

Thanks mama! I'll look up the arnica....
at first glance I read it as "makemeal".com! I wondered, what does cooking have to do with it!!!LOL

[steffie]

things like extra vit c and take arnica, if you can.... from makemeheal.com "Additionally, the natural and safe remedies in this Store will help you minimize post-operative swelling and bruising, improve wound healing, limit scar appearance, help you have less pain and discomfort, promote repair and growth of tissues damaged by surgery, and protect the body from infection by enhancing the immune system defenses."


RT, arnica is an awesome remedy for pain relief. Give it a try you may be pleasantly suprised. Here's some more good health and healing karma.:)

[ozzie]

Thanks Lis, LTD & t-bird....I'm spending all of today laying down in bed to try and relieve the pressure on the disc. I'm calling the neurosurgeon tomorrow to get an MRI and a cortisone shot. That will give me relief for the immediate problem and give me time to see about what comes next.:eek: I have to be functional right now 'cause I got people coming ova for Rosetreefest:D
p.s. it's hard to type laying on your back.....

Sorry Rosie... didn't know you had it bad baybee.

I have a herniated disk (last one down) that has calcified and I will not have surgery. When necessary, my physio straps my lower back to keep the offending part away from the nerve allowing me to go about my business drug free. Of course I sit at a desk, not over a furnace, but it might be worth a shot to help you out in the short term.

I'd still go with the foot rub too. Take care.

[rosetree]

Sorry Rosie... didn't know you had it bad baybee.

I have a herniated disk (last one down) that has calcified and I will not have surgery. When necessary, my physio straps my lower back to keep the offending part away from the nerve allowing me to go about my business drug free. Of course I sit at a desk, not over a furnace, but it might be worth a shot to help you out in the short term.

I'd still go with the foot rub too. Take care.
Ozzie: What do you mean by strapping?? Is that wrapping? or using a back brace?
p.s. I like when you called me "Artie" I can hear it with an accent from "down-under";)

[ozzie]

Ozzie: What do you mean by strapping?? Is that wrapping? or using a back brace?
p.s. I like when you called me "Artie" I can hear it with an accent from "down-under";)

Dunno George... it's like a wide adhesive bandage that's tightly strapped to pull some parts of you away from others. I guess it acts the same as a brace but not so restrictive. Only covers about an 8 x 12cm area (don't know what that is in inches... but not very much). I can ask my guy for a description and send to you off bored if you think you'd give it a go.

[stlbarb]

Dunno George... it's like a wide adhesive bandage that's tightly strapped to pull some parts of you away from others. I guess it acts the same as a brace but not so restrictive. Only covers about an 8 x 12cm area (don't know what that is in inches... but not very much). I can ask my guy for a description and send to you off bored if you think you'd give it a go.

starting to sound like B&D to me. at least it would take your mind off the pain. :)

[rosetree]

Dunno George... it's like a wide adhesive bandage that's tightly strapped to pull some parts of you away from others. I guess it acts the same as a brace but not so restrictive. Only covers about an 8 x 12cm area (don't know what that is in inches... but not very much). I can ask my guy for a description and send to you off bored if you think you'd give it a go.
That'll be great....anything that might help....

[ozzie]

That'll be great....anything that might help....

Okay... I'm at work now so will call him later in the day. Which disk?

[rosetree]

Okay... I'm at work now so will call him later in the day. Which disk?
L5-S1 is the b*stard:(

[GeminiTed]

I read about JF for the first time on Feb 22 in the Charlotte, NC newspaper (The Observer). Big pictures of Harry, Norah, and Cowboy Mouth caught my eye, but the title drew me in: "2 Weekends, Many Big-Name Artists". I read about some of the possible acts - ZZ Top, Steely Dan, Dr. John, Bonnie Raitt, etc. and thought "oh my Gawd - I GOTTA GO THERE!". I checked the website, and that sealed the deal. I e-mailed some music-loving buddies, and here we are. Counting down the days until we climb into the car and head south! My neighbors across the street are orginally from Mandeville, but they can't make it, but they are very jealous that I am making my first pilgrimage. Hopefully next year they can go too.

[Carolina Beadhead]

I read about JF for the first time on Feb 22 in the Charlotte, NC newspaper (The Observer). Big pictures of Harry, Norah, and Cowboy Mouth caught my eye, but the title drew me in: "2 Weekends, Many Big-Name Artists". I read about some of the possible acts - ZZ Top, Steely Dan, Dr. John, Bonnie Raitt, etc. and thought "oh my Gawd - I GOTTA GO THERE!". I checked the website, and that sealed the deal. I e-mailed some music-loving buddies, and here we are. Counting down the days until we climb into the car and head south! My neighbors across the street are orginally from Mandeville, but they can't make it, but they are very jealous that I am making my first pilgrimage. Hopefully next year they can go too.

Quick drift: Ted, we have some LA music coming our way at the Double Door (across Independence from CPCC):

Saturday, March 24 - Chubby Carrier
Thursday, March 29 - Tab Benoit
Saturday, April 21 - Eric Lindell

[GeminiTed]

Quick drift: Ted, we have some LA music coming our way at the Double Door (across Independence from CPCC):

Saturday, March 24 - Chubby Carrier
Thursday, March 29 - Tab Benoit
Saturday, April 21 - Eric Lindell

Wow, now that is spooky - I just checked the DDI website this afternoon and saw this!!! I am about 20 minutes away from DDI and love that place. You going to any of shows? I always catch Tab when he comes around, and just saw him there a few months ago. I do the same when Tinsley Ellis and Jimmy Thackery come by twice a year. I think I will have to catch all 3 as part of my "warmup" for JF!

[Carolina Beadhead]

Wow, now that is spooky - I just checked the DDI website this afternoon and saw this!!! I am about 20 minutes away from DDI and love that place. You going to any of shows? I always catch Tab when he comes around, and just saw him there a few months ago. I do the same when Tinsley Ellis and Jimmy Thackery come by twice a year. I think I will have to catch all 3 as part of my "warmup" for JF!

I go when I can. I work for Kohl's up here and the retail schedule gets in the way sometimes. Tab's during the week this time so I doubt I'll make that. I'd reallllly like to see Eric right before JF though.... and it's been awhile since i've been down there.

Keep an eye on the Neighborhood Theater's schedule and the Visulite's. Sometimes they get LA musicians, too....

[ozzie]

L5-S1 is the b*stard:(

Rosie, I swung past my physio on my way home from work and asked him about it. He couldn't have been more helpful (reckons you gotta try quick and easy hands on stuff before cortisone and surgery) and he's done a 'how to' diagram and even named the type of tape etc. to use. Alas I don't have a scanner at home so email me at tanyounger@bigpond.com and as soon as I get to work tomorrow I'll email it to you. So hope it helps... let us know how you go.

[NOLA]

That'll be great....anything that might help....

Rosetree, I've had back issues for a while now (L4-L5-S1). The first Sat. in Feb. I woke up and literally could not get out of bed. Terrible pain shooting down my left leg, couldn't bear to put any weight on it, etc. Got some drugs in me to dull the pain a bit, and then got some real relief from one of the therapists at Anatomical Works Physical Therapy. They use a form of "manual physical therapy" that is similar in some ways to deep tissue massage, working the muscles to loosen the tightness which was one factor causing a nerve to be pinched (causing the pain shooting down my leg). I've had remarkable results so far - I'm pretty much pain free and getting back into my walking program - you might want to give them a call and see if they think they can help you. Their office is in Metairie near Clearview and Vets (right by Cadillac of Metairie if you know where that is). My therapist is Kenny Martin, and his partner is Bruno Steiner. As long as I can put off surgery I will do so, and these guys have helped me a lot.

Good Luck!

[nola_funk]

phish got my into jazz fest in 1996.

thanks phish!!!

[Lester_leaps_in]

My daughter was a student at Tulane Law School. She said, "Dad, you need to check this JazzFest thinger out. You're gonna like it."

[Corona]

My daughter was a student at Tulane Law School. She said, "Dad, you need to check this JazzFest thinger out. You're gonna like it."
a NOLA bartender told my friend.....he still hasn't made it but I have :)

[jhjpotter]

Amy dragged me kicking and screaming like a toddler throwing a tantrum over some candy....ok I came willingly since Ben Harper and Widespread were the headliners.

[ohio]

prolly posted this before- had a photographer friend here who had a booth in Contemorary Crafts for a few years, early 80's. He has some amazing Indian photos!

[chicagomike]

WXRT in Chicago used to run trips to JF going back to the 80's. Always sounded like a lot of fun. I was young, didnt have much money and used alot of what I did have going to see the Grateful Dead. However, in 1992 a couple of buddies and I decided to check out New Orleans and go to JF. The second I walked through those gates I decided this was for me. I have made some really good friends from all over the place. I have even been privileged to get to know some of you Threadheads.