The Voodoo Experience ~ Day Two

Words and Photos by Joe Koch

It started with my walk up to the entrance and overhearing fans talk about how much they love festivals like this — ones where they get to hear so many new bands. "I loved Grace Potter, she was amazing!"

I arrived later than planned, so I missed some early performances by Jessica Lea Mayfield, Drew Smith's Lonely Choir and Black Tie Dynasty. My day again started at the WWOZ stage, where Shamarr Allen was blowing on his trumpet. This cat from NOLA can wail. He mixes it up with New Orleans jazz, funk, hip-hop and Latin influences.

Shammar Allen

Next, I walked up on The Knux. They were rapping their hits on the main stage, like "Bang, Bang" and "Cappuccino." They left the stage with a positive message of "Peace, Love and Happiness," "Make some mother fuckin' noise!" and "Get drunk and make out.”

With the heat taking its toll on me, it was time to take cover at Preservation Hall, where I could hear the acoustic sounds of Sam and Ruby, a duo from Nashville. Their song "Heaven's My Home" can be heard on the movie soundtrack for "The Secret Life of Bees."

After running from one stage to the next to experience such bands as Dan Dyer, John Boutte, Old 97's and Manchester Orchestra, it was time to bring on the most notable local product — 'Lil Wayne. He packed them in early as it seemed the crowds doubled from the previous day's attendance. Affirming the best rapper alive status, a lengthy introduction was appropriate, his DJ blasting classic American rock standards like Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen and Queen. The crowd was ready for their local superstar to come home. He took the stage in rock-star fashion, sending the sea of people into a frenzy. Just like Erykah Badu, he had a positive message to convey: "I believe in God, do you?" "I wanna thank you, without you I would not be here, you made Me." "I'm registered to vote, are you?" I was very impressed with his performance.

It was time for a bite to eat, which could be some alligator on stick if I felt daring. So with my Mediterranean pasta I was off to check out the New Moon stage where Fishbone were to perform. Founding member Angelo Moore, who is pushing 50, still has the energy of a vibrant 20-year-old, climbing onto the barrier in front of the stage and lunging atop the crowd, surfing and singing until he was returned back to stage.

While Thievery Corporation was finishing up on the PlayStation stage, the Voodoo Stage was preparing to host the neo-psychedelic sounds of the prog-rock group from El Paso, The Mars Volta. Like an explosion they took the stage and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (singer) instantly jumped into the pit and started messing with some photographers and then attempted to leap into the crowd, creating chaos.

NIN

Bringing the party to a close was industrial-metal rock icons Nine Inch Nails. Trent Reznor and company ripped into their set like a chain saw as the strobe lights struggled to keep up. Reznor crunched through his repertoire, leaving the intoxicated on-lookers exhausted by night's end.

The night did not end there for me, as I headed out to find the late-night after party at Howlin' Wolfs, where Papa Mali was warming up the crowd with his funk/soul guitar playing for the headliners, Fishbone. Coming off the great show that they had earlier, they were equally energized and put on another amazing performance. Continue to day three...