There’s no place like home…

You could feel it in the air this morning.

The city was abuzz, people everywhere on crowded streets. Football fans out to support their team, music fans out early to get a head start out to the park, people on their way to breakfast and, of course, all the churchgoers dressed up for a Sunday morning. Had it not been for the still-boarded up buildings along Canal Street, for just a minute, you might have imagined that things were still the same and that those bad days hadn’t ever happened.

But we were here to listen to music and have fun--bad days be gone! And home in City Park on those absolutely glorious days with the sun blazing down from a bright blue sky, it was easy to escape even for just a few hours. People dancing and singing and hugging friends and all weekend long song lyrics were resonating in my head, all of them from Louis Armstrong’s “What A Wonderful World.” “I see skies of blue...clouds of white/bright blessed days...dark sacred nights/and I think to myself...what a wonderful world.” But it was the whole damn song, “I see friends shaking hands...saying how do you do/they’re really saying...I love you.”

And you could just see the joy on people’s faces as you walked from stage to stage. I talked to a guy in the crowd and he told me nothing in the world could’ve kept him away this year. He’d come to Voodoo last year after the hurricane and vowed that he as long as there was a Voodoo, he would buy a ticket and be there to support. Another fan said since he got free tickets last year, he felt like he had to pay for them this year to even things out. There are so many stories like this, but I guess everyone wants to hear about the music.

Saturday I started the day early with Joseph Arthur (I’d been waiting with bated breath to hear “Honey and the Moon”). Shirtless in white pants with costumed side men/women, it was the perfect way to spend part of my time. I then walked over to the WWOZ stage where I stayed planted for a long while, until it was time for some good ole fashioned southern rock courtesy of Shooter Jennings. Took a little break for a hurricane and some red beans and rice until it was time for Social D. and then went for another foray into the WWOZ/Preservation Hall Tent area. Only when I heard the strains of “hate me today, hate me tomorrow” did I hurry back for the end of Blue October’s set. And then it was Chili Peppers time. What to say? When the Meters joined them onstage, I knew it was the one magical moment I’d been waiting to see. Thing is, I know that for the people onstage, the moment had to have been even more special. And so, off to bed to get ready for day two.

Sunday dawned bright and sunny and even early in the morning, you knew it was going to be a warm day. It was a hard decision Sunday morning, so I started with AM and then went off to Kermit Ruffins. After a bit of both, I was then mesmerized by the New Rivals, who were these people and where had they come from?! I watched a little of the Whigs and then headed over to see Big Sam, because everyone loves Big Sam. But then it was time for Pete Yorn, so back I went to hear one of the best songs in the history of music. That was it, the day was done--it just wasn’t going to get better than that. But then, across the field I heard the guitar lick from “American Girl,” where was that coming from? Oh wait, that’s Jack’s Mannequin, so that was where I went next. I knew I couldn’t stay long though, I had to get over to see Dan Dyer with Sam & Ruby, I’d seen Dan at Voodoo before, but who the heck are this Sam & Ruby? After hearing them all sing together, I’d found the special moment for today, but there were hours to go before sleep, so where to next? Just enough time for a drink and the chance to see Wayne Coyne drifting over the crowd in that bubble of his while the other Flaming Lips and friends frolicked onstage in assorted costumes. After a little “Rio” and “Save a Prayer,” from Duran, I knew the real fun would be over at the Cowboy Mouth and Friends set and there I sat until it was time for “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.” And with that, my time in “land that I heard of once in a lullaby” was at an end once again…

The Ritual draws near

My mind reels with the possibilities of what I’ll see. It’s only a matter of days now and everyone should be mapping out their game plan for the weekend. I was reading something today that explained how and why we love music. And while it all made sense, it’s really inexplicable. Music is truly the universal language. So, now as I look over the schedule, I’m starting to formulate a plan. I’ve found this always sounds like a better idea than it actually ends up being. But right now, so much is beckoning me, the whole Flambeau area sounds really cool and well, I may just find my new favorite band there. But what about the Preservation Hall tent, maybe I should check out Irma Thomas, after all I’ve never seen her. Though can I miss Ellipsis, how can one ignore the most overused punctuation mark on the planet? Then there’s Kinky, The Brazilian Girls and so much more and that’s not even counting the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Duran Duran.

But that’s really only part of the whole “experience” when you’re talking about a whole weekend’s worth of music, you need to be smart. And so, here are some tips to help you get through the weekend:

** Wear comfortable shoes. Honestly, while you want to look fabulous out there, remember this is an outdoor space and your shoes may not survive, let alone your feet. Go for the comfort, trust me, no one is looking at your feet.

**Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. Something people always seem to forget when they’re not in their natural habitat. You get out of your routine and forget to drink water.

**Bring a jacket, it’s going to get cold. I don’t care where you’re from. It is October, the chill will come and then where will you be? Begging your significant other for their jacket.

**Parking. Remember where you parked. Everyone in the car needs to take some responsibility here. Don’t depend on just the driver, this one is up to everyone.

**Cash. I never have cash, so this is an issue that I always have to remember when going to a festival. You’ll want water, food, other beverages, maybe you’ll do some shopping. Sure there’ll be ATMs, but is it that hard to stop on your way in the morning.

**Drinking adult beverages. Again, I understand this is New Orleans, but pace yourself. Trust me, you will thank me later.

**Be kind to others. This really is the most important thing to remember. We’re all here for the same reasons, because we love music and this city.

Have fun, be safe, worship the music. See you in a few days…

Voodoo 24/7

You know that Voodoo is really back when you can hear live music all night long for the whole weekend. But what would you expect especially in a city like New Orleans, where sleeping always comes second to going out.

So this year, everyone should celebrate the return of the post-Voodoo shows at what feels like every club in the city? Just like the Voodoo line-up, these shows are so across the boards that you’re bound to find something that’ll make you happy. The festivities begin on Friday with shows and parties that continue nightly through Sunday.

But where to go and what to see? Where is easy: House of Blues--The Parish, Tipitinas, One Eyed Jack's, Preservation Hall, The Venue and Ray's Boom Boom Room. As for whom to check out, you’re on your own, but there are vast arrays of options. If live music is on your mind try the Annual Turducken Masked Ball with Big Blue Marble, White Bitch and more; “15 Minutes of Voodoo” with Michael Tolcher, Dan Dyer, Sam and Ruby, AM, DC Harbold and Ruby Rendrag; Funkoween with Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Jon Cleary and The Absolute Monster Gentlemen; Drive By Truckers; Morning 40 Federation; The Shannon Powell Group; Kermit Ruffin & Barbeque Swingers. If a party is more your scene, head out to the: House of Lounge Masquerade ball; Vampire Stripper Sluts From Outer Space (“The Road to Voodoo” Ends Here) with Ferry Corsten, Irene, Baby Anne, Kaskade, Total Science, and many more.

Honestly! There are just way too many choices, everyone needs to go to www.voodoomusicfest.com to check out the full list and start making plans now for the nights.

The Music and the Influences

The real beauty of going to a weekend long music festival is the chance to hear things that you wouldn’t otherwise experience in your everyday life. The thing with Voodoo is here’s the perfect opportunity for you to discover music that you wouldn’t have otherwise heard--some of which has probably influenced the new music in your I-Pod.

Like the Red Hot Chili Peppers. How many New Orleans ties can there be to this band? Did you know that their name pays homage to Jelly Roll Morton and the Red Hot Peppers? And how about the fact that they took the Meters “Africa” and re-wrote it as “Hollywood” to reflect their own hometown? But that’s just the beginning, what about their songs? How many times can the band reference New Orleans in their lyrics? There’s “sweet Louisiana” from Stadium Arcadium’s “Dani California” plus Blood, Sugar Sex, Magik’s “Apache Rose”: “Mentally or physically, I wanna be in New Orleans.” Or how they want onstage that first time in nothing but socks at Jimmy’s Music Club.

What about Duran Duran? Who can forget their 1984 show at LSU’s Assembly Center or the one at the Saenger Theatre in 1989? Which one of those shows was their best? Hopefully it’ll be the performance on Sunday night when the band--in their original line-up--take the stage.

Enough about the headliners--the goal of the weekend is for you to come with an open mind and just maybe you’ll leave with a new favorite band.

But if you can’t wait until the end of the month to learn about New Orleans’ musical legacy or if you want to share some of your musical knowledge, you really should check one of the great new tools on the Voodoo site. The vmXperience New Orleans is about remembering, discovering and sharing the many stories relevant to the rich musical and cultural heritage of New Orleans. It is meant to be an open dialogue of endless story telling, not a definitive source of information. Help define what makes this city magical. Help us explain what makes us proud to call New Orleans home.

A rebirth…

In the beginning there was music. There has always been music in New Orleans, a vast array of sounds of all musical genres that overwhelm the senses at times from their varied influences. And from there came a need for the people to experience a new kind of music.

And thus in 1999, the Voodoo Music Experience was born. What began as a one-day event has gone on to become one of the top music festivals in America and has featured more than 260 artists (Nine Inch Nails, Eminem, Green Day, Beastie Boys, Tool, Stone Temple Pilots, No Doubt, Kid Rock, The Polyphonic Spree, Marilyn Manson, The Pixies, Cypress Hill, Steel Pulse and 50 Cent, among others) who’ve performed in front of more than 500,000 fans. The goal of Voodoo has always been to bring together all kinds of music, a little something for everyone.

As plans were being finalized for the 2005 festival, Hurricane Katrina hit and everything had to be rethought. Could Voodoo go on in a city that was overcome both physically and emotionally? With the help of Trent Reznor, the city of New Orleans and everyone involved, Voodoo returned, just two months to the day after the devastation. It was a day that anyone there will remember for the rest of their lives. Not only did it mark the return of live music to the city, it helped people to forget everything they’d gone through--even if just for a few hours.

This year, the Voodoo Music Experience returns to its City Park home, the place of so many musical memories. And over the course of the next few weeks, you’ll be given a look inside the world of Voodoo as preparations are made for the two days of music, New Orleans culture and celebrating its influences on music and beyond.