Day 428: Do Do That Voodoo That You Do

Are you ready for All Hallow’s Eve?  I am!   Hooray for Halloween in New Orleans after a two three-year break!  [H 2003 – here; H 2004 – spent in a Gatwick airport hotel as flight from Dublin to New Orleans is delayed by giant foul-up on RyanAir’s part; H 2005 – Mexico and southern TX]

Not much to report from the Voodoo Music Experience this past weekend, except that The New Orleans Bingo! Show and The Flaming Lips are class acts.  Every band that took to the stage after paled in comparison to the hardworking antics and high quality of their stage production.  Along with being great songwriters, Clint Maedgen, Wayne Coyne and their respective bandmates are theatrical perfection.  If I want to watch a band stand there (with occasional spasm) and sing, I’ll stay home with a record and a photograph.  To run around onstage with hilarious props, engage the audience with lights, games, singalongs, dancing, showgirls, bingo games, bullhorns, a talented theremin player, Aliens vs. Santa, Yoshimi power ballad, confetti, synchronized lights, you name it and sing your heart out takes real talent, practice and coordination and is worth every last Ticketmaster “handling” cent.

All of this was in perfect contrast to the band almost everyone went to see.  Yes, gentle reader, The Red Hot Chili Peppers are highly overrated and do not warrant the applause they received on Saturday night.  The best thing that happened to their show was inviting The Original Meters (Zigaboo Modeliste – drool!) onstage towards the end.  Halfway through the performance, I turned to D and said, “How about a drinking game for Chili Peppers shows?  Every time they say California, we take a shot.”  To which D replied, “Hell, we’ll be on the floor by the end of the first song.”  What ever happened to those nice songs from Freaky Styley and Uplift Mofo Party Plan?

Voodoo is definitely the B-Team of music festivals (versus Jazzfest, Bluesfest, Bonnaroo etc.) but makes for a more exciting Halloween weekend, which ain’t over yet.  Pictures coming your way after tonight.