French Quarter Fest outta sight

Otra 

I was walking through the French Quarter yesterday evening on my way over to Royal Street from the Old U.S. Mint where I'd heard the Otra latin jazz band on one stage and Jason Neville fronting Russell Batiste & Friends on the opposite side.

The Mardi Gras Indians were gyrating all over the stage (and one was running through the crowd).

Later, I overheard a guy speaking loudly on his cell phone while walking on the opposite side of the street.

"New Orleans is the greatest city in the world!" he shouted to his friend. He have become infatuated with the music.

Russell Batiste & Friends

Paul Sanchez

I'd gone to the Quarter Friday night for a couple of hours, but left six hours later. After hearing street musicians on Royal Street and Charmaine Neville in Jackson Square, I hiked up to the Woldenberg stage on the levee. 

Paul Sanchez and the Rolling Road Show were performing on the stage that overlooks the Mississippi River and Crescent City Connection bridge.

Amanda Shaw

When Amanda Shaw started performing with Glen David Andrews, the energy was electric.

Amanda was jumping around in her harem outfit, playing and swinging her fiddle around by the neck while dancing with the musicians. 

Every once in a while Andrews would yell, "Everybody go crazy!" and the whole crowd would start jumping up and down. The "Treme" marketing team had handed out handkerchiefs for a second-line parade so they were waved with great fury.

Can it get better? We'll see today.

Glen David Andrews