The clouds were rolling in and
out through the afternoon, but around JazzFest excitement was only rising for Bruce Springsteen's appearance. Tens of
thousands of people parked by the Acura Stage got ready for the event, considered by many the key appearance at the
festival, with various beverages of choice, samplings of the fine foods available on site and a terrific performance by
Elvis Costello and New Orleans legend Allen Toussaint previewing their upcoming collaborative album.
Springsteen himself, it seems, got inspiration in a different way. Word spread among insiders that Saturday the Boss, with no press or publicist in tow, made his way to the devastated Lower 9th Ward district, where the breech of the Industrial Canal after Hurricane Katrina left a vast area of homes turned to rubble. Springsteen visited the health clinic and resource center of Common Ground, a volunteer operation of doctors and nurses based in the area. (www.cghc.org)
He's also hired a couple of locally based horn players to add some New Orleans color to the new, already big Seeger Sessions band, the hootenanny ensemble he's assembled for his album and tour featuring folk songs associated with Pete Seeger.
Around the stage area, most people seemed aware of the nature of the show and knew not to expect an E Street Band performance -- and embraced the concept. John Nylund, a long-time fan who flew in from Southern California for this and was standing near the front of the stage throughout the afternoon, thinks the spirit of the Seeger songs -- tales of struggle and hope -- fit perfectly with the situation.
"Just like 'The Rising" was for New York," he said, referring to Springsteen's first post-9/11 album dealing with the emotional impact of the terrorist attacks, "this is for New Orleans."
Locals Denny and Kathy McDowell, he wearing a "Born to Run" t-shirt, also set up near the front and were well prepared. Kathy pulled out the booklet from the "Seeger Sessions" CD and said, "We're all ready to sing along!"
Some who did not realize this wasn't a "regular" Springsteen concert seemed to be learning as the day went on, and after some mild disappointment got into the spirit.
"I was coming to see Bruce and E Street," said Meg Anderson, who came down from Baton Rouge, standing with a group of friends in the very back of the crowd. "But no matter what he does, when he starts singing it's great. Just being out here is wonderful."
Added her friend Dave Howerton, "It's huge group therapy."
Meanwhile, the inevitable rumors were flying -- most prominently that not just U2 guitarist Edge was on hand (as he was Saturday, guesting with both the New Birth Brass Band and Dave Matthews) but the whole band was here. It was confirmed that Edge attended Springsteen's sound check earlier and a guest appearance seemed a real possibility.
And lest anyone think that most of those on hands were indifferent to the issues and struggles of the city's rebuilding effort, as the crowd waited before the Costello/Toussaint set, a huge cheer arose as a plane flew overhead towing a banner that read, "Impeach Bush."
1. WTF does bruce spingsteen and matthews have to do with JAZZ? I understand raising money for Katrina victims and all but Toussaint and Rebenac are th real deal but whats with `not the boss of anything` and a kid from Nebraska? Jazz/not in their wildest dreams. Hope th festival raises a shit-pot of dough tho.
DL
Posted at 8:32PM on Apr 30th 2006 by David Lorenz