Under the microscope: Jazz Fest Cubes review (Weekend 2)

For Week One picks, go here

Getting giddy just looking at these cubes for the second weekend of this year’s Jazz Fest. Weekend Two, as per usual, offers an extra day to get your fest on and an even wider array of late-night shows on boats, in theatres large and petit(e), and engulfing most clubs until sunrise. With a couple of my personal favorite bands making an appearance on Thursday (Wilco) and Friday (Arcade Fire), local nationally-touring favorites Galactic and The Radiators (Farewell) passing through and the holiest of sets Aaron Neville’s Gospel Experience all unfolding on Weekend Two, there should be plenty to keep you occupied for 6-18 hours a day on the musical front.

Here are the picks for Weekend 2 at the Jazz Fest (once again, assuming you have superhuman deportation skills and energy). These are just suggestions, as anyone knows there are about 434,343,983 ways to get your Fest on. And remember…

The Jazz Fest You Take = The Jazz Fest You Make –

Midweek Options

Monday, May 3rd
Tipitina’s Instruments A’ Comin (Galactic, Big Sam, Ivan Neville, Honey Island Swamp Band, Hot 8 Brass Band, Donald Harrison Jr and more at Tipitina’s Uptown (9:00 p.m.)

Tuesday, May 4th
Dragon Smoke (Eric Lindell, Ivan Neville, Stanton Moore, Rob Mercurio) at One Eyed Jack’s (9:30 p.m.)

Wednesday, May 5th
Gregg Allman at House of Blues (8 p.m.)

At the Fest…

Thursday, May 5th

12:20-1:10 (Blues Stage) – Little Freddie King Blues Band
1:40-2:55 (Acura Stage) – Lucinda Williams
1:45-2:30 (Gospel Stage) – Heavenly Melodies Gospel Singers (how can you go wrong with that name?)
2:05-3:05 (Congo Square Stage) – Joseph Zigaboo Modeliste
2:15-3:15 (Gentilly Stage) – New Orleans Bingo! Show
2:45-3:45 (Blues Stage) – Charlie Musselwhite
3:25-4:40 (Acura Stage) – Galactic
4:10-5:20 (Blues Stage) – James Booker Piano Tribute feat. David Reis, Joshua Paxton, Tom McDermott, Joe Krown, and Tom Worrell
5:20-7:00 (Acura Stage) – Wilco
5:30-7:00 (Congo Square Stage) – Maceo Parker w/ PeeWee Ellis

Wilco – Impossible Germany
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPAbjNT7nQY

Friday, May 6

12:20-1:10 (Sheraton Fais Do Do Stage) – Joe Hall & the Louisiana Cane Cutters
1:00-2:00 (Gentilly Stage) – Edie Brickell
1:30-2:25 (Sheraton Fais Do Do Stage) – Bruce Daigrepont’s Cajun Band
1:45-2:30 (Jazz & Heritage Stage) – Golden Sioux Mardi Gras Indians
2:25-3:15 (Gentilly Stage) – Buckwheat Zydeco
2:55-3:55 (Lagniappe Stage) – Stanton Moore Trio
3:50-5:05 (Gentilly Stage) – Jamey Johnson
4:20-5:25 (Sheraton Fais Do Do Stage) – The Steeldrivers

Rough Conflict (but you can do as I’m planning and go see Gregg @ House of Blues on Wednesday night and clear the way for full attention to the Arcade Fire set with zero regrets)

5:30-7:00 (Acura Stage) – Arcade Fire
5:40-7:00 (Blues Stage) – Gregg Allman

Arcade Fire & David Bowie – Wake Up

Saturday, May 7th

12:35-1:30 (Gentilly Stage) – Shamarr Allen and the Underdawgs
1:55-3:00 (Acura Stage) – Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars
2:00-3:10 (Congo Square Stage) – RAM of Haiti presented by Digicel
2:30-3:20 (WWOZ Jazz Tent) – Khris Royal & Dark Matter
2:50-3:50 (People’s Economy Hall Tent) – Tribute to Walter Payton and Albert “June” Gardner
3:35-4:40 (Acura Stage) – Allen Toussaint
3:25-4:40 (Gentilly Stage) – Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue
3:40-4:40 (Congo Square Stage) – Mystikal
4:30-5:35 (Jazz & Heritage Stage) – 101 Runners
4:55-5:15 (Congo Square Stage) – DJ Soul Sister (**B/tw Mystikal and Ms. Lauryn Hill)

Gonna Have to Split Time —

5:20-7:00 (Gentilly Stage) – The Strokes
5:25-6:50 (Congo Square Stage) – Ms. Lauryn Hill
5:50-7:00 (Gospel Tent) – Aaron Neville’s Gospel Experience

Lauryn Hill– Doo Wop

Sunday, May 8th

12:30-1:20 (Acura Stage) Anders Osborne
12:30-1:25 (Gentilly Stage) Playing For Change
1:40-2:50 (Congo Square Stage) Tabou Combo of Haiti
2:35-3:25 (WWOZ Jazz Tent) Ellis Marsalis
2:55-3:50 (Jazz & Heritage Stage) TBC Brass Band
4:20-5:35 (Sheraton New Orleans Fais Do Do Stage) Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers
4:35-5:35 (People’s Health Economy Hall Tent) Preservation Hall Jazz Band
5:30-7:00 (Gentilly Stage) The Radiators Farewell with Friends (plenty of good options but not missing this one for obvious reasons)

Playing for Change – Song Around the World/Stand By Me