Things Carrie Loves

Voodoo Fest 2010

07 Nov 2010 Leave a Comment

by guitargogether in Concert Reviews

My latest adventure was a four day weekend trip to New Orleans with two of my favorite whores. In between drinking our breakfast, enticing bands to come to our room with promises of vodka, impromptu dance parties in the middle of Bourbon Street, and ghost hunting we went to VooDoo Fest. The festival isn’t as big as other fests like Bonnaroo or Lollapolooza but still has major artists gracing it’s stages. This meant less walking not to mention fall in New Orleans is the perfect festival weather!

Friday was the first day of the fest. There really weren’t any bands we wanted to see except the nights headliner, Muse. We got there early and grabbed some dinner with our alcohol. (I respectfully declined the alligator on a stick) We sat in the grass and complained about… I mean listened to Weezer play at the stage across from the stage Muse would be playing. I didn’t think they were ever gonna get off the stage. I’m pretty sure they played their entire catalog as well as a bad MGMT/Lady GaGa cover. Finally it was almost time for Muse so we made our way to a good spot fairly close. Of course we get stuck behind the biggest slut/stoner at the entire festival. The second she smelled weed she was on whoever’s it was and smoked half of it while recounting a story from the night before where she got so high she thought her voice box was disintegrating. Muse came out and were mind blowing from the very start. The slut in front of us ditched her boyfriend and spent the entire show grinding on the guy next to her while her boyfriend stood there like an idiot. Nevertheless even though she made it incredibly difficult to pay attention to Muse the show went on and Muse were amazing! Matt Bellamy looked like a shiny disco ball in his sequenced suit rocking out on stage. They put on one of the best shows I’ve been to! Most notably the song Feelin Good because it became our anthem for the rest of the weekend! (if I had a dollar for every time I said Feelin Good that weekend it would have paid for the trip!

Saturday was another chill day with only two bands we wanted to see. First up was The Whigs! We arrived at the fest and got our alcohol aka lunch and got a spot right at the barrier (one of us was barrier and the other two behind). It felt like a lot of the crowd was there to try and get a good spot for Florence + The Machine but those who were there for The Whigs were really into it. They played an amazing set mixed with songs from their first album and their latest. Naked is phenomenal live! They’re so energetic on stage and obviously put 150% into their performance. I thought a camera man was gonna get kicked by Parker more than once though!

While we waited between The Whigs and Florence we listened/watched Cage the Elephant at the stage across from ours. They sucked pretty bad. Then the lead singer literally wouldn’t go backstage. He crawled on top of any surface he could to stage dive off of including the VIP tent. We were positive his death was near but he survived and finally left.

Next up was Florence + The Machine aka the porcelain skinned flame haired goddess of music. By this time we all three were on the barrier. I felt like a 12 year old at Justin Bieber concert waiting for her to take the stage and had to fight back tears from the emotional joy I was experiencing watching/listening to her. She’s like a talented classy version of Lady GaGa. Her voice is 10 times better (it’s heavenly) plus she actually sings live. A little over halfway through the show she tossed one of the drumsticks she uses during the show out into the crowd. It was headed towards the person about 2 people away from me but bounced out of their hands then bounced off the person next to them and flew up in slow motion. Without even thinking I reached out and grabbed it which also appeared in slow motion. Not only did it feel like slow motion and appear in slow motion to me but my two friends also said it appeared that way. I kind of just swooped in and grabbed it. If I wasn’t left handed I probably wouldn’t have got it! I did get it though and I held it tightly for the rest of the mind blowing show! The jumping at the end during Dog Days almost killed me but was fun!

At the end of the show I was approached by another girl who came up and asked for me to let her plead her case. I thought she was gonna ask to hold my newest most prized possession (I would not have let her! trust no one is my motto!) but no… she starts going on about how she drove all the way from Oklahoma and how she’s been a fan for over a year and asked if she could please have the drumstick. I just stared at her as she cried (yes she really cried). She suddenly stopped crying when I said no sorry I drove all the way from Nashville to see Florence. She rudely asked how long I had been a fan and was not happy when I replied “probably longer than you.” (it’s probably the truth… I first started listening to Florence a long time ago when a friend from the UK mentioned her). I then walked off to join my friends and we had a good laugh over her. I really wanted to be like ‘sure you can have it’ and act like I was gonna give it to her and then pull it back and run off laughing cause that’s just the kind of person I am but I didn’t. She probably sat in her hotel room rocking herself back and forth crying all night.

The next day we were supposed to go see Jonathon Tyler and the Northern Lights but sadly did not make it. They played a little to early for us considering we drank most of our meals the two days before. (I’m sorry JTNL…next time I’ll get my ass out of bed!) We made it in time to listen to MGMT while waiting for My Morning Jacket. (I again respectfully declined alligator on a stick) MGMT sounded good but I was really just excited for My Morning Jacket. We were pretty close for them (as close as we could be since the main pit area is reserved for VIP ticket holders which was stupid if you ask me). They came out dressed in wizard costumes made from white robes, long white wigs, and moon face masks. They played one song that I’m pretty sure was new unless it’s some old song I’m not aware of. Other people around me were asking if it was new too though. Despite their sheer epicness on stage I left before the last few songs knowing that we’d need to make the shuttle back to the hotel and there would be a huge crowd to fight if I waited. They were a great way to end the festival though! You really can’t beat MMJ on Halloween in New Orleans!

Overall I really liked Voodoo as a festival. It was so low key compared to the others. There was no two mile hike from the parking lot to the festival and the layout of the festival was nice! The main stages were within sight of each other so you could see all the main acts. The weather was perfect! We didn’t have to pack a bag for the day and there weren’t so many bands that it required running around like crazy trying to see them all. I’d definitely go back to Voodoo again!

See all my Voodoo pics here: http://s850.photobucket.com/albums/ab62/guitargogether/Voodoo%202010/

A short clip of The Whigs: