Back to the Future II
If you think the first weekend of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival couldn't get any better, then you are in for quite the treat.
If you like your guitars hard and loud, then look no further. That's right, the second weekend of one of live music's most significant events—not to mention the area's greatest—commences on May Day, and some truly legendary rock and roll artists are set to headline at the New Orleans Fair Grounds.
As we take a trip back through the glory decades of rock, we'll chronologically begin with one of the greatest guitarists in popular music history. Ladies and gentlemen, making his third appearance at Jazz Fest: Santana.
Santana
You know you've reached the pinnacle of success when your last name is all that is needed to evoke feelings of love and joy, or even hate and pain, but this living legend most certainly falls into the former category. By creating the perfect blend of rock, soul, and blues, Carlos Santana and his namesake band have stayed relevant for over 50 years. A winner of 10 Grammy Awards, Santana released his self-titled, debut album in 1969, the very same year they brought the house down at Woodstock by performing "Soul Sacrifice," which was, in and of itself, a testament to the fact that some songs just kick way more ass when they are performed live and in concert.
In 1970, the Latin rock masterpiece Abraxas was released, and the contents inside and outside the album—with that glorious controversial cover—changed music forever.
Santana proved that he wasn't relegated to one or two eras, unleashing the most-celebrated album of 1999—the multi-platinum, collaborative beast Supernatural.
His 2021 effort, Blessings and Miracles, mirrors the guitar icon's spiritual growth in the twilight of his career, becoming the 26th entry in a very diverse discography. Prepare yourselves to be in the presence of greatness.
Joan Jett
Remember that we're all here because we love rock and roll. You know that Joan Jett does, since one of her biggest hits famously declared this affection. Along with her band, the Blackhearts, she's been one of music's preeminent female rockers for nearly 50 years. She may have earned a "Bad Reputation" while a member of the groundbreaking, all-female band the Runaways, with fellow talent such as Cherie Currie and Lita Ford, but who the heck would expect anything less? This woman came to rock, and with over a dozen albums under her belt and a 2015 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, she's certainly succeeded. Don't hate yourself and miss a performance that promises to rock Jazz Fest to its core.
Lenny Kravitz
If you wonder "Are You Gonna Go My Way," then Lenny Kravitz certainly will, as he will be there at the New Orleans Fair Grounds. The man has been rocking for over 35 years, once musically declaring that "Rock and Roll is Dead" in 1995—we all know he was just being facetious since it was his hardest rocking hit to date. Kravitz was such a big deal for rock fans in the 1990s that more than a few people openly mused that he was perhaps the second coming of Jimi Hendrix.
Yes, you have to give it to a guy who has won the coveted Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance four years in a row from 1999 to 2002—those are indeed record-breaking statistics. From the glory days of Y2K, with hits such as "Fly Away," to his hard-rocking cover of the Guess Who's classic "American Woman," the rockin' good times at Jazz Fest ain't over 'til it's over. In other words, it ain't until Kravitz deems it so.
Peral Jam
Here's another question: Do you prefer your "Even Flow" with or without the wah? An acceptable answer would be that it depends on the given mood, but you'd agree that any time is the right time to rock out to Pearl Jam. Eddie Vedder, Mike McCready, Stone Gossard, and Jeff Ament have been around for just about as long as Lenny Kravitz, racking up a discography that is frankly unequalled in rock and roll.
Born out of the Seattle grunge scene in 1990, their 13x platinum debut album Ten produced three hit singles: the aforementioned "Even Flow," "Jeremy," and "Alive," all of which would dominate rock airplay for the next few years. Thirty-five live/studio albums later, Pearl Jam have built themselves a dedicated fan base that rivals the Grateful Dead for one simple reason—they have carried the torch of classic rock into the present day.
Amid touring for their 12th album Dark Matter, the great folks at the Jazz & Heritage Foundation have found themselves a true, world-class headliner. They're also as political as they come. Lest we forget, this is the band that once sued Ticketmaster, lost, and refused to even play at venues who worked with the ticketing behemoth. Now that's conviction. At any rate, be sure to experience the iconic band that Rolling Stone called one of the "Top Ten Live Acts of All Time."
Jazz Fest Rock Artists
Because we're rock fans through and through, we'll also take in the sets of local-turned-mainstream national airplay favorites such as Better Than Ezra—who'll leave us "Desperately Wanting" and waiting to hear lead singer Kevin Griffin belt out (God save the) "King of New Orleans"—and Fred LeBlanc and Cowboy Mouth, who asked why Mickey Dolenz's success with the Monkees didn't inspire more drummers to sing. Yes, this is going to be a magnificent week in the life of rock and roll addicts like us. Keep on rocking, friends, and we'll see you at the festival.
