Get Well Soon, Mick. But...

For those unfamiliar with the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which takes place the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May, allow me to explain in brief, just what goes on down there.

There is a racetrack with stages and tents---two stages for the BNA, or "big name acts," a stage for Cajun music, a stage for world music, a stage for New Orleans Indians, and tents for traditional jazz, jazz, blues and gospel. Over the course of two weeks, New Orleans is more alive than ever, as fans, revelers and music lovers, descend upon the city after months of anticipation, gearing up for two weeks of the best food, drink and music one could stand. Some attend the first weekend, some the second weekend and the faithful with time and cash, attend the whole two weeks. There is a daily admission, which gives you free range of the entire racetrack, and something called the "brass pass," which is a brass pass, allowing not only access to everything, but the ability to leave and comeback as many times as you'd like for the entire festival.

The talent is announced in February and then the "cubes" are released in March. The "cubes" have stage names and set times for each of the eight days, and miraculously, this whole she-bang runs without a hitch...most of the time. It has done so in the past with BNA like Bruce Springsteen twice, Sting, Stevie Wonder, hundreds and hundreds of others, and even through the insanity of bands like Widespread Panic and Phish.

And then, there is the Rolling Stones.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Jazz Fest and of course, the promoters needed to go all in. And who is more "all in" than the Rolling Stones.

The announcement was made and seconds later, if you opened a window, you could hear the sound of millions of people cheering on the left and millions of people... and me, even though I will be skipping the fest this year...groaning on the right.

And then it began.

There would be no "brass pass" for Stones day. First time ever. No act, not Bruce, not Stevie Wonder, not Fats Domino, not the Allman Brothers, no one has ever demanded this.

There would be a separate admission, which would cost $100 more per ticket for Stones day. Again, never been asked by anyone.

There would be no acts performing on any of the other nine stages from 4PM on, in other words, when the Stones are playing, it will be just the Stones playing. Once again, a first.

It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that Mick & Keith took all of the spirit out of the festival and created a day that was strictly about themselves. Certainly no more of a surprise after they charge $450 for a crappy seat at MSG, only to play "You Got Me Rockin'." Their day, usually "locals Thursday" basically shuts out locals, not to mention thousands of others who would have normally had no issues attending the Festival that afternoon.

I have been to 16 Jazz Fests in the last 20 years. The first year, I was a bit unsteady, apprehensive, and full of anxiety over who I wanted to see and hear. Really? I have to do this for three days in a row? Really? You want me to see Betty Winn & One-A-Chord in the Gospel Tent instead of Los Lobos? Really? Pete Fountain instead of The Black Crowes?  By year two, I got it. New Orleans was in my blood. I no longer cared about the BNA. Why should I? Why on Earth would I do all this planning to experience the music I could see in my own backyard? I wanted more Mardi Gras Indians. I wanted more gospel. I wanted Eddie Bo and Snooks Eaglin and Germaine Bazzle and John Boutte and Astral Project and Bonerama and all those artists who rarely stepped out of their New Orleans home. That is what the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is about. Not Katy Perry. Not even the Rolling Stones.


And now, Mick Jagger is unwell. The tour is canceled. According to Little Steven Van Zandt, a little bird by the name of Keith told him it was temporary, nothing serious and that all would be well very soon. That's good news. Lets hope it true. I mean, Mick is 75 and has been running around like a 19 year old since he was 20. Something had to give.

But...

What about the mess that was created at the Festival? What about those empty stages? What about the locals who had a chance to perform but got shut out? What about those who had plans before the Stones announcement, but got shut out because of the demand for tickets, or the high price of tickets?

If anyone is reading who might be headed to New Orleans, and might be crushed that Mick, Keef, Charlie and Ronnie will not be playing, please do yourself a favor--

Go sit in the Gospel Tent for a couple of hours. Don't worry about who or what you believe in. As Bob Dylan said, "You don't have to be a junkie to like Heroin by the Velvet Underground." Go sit in the Gospel Tent. You'll thank me later.

Go to the Jazz & Heritage Stage and watch Mardi Gras Indians, marvel at their handmade suits, created with blood, sweat and tears. Dance to the drums. You'll thank me later.

Go to the Fais-Do-Do stage. Watch a few hundred people waltzing to some beautiful Cajun folk. You can't do that at Madison Square Garden.

Step into the Economy Tent and listen to Gregg Stafford's Jazz Hounds and be part of a second line. Feel the joy and warmth of hundreds of people, some in their 90's, dancing and twirling with their homemade parasols and beaming smiles. There is nothing like it. You'll thank me later.

Go to New Orleans for New Orleans. Experience all of that before camping out in one spot to hear Bonnie Raitt, Los Lobos, Dave Matthews, Chris Stapleton, Santana and Pitbull. You'll thank me later.

Get well Mick. I mean that. And Festers...things just got better for you, whether you realize it or not.