Better Than Ezra

Better Than Ezra, who followed the Iguanas at the Bellsouth Stage later that afternoon. With the New Orleans-based rock band’s “Good” lodged at the top of the Billboard Modern Rock charts and the video a regular on MTV, an enormous, young audience turned out to sing along.

—Alex Oliver, Keith Spera, Jonathan Tabak

 

Ian Neville

Ian Neville, the 13-year-old son of Art Neville, who played rhythm guitar on four song; with papa and the funky Meters in front of an enormous audience at the Ray-Ban Stage.

—Alex Oliver, Keith Spera, Jonathan Tabak

 

Ray Charles or Henry Butler

When Henry Butler was brought over to say hello to Chuck Berry behind the Ray Ban Stage, a woman watching from the barricades asked, “Is that Ray Charles?” Like Charles, Henry is a black man who happens to be blind — but he’s also about 30 years younger, and resembles Ray Charles about as much as B.B. King does.

—Alex Oliver, Keith Spera, Jonathan Tabak

 

 

Cover Songs

Alex Chilton did Sinatra’s “I’ve Got A Lot of Loving to Do.” Better Than Ezra did a chunk of Prince’s “When Doves Cry.” Archie Shepp crooned “Ain’t Misbehavin.”

—Alex Oliver, Keith Spera, Jonathan Tabak

 

John Popper

At the conclusion of a brief acoustic set at the intimate Heritage Stage, Blues Traveler’s John Popper tossed his harmonica into the audience — and a scuffle broke out as a throng of youngsters grasped for it.

—Alex Oliver, Keith Spera, Jonathan Tabak

 

Deacon John

Deacon John started playing when he was still in his trailer, then played all the way to the stage, then in front of the stage, and finally, all the way back to his trailer when he was finished.

—Alex Oliver, Keith Spera, Jonathan Tabak

 

Fred LeBlanc

To witness yet another prolonged Fred LeBlanc speaker-climbing incident at the Fox 38 Stage. The act was cute a couple of Fest ago, but now smacks of routine. The band has enough good songs under its belt that it should be able to hold a crowd that way.

—Alex Oliver, Keith Spera, Jonathan Tabak

 

James Taylor

On a very wet Thursday, James Taylor came out from under the canopy to the lip of the Ray-Ban Stage to shake hands with audience members, and got rained on.

—Alex Oliver, Keith Spera, Jonathan Tabak