We get there early, set up shop, and wait for the boys to come on.  So after many Miller Reds and suffering in the hot cajun sun, they come out and play a wonderful two hour set.  That night, we continued our assault on Bourbon St and the India House (a very cool hostel).  The next day, I was not sure we would make it back to the festival.  But after a cold shower and after I shaved my tongue, we were off.

On the way, we decided that since we saw all the big names, we would check out the smaller stages that day.  If you've been there you know that some of the bands there have some of the craziest names, and we saw a lot of them on this day.  One of the ones we planned on seeing was CJ Chenier and the Louisiana Sun Spots.  On they came, but with a guest, Trey!  

At the start of the set there were probably about twenty five people there or so, but by the end of the set when word got out, about two hundred lucky people were sharing the groove in Congo Square.  After the set was over (and still drunk from the previous night), we decided to crash at what they call a back stage.  

As we were walking up the ramp, who do you think was walking down? As we approached, he seemed a little startled.  My friend Big Ry is a dead ringer for Greg Allman, and I was wearing a tee shirt with a big picture of his face on it.  Or maybe it was the smell of all the urine and death of Bourbon St still on us.  

We soon started talking... there was no place for him to go.  He came across as anybody you might have been dancing next to that day.  Are you havng a good time?  Who have you seen today?  That sort of thing.  Then he asks, "what are you doing tonight?"  We tell him that we planned on seeing David Grisman.  He says something like, "you don't want to do that... Page and I are sitting in with Michael Ray tonight at Tipitinas."

Nuf said!  The man himself has spoken.  We said our goodbye's and see you tonight.  I have never had a chance to thank you Trey, but if you ever read this, I want to say thank you very much for the tip.  That night at Tipitinas was one of my alltime musical experiences.  I did go back to Jazz Fest the next year and the year after that, but for me it will never be like 1996.

 - Thee Kid