On Sunday, April 26, Leftover Salmon made their New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival debut. The long-running Boulder band, which has generated a devoted following through their homebrewed blend of bluegrass inclination coupled with a tendency to spike the concoction with elements of rock, country, Zydeco and beyond, played an hour and thirty-minute set at the Fair Grounds. As a concert preamble, founding member Vince Herman took stock of his career and the “realization of a really big dream for me and my salmon boys,” in playing the festival.
In the post which was addressed, “Good morning New Orleans,” Herman began by surveying his history: “I first saw you in 1982 with some wvu friends on a road trip to Mardi Gras. We slept in a van and busked as the underwear band. Had an amazing time. Saw the Indians early on a Sunday morning and it absolutely blew my mind. I’ve been coming back ever since for Mardi Gras, jazz fest, Christmas, playing shows with leftover salmon, and it’s really shaped who I am and what American music is. We owe so much to this city.”
The guitarist wrote of Leftover Salmon’s late lighting designer next, “I’ve witnessed so much beauty here but also experienced tragedy with the loss of our friend Joe Cahill. I will never forget him and the joy we shared here. It’s a city that somehow keeps rising from the ashes of tragedy to find beauty in life.”
The lead-up ushered in the present moment: “Today marks the realization of a really big dream for me and my salmon boys. We’re playing jazz fest! The greatest music event on earth in my eyes. From the gospel tent joy, the amazing food, the cultural exhibits, the art everywhere and the really big acts it’s unparalleled. We are so deeply honored to be here and having a part in it. It’s only taken 36 years as a band to realize this dream! I’ll be thinking so much of the times we’ve had over the years both good and bad and how it’s brought us to this point. Big thanks to all the folks who’ve been with me on this musical journey over the years. I can’t tell yall how much it means to have had such a journey in this city. Thank you New Orleans. May you keep rising and showing us what it means to live big.”
Before concluding his post, Herman shared music to cap off the memories, “I’ll leave a song I wrote with bill payne of little feat about this wondrous city below. Thanks New Orleans. Hope to see ya today closing out the fais do do stage . Bon temp roulet!”
Listen to “New Orleans Cries When She Sings,” below.
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