By Jim Stanford on May 1, 2009
The Magic Egg: good for warding off evil spirits, conjuring up an instant dance party, parting a dense crowd and, as as these lovely ladies from San Francisco attest, meeting fun people at a music fest.
This video is for those of my friends who have ever scoffed at the egg, most of whom don’t have any rhythm.
Spoon is performing at Jazz Fest in the background.
The inscription on the egg reads, “Let the music set you free.” It bears the logo of Carlos Santana and came from the Haight-Ashbury Music Center, a gift from friends. (My first egg was given to me by former Jackson troubadour Dennis Derryberry, now leader of the band Sugar Shack in Vermont.)
There aren’t many occasions in Jackson Hole to bust out a percussive egg — road trips, a Widespread Panic show, Stubbs living room throwdowns, the odd late-night jam with Dark Cheddar. But in New Orleans, the music always sets you free, and it’s hard not to unleash your inner rock star.
John Lisi, leader of Delta Funk and fan of the egg.
The previous night, we had been having ourselves a dance party with Delta Funk at Cafe Negril on Frenchmen Street when bandleader John Lisi invited me up to shake the egg. It was one of the more outrageous moments of my life, and for the record, I killed it.
Three days later, I ran into Lisi at the Fairgrounds, as he was playing guitar for Monk Boudreaux and the Golden Eagles Mardi Gras Indians. He remembered me and was gracious to pose for this photo.
The offers for recording contracts have been pouring in, and I’ll be sure to post my tour dates as soon as the schedule is set.
The lesson in all of this, as Eric Lindell and Dragon Smoke thundered home on my last night in New Orleans:
Don’t let nobody change your funky style.
Posted under Music
Long live the egg! Love your blog. Cheers.
That video is so staged. Probably filmed on the Town Square with a some women imported from Idaho using an Easter Egg filled with BBs.
Pretty much the best footage EVER! I would certainly love to relive that day…if only for another crawfish monica & the lovely beat of the egg. Love the blaarg!
Surely, you paid these girls for this. The “scoffing” will continue until morale improves.
Grusse von Deutschland!
I was there and I can confirm that Stanford is the Egg Man! We had to set up velvet ropes to keep the ladies at bay!
The egg was a true hit with men and women alike. Scouts honor. I’m hearing it in my sleep.