When I sat at my desk to begin this blog I contemplated several topics. Ultimately, I realized I couldn’t let this weekend pass without mention.

New Orleans has an internationally-known appetite for celebrations. The biggest (in descending order according to my opinion) being Mardi Gras, followed by Halloween/ Voodoo Music Festival, then Jazz Festival. That ranking stands unless the Saints decide to surprise the nation with a Superbowl win 43 years in the making; then the celebration hierarchy is completely thrown out of whack.

Come Halloween weekend, there is a difficult decision that plagues most New Orleanians: “To Voodoo or not to do?” It’s a question I asked myself (and my bank account) since June. First they posted the line-up and lured me in with cheap weekend passes. Once I saw that two of my “I have to see them before I die” bands were playing, I knew I had to go. Unfortunately, my summer job just did not facilitate paying rent on time and buying a $125 ticket to a music festival in October.

Voodoo

A mere 5 days before the first bands were scheduled to take the stage I realized there was no way I could miss an opportunity to see Muse, Florence & the Machine, Interpol, MGMT, and Deadmau5 all in one venue. I was thrilled to realize how right I was. I would have never forgiven myself for missing those acts because each proved to be as incredible as I anticipated.

MGMT playing as the Scooby Doo crew, and yes I was that close!

Muse delivered a high-energy, technicolor experience, and experience is the best word I can think of because it was definitely more than a show. MGMT of course stuck to their crowd-pleasers from Oracular Spectacular (in my opinion the better album), but delivered some laughs when they came out in their Scooby-Doo costumes.

Although I was dreading spending the money, the festival proved to be completely worth the price. It also reminded me what New Orleans is all about. Almost all of the vendors were serving local cuisine and it didn’t matter where you were on the festival grounds, there was music playing at all times. To me, that is New Orleans (and Loyola) in a nutshell. Locals, out-of-towners, and tourists all coming together for one purpose: to enjoy great music in a great environment.

Thus I conclude with two apologies. The first goes to my bank account, “Dear checking account, I’m sorry I significantly decreased your value this weekend but just remember money will always come and go, but memories are permanent.” The second goes to Voodoo Festival, “I am sorry for doubting your greatness. I’ll see ya next year!”