Episode #13
You Had to Be There: Bonus Episode #1
You Had to Be There: New Orleans, Jazz Fest, and a Few Stories Too Good to Forget. Greg kicks off this bonus episode with a disclaimer about memory, then uses it to launch into a story-rich ride through New Orleans, Jazz Fest, and the musicians and moments that shaped his experiences there. It is part travelogue, part music memoir, and part backstage confession, with stories tied to George Porter Jr., Jimmy Buffett, Aaron Neville, Daniel Lanois, and more.In this episode: Greg frames the series as a personal, audio-only bonus to Roadies and Rebels, inspired by his book Just One Hundred Questions He explains the new theme music for these bonus episodes, including a tribute to the late Rick Elias He shares how first visiting New Orleans in 1985 hooked him on the city through food, music, and atmosphere He describes the scale and sound of Jazz Fest, from zydeco and brass band to gospel, rhythm and blues, and more He names key Louisiana artists he fell in love with, including Zachary Richard, Wayne Toups, Dr. John, Irma Thomas, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and the Neville Brothers He tells a family story about taking his daughter to see Aaron Neville and her shocked reaction to meeting him backstage He recalls how New Orleans music seems to take over your body, even if you are not a dancer He reflects on his many messy, unforgettable nights in the city and gives credit to friends who helped make them happen He shares the story of first hearing George Porter Jr. in Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band and being stunned by that swampy, funky bass sound He recounts an all-night hang at Tipitina’s involving Jimmy Buffett, Ed Bradley, and a very bad bodyguard plan He describes an evening at Daniel Lanois’s studio listening to unreleased music and fighting the giggles over a family story about an upside-down American flag Timestamps:00:00 — Opening disclaimer and the “unreliable narrator” setup 00:30 — From Just One Hundred Questions to the Roadies and Rebels bonus series 01:28 — Theme music for the bonus episodes and a tribute to Rick Elias 01:58 — First trip to New Orleans and the food that made it unforgettable 02:27 — Jazz Fest and the global mix of sounds in one place 02:56 — The Louisiana artists and bands Greg kept returning to 03:25 — Taking his daughter to see Aaron Neville and her backstage reaction 04:23 — Why New Orleans music makes even non-dancers move 04:53 — Losing his mind in New Orleans and why he keeps going back 05:22 — The friends who made the adventures possible 05:51 — Meeting George Porter Jr. and hearing his bass rig in person 07:08 — “How a beach became a swamp” and the sound that stuck forever 07:35 — A drunken Tipitina’s night with Jimmy Buffett and Ed Bradley 08:09 — Hanging at Daniel Lanois’s studio and hearing unreleased music 08:37 — The upside-down flag story that broke the tension 09:08 — Closing thoughts, New Orleans advice, and the urn joke 09:37 — Where to find more from the show and the book Many of the guests on this podcast are featured in my "Just 100* Questions" book. For purchasing please visit Guesthouse Projects . Also available on Amazon.
