Voodoo Music Experience

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Nocentelli's axe giveaway

Guitarist Leo Nocentelli has donated five acoustic-electric Hofner guitars to the Tipitina's Foundation in conjunction with Survivors for Survivors, a nonprofit relief organization Nocentelli formed with his sister, Roslyn Flot. Nocentelli presented the guitars prior to performing with Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews at Tipitina's on Feb. 3. "It was spur of the moment, " Nocentelli said. "I thought the best thing was to give them to the Tipitina's Foundation because they've been so instrumental in supplying school kids with instruments." Nocentelli previously gave away two dozen guitars after his historic Starcaster -- the guitar he played on the Meters' classic early recordings -- was enshrined in the local Hard Rock Cafe. "I want to give back for what I've received from the city all these years, even though I don't live there any more more, " said Nocentelli, who now calls Burbank, Calif., home. "I plan on giving more."

Dr. John's prescription

Mac "Dr. John" Rebennack's next album apparently will be his response to Hurricane Katrina and the slow pace of recovery. "The City That Care Forgot, " as the album is tentatively titled, is slated for release in May. It is to be his first project under a new recording contract with 429 Records, a unit of the Savoy Label Group, which is in turn the North American operation of Japan's Columbia Music Entertainment.

Check out the V.M.E. galleries

By 10 p.m. Sunday, Wilco had slammed home a magical set, a purple-suit-wearing Dr. John had bundled into a backstage sedan, and silence finally descended on City Park's oaks along with the damp night air.

But the 2007 Voodoo Music Experience was not quite finished. Amid the carved masks and ankh jewelry of the African Cultural Tent on the main Voodoo midway, the Rebirth Brass Band kicked into high gear as thousands of attendees streamed for the exits.

Voodoo Fest 2007 in New Orleans:

Midway through Wilco's Sunday night closing set on the Voodoo Music Experience main stage, singer Jeff Tweedy suggested fans leave early "to get a head start on traffic." But if they chose to stay, "it's gonna be worth your while, I promise."

He was right, and then some. I've seen Wilco spend way too much time navel-gazing on big festival stages, getting lost in the ambient experiments that sometimes bog down the band's albums. That was not the case Sunday as Tweedy and company played like they had something to prove.

The three most mobile members of Fall Out Boy -- all but shirtless drummer Andy Hurley -- hit the Voodoo Stage wearing all black. Bassist and primary heartthrob Pete Wentz sported a tight leather jacket and long black bangs. "We've never played anywhere so big in New Orleans," Wentz said to the sprawling crowed in front of him, noting that the largest local venue they'd previously played was the House of Blues.

Later, he riffed on his naked-pictures-on-the-Internet faux pas and noted that "we routed this entire tour around being able to play this festival." Still, Fall Out Boy intended to take care of business quickly, Wentz said, to clear the stage for Black Crowes and the "almighty Wilco."

The Black Crowes' appearance at the 2001 Voodoo Music Experience yielded nothing but bad vibes. Thanks to delays with Snoop Dogg's earlier set on the same stage, the Crowes started late and played to a rapidly diminishing audience. Weeks later, they broke up.

They fared much better this time around. As the sun set, the Crowes proved to be what Kings of Leon want to be when they grow up: A rock solid Southern-bred rock band with indisputable melodies and the ability to jam with purpose and authority. Even though lead guitarist Rich Robinson hobbled onstage on crutches and played slide guitar sitting down, the Crowes locked in early at Voodoo and never let up.