The 2012 Voodoo Music Experience had an eventful apocalyptic year, with schedule changes, last-minute bookings and a surprising cold front. The festival hosted many local acts as well as national and international artists.
The Halloween spirit hung in the air as the masses came dressed in festive costumes. Children, teenagers, the college crowd and adults all joined in on the fun of playing dress-up. Some of the most frequently spotted costumes included Native Americans with head dresses galore, Finn from “Adventure Time,” and unicorns.
Friday’s main headliner was Neil Young & Crazy Horse, which drew a large crowd and played Young’s classic anthems. Electronic artist Kaskade served beats to his large audience of ravers. Pop-punk group Say Anything played energetically to a rambunctious crowd that evening as well.
Max Bemis, lead singer of Say Anything, said the band was excited to be present and involved in the Voodoo Experience.
“We’re just very proud to be part of the festival, and such a diverse festival,” Bemis said.
The band delighted the crowd with fan favorites such as “Alive with the Glory of Love” and “Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too.” The energy was high as microphones twirled and dancing broke out.
The singer talked about the difference between playing a festival compared to a smaller venue.
“At a festival, you kind of have to represent yourself in a certain way that’s going to reach people that don’t really know about your band or are less familiar with your band,” Bemis explained. “It’s still about having a good time and you gotta be passionate about it, especially when not everyone is there to see you.”
As Voodoo rolled into Saturday, Louisiana natives The Vettes and The Revivalists graced the stage.
Lead singer Rachel Vette said she and her rock-pop band consider it an honor to play at Voodoo each year, as they have for the past five, moving later on the schedule with each performance.
Vette said working with her three other siblings in the band is a love/hate relationship.
“You can get away with murder, but at the same time you can’t really get away with anything,” Vette said.
Vette said she was excited to see other artists such as Metallica, AWOLNATION and Jack White. She said they do a few Jack White covers in their shows.
Members of The Revivalists, a jazz-funk band with some rock flair, said they had a fun time playing Voodoo.
Drummer Andrew Campanelli said his favorite part of Voodoo was playing their gig, and he also appreciated the free Garnier shampoo samples.
Zach Feinberg, guitarist for The Revivalists, said Voodoo is crucial to the New Orleans music scene because of the diversity and exposure of a mix of acts.
“Voodoo really embraces younger bands and a lot of non-traditional New Orleans music scenes. You’ll always see the jazz, but Voodoo has different aspects too,” Feinberg said.
AWOLNATION played Saturday afternoon to a large crowd that was ready to party. The band evoked emotion with its radio sensation “Sail.” Head vocalist Aaron Bruno bravely surfed on top of the crowd with a boogie board toward the end of the show.
Techno duo Justice played an impressive set of remixes accompanied by a dazzling light show. The crowd was high-energy and the bass echoed through the wall of people surrounding the stage.
Sunday brought big names such as Coheed and Cambria out to play.
Travis Stever, Coheed and Cambria guitarist, said he loves New Orleans.
“I have family here, we like to engage in local stuff like the ghost tours,” Stever said.
Stever said the band was excited for its performance, and he feels as if his band is at its peak right now after years of work and lots of “unnecessary bullshit.”
Coheed took to the stage, impressively shredding for the group gathered for the set. Musicians played alongside suggestively posed mannequins with duct tape pasties. For the closing song, “Welcome Home,” lead man Claudio Sanchez bust out a double-headed guitar and played.
Skrillex was a dubstep blockbuster with a colossal crowd gathered and over-the-top pyrotechnics and light shows. Non-stop dancing and arm waving were the go-to moves of his fans. “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” sent the audience into a tizzy of energy.
Jack White closed the night with his talented support band. The group jammed out and White sported a variety of different guitars and basses. He played a mix of his own music, The Raconteurs and White Stripes songs. Highlights were “Fell in Love with a Girl,” “Ball and a Biscuit” and “Steady as She Goes.” “Seven Nation Army” was an encore pleaser.
After a weekend of hedonism and musical indulgence, fans shuffled the long walk back to their cars, returning at last to “the real world.”
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New Orleans-based rock group New Rebel Family lead vocalist Jeremy Meeks sings to a crowd at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans on October 28, 2012.
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A mannequin onstage during Coheed and Cambria’s performance stares down the crowd at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans on October 28, 2012.
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Claudio Sanchez, lead singer and guitarist for Coheed and Cambria, sings to the crowd at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans on October 28, 2012.
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Claudio Sanchez, lead singer and guitarist for Coheed and Cambria, plays for the crowd at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans on October 28, 2012.
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Tomahawk lead singer and keyboardist Mike Patton screams at the crowd at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans on October 28, 2012.
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Jack White (center) is flanked by his touring band The Buzzards during his performance at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans on October 28.
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Jack White plays the final show of the 2012 Voodoo Music Experience in New Orleans on October 28, 2012.
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Jack White plays piano during the final performance of the 2012 Voodoo Music Experience in New Orleans on October 28, 2012.
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Vintage Trouble vocalist Ty Taylor belts out a tune on stage Sunday morning at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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Modestep vocalist Josh Friend (right) dances on stage Sunday afternoon at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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Lost Bayou Ramblers members Louis Michot (left) and Andre Michot (right) play a duet together on stage Sunday afternoon at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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Israeli dubstep artist Borgore performs on stage Sunday afternoon at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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Lil Band O’ Gold saxophonist Richard Landry plays a solo on stage Sunday evening at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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Dubstep artist Skrillex hypes up the crowd from atop his mixing equipment Sunday night at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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Dubstep artist Skrillex performs on stage with the assistance of on-stage effects Sunday night at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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Traditionalist disc jockey Kid Koala scratches records on stage Sunday night at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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Former White Stripes frontman Jack White performs a guitar solo on stage Sunday night at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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Daru Jones, drummer for Jack White, strikes his crash cymbals on stage Sunday night at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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The ladies of Kappa Alpha Theta perform on Friday, Oct. 26, 2012 at the River Center for the National Pan-Hellenic Council at LSU step show: Step Up or Step Aside. Kappa Alpha Theta were under the spell of their voodoo witch.
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The voodoo witch of Kappa Alpha Theta controlling on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2012 at the River Center one of her zombies for the National Pan-Hellenic Council at LSU step show: Step Up or Step Aside.
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Hip-hop artist Zeale sings on stage Saturday afternoon at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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Soul Rebels saxophonist Erion Williams energizes the crowd Saturday evening at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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Silversun Pickups frontman Brian Aubert plays a guitar solo Saturday night at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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Somali Canadian hip-hop artist K’naan motions to the crowd from onstage Saturday afternoon at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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The Revivalists frontman David Shaw plays a guitar solo on stage Saturday afternoon at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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Hip-hop artist Zeale sings on stage Saturday afternoon at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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William Benjamin Bensussen, also known as The Gaslamp Killer, motions to the crowd Saturday night at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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Silversun Pickups frontman Brian Aubert plays a guitar solo Saturday night at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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A crowd member dances to a song by Justice, a French electronic group, at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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Frederick “Toots” Hibbert, leader of Toots and the Maytals, sings on stage Saturday evening at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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Chris Stafford of the Lafayette-based band Feufollet sings to the crowd at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans on October 27.
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Chris Stafford of the Lafayette-based band Feufollet sings to the crowd at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans on October 27.
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Arleigh Kincheloe, known by her stage name Sister Sparrow, serenades the crowd at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans on October 27, 2012.
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Matt Pelham, lead singer of Tennessee-based The Features, sings to a crowded Voodoo Fest in New Orleans on October 27.
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New Orleans Hornets forward and No. 1 NBA Draft pick Anthony Davis greets an excited Voodoo Fest crowd in New Orleans on October 27.
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AWOLNATION frontman Aaron Bruno performs at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans on October 27, 2012.
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Silversun Pickups lead singer Brian Aubert stares down the crowd during Voodoo Fest in New Orleans on October 27, 2012.
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Silversun Pickups lead singer and guitarist Brian Aubert plays at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans on October 27, 2012.
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Silversun Pickups lead singer and guitarist Brian Aubert plays at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans on October 27, 2012.
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Silversun Pickups lead singer and guitarist Brian Aubert plays at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans on October 27, 2012.
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Nikki Monninger, Silversun Pickups bass player, performs at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans on October 17, 2012.
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Music lovers dressed in festive outfits walk around City Park Saturday afternoon at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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Yo-Landi Vi$$er, part of the South African rap-rave group Die Antwoord, stands defiantly on stage after a song Friday afteroon at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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Chris Lee, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the New Orleans based rock band Supagroup, plays a guitar solo on stage Friday night at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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Brian J, lead guitarist of the funk band Pimps of Joytime, plays a passionate guitar solo on stage Friday night at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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Grant Emerson, bassist for the North Carolina based folk band Delta Rae, jams out on stage Friday evening at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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Yo-Landi Vi$$er, part of the South African rap-rave group Die Antwoord, stands defiantly on stage after a song Friday afteroon at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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Brittany Holljes, singer for the North Carolina based folk band Delta Rae, sings passionately into the microphone Friday evening at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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Donna She Wolf, bassist for the band Star and Dagger, headbangs on stage Friday afternoon at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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Funk legend Bootsy Collins sings to the crowd at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans on October 26, 212.
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Say Anything guitarist and backup vocalist Jake Turner screams into the microphone during Voodoo Fest in New Orleans on October 26, 2012.
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Say Anything guitarist Jake Turner plays a solo during Voodoo Fest in New Orleans on October 26.
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Say Anything frontman Max Bemis sings on speakers at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans on October 26, 2012.
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An illuminated sign attracts festival attendees at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans on October 26, 2012.
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Seth Avett of the Avett Brothers serenades the crowd at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans on October 26, 2012.
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Scott Avett of the Avett Brothers sings to New Orleans’ City Part at Voodoo Fest on October 26, 2012.
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Twins Mim and Liv Nervo of NERVO pump up the crowd at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans on October 26, 2012.
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101 Runners’ Jimmy Carpenter belts on his baritone saxiphone during the band’s show at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans on October 26, 2012.
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Ryan Raddon, known by the stage name Kaskade, performs an original song on stage Friday night at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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Chris Lee, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the New Orleans based rock band Supagroup, addresses the crowd from the stage Friday night at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.
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