Ever here of Mulebone? Probably not. But you can find out more about John Ragusa and Hugh Pool, by all acounts accomplished musicians with roots of blues, at Moondog's in Blawnox tonight.

Here's how Moondog himself announced them in his weekly newsletter:

I am honored to have one of my all time favorite artists performing tonight.

Hugh and I go all the way back to the days at the Graffitti!

I have always been mystified why such a musician has not been recognized in the mainstream media!

I promise you, you will enjoy an evening of magical music like you never had experienced before!

And, the best $5 you have ever spent!

Ron Esser aka/ Moondog

That sounds hard to resist. Photos and/or reviews from appreciative fans are welcome.

Notes from New orleans

Reader Ralph Colaizzi of Fox Chapel took me up on my offer to publish notes on his trip to the New orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Here they are:

Rain Shmain

Three blissful days at Jazzfest

My daughter and I are first weekend people. As every festival connoisseur knows, the New Orleans Heritage and Jazz Festival runs for 2 weekends at the end of April and beginning of May each year. We commit to attending weekend 1 long before that year's lineup is even is glint in organizer Quint Davis's eye.

Although it varies year to year, the first weekend tends to spotlight local acts first and foremost. The Electrifying Crown Seekers, The Big Sams, and the Tab Benoits -- all at home in Louisiana. Don't get me wrong, Sheryl Crow, Billy Joel and Tim McGraw were also on the 2008 bill, but, as in years past, we opted to stay close by the triangle of cool that is the Gospel Tent, Blues Tent and Jazz & Heritage Stage. This is where you see bands you don't know, bands who rarely tour, bands you can only hear in Louisiana. For us, this is the heart and soul of New orleans, and of Jazzfest.

To inspire you to join us next year -- first weekend of course -- and invest in the revitalization of New Orleans both culturally and economically, here's our Jazzfest 2008 band list. The music was so good, we practically forgot about the bone-soaking downpours of biblical proportions and the torrents that forced evacuation row by row in the Blues tent -- and that's saying something.

Thursday night:

• Kermit Ruffins at Vaughn's

Friday:

• Rufus "Rip" Wimberly & the Daydreamers (81 year old bluesman)

• Voices of Distinction (5 booming gospel women)

• Semolian Warriors Mardi Gras Indians (AMAZING, full blown feathered creatures)

• Gregg Martinez (white Sam Cooke, great band)

• Real Untouchables Brass Band (inspiring high school brass band)

• Barbara Lynn (50's 60's r&b singer, left handed guitar player, check her out)

• Big Sam's Funky Nation (Funk, soul, brass, rap. one of my New orleans faves)

• The Zydepunks (True to their name, with an eastern European/Klezmer feel)

• Doyle Bramhall with C.C. Adcock and the Lafayette Marquis (Doyle played drums with Stevie Ray Vaughn - great rock and roll)

• Tab Benoit (Guitar virtuoso his Cajun element. The blues tent was a rockin'.)

Saturday:

• Unstoppable Gospel Creators (Doo-wop and R&B Gospel, oh yeah)

• Rockie Charles & the Stax of Love (old time bluesman)

• The Imagination Movers (Kids on dads' shoulders weren't the only ones grooving and singing along)

• Worship Squad (tremendous Gospel choir in camo)

• Hadley J. Castille & the Sharecroppers (Cajun swamp fiddlers at Fais Do Do stage)

• The Electrifying Crown Seekers (Motown Gospel at its finest with a falsetto that'd make Smokey Robinson proud)

• Big Jay McNeely with Jesse Scinto (Tenor sax "king of the honkers")

• James Cotton (Blues harp legend still blows the bejesus out of that thing)

• Ponderosa Stomp Revue featuring:

• Dennis Binder on keyboards in a fabulous bright green suit

• Tammy Lynn waiflike and shaky, but with a voice that still kills

• Roy Head, a fabulous screamer who toured with James Brown and bit Elvis!

• Archie Bell sans Drells who sang "Tighten Up" just before the rain shut down the Fest

Saturday night

• The Blind Boys of Alabama with Allen Toussaint, Marva Wright and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band at Tipitina's

Sunday:

• Jo "Cool" Davis (raspy gospel singer)

• Paulin Brothers Brass Band (fantastic second line marching band)

• Shades of Praise (Gospel choir with at least 10 award-worthy soloists)

• Voices of the Wetlands All Stars featuring

• Tab Benoit's blistering guitar

• Dr. John on keys

• Big Chief Monk Bourdreaux in full regalia

• George Porter Jr. on bass

• Cyril Neville on bongos

• Anders osborne on guitar

• Johnny Sansone on harmonica

• Johnny Vidacovich on drums

• Waylon Thibodeaux on fiddle

• Mamadou Diabate (unbelievable Kora master from Mali)

• Irma Thomas and the Professionals (Soul Queen of New orleans, with Marcia Ball)

• Elvis Costello, Allen Toussaint and the Crescent City Horns (these guys stole the show, sounded spectacular)

• Al Green (The Reverend)

• Delbert McClinton (We danced the Fest closed to a favorite blue eyed soul man)

Sunday Night

• Frenchmen Street in all its glory

Thanks, Ralph. I already felt bad because I wasn't there. Now I feel worse. But nobody promised me that being BlueNotes would be easy. At least I didn't have to write much today.