The standout act of the day went to Super Chikan. The nephew of Big Jack Johnson, James Johnson is known in most circles as Super Chikan, a name born of his fascination with the family's chickens as a child. A warm smile, a sense of humor, and a heavy dose of talent make this man a "must see" entertainer. And that's exactly what he is — an entertainer.

Not only can he play guitar, he plays homemade guitars. These instruments, created from found objects, are a sight, and they produce amazing sounds. The sweetest music I heard all day came from Super Chikan and his works of art. His bassist, Daddy Rich — of Clarksdale, MS — is all of 25, and brought even more fun to the stage. Guy Cariglio did a — pardon the pun — bang up job on drums. Whatever it is, whatever the quality necessary to create a fantastic show, Super Chikan had plenty of it. If he'd been the only act of the day, I'd have walked away satisfied. I hope he makes another trip to San Diego soon.

The only complaint I had the whole day, other than my experience while watching Dr. John, was the price of drinks. $3 for 1/2 liter of bottled water was the lowest price on drinks. No coolers or outside food or beverages were allowed on the premises. The food, while it was very good and available in many varieties, was also a bit pricey, but much more expected. Tickets for a single day were $40 each, and two day tickets, along with special VIP packages were fairly reasonable when you consider how many artists there were to see.

Despite the costly water and the moment of "blech," Festival Del Mar — as I said before — was a blast! I can't wait until next year!

All photos © Joan Hunt, 2006