As much as I love the idea of a Bacchanalia Mardi Gras, I suspect if I actually lived in NOLA, I’d treat it like I do New Years Eve: amateur hour. The food, music and sultry seduction will always be integral to the spirit of NOLA.
Oh hell, who am I kidding? I’d probably venture out and join with the tourists for a little rambunctious fun.
Does it have to be Mardi Gras? Can it be Mahashivratri (Great Shiva’s night)? It was this weekend.
Shiva is a cool dude. He is the Lord of dance and music. His dance can destroy the earth and the heavens. He wears his hair in dreads, has the moon on his forehead, river Ganga flows through his matted locks. He is not afraid to cry or show his emotion. He is Ganesha’s father and Parvati’s husband. He usually hangs out in graveyards has disreputable friends, smears himself in ashes, smokes ganja. He can also eat the most potent poison and survive. He is pretty chill but you do not want to get on his bad side.
30.
germy
(WPMI/NBC News) Eleven high school students were injured, three critically, when a vehicle struck members of a marching band taking part in a Mardi Gras parade in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Eyewitness accounts say a driver slipped off the brake onto the gas, plowing into the back of the Gulf Shores High School marching band.
Six members of the band were taken to nearby hospitals.
31.
SFBayAreaGal
@hovercraft: Wow oh wow. Thank you hovercraft for this. I love the horns.
Feel good music
I been told
Good for your body
And it’s good for your soul!
Hey, hey hey now
Hey pocky a-way
Hey, hey hey now
HEY POCKY A-WAY!!
34.
Gelfling 545
On Saturday at Sportsman’s – a locally famous music venue – these two groups got together for some mardi gras entertainment. Ten Cent Howl and Buffalo Brass Machine. One of my favorite things about my city is the availability of all kinds of music pretty much any time. ETA the guy in the cowboy hat is my elder daughter’s gentleman.
Music, typically call-and-response chanting with tambourines and other handheld percussion, plays a central role in the Mardi Gras Indian spectacle, but the members of a few tribes—the Wild Magnolias and the Wild Tchoupitoulas in particular—have released critically acclaimed recordings and many times perform professionally with a full band.
Mardi Gras Indian music has also permeated into New Orleans funk, soul and R&B. The famous New Orleans tune “Iko Iko” with the lyrics, “My flag boy and your flag boy, sitting by the fire,” is rooted in Mardi Gras Indian tradition as is the New Orleans standard “Hey Pocky Way.”
Mardi Gras Indian Tribes
There are more than 50 Indian tribes in the city and each march to the beat of their own drummer, literally. With a formal hierarchy of chiefs, spy boys, flag boys, big chiefs, wild men and other unique monikers, the Indians grace the streets of New Orleans’ neighborhoods in friendly competition over which chief is the “prettiest.” With boastful singing and threatening dances and gestures, on Mardi Gras Day the tribes go out seeking other tribes to do “battle” with. In earlier days, a meeting of tribes often turned violent, and few others would dare to be present. Now, plenty of spectators come out to watch Indian tribes who compete by costume and song one-upmanship. Indians are organized into roughly three dozen tribes with names like the Golden Eagles, the Flaming Arrows, the Yellow Pocahontas, and the Bayou Renegades.
38.
waysel
@Doc H: ‘Indian red’ Ya beat me to it. That whole album is fine. With the Meters, IIRC.
39.
Mnemosyne
We had King Cake at work this morning. The local Cuban bakery makes them, and they’re delish.
40.
Yutsano
@Betty Cracker: I thought it was a Jamaican rhythm song.
We had King Cake at work this morning. The local Cuban bakery makes them, and they’re delish.
This is my first Mardi Gras in my new city (Seattle); my aunt is throwing a MG party and I volunteered to make the Kings Cake. My niece usually does it apparently, but she had a baby a week ago & isn’t feeling the baking vibe yet. It’s rising nicely, so I hope this isn’t a fool’s errand. Not sure I can go out & find one last minute if it is. Wish me luck!
Twelve members of the Gulf Shores High School marching band were injured, four of them critically, when a car plowed into the band at a Mardi Gras parade Tuesday in Gulf Shores, Alabama, city spokesman Grant Brown said.
Brown said the car was driven by a 73-year-old man who accelerated and hit the band. It was not immediately clear why the driver accelerated, but authorities do not believe the crash was intentional.
Add that to the 32 from 2 days ago from the drunk guy who slammed into a different parade. Thank god we have humans behind the wheel.
It is Porto’s. We moved from living within a mile of the Glendale location to living within a mile of the Burbank location. I have never had anything bad from Porto’s.
When I walked into Porto’s at 8:00 am, they already had a sign up that said they were sold out of King Cakes. Thank goodness for pre-orders!
51.
laura
@jacy: Oh My, but that is one sweet, sweet, load of talent and charm and dedication to craft, and well, oooh, my! YES!
52.
Alain the site fixer
@ingressus sum: I make somewhat passable malasadas, I like to think! Slow and gentle treatment and I’ve had great success both times I’ve made them.
53.
Alain the site fixer
@Miss Bianca: I wish we’d hung out when I lived in Cañon! I’d never heard the Balfa Brothers but they’re now on my list to explore. I found so few people there who listened to interesting music….
Comments are closed.
Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!
NCSteve
I prefer Dr John’s version.
TaMara (HFG)
Anything by the Dirty Dozen works for me.
donatellonerd
my sister & brother-in-law named their dog Iko, after Dr John’s version.
jeffreyw
St. James Infirmary Blues
raven
Mardi Gras Indians – The Red Flame Hunters
PaulW
I’m Too Sexy always seems to fit the mood
Sandia Blanca
I like the Mardi Gras Mambo. Also, does Meet the Boys by the Battlefront count?
ET
Tipitina
Go to the Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras Mambo
hovercraft
I love this Lucky Chops – Hello (ADELE COVER)
raven
Kermit Ruffins – When I Die, You Better Second Line
Oatler.
anything by the Wild Magnolias
WereBear
@jeffreyw: Man, that is a favorite.
hovercraft
The Hot 8 Brass Band – ‘Sexual Healing (Official Video)’ [Marvin Gaye Cover]
jacy
Go to the Mardi Gras — Professor Longhair
hovercraft
Hot 8 Brass Band – Ghost Town
Betty Cracker
Iko Iko is a Mardi Gras song? I always thought it was a jump rope song!
Here’s the only Mardi Gras song I can think of — and the only one I need! — by the Balfa Bros: La Danse de Mardi Gras.
Elizabelle
@jeffreyw: Never saw that version.
Love that song. I think Sarah Vowell wrote an essay about it a few years back.
I love Louis Armstrong’s Do you know what it means, to miss New Orleans? too. Think it’s Mr. Armstrong …
jacy
Alternately — I love me some Trombone Shorty
jacy
And not technically Mardi Gras — But more Trombone Shorty
jeffreyw
@Elizabelle:@WereBear: Check this cover, Yo Yo Ma and Rhiannon Giddens
danielx
Shrove/Fat Tuesday…..pancakes and gumbo…..mmmmmmmm.
I just won’t eat again for a week.
catclub
@jacy: I was surprised to learn that professor Longhair died in 1980.
Alain the site fixer
https://g.co/kgs/i14pBG
Paint up, Clean up time
Technically, a Carnival song. But sweet sweet Calypso.
Ok, so not the song I thought it was, but some great Calypso and it sorta works.
Starfish
There Ain’t No Place to Pee on Mardi Gras Day
Librarian
I have hated the entire concept of Mardi Gras ever since Bobby Jindal’s SOTU response.
VFX Lurker
Here’s a 22-second earworm for Michiganders: A Pączki Song.
Elizabelle
@jeffreyw: About to check it out.
Found this version of Saint James by Hugh Laurie with band. Vocal begins almost 4 minutes in. I think it segues into Iko Iko next.
So talented. And beautiful long fingers. About long enough for him and our depleted SCROTUS.
pamelabrown53
@danielx: #21.
As much as I love the idea of a Bacchanalia Mardi Gras, I suspect if I actually lived in NOLA, I’d treat it like I do New Years Eve: amateur hour. The food, music and sultry seduction will always be integral to the spirit of NOLA.
Oh hell, who am I kidding? I’d probably venture out and join with the tourists for a little rambunctious fun.
schrodingers_cat
Does it have to be Mardi Gras? Can it be Mahashivratri (Great Shiva’s night)? It was this weekend.
Shiva is a cool dude. He is the Lord of dance and music. His dance can destroy the earth and the heavens. He wears his hair in dreads, has the moon on his forehead, river Ganga flows through his matted locks. He is not afraid to cry or show his emotion. He is Ganesha’s father and Parvati’s husband. He usually hangs out in graveyards has disreputable friends, smears himself in ashes, smokes ganja. He can also eat the most potent poison and survive. He is pretty chill but you do not want to get on his bad side.
germy
SFBayAreaGal
@hovercraft: Wow oh wow. Thank you hovercraft for this. I love the horns.
dr. bloor
I’m down with anything this guy wants to sing.
John Revolta
Feel good music
I been told
Good for your body
And it’s good for your soul!
Hey, hey hey now
Hey pocky a-way
Hey, hey hey now
HEY POCKY A-WAY!!
Gelfling 545
On Saturday at Sportsman’s – a locally famous music venue – these two groups got together for some mardi gras entertainment. Ten Cent Howl and Buffalo Brass Machine. One of my favorite things about my city is the availability of all kinds of music pretty much any time. ETA the guy in the cowboy hat is my elder daughter’s gentleman.
Link
Doc H
Madi cu defio, en dans dey, end dans day! Indian Red, of course.
And on a lighter note, Don’t You Know Yockomo.
schrodingers_cat
Shiva Tandava or Shiva’s dance of cosmic destruction
Bolo Har Harfive names of Shiva in Sanskrit juxtaposed with rap describing Shiva in Hindi
raven
@Betty Cracker:
waysel
@Doc H: ‘Indian red’ Ya beat me to it. That whole album is fine. With the Meters, IIRC.
Mnemosyne
We had King Cake at work this morning. The local Cuban bakery makes them, and they’re delish.
Yutsano
@Betty Cracker: I thought it was a Jamaican rhythm song.
3Jane Tessier-Ashpool (a/k/a Lorinda Pike)
@Betty Cracker: Either that one, or the Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys version. And remember, ne pas laisser tomber la pomme de terre …
And that’s the real Mardi Gras – not the one with the drunken frat boys…
ted mills
Sacrilege for some but here you go: Mardi Gras + Wu Tang mashup:
http://www.djbc.net/wuorleans/
Elizabelle
@Mnemosyne: What’s the local Cuban bakery? Is it Porto’s?
cckids
@Mnemosyne:
This is my first Mardi Gras in my new city (Seattle); my aunt is throwing a MG party and I volunteered to make the Kings Cake. My niece usually does it apparently, but she had a baby a week ago & isn’t feeling the baking vibe yet. It’s rising nicely, so I hope this isn’t a fool’s errand. Not sure I can go out & find one last minute if it is. Wish me luck!
zzyzx
Rubin and Cherise
One of my all time favorite songs
ingressus sum
It’s “Malasada Day” on my island, so
Aleta
If I Ever Cease to Love
Acker Bilk clarinet, and Ken Colyer (They’re English, but played NO style jazz)
? Martin
Automated cars are dangerous.
Add that to the 32 from 2 days ago from the drunk guy who slammed into a different parade. Thank god we have humans behind the wheel.
Miss Bianca
Anything off the Wild Tchoupitoulas album.
@Betty Cracker: Totally seconded on the Balfa Brothers version!
Mnemosyne
@Elizabelle:
It is Porto’s. We moved from living within a mile of the Glendale location to living within a mile of the Burbank location. I have never had anything bad from Porto’s.
@cckids:
When I walked into Porto’s at 8:00 am, they already had a sign up that said they were sold out of King Cakes. Thank goodness for pre-orders!
laura
@jacy: Oh My, but that is one sweet, sweet, load of talent and charm and dedication to craft, and well, oooh, my! YES!
Alain the site fixer
@ingressus sum: I make somewhat passable malasadas, I like to think! Slow and gentle treatment and I’ve had great success both times I’ve made them.
Alain the site fixer
@Miss Bianca: I wish we’d hung out when I lived in Cañon! I’d never heard the Balfa Brothers but they’re now on my list to explore. I found so few people there who listened to interesting music….