Second Lines & Mardi Gras

We just finished another Mardi Gras in N.O., one of the earliest in the last 70 years, and it was cold. The colder weather did not stop the holiday fun, and we enjoyed parades with friends and catching/chasing our 4 Muses shoes and 4 Zulu coconuts, among other random throws. We caught the super parades at nice locations, and all our local parking credentials came through. Lisa & I also enjoyed a couple of 2nd Line parades, including the first annual Lundi Gras Social Aid & Pleasure Club Task Force 2nd Line, with three S&P club divisions/brass bands. It was a short 2nd Line by our standards, but it was just as well, with our feet aching from days upon days of parade-going. We managed our perfect Mardi Gras trifecta by making it to Zulu for the parade & coconuts, watching the Mardi Gras Indians march through central city and marching masked (in costume) in the Krewe du Jieux Julu 2nd Line parade from Uptown to Frenchman. Instead of Soul Rebels, the brass band this year was the T.B.K. To Be Kontinued Brass Band, and they brought the fiyah, covering tunes like Michael Jackson's Im Bad, Outkast's Fresh & Clean, and many of the classic songbook tunes. Young turks on the rise, and good to see there are some new players coming up. S&P 2nd Lines are one of the best things about this city, they happen every Sunday, and most people here have no idea. Shout out to the Hot 8 Brass Band, my current favorite marchin' the streets almost every weekend. Come check it out...M$