All across the rest of America, it’s just another Thursday, but in New Orleans, parts of Europe and across the African diaspora from Brazil to Martinique, it’s the beginning of the Carnival season, which culminates in New Orleans on Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday and the beginning the penitent season of Lent.
Known as 12th Night in New Orleans, the day is also the Feast of the Epiphany, which in the Catholic religion is the day that commemorates the birth of Jesus and the visit by the Magi (the three wise men) 12 days after Christmas.
Enough history- on with the party! There are several shows going on tonight that are being billed as special 12th Night performances. I highly recommend heading to D.B.A. to hear King James and the Special Men. They have been instrumental in creating a new scene at BJs in the 9th Ward and are graduating to Frenchmen Street tonight.
Early this evening, the true spectacle of Carnival takes place between 6-7 PM at the streetcar bar on Willow Street uptown. The Phunny Phorty Phellows, an organization with roots going back to the 19th century, takes a ride around the St. Charles Avenue loop on a decorated streetcar. Of course, they are all in costume and will throw beads from the car. If you can’t make it to the barn, look for them on the route. The Storyville Stompers provide the musical accompaniment. They are seen in the video doing the traditional jazz classic, “Joe Avery’s Blues” at the Po-Boy Fest in 2009.
