With Mardi Gras falling rather early this year on February 13, the Carnival season is compressed into less than two months. But with 12th night falling on a Saturday, the festivities will start with a bang. Following the traditional streetcar ride of the Phunny Phorty Phellows, which leaves the Willow Street Streetcar barn at 7 PM, head over to the Maple Leaf Bar for live music.
The 101 Runners have become the go-to act for celebrating the season and the Mardi Gras Indian band headlines the evening. This is their eleventh year getting Carnival started at the Leaf. The opening act is a new group on the scene, the Iceman Special.
Percussionist Chris Jones leads the 101 Runners. The band is made of some of New Orleans finest musicians including uber-sousaphonist Kirk Joseph, drummer Raymond Weber, keyboard player Tom Worrell, and guitarist June Yamagishi. But the main attraction is the spirited black Indian chanting and tambourine work of Big Chief Juan Pardo and Isaac Kinchen of the Golden Comanche tribe.
The Iceman Special is a new act on the scene. I had the pleasure of checking out their sound at a special show for Halloween. Saturday night will be their Maple Leaf Bar debut. Featuring two brothers on the front line of guitar/vocals and bass, they call their music, “midnight swamp funk.” Indeed!
The music starts at 9 PM. Tickets are $15 and will be available at the door.
