Had enough yet? One more day to go, and then we all blow it out on Fat Tuesday. But you’re ready for more aren’t you? Here’s what’s happening tonight and tomorrow.
Galactic has been tearing the roof off of Tipitina’s for years, but their biggest show is always the night before the biggest day. When they play for the people they also play to help the people by bringing in Mardi Gras.
The show will go until dawn, so you’re definitely going to be up all night. Whether that means going straight onto the streets for Fat Tuesday or getting a little shuteye depends on your constitution. Red Baraat opens.
For several years now, the fine folks at Family Fish Productions have been hosting a major league throwdown at the Hi Ho Lounge on Mardi Gras afternoon. Red Baraat will lead a parade from Frenchmen Street to the lounge around 4 PM. Then they will go immediately on stage to begin the party.
The Mardi Gras Indian Orchestra follows with a set straight out of the most fertile musical imagination. Consider this instrument lineup: guitars-Camile Baudoin (Radiators) and Sam Hotchkiss (Juice), bass-Reggie Scanlan (Radiators), percussion-Rosie Rosato, drums-Kevin O’Day, saxophone-Tim Green, cello-Helen Gillet, violin-Harry Hardin (Lost Letters, Tanglers), keyboards-C.R. Gruver (The New Orleans Suspects).
Then add Mardi Gras Indian vocalists Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes (Big Chief-North Side Skull & Bones gang), Juan Pardo (War Chief-Golden Commanches) and David Montana (Big Chief-Washitaw Nation, pictured) and you have a serious jam.
Red Baraat will play between sets of the Mardi Gras Indian Orchestra.
See you there!
Photo of Red Baraat: James Bartolozzi
