Continuing our countdown to Mardi Gras, which is this week: an album that was overlooked at the time of its release in 1976, The Wild Tchoupitoulas has nevertheless come to be considered as a landmark of New Orleans music. Not only that - it's a great Mardi Gras party album. The Wild Tchoupitoulas (pronounced Choo-Pi-TOO-las) was a Thirteenth Ward street gang that put down its weapons and picked up the colorful feathery trappings of Mardi Gras Indians. A tradition dating back to the mid-19th century, the Mardi Gras Indians dressed up in a wild takeoff of [...]
In the '70s, a bunch of Mardi Gras Indians in funky feathers met up with The Meters in New Orleans to make a heavily groovy record. The Wild Tchoupitoulas, as they were called, clearly had an influence on Cee-Lo beyond the weirding of the classic "Cissy Strut" sound both found a foundation in—look at his [...]
Well, it's way past time for more Carnival tunage up in here. The HOTG webcast is streaming music of the season 24/7 through Mardi Gras Day, too. So, hit that anytime for more fun. But, right here, right now, I'm posting a track each from the Wild Magnolias and the Wild Tchoupitoulas for our holiday festivities; and, in between, we'll have intense, live Mardi Gras Indian-influenced funkitude from Professor Longhair, plus a pretty obscure seasonal groove offering that owes an obvious debt to Fess. So, prepare to loose that Who Dat! [...]
"Indians are the rulers on the holiday," sings George "Big Chief Jolly" Landry on the lone album from The Wild Tchoupitoulas. Formed as a group of Mardi Gras Indians —ceremonial African-American Carnival revelers—The Wild Tchoupitoulas recorded in 1976 what was considered the first rock record to capture the funky New Orleans sound. It helped that the band was backed by legendary funk group The Meters as well as Landry's nephews, the Neville Brothers , who were inspired to perform as a group after the experience. The record also featured production from Allen Toussaint , a [...]
During the past weeks it was carnival time everywhere in the world, and even here in France where we have great "carnavals", especially in the north (with giants). So, with a little delay, my last ( I promise) post about bluesy Indians will be for Mardi gras Indians. They've always been a object of fascination for me, and even more so now that I've read about their history here or here . The Wild Tchoupitoulas - Hey Hey (Indians Coming) ( buy ) (1976) Laissez les [...]
If I were to make a list of ten things that I missed most from the States, eight of them would be food. (The other two would be my family and college football on the TV). And the food that I miss most is Southern food - biscuits and gravy, collards, proper fried chicken, hush puppies, corn bread, fried okra, barbecue so tender that it falls apart in your mouth. Waffle House. After a week that started with the Antipodean Death Plague and went downhill from there, I was in need of some serious comfort food. With dinner [...]
New Orleans is one of my favorite places. I've only been there three times. Once in the Springtime for a college road trip and twice in the muggy heat of July. Each time has been a blast. No other location has the same combination of music, drinking, history, character, and spirit. But I've never been to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Maybe one of these years... In the spirit of the day, here are some New Orleans tunes to enjoy with your chicory coffee (or Hurricanes ): [...]
RULERS ON THE HOLIDAY "Meet De Boys On The Battlefront" (George Landry) The Wild Tchoupitoulas, from Wild Tchoupitoulas , Antilles, 1976 LISTEN The Wild Magnolias blazed the trail as the first Mardi Gras Indians to popularize their once [...]
The Wild Tchoupitoulas are a New Orleans legend, and the perfect way to kick off Mardi Gras, even if you can't get to New Orleans today. The Wild Tchoupitoulas, as you may know, are one of New Orleans' Black Indian tribes, also known as Mardi Gras Indians . The tribes, krewes , and assorted other revelers and bystanders, take to the streets today for one last day of parades and celebrations . Today's parade themes include: Zulus: "Zulu in the Wonders of Life, Fantasy and [...]
100 Years (in Ten Jumps) 1976: Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, Cherchez La Femme/Se Si Bon. Rare Pleasure, Let Me Down Easy. James Talley, Are They Gonna Make Us Outlaws Again? Eddie and the Hot Rods, Teenage Depression. George Harrison, Crackerbox Palace. Anthony Braxton, Cut 3. Max Romeo, Sipple Out Deh. Boz Scaggs, Lowdown. The Wild Tchoupitoulas, Big Chief Got a Golden Crown. Arlo
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