The Second Line

<Xavier Prep School Band>

Tipitina's had a street party yesterday – they threw their annual ‘Instruments A Comin’ Schools Brass Band Show on the corner of Tchoupitoulas and Louisiana.  So fun – I love anything country like that where you drive your ride up onto the neutral ground, order up some seafood dressing from a home cook on the sidewalk named Ms. Mae, and walk around with a draft beer, cooling off at the end of a scorching late summer's day. 

Tip’s Foundation awarded the New Orleans Public Schools music programs with $500,000 worth of new instruments yesterday.  I got there in time to catch Xavier Prep All Girls School Band and McDonough 35 High.  The sisters of Xavier Prep represented, all with their little brass horns, doing their ‘I’ma big girl’ fass dance moves in their homely yellow, white and black plaid uniforms.  TOO CUTE!

One of the girls, Kirby, has been playing the melophone for four years.  Her two sisters also are in the band – tuba and trombone.  The tuba is to Black New Orleans music what the bass guitar is to R&B bands in the rest of Black America – it's what drives the funk.   And to see these young girls rocking these instruments normally dominated by men was really inspiring.  Kirby summed up her joy at doing the show on Katrina’s anniversary.  “After Katrina, people didn’t have much to look forward to.  The band is what’s it.” 

When I asked her what she meant by ‘The band is what’s it’, she just repeated the line knowingly, like one of those old seasoned Black musicians that aint gonna explain nothing to you on your terms - you got to break your mentality down and get your understanding on THEIR terms. 

Then Rebirth took the outdoor stage and got e’erbody and they momma dancing.  The interesting thing about dance culture in New Orleans is that everyone can Second Line, White people same as Black people.  White people here genuinely got that Black New Orleans rhythm in ‘em.  I have to stop myself from staring when I see a White man in seersucker shorts and polo shirt break out with the Funky Butt – and looks right doing it!  Another one of those ‘Only in New Orleans’ deals.

I spoke with Shemar Allen of Rebirth after their show.  His house was in the Ninth Ward – gone now.  He’s living in Atlanta, commuting for shows with the band.  “I’m in Atlanta in the middle of music project, doing production for a rap group  called ‘The Outfit Cartel’.  Since last year, he’s been driving back and forth from Georgia, to Louisiana and into Texas and Oklahoma where his family is spread out. 

Just don’t go getting all Andre 2000 on us, going too far off on your personal projects…  Admittedly, I’m one of those hyper-sensitive New Orleanians that fears they're being rejected every time someone chooses to stay someplace else rather than come back here and rough it with the rest of us. 

“I don’t want to leave New Orleans,” he reassures inquiring local number 1,399.  “I love the band – it made me who I am.  The city’s coming back.  It’s slow – like tortoise slow.  Not even turtle slow - its tortoise slow.  But it’s progress.  I’m a keep coming back.” 

Did I mention how fine he is?  Just dark chocolate brown and magical dreadlocks -Lordy!  My weakness.  Swore off that type years ago when a guy with similar looks broke my heart. 

Other performing artists at Tipitina’s last night included Ivan Neville, members of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Troy Andrews and Orleans Avenue, and the Soul Rebels Brass Band.  But I missed them - being fass, chasing up behind Rebirth who moved on to the Maple Leaf Bar…

I know, I know…  Whadaya gonna do…

<Shemar Allen of Rebirth Brass Band>

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