Bunny on Top of the Bunny Cage and Jäger on the Lawn: Some Thoughts About Mardi Gras.

January 12, 2016
image

A classic shot of the Mardi Gras Bead Tree (image via uptownacorn.com)

With Mardi Gras coming up soon, it’s a good time to talk about the glory of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. There are a lot of misconceptions about NOLA Mardi Gras. It’s not about some irrelevant, trashy tourists flashing in the French Quarter. The real party is Uptown, on the parade route. Mardi Gras is like strange fun for your whole weird family.

MardiGras3

Mardi Gras 2007

Everything about Mardi Gras in NOLA seems excessive. I’ve never been to a bacchanalian Roman orgy, but Mardi Gras must be pretty close. It’s marching bands bringing the funk to the people, the overblown joy of a four hour parade. It’s the stranger that hands you a Jell-O shot at 7 am. As a friend of mine described it after a late-night party one year, “Mardi Gras is the bunny on top of the bunny cage and Jäger on the lawn.”

MardiGras2

Mardi Gras 2007

I think a certain part of me pines for a Mardi Gras family. Propyour kids up on a ladder at the crack of dawn, holding a beer with your kids weighed down with bead neck. Mardi Gras is more than just Mardi Gras Day. It is two weeks of krewes parading, Mardi Gras balls and revelry. The first weekend is more of a family weekend and then the intensity ramps up during the second weekend. By the time Fat Tuesday comes around, it is almost a comedown from the mayhem.

MardiGras4

Mardi Gras 2007

Mardi Gras is a time when subtlety is kept at a minimum. The fashion at Mardi Gras sometimes best resembles an electric space pimp from the future. It can get intense out there on the route. One year, I got a trombone to the side of the head. It was a rookie mistake, never bend down to pick something up. At least it wasn’t a tuba. One year, an old lady knocked me down for beads with an oxygen tank. She’s throwing down on Mardi Gras, nothing is stopping her! That’s dedication.

MardiGras1

Mardi Gras 2007

Mardi Gras is New Orleans is unlike anything else you will ever experience. It is a funky, glorious time. It’s going beyond Bourbon Street and tapping into something real. Get out there, throw down, beast it and laissez les bon temps rouler!

 

Tags: , ,
Posted in culture, New Orleans, NOLA | Leave a Comment »

BRING THE ENERGY!!!!

January 11, 2016
Bang

BANG!!!!!!!

Awhile back, I walked into GNC. “What are you doing here? You don’t look like you work out,” the employees vapid stares seemed to indicate. “I NEED SOME ENERGY COMMA DAMMIT!” I shouted. They suggested a can of Bang. I cracked it open, it felt refreshing. The flavor was kind of rough. It tasted like the fear you feel inside, with a hint of lemon. It was a nice pick me up.

I decided to go look at some art. I was looking at a tree sculpture in a local “avant garde” “art gallery” when the rush hit. Everything sped up, hyper space. “I LOVE THE IDEA OF THIS TREE. THIS TREE IS CONCEPTUALLY EXCITING,” I announced to an empty art gallery. I started peaking hard. I was doing victory laps around the Crossroads. Instantly, I had been transported the the field of limitless possibilities. I felt like discount Macho Man Randy Savage, “THE MACHO MAN IS TAKING THE TITLE ON SUNDAY!!! I’M THE CREAM OF THE CROP!!! OHHHHHHH YEAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!”

What a thrilling/loud time to be alive. Bang makes you feel like your heart is being ripped out by that dude in the Temple of Doom. I smashed through the boundaries of time and space to new levels of beasting. Bang makes you feel like you are answering a question that was never asked. I can’t wait until SURGE gets wider distribution again, so I can drink something to calm down.

"KALI MA"

“KALI MA!!!!”

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in food and drink | 1 Comment »

Joy is the Reason We Are Here.

January 10, 2016

“Serious as life can be, at our deepest level, joy is the reason we are here.” -Deepak Chopra.

I was doing a meditation recently and this Deepak Chopra quote really hit me hard. Joy is the reason why we are here. It almost doesn’t matter what hardships you have gone through in life, life is all about how you respond to challenges.

It can seem difficult, but the choice to live a joyful life can help improve your well-being. Being joyful can open your heart up to even more joy. It’s the cyclic nature of joy. The act of looking for joy can often help you find it in unexpected places. It can help open you up to the oneness of the universe. Choosing to be joyful can create more joy in the world. When it comes down to it, despite life’s trials and tribulations, joy is what life is all about.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in motivational | Leave a Comment »

My First Exposure to the Weird, Wonderful Art of Finland.

January 9, 2016
Canary

Vessa-Pekka Rannikko “Canary” (2013)

The pieces featured in Dark Days, Bright Nights: Contemporary Paintings from Finland, the recent exhibition about Finnish art at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art really struck a chord with me. I am no art critic and the exhibition served as my first exposure to the art of Finland. The works are visually stunning, trippy and fresh. I love the use of tone and texture. I wanted to share the weird beauty of these works with you.

Yayoi

Mari Rantanen “Yayoi (Yayoi)” 2014

Framed

Reima Nevalainen “Framed” (2014)

BetweentheLines

Reima Nevalainen “Between the Lines II” (2011)

Sunna

Left to right: Mari Sunna “Close” (2013, “Gladiator” (2013), “Cage” (2011)

Marika

Marika Makela “Idan kukkia (Eastern Flowers)” (2013)

Jarmo

Front, left, right: Jarmo Makela “Karpasten herra (Lord of the Flies)” (2013), “Kuninkaiden kumarrus (The Bow of the Kings) (2014), “Europa, Europa” (2014)

LordoftheFlies

Jarmo Makela “Karpasten herra (Lord of the Flies)” (2013)

BurningBush

Left to right: Heikki Marila “Perkele (The Devil)” (2014), “Palava pensas (Burning Bush) (2014)

Nio

Left to right: Leena Nio “Silmapako I (Ladder I)” (2014), “Ansa II (Trap II)” (2014), “Spook” (2014)

Doora

Rauha Makila “Gerli” (2013), “Mura” (2013), “Doora” (2013), “Petite” (2012), “Alek” (2013)

Petite

Rauha Makila “Petite” (2012)

Susi

Left to right: Nanna Susi “Menen tulen varas (Coming-Going-Thief)” (2014), “Valkoinen pilvi (White Cloud” (2014)

E1

Heikki Marila “Excelsior 1” (2013)

M

Heikki Marila “Excelsior 6” (2013)

Jani

Left to right: Jani Hanninen “Twin Peaks” (2014), “A 13” (2014)

MR

Mari Rantanen “Anna (Ana)” (2014)

MR2

Mari Rantanen “Sonja (Sonia)” (2014)

SS

Left to right: Sirpa Sarkijarvi “Lapiomies (Shovelman)” (2011), “Son” (2011)

SS2

Sirpa Sarkijarvi “Vides sukupolvi (Fifth Generation)” (2011)

Tuori

Left to right: Anna Tuori “It Is All Now You See” (2013), “Splendour in the Grass” (2013), “Things I’ve Seen I Can See No More” (2013)

 

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in art, culture, hip | Leave a Comment »

Banksy in NOLA.

January 8, 2016
Banksy1

Soldiers Looting, September 2008

In 2008, around the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the enigmatic street artist Banksy hit New Orleans under the cover of night to do some art. It was one of the few that times I’ve seen any Banksy work in-person.

Banksy2,jpg

Tracking the pieces down was an epic trek. Banksy often does his work in hard-to-find places. He had pieces on St. Claude and on shuttered housing projects. You try to see the pieces before they get ruined or painted over.

While I was shooting a photo of the NOLA Rain Girl, a car drove by. “Banksy sucks!” they screamed out the window. Everybody is an art critic these days. The public reaction to his work around NOLA was mixed. Some people view his work as art and other people see it as graffiti that should be destroyed. It’s all about personal perspective.

Banksy3

NOLA Rain Girl, September 2008.

This was the time before they started selling Banksy throw pillows or before I met people with Banksy tattoos.

RainGirl

Met a girl with a NOLA Rain Girl tattoo, August 2012. She wasn’t from NOLA, just liked the look of the piece.

The few pieces I caught that were very NOLA specific. The works were a product of a certain time. His work is political, hard hitting and carries his distinct style. It was fascinating to see Banksy tackle issues in his own weird way.

Banksy4

Tags: , ,
Posted in art, culture, hip, New Orleans, NOLA | Leave a Comment »

The Thinker.

January 7, 2016
image

The Thinker at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, in Kansas City, Missouri.

“What makes my thinker think is that he thinks not only with his brain, with his knitted brow, his distended and compressed lips, but with every muscle of his arms, back and legs, with his clenched fist and gripping toes.” -Auguste Rodin

image.jpeg

The Thinker at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art was cast after 1902. It is an iconic work of art, but it was interesting reading Rodin’s viewpoint of his own work. The thinker thinks than more than just their brain, it is an all-encompassing experience. Truly thinking can be a deep, engrossing experience. It is utilizing everything you have to become a better version of yourself.

 

 

 

Tags: ,
Posted in art, culture, Kansas City, motivational | Leave a Comment »

Mountain Dew and Vodka.

January 7, 2016

RicFlair

I have a friend of mine that used to drink Mountain Dew and vodka. This was back in those NOLA days. He’d sit there, coding on the Internet all night. All of the sudden, he would get amped up like a discount Ric Flair and unleash a loud “WOOOOOOO!!!!” He would peel himself down from the ceiling, sink back into his chair and get back to coding.

They always say, “Don’t mix alcohol and energy drinks…blah, blah, blah.” You need the vodka to counterbalance the awful tone and taste of the Mountain Dew. Upper and a downer, it’ll put you right in the middle. You’ll feel like Hunter S. Thompson’s cousin.

Tags: ,
Posted in food and drink | Leave a Comment »

The Mindset of a Fighter.

January 6, 2016
Invicta_FC_logo

Invicta

Invicta FC is a female MMA fighting league based in Kansas City. They feature fighters from all over the world (America, Brazil, Japan).

I’ve been fortunate to meet several of the fighters and coaches over the years. It is always interesting to get a peek into their mindset. I asked a coach once about why the quality of fighting in Brazil is so high level. “It’s like the way Americans are about football. Fighting is part of our culture,” he stated.

One of the fighters seemed chill and laid back. We got to talking about how she approaches being in the zone, “It’s like a switch, you turn it on and off.” The disconnect between those those two worlds helps her be successful. Lay the hammer down, clock out and be in the chill state of mind.

It’s always fascinating to see other people’s viewpoints, to learn what keeps them pushing forward. The fact that some people view fighting as part of their culture, keeps them moving ahead to become a better athlete. Figuring out how to distance herself from the fury of fighting on her time off helped to make a fighter better. Their mindsets and focus are inspiring.

 

Tags: ,
Posted in culture, motivational | Leave a Comment »

Feel Like Funkin’ It Up: The Glory of the Rebirth Brass Band.

January 6, 2016
30LGrebirth

Rebirth Brass Band, at the Maple Leaf (Image via http://www.rebirthbrassband.com)

The Rebirth Brass Band is a NOLA institution. They combine jazz, R&B, rap and funk into their own distinctive sound. I have seen Rebirth Brass Band 80 times. Rebirth took home a Grammy in 2012 for Best Regional Roots Music Album.

Rebirth are known for their sweaty Tuesday night gigs at the Maple Leaf Bar. They travel all over the world, spreading that NOLA sound.  They come back, every week, to play in the legendary music venue/dive the Maple Leaf. Rebirth have played their Leaf gig for over 25 years. Catching a Rebirth Brass Band at the Maple Leaf is like seeing a team win with home field advantage. They play with intensity, fire and passion. The shows are always packed to the maximum, everyone dancing and getting down for over two hours.

Every show Rebirth Brass Band plays is different, you never know what tunes they are going to bust out. They will often start their set with a gospel number, to get things warmed up. The classic songs will be played, but you will also get the epic jams.

Rebirth is fueled by Crown and Coke and keep the partying crowd fired up. The crowd is a diverse mix of funky locals and college kids. Everyone is united by the Rebirth Brass Band’s joyous sound. The looser the band (and crowd) gets, the funkier they play. Rebirth rarely uses a set list and leader Tuba Phil just calls out songs as they go. They have never played the same set twice. They will roll songs into each other for 30 minute jams.

Rebirth represents NOLA by throwing down hard at every show. They bring the party to the people. Even after all of these years, Rebirth still feel like funkin’ it up every week.

Tags: , ,
Posted in music, New Orleans, NOLA | Leave a Comment »

Yes and No: NOLA in a Phrase.

January 5, 2016
GregoryDavis

Gregory Davis (Image from JazzTimes.com)

My freshman year at Loyola University New Orleans, I took an introductory class to music industry studies. The course was taught by Gregory Davis, trumpet player for the legendary Dirty Dozen Brass Band. In addition to learning about the music industry, Mr. Davis inadvertently taught me a lot about the NOLA mindset.

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band skillfully blended R&B and funk into the traditional brass band sound. They pushed the sound forward since their beginnings in 1977. The modern NOLA brass band scene would not exist today if it were not for the innovative sound of the DDBB. They have also toured and collaborated with a ton of artists over the years, from Widespread Panic to the Black Crowes to Norah Jones.

Davis would often pose questions to the class. “What’s a publicist?” he would ask. “A person that promotes an artist,” someone would respond. Davis would answer in his gravelly tone, “Well, yes and no. Kinda sorta…” There was no concrete answer, there is always more to the story. “Yes and no” and “kinda sorta” were his most uttered catchphrases.

Davis would discuss the challenges of touring the world and being on the road. “Some people would say no to drugs, but some of the bands we toured with would say yes to drugs,” he told us once. “The audience would sometimes bring drugs and throw them onstage for the bands,” he stated warily.

NOLA is a city of contradictions, often swirling together, existing in a strange harmony. It is home of the drive-thru daiquiri shop, home of the high school bar. When you leave a bar, you can grab a rum and Coke to go. New Orleans is land of no last call, bars close when they want. “Are you drunk?” “Kinda sorta…” “Is this building up to code?” “Kinda sorta..Napoleonic code.” “Is the streetcar on time?” “Yes and no…Mostly no.”

There is no place like NOLA. NOLA embraces the contradictions that just wouldn’t work anywhere else. It will forever be funky and there is no “yes and no” or “kinda sorta” about that.

 

Tags: ,
Posted in music, New Orleans, NOLA | Leave a Comment »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »