Issue #17: Celebrating NOLA

Hey, Chicago! The Long Farewells are returning once again to Montrose Saloon in Albany Park on Friday, March 13. Additional details can be found on Songkick or Facebook.

Music

79rs Gang, "Eh Paka Way"

This past Tuesday was Mardi Gras, the culmination of the Carnival season celebrated throughout the world, but specifically associated in North America with one of my favorite places, New Orleans. Everyone knows about the floats and the masks. Less well-known outside of the Crescent City, though, are the traditions of the Mardi Gras Indians, African-American social clubs whose members craft incredibly intricate costumes and face off in music and dance battles across the city (if you visit NOLA, definitely check out the Backstreet Cultural Museum for more about the Indians). 79rs Gang is a group made up of members of two different tribes, showcasing the unique musical styles of this tradition.

Radio Show

NOLA County

New Orleans isn't all about jazz - there's a solid Americana scene there as well. NOLA County, hosted by Jimi Palacios, is a radio program showcasing Ameripolitan and Americana on WHIV. The show was kind enough to feature The Long Farewells on the Dec. 18 broadcast (listen for us just over two hours in).

Article

"How brass bands became a New Orleans tradition—picking up new sounds along the way" - Eric Seiferth

Whether playing for tips on a corner on Frenchmen Street or propelling a second line parade, brass bands are one of the indelible sights—and sounds—of New Orleans. Take a quick dive into their history with this article from The Historic New Orleans Collection.

Rough Mix is a newsletter about all things audio curated by Aaron Rester and brought to you by Beartrap Spring Records. Every other week, I highlight great music, articles, podcasts and more that I think are worth sharing and spending some time with. Have a suggestion for something to share? Email roughmix@beartrapspring.com, or connect with Beartrap Spring on Facebook or Twitter. Music highlighted in these emails is available on our Spotify playlist.

Did you enjoy this newsletter? Tell a friend that they can sign up on our website, or support it by checking out Beartrap Spring Records' latest release:

by The Long Farewells (2019)

The debut record that AmericanaUK calls a "fine album with lyrics to pique your interest and imagination... pleasingly literate songs with stories to tell" is available on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, Amazon, and compact disc through CDBaby.