New Orleans' Second Line

September 30, 2007
Congo Square
New Orleans, La.

Dear Family and Friends,

When I die, throw me a party.

It's the only way it should be. Unless of course things, are um, tragic. But even then, like the ones who thought up jazz funerals so long ago will tell you, the dead are off to a better place. Pick up your feet, raise your hands and celebrate cause you'll see them on the other side.

I went to a second-line the other weekend, the formal name for a musical procession through the streets for an event or more historically to honor a fallen New Orleanian musician. They call it a second-line because the first line is typically the band and integral members of the deceases family and friend circle. The second line is the scrum of people--old and young friends and never-knew-hims who dance behind.

Sometimes, I hear, they last for miles.

The one I went to wasn't a celebration of a musician's life, it was kick-off of to a music festival--and my first time. I went telling everyone, "it's my first second line!"

Such a tourist.

A friend told me, "Do you see why New Orleans is worth saving?"

There is this old-guy in the band. I've seen him around town. He's always wearing a bowler's top hat, the one that famous pale white guy with the funky mustache wore. Charlie Chaplin? But this guy, a member of the famous Treme (Treh-May) brass band, he's cool. Cool, like only a guy who plays an instrument and knows it like an extension of his hands.

Many of the city's musicians have moved on, taking their acts to the clubs of Austin, Tex. or New York City, the time-zones have changed, not the spirit.

The ones who've made it back, like the members of the Treme Brass Band, including the bowler-top-hat-wearing-I'm 70-years-old and cooler than most gen-y'ers, have the soul of this city in their lungs, hands and feet. In New Orleans, people say, the music must continue, the show must go on.

This second line started at a church called St. Augustine. It ended in Congo Square, the section of land just outside the French Quarter where African slaves spent Sundays playing music and dancing in 18th Century French and Spanish controlled New Orleans.

It rained. People danced without regard. Others hid for cover.

This is New Orleans. And Austin, you can't beat it.


Best,

Robert

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• New
• Orleans
• Second
• Line
• Jazz
• treme
• congo
• square

[caballeroiberico]

i love new orleans,my favorite city in the americas :)

[lampshadewarior]

What a great trumpet player... He's holding one-handed and walking/marching, yet still is exhibiting some really good outdoor, high-volume control. No way I could pull off that kind of accuracy without sitting down and putting two hands on the thing.. Well done.

[wendyjorge1]

nolaride.com

[grnlvr8]

i live up in shreveport but i have family in new orleans and go alot. i loove me some nawlins!

[youngsaintsfan]

I am proud to be from a wonderful city!

[diabloblanco84]

i just LOVE NEW ORLEANS......... LOVE THAT BEAUTIFUL CITY.....

[tookie9483]

good to see blacks and whites gettin alone in new orleans...i jus liive 4 hours away.go there as much as i can

[mrAgent00710]

I live just north of Lake Pontchartrain in Mandeville, and my dad works a few blocks from the Quarter

[MrJason188]

How can anyone not love this city and the music history

[gariasrg]

Viva New Orleans, where genuine American music was born. I ve never been there, just waiting for my kids to grow up a bit to take them there.

Music is in the city ´s veins, watch Treme (HBO series), amazing portrait of the post Katerina mess and how you guys rebuild it with music being omnipresent.

Long live NO.

[sonialvarez57]

I'm proud to call New Orleans my home!!!

[Bryant5493]

Just bought "Treme" on DVD. It gave me a greater respect for New Orleans. To do this every Sunday, man! Wish we had something similar to this in Atlanta.