By Katherine “Sunshine“ Johnson
6/14/23 – Ludlow Garage, 342 Ludlow Ave, Cincinnati, OH – Buy Tickets
On Mardi Gras morning, your eyes may feast on the intricate and elaborate beadwork of the Indians as they dance down the street, but the first thing you’ll hear when they make their way toward you is the back line known as “the rumble.” Featuring six GRAMMY nominated musicians, The Rumble is more than just a band it’s an opportunity to be immersed in a wholly unique facet of New Orleans culture.
After working together for years in the GRAMMY nominated Cha Wa, Second Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. of the Golden Eagles, trumpeter Aurélien Barnes, trombonist José Maize Jr., bassist TJ Norris, guitarist Ari Teitel, and keyboardist Andriu Yanovski joined forces with drummer Trenton O’Neal to form The Rumble. The group fuses iconic New Orleans funk in the vein of The Meters and The Neville Brothers but updated, modern, and vibrant with electrifying brass and the singular visual splendor of the Black masking carnival tradition.
Their debut album, which deftly captures the group’s symphony of rich color and propulsive sound, was recorded live at the iconic Maple Leaf Bar in New Orleans, allowing listeners to be immersed in the experience of their live show. While each member contributes a personal inspiration and influence to the band’s sound, they come together as working musicians who are deeply rooted in the Crescent City and its rich culture, living and breathing it daily.
The group pays homage to trailblazers like Wild Magnolias and Golden Eagles (both of which featured the vocal stylings of Boudreaux’s father, Monk Boudreaux), with each member sharing vocal duties and engaging the audience in the classic Mardi Gras Indian style call and response chanting. But to classify them merely as “a Mardi Gras Indian group” would be a mistake.
This record reflects 30+ years of New Orleans history. It captures the beating heart of a city often reduced to flimsy stereotypes and outdated assumptions. It draws on vibrant subcultures of the city ranging from brass bands to contemporary R&B, funk, hip hop, and more. While their live show is electric, The Rumble is more than a party band. Their work is deeply spiritual, and through it, they’re fighting to preserve the legacies and traditions of the community while bringing new layers of depth to their live performance.
The Rumble provides listeners and audiences with a joyful, affirming, and nuanced musical experience and the chance to participate in a culture that, while deeply rooted in centuries old tradition, is thriving and evolving through the active work of this next generation of bold and passionate culture bearers.
