Once all the divisions had “come out the door”, the parade began to move. But second-lines are unusual parades. Parades in other cities usually move down major thoroughfares, but second-lines often keep to backstreets. And while most parades are rather formal affairs, the second-line is more a party in motion. The dancers called “second-liners” are behind the various bands of each division, such as the Hot 8 Brass Band or the Young Pinstripes, but they’re also on the sidewalks alongside, and even the porches. People move from participants to observers, and then back to participants again. And the whole time, people are walking up beside you offering to sell cold drinks, cold beers, even New Orleans-style snowballs. And while a second-line is about four hours of marching under the hot sun, you hardly notice because of the constant bass-and-snare drum groove from the band in front of you. They’re the ones who have reason to be hot and tired, and they seem to be having more fun than any of us.
Once all the divisions had “come out the door”, the parade began to move. But second-lines are unusual parades. Parades in other cities usually move down major thoroughfares, but second-lines often keep to backstreets. And while most parades are rather formal affairs, the second-line is more a party in motion. The dancers called “second-liners” are behind the various bands of each division, such as the Hot 8 Brass Band or the Young Pinstripes, but they’re also on the sidewalks alongside, and even the porches. People move from participants to observers, and then back to participants again. And the whole time, people are walking up beside you offering to sell cold drinks, cold beers, even New Orleans-style snowballs. And while a second-line is about four hours of marching under the hot sun, you hardly notice because of the constant bass-and-snare drum groove from the band in front of you. They’re the ones who have reason to be hot and tired, and they seem to be having more fun than any of us.
The Rebirth Brass Band was the band for the final Fifth Division of Young Men Olympian, known as the “Furious Five”, and this division seemed to have the most brilliant colors in their costumes.
The Rebirth Brass Band was the band for the final Fifth Division of Young Men Olympian, known as the “Furious Five”, and this division seemed to have the most brilliant colors in their costumes.
The Rebirth Brass Band was the band for the final Fifth Division of Young Men Olympian, known as the “Furious Five”, and this division seemed to have the most brilliant colors in their costumes.
As the brass bands played outside the hall, the doors opened, and the exquisitely-costumed members came out to launch the parade. I learned quickly that a second-line is not merely the thrill of the brass bands, marching and dancing, but also a visual experience of the brightly-colored costumes. I was immediately reminded of the Caribbean. After the first four divisions had come out, the Rebirth Brass Band assembled a block away and marched up the street to the hall for the Fifth Division to come out.
As the brass bands played outside the hall, the doors opened, and the exquisitely-costumed members came out to launch the parade. I learned quickly that a second-line is not merely the thrill of the brass bands, marching and dancing, but also a visual experience of the brightly-colored costumes. I was immediately reminded of the Caribbean. After the first four divisions had come out, the Rebirth Brass Band assembled a block away and marched up the street to the hall for the Fifth Division to come out.
As the brass bands played outside the hall, the doors opened, and the exquisitely-costumed members came out to launch the parade. I learned quickly that a second-line is not merely the thrill of the brass bands, marching and dancing, but also a visual experience of the brightly-colored costumes. I was immediately reminded of the Caribbean. After the first four divisions had come out, the Rebirth Brass Band assembled a block away and marched up the street to the hall for the Fifth Division to come out.
I had planned on getting to the Young Men Olympian Hall early, but I had no idea of the crowd that would be gathering in front, awaiting the start of the second-line. In fact, the police had blocked the streets leading to the intersection, and it was only with great difficulty that I found a place to park across from Mahalia Jackson Elementary School. As I walked down toward the large crowd, a woman welcomed me and told me her name was Creola. She seemed to know everyone as we neared the barricades where a brass band was gathering, and she explained to me that the Young Men Olympian was an organization that had five divisions, and that each division would have its own band in the second-line.
I had planned on getting to the Young Men Olympian Hall early, but I had no idea of the crowd that would be gathering in front, awaiting the start of the second-line. In fact, the police had blocked the streets leading to the intersection, and it was only with great difficulty that I found a place to park across from Mahalia Jackson Elementary School. As I walked down toward the large crowd, a woman welcomed me and told me her name was Creola. She seemed to know everyone as we neared the barricades where a brass band was gathering, and she explained to me that the Young Men Olympian was an organization that had five divisions, and that each division would have its own band in the second-line.