Darren, bass drummer of the TBC Brass Band in Treme on the morning of the Dumaine Street Gang second-line, 12/02/12
second-line
Gathering in the Sixth Ward For A Second-Line
Waiting for the beginning of the Dumaine Street Gang second-line in the Sixth Ward, Treme, 12/02/12
The Men of Class Second-Line Uptown
The Men of Class second-line works its way through Uptown to Joe’s House of Blues at Seventh and Dryades. This neighborhood bar is known as a venue for Mardi Gras Indian practices, and also has the occasional live blues or soul band. 10/21/12
From Big Man’s Lounge down Louisiana Avenue
The Men of Class second-line moves on from Big Man’s Lounge south along Louisiana Avenue in Uptown, with the Stooges Brass Band, 10/21/12
Taking A Break at Big Man’s Lounge
The Men of Class second-line stops near Big Man’s Lounge, where they are joined by the Sisters With Class, 10/21/12
Across the Bridge into the Uptown
The Men of Class second-line proceeds across the bridge into Uptown New Orleans, where a second-liner climbs up on the scaffolding of a pumping-station that’s being remodeled. I have noticed that part of the phenomena at second-lines is dancers climbing up on ledges, roofs or other high places so as to be noticed by the crowd, or perhaps to be able to see the whole parade stretched out beneath them, or maybe both. 10/21/12
Men of Class Second-Line beginning at the Yacht Club
The Men of Class began their second-line at the Yacht Club on South Broad Street, with the Stooges Brass Band. I wasn’t aware at the time that my homeboys in the TBC Brass Band were marching with the Treme 12 second-line downtown, because that second-line wasn’t listed on the WWOZ schedule.
Slice Pizzeria (@SLICENola) on Magazine Street, Uptown, New Orleans
The average second-line runs four hours, so it’s important to get a decent meal beforehand if you plan on walking the whole parade route. Slice Pizzeria (@SLICENola) in Uptown New Orleans on Magazine Street is a great, fun place to get some really good pizza before the second-line (or the Saints game, for that matter). It’s best to visit them in person, but if that’s not possible, visit them at http://slicepizzeria.com/, follow them on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SliceNola or like them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/SlicePizzeriaStCharles.
In my lifetime at least, Memphis has not had much of a second-line tradition, but a sort-of impromptu second-line developed on Main Street late Sunday during the Memphis Music and Heritage Festival, 9/2/12
The crowd really didn’t seem to want to leave, and I didn’t either, but all good things must come to an end. I was facing a six hour drive back to Memphis that I could not postpone due to jury duty, and some of the bands, like the Hot 8, incredibly had only a brief rest period before having to be at another engagement. But I came away from the second-line experience with a feeling of exhiliration more than one of fatigue. Somehow, as I stopped in rather ordinary Metairie for coffee and food on the way out of town, it seemed as if I had passed between worlds. With I-10 gridlocked for some reason (perhaps the Saints game), I headed north across the Causeway instead, and back to Memphis, my mind replaying the day’s amazing scenes.