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Young Men Olympian
Young Men Olympian

Uptown with the Young Men Olympian and the TBC Brass Band

Sherena had never been to a second-line, so on our weekend trip to New Orleans, I wanted her to experience one first-hand. And by chance, …

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. 

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. 

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. 

All too soon, we were suddenly back on Liberty Street at the Young Men Olympian Hall. People were everywhere, and it was hard to move, but the spirit of joy was evident, even amongst the tired musicians. The members of the Furious Five climbed up to the railing of their annex behind the hall, so that their pictures could be taken in their costumes. People had run into relatives or friends that they hadn’t seen in months, and their laughter filled the streets. Even the police, uniformed and on horseback. were laughing and interacting with neighborhood people they knew. 

All too soon, we were suddenly back on Liberty Street at the Young Men Olympian Hall. People were everywhere, and it was hard to move, but the spirit of joy was evident, even amongst the tired musicians. The members of the Furious Five climbed up to the railing of their annex behind the hall, so that their pictures could be taken in their costumes. People had run into relatives or friends that they hadn’t seen in months, and their laughter filled the streets. Even the police, uniformed and on horseback. were laughing and interacting with neighborhood people they knew. 

All too soon, we were suddenly back on Liberty Street at the Young Men Olympian Hall. People were everywhere, and it was hard to move, but the spirit of joy was evident, even amongst the tired musicians. The members of the Furious Five climbed up to the railing of their annex behind the hall, so that their pictures could be taken in their costumes. People had run into relatives or friends that they hadn’t seen in months, and their laughter filled the streets. Even the police, uniformed and on horseback. were laughing and interacting with neighborhood people they knew. 

Further down MLK, we passed the Project Food Store, across the street from a new townhome development that must have once been the site of the Melpomene Project. The crowds were thick along the street, and even the sidestreets all the way down to St. Charles, where we turned to head southwest. 

Further down MLK, we passed the Project Food Store, across the street from a new townhome development that must have once been the site of the Melpomene Project. The crowds were thick along the street, and even the sidestreets all the way down to St. Charles, where we turned to head southwest.