There are few times better in New Orleans to address the topic of narcissism than right now, in the midst of Carnival season where we’re dressed in beads and ball gowns and parade through the streets like we own them. This Mardi Gras when Mister throws you something, remember this: You’re not quite as special […]

Zulu
8 a.m. Feb. 16
Talk about Mardi Gras with any veteran parade attendee, and Zulu is destined to come up. It’s the most famous Mardi Gras day parade, beginning its route before many New Orleanians have recovered from the night before. But its early start time is part of its allure; making the beginning of Zulu proves […]

Any parade that recommends spectators start drinking early is bound, at least by New Orleans standards, to be an excellent parade. Other parades in different cities tell viewers to arrive early, pack snacks and rest up before the big day. But no, that’s not how the most unique Krewe in New Orleans approaches things.
This year’s […]

Nearly 75 percent of Tulane’s undergraduates come to New Orleans from a home more than 500 miles away, which only speaks to the school’s magnetic draw. The statistic admittedly looks fantastic printed on admissions brochures, but what it also means — and what’s not as advertised — is that it’s impossible for everyone to get […]

Soul Rebels at Le Bon Temps Roule
It’s Thursday night in New Orleans. What are you going to do? Perhaps what most everyone at Tulane does on this day: Maple Street. Break away from the masses and the monotony and check out Soul Rebels Brass Band at Le Bon Temps Roule. Though this warm, established Magazine […]

Andrew Bird is captivating. There’s simply no other way to describe a performer with so many eccentricities, talents and musical capabilities. He’s like the Willy Wonka of the musical world — extraordinary enough to justify the bizarre trademarks that characterize his live performances and songs. The Chicago native, hailed for his whistling, violin and vocal […]

Musicians like Regina Spektor, who compose songs featuring dolphin squeaks and cyborg-sounding robot impersonations, walk a fine line. They shoot for quirkiness and whimsy. But in doing so, they flirt dangerously with unlistenable percussive pop. But in Spektor’s latest, Far, she manages to create an album of abstract absurdity that’s not too absurdly abstract.
Part of the […]

Together Through Life
Bob Dylan
Producer Jack Frost
Label: Columbia
Genre: Rock
Grade: A
In more ways than one, Bob Dylan is like Willy Wonka. A master of his domain, Dylan has the reputation and skill set to do – and justify – nearly anything. Quirky, offbeat and just a bit nonsensical, 67-year-old Dylan is everything music legends are made of.
Think of […]

It’s easy to tell when a band has “it.” When they have that dynamic, that sincere sense of solidarity, it’s obvious. It’s clear in their music, their sound and the idiosyncrasies of their interactions.
Funk.Soul.Family has it.
The young, seven-person band, which is composed of three students from Tulane and four from Loyola, embodies a kind of […]

Director: Darren Aronofsky
January 30, 2009
Fox Searchlight B+
There is something uncomfortably raw about Darren Aronofsky’s “The Wrestler.” It might be the staples plunged into sweaty, muscular bodies, or it could be the oozing blood, gashes, screams and moans. It’s the account of a washed-up, has-been wrestling star, played by Oscar- nominated Mickey Rouke, who is drifting between […]

It seems, like many other eccentric aspects of Mardi Gras, king cake is one of those items people accept, enjoy and look forward to without knowing the story behind it. Like beads and bizarre floats, king cakes are an emblematic staple of this season’s festivities.
King cake was brought to New Orleans in 1870 by the […]

There is nothing more pathetic than a stuffed teddy bear, even if it boasts chocolate, roses and plush red hearts. Try one of these alternatives to make this Valentines Day sweeter than See’s candy.
Forbidden Knowledge Sex Edition by Clare Bailey
Urban Outfitters, $13
If you are looking for a more sensual gift, try this instructive and illustrative book. With over […]

It’s been over three years since The Fray plunged into the music scene with their phenomenally famous “Over My Head (Cable Car).” And now, even more emotionally- strained, bland and generic, the Denver-based band is back with their latest self-titled album, “The Fray.”
What The Fray represents more than anything is how supreme marketing can mask […]