Mardi Gras with the Wild Tchoupitoulas

The Wild Tchoupitoulas are a New Orleans legend, and the perfect way to kick off Mardi Gras, even if you can't get to New Orleans today.

The Wild Tchoupitoulas, as you may know, are one of New Orleans' Black Indian tribes, also known as Mardi Gras Indians. The tribes, krewes, and assorted other revelers and bystanders, take to the streets today for one last day of parades and celebrations.

Today's parade themes include:

• Zulus: "Zulu in the Wonders of Life, Fantasy and Nature"
• Rex: "The Lunar Realm"
• Choctaw: "Choctaw Visits Horror Movies" (riders on 30 floats will throw bobble-head dolls and Choctaw flying discs)
• Mystic Krewe of Covington: "The Wizard of Oz"

It all started at 8:00 a.m. today, so get there if you can. No word on what the Wild Tchoupitoulas will be doing under the leadership of Big Chief Roderick Sylvas, but you can be that Sylvas will be under a Golden Crown. And lots of feathers.

[mp3] The Wild Tchoupitoulas: "Big Chief Got a Golden Crown"
from the album The Wild Tchoupitoulas
(this album, recorded in 1976 and produced by the legendary
Allen Toussaint, marked the first time that the Neville
Brothers recorded together!)

Here's a poor-quality video snippet of the Wild Magnolias, who were featured in SoundRoots' 2006 Mardi Gras salute.