It was Mardi Gras in New Orleans this past Tuesday. The locals were partying in the streets on a warm and sunny day. Here in Toronto we got a fresh blast of snow and cold temperatures reminding us that it is in fact winter. Thankfully the weekend forecast calls for hot and humid conditions inside the Danforth Music Hall.
Trombone Shorty brought the heat on the first night of the Shorty Gras Tour. A protege from a city steeped in musical history and populated with many talented musicians. There was plenty of showmanship displayed as the band energized the crowd and had the room bouncing along.
The setlist was a stroll through the New Orleans songbook. Selections included Allen Tousaint’s On your Way Down, Ernie K. Doe’s Here Come The Girls, The Meter’s Fire On The Bayou and the omnipresent When The Saints Go Marching In popularized by Louis Armstrong. Not to mention covering Prince’s Let’s Go Crazy and a P-Funk salute with We Want The Funk blended into Hurricane Season for the finale.
Trombone Shorty is a musical force of nature who never fails to deliver a high energy performance. It was a sensational night of sweaty NOLA funk. When New Orleans comes to your town, it would be wise to cancel whatever plans you had scheduled and laissez les bons temps rouler!
Be sure to check out Live Nation Ontario to see all of the other great acts that they will be bringing to Toronto this year.
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