Mardi Gras comes to First Avenue

Galactic
Galactic performs as part of Tipitina's Foundation's 11th Annual Instruments A Comin' on April 30, 2012, in New Orleans, La.
Rick Diamond / Getty Images 2012

Today's Morning Edition music is in part from the song "Ha Na Na" by the New Orleans-based band Galactic, who will be performing Thursday night at First Avenue in Minneapolis.

The song is from their new album "Carnivale Electricos," which attempts to express the electric atmosphere of Mardi Gras.

The band's horns and harmonica player Ben Ellman says on one song they wanted to "capture the power" of one of the fundamental musical experiences of Mardi Gras: "A marching band passing by you." So, they enlisted the KIPP Renaissance High School marching band to play on that tune.

By the way, the parades leading up to Fat Tuesday begin Friday in New Orleans.

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