The Rumble is the rhythmic, booming backline of Mardi Gras Indians on parade. It’s that thunder you feel rolling down the street before you ever see their spectacular, colorful performance. The Rumble is also the name of a band that is keeping New Orleans culture alive and spreading it to the world. They have two raucous albums to their credit and a new single “Burn It Down”, which precedes their forthcoming record, Ain’t No Dyin’. The leader of The Rumble is Big Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. Besides his musical exploits as the charismatic lead singer and rapper for the group, he is the leader of the Young Eagles Black Masking Indian Tribe, out of which the band grew. Part of their tradition is “The Suit”, an elaborate art installation of an outfit that is part of Joseph’s being and daily work. “The Suit” has hundreds of thousands of beads and takes a full year to produce. “We actually tailor make these suits. Everything we make is handmade by ourselves. It’s all stitched, all sewn, all put together bead by bead, stone by stone by each individual that wears them. So…not only are you a culture bearer, but you also are a designer, an engineer,” Boudreaux explained.
Big Chief Joseph is continuing a legacy that has been handed down for generations, including from his own father, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux of the Golden Eagles tribe. “Mardi Gras Indian culture and music together wouldn’t go together without my dad. He’s one of the first pioneers to take the sound of the street and bring it to the studio and create a different genre of music,” Boudreaux said. The Rumble is a joyous party band, but they also view themselves translators and cultural ambassadors, taking something mostly only understood by locals and Creoles and modernizing it to reach a larger audience.
The Rumble played Michael Arnone’s 33rd Annual Crawfish Fest at the Sussex County Fairgrounds on May 31. “Stories From The Battlefield”, the title track of their 2024 album was a standout. During the performance, Chief Joseph talked a bit about the history of the music and the tribes. After doing the original song “Golden Crown”, they launched into a seemingly unplanned atmospheric, slower jam that referenced “Golden Crown”. At its conclusion, Chief Joseph asked if the crowd liked it because they just made it up on the spot. The Rumble is willing to experiment. They are a synthesis of the New Orleans tribal music of their forefathers and more modern jazz fusion and funk. They brought an authentic creole vibe to a welcoming New Jersey audience. Between the excellent bands, Louisiana-themed food, perfect weather, and peaceful environs, this year’s Crawfish Fest was a big win.
Hear the full interview at the web player below:
