Rebirth Brass Band Highlights 'Live On The Lot' Debut At Temperance Brewing

By: Michael Lepek

LIVE ON THE LOT

Temperance Brewery in Evanston, IL hosted its first "Live on the Lot" concert, welcoming a packed house of enthusiastic beer and music fans ready to shake their thing to The Rebirth Brass Band from New Orleans.

What was supposed to be a small tap room performance quickly sold out in two days, so the folks at Temperance decided to go big and move the show to the spacious outdoor parking lot. The event sold out yet again and. although the crowd was indeed large, it was comfortable enough to easily walk around and find a viewing/dancing spot for the performance.

Temperance Brewery partnered with S.P.A.C.E. Evanston who assisted in booking the band, while three food trucks offered a variety of delicacies --  from brick oven pizza to lobster.

MAKE WAY FOR THE REBIRTH

Rebirth Brass Band has become an institution in New Orleans during their 34 year existence. They brought their unique blend of second line tradition infused with funk, soul, jazz, and hip hop.

Rebirth has a long reputation as a "party band" and did not disappoint with classics like "Do Whatcha Wanna", "Cassanova", and "Feel Like Funking It Up" which was the first song featured in the HBO hit series Treme.

Although they have a deep catalog of original music, they gave the crowd a chance to sing along with the Valentino's cover of "It's All Over Now".  They also kept to their New Orleans roots by covering and closing with "When the Saints Go Marching In".

BEYOND REBIRTH

Besides being one of the funkiest bands in the land, Rebirth Brass Band members all lead interesting lives off stage. Founding member and tuba player Phil Frazier has been a member in the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club for many years. This year he was elected as Governor to lead his Krewe in the Zulu parade on Mardi Gras morning.

Trumpet player Stafford Agges carries on the long tradition of being Spy Boy of the Black Feather Mardi Gras Indian tribe.

Snare drum player Derrick Tabb is the co-founder and president of Roots of Music, an organization that teaches the youth of New Orleans to play musical instruments and march in many New Orleans parades.

In addition, the organization donates  portion of their time with the teens after school to assist them with their homework. Some of the other members of Rebirth also assist in this noble pursuit.