“Throw me somethin’, mistah!”

That’s the cry heard ’round the world from New Orleans during Mardi Gras, and in this issue of OffBeat, we hope to fill you in on what’s going on during this season of revelry in “the city that care forgot.”

As usual, OffBeat has the most up-to-date information on music and entertainment in the city, and this month that includes parades. Seems like everybody and their brother parades or goes to a parade during Mardi Gras season. Krewes of ladies; krewes of kids, krewes of uptown banker types, krewes of drag queens, krewes of just plain crazies…we’ve got ’em all in New Orleans. We have to admit that your best reference to the city’s revelry is the 14th annual edition of Arthur Hardy’s Mardi Gras Guide, sold throughout the city for $2.95. If you want an insider’s look at the history of parades, krewes and Mardi Gras-related stuff, this is your best bet.

Being born and bred here, we’re rather cynical when it comes to Mardi Gras parades, which seem to be more ostentatious every year. We like Mardi Gras the old-fashioned way: satirizing the city’s society and political foibles. The best of the old-style parades is the Krewe du Vieux Carre (also known as the Krewe du Vieux-DOO) that parades through the French Quarter. Used to be that we could enjoy many parades through the Quarter, but that was before Mardi Gras got so popular with out-of-towners. The Krewe du Vieux harks back to those good ole days, with this year’s theme “Krewe du Vieux Smells Something Fishy”, a truly irreverent look at the Big Easy. The parade starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Old Mint on Esplanade on Saturday, February 10. The party that follows at Storyville Jazz Hall at 9 p.m. is open to the public and will include a showcase of local (but seldom seen) brass bands, as well as Warren Ceaser and Zydeco Snap, from Cajun country.

Needless to say, there’s a lot of music in New Orleans this month. Both the Neville Brothers and The Radiators will play at Tipitina’s during Mardi Gras weekend (check OffBeat’s Daily Listings for schedules. The show we most want to see is Dr. John’s Mardi Gras Mambo Show at The New Orleans Music Hall on February 26. The Music Hall also hosts rocker Melissa Etheridge on February 3 and an “alternative” Mardi Gras show on Sunday, February 25 with an all-star line-up of Dash Rip Rock, Joe “King” Carrasco, Peter Holsapple and Flat Duo Jets. Dash also plays at Jimmy’s on February 23 and 24. Speaking of alternative, GWAR plays at Storyville on February 22 and at Muddy Water’s on Mardi Gras evening. These guys you have to see to believe…bizarre! But just right for the madness that is Mardi Gras.

Other shows to check out this month are the newly-reformed Meters, who’ll be at Jimmy’s on February 9. Jimmy’s also hosts The Radiators on February 25 and new recording artists the subdudes and Tribe Nunzio on February 26.

There’s lots going on in the music scene in Louisiana lately. In case you haven’t heard, New Orleans artists Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Harry Connick, Jr., Dr. John and Cajun band Beausoleil have all been nominated for Grammy awards, along with Aaron Neville and Linda Ronstadt for their “Don’t Know Much” Top-10 tune (the video was taped, incidentally, at the Columns Hotel here in the city). Exciting times for music folk. Look for our next issue of OffBeat, which will include an interview with Grammy-nominee Aaron Neville.

One of our city’s greatest musical resources is on the comeback trail. That’s WWOZ Radio, New Orleans’ only radio station that plays blues, rhythm & blues, jazz (of all types), gospel, Cajun and zydeco on a regular basis…all the music that’s made New Orleans and Louisiana famous for music. ‘OZ’s programming is improving all the time, and joining the station helps preserve the city’s musical heritage. There’s exciting news in the air for ‘OZ…call the station at 568-1239 for more info on membership.

Tune into New Orleans’ WWNO for Jazz 90, at 10:30 p.m. Kalamu ya Salaam’s article in last month’s OffBeat inadvertently omitted WWNO’s great contribution to the jazz airwaves. Jazz 90 features two and one-half hours of jazz every night (much of it local) and offers some of the best listening around. WWNO’s studios have also produced some fine jazz programs, including Jazztown.

Happy listening…and Happy Mardi Gras!