On August 29, fierce winds and merciless rain inundated New Orleans, forever changing the face of the city. In the days following what is now being called one of the worst natural disasters in history, the situation continued to deteriorate as the levees were breached and thousands remained stranded.
Throughout the storm and its aftermath, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band was touring in Tennessee, more than 500 miles away from home.
For a band so deep-rooted in the history and flavor of the city, the news of the disaster hit the Dirty Dozen like a ton of bricks. 
Since 1977, the Dirty Dozen has brought a sound as rich and varied as the history of New Orleans itself across the world through almost constant touring and television appearances.
After 10 albums and countless collaborations with musicians ranging from David Bowie to Dr. John to Modest Mouse, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band is still going strong.
On Friday, the group continued their current tour with a stop in downtown Baton Rouge at SoGo Live.
Roger Lewis, baritone and soprano saxophone player, said he remembers his initial fears for his family’s safety. After he knew they were safe, the reality of the situation set in.
A look of pain comes over his face as he talks about the stories and images of New Orleans. He rubs his eyes and beard as if to shake away the thoughts.
“It’s like a bad dream,” Lewis said. “I keep thinking I’m gonna wake up, but I haven’t woken up.”
Lewis knows that he has been fortunate, as many New Orleanians have suffered more than he has.
“Now, it’s all about people helping people,” he said. “The storm is long gone, but its effects are here with us now and they will be for some time. We have to help each other now.”
Kevin Harris, tenor saxophone player, is still searching for his father.
Harris’ brother and father stayed in the Superdome during the storm but were separated when the dome was evacuated. Harris said he is now in contact with his brother but has not heard from his father since Katrina hit.
Drummer Terence Higgins leaned back in his chair with a look of exasperation as he listened and talked about the aftermath of the hurricane he hoped would never come.
Higgins said the relief effort has shown the world a lot about the city and its people. It has also shown the kindness of strangers all over the world, he said.
Despite their fears and concerns, the band members know they must maintain a positive outlook.
“It’s our job to keep the spirit of New Orleans alive while the city recovers,” Higgins said.
Lewis said he knows the storm has permanently changed New Orleans but also said outside all the pain, there is hope. And that hope is what he wants the audience to take home from the band’s shows.
“When you get on that bandstand and play that horn or the drums, all that pain comes out,” he said. “It’s stronger than ever now. You think we had the blues before; we’ve got the blues now. I’ve got a lot to say.”
The group is working on its next record – one filled with a full spectrum of emotions.
Higgins said before the hurricane, the band wrote a song that included the lyric, “It’s a cold day in New Orleans when the devil gets his hands on me.”
“We almost considered maybe not recording that one,” Higgins said. “It was just too eerie. It gave me chills.”
Nearly two weeks after the hurricane that captured the attention of the world, the men of the Dirty Dozen picked up their instruments and made their way to the city up the river to play at SoGo Live.
The band filed on stage amid a fury of cheers and clapping.
Trumpet player Efrem Towns, dressed in Deuce McAllister’s number-26 Saints jersey, stepped up to the microphone.
The crowd chanted, “Deuce,” while Towns looked across the crowd with a smile on his face.
“Anybody from New Orleans in the house?” he asked.
After a short pause punctuated by wild cheering he asked, “Anybody swim down to New Orleans to see their house?”
After a huge reaction from the crowd, the band launched into an upbeat song with a distinct precision and rhythm only found in New Orleans.
And just like that, a glimmer of hope shone through the stage as the spirit of the Big Easy – battered, but not broken – begins to recover.
Contact Meghan Legaux at [email protected]