Drunken mayhem creating buzz in N.O.
Hailing from New Orleans’ 9th Ward, Morning 40 Federation is the bawdiest bunch of musical misfits to come out of the Big Easy since Chris Owens thought she had talent.
The band’s sound, described as “sleazy burlesque” by fans, will make its way to Chelsea’s Cafe’ Friday night.
“Swagger music — that sounds inebriated,”said saxophonist Josh Cohen. “Basically, we’re drunk-punk-funk, most of us are tipsy before we go [onstage].”
None of the 6 musicians, Mike Andrepont (drums), Josh Cohen (saxophone), John Joyce (bass), Space Rickshaw (tuba, trombone), Ryan Scully (guitar, vocals) and Bailey Smith (guitar, vocals) are from New Orleans, nor did any of them play a musical instrument when they all moved to New Orleans 4 years ago.
The common bond the guys share is decadence. This shared appreciation was the adhesive that brought them all together. Late nights of binge drinking led to the penning of drinking songs about living and drinking in the 9th Ward. The guys decided to learn how to play instruments, and Morning 40 Federation was born.
Self-described drunks, Morning 40 Federation have accomplished more in four years than most sober bands could achieve in twice that time. The accolades include such honors as Emerging Artist of the Year by the 2001 Big Easy Awards and Best Unsigned Band in New Orleans by Citysearch.com.
However, Cohen remains humble that New Orleans has played a big role in the band’s success.
“We couldn’t ask for a better city to be based out of,” Cohen said.
No other city in the country would have a band like Morning 40 Federation according to Cohen, because other towns would not put up with its antics — especially the loyal cult following the group garnered through its tenure in the New Orleans club circuit.
Public displays of nudity, slam dancing, and binge drinking are commonplace at a Morning 40 hometown show.
“We’ve gotten in trouble for the nature of our fans,” Cohen said. “The way the band looks at it, no harm, no foul.”
This year has been productive for the boys of Morning 40 Federation. Along with another slew of award nominations, including a Big Easy Award nod for Best Rock Band in New Orleans, they have secured a spot at the 2002 Jazz and Heritage Festival this spring. Around that same time, the group hopes to drop their second LP, “Trick Nasty,” which they are mixing in the studio.
Mark F. Bonner