Chicken Slacks headlines Masquerade Ball at Ralph's.Byline: Scott McLennan A Mardi Gras Mardi Gras (mär`dē grä), last day before the fasting season of Lent. It is the French name for Shrove Tuesday. Literally translated, the term means "fat Tuesday" and was so called because it represented the last opportunity for tradition started in Somerville 15 years ago is seeing some changes this year, including a move to nearby Cambridge and some growth with a westward expansion out to Worcester. Music impresario and musician Mickey Bliss started the Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball at the Kirkland Cafe in Somerville, and the rocking soul band Chicken Slacks has been part of the annual event from the get-go. Last year's closing of the Kirkland meant the ball had to bounce, which got Chicken Slacks' drummer Justin Berthiaume thinking about growth opportunities. "I figured it might be a good time to expand and thought of Worcester, and Ralph's thought it was good idea," Berthiaume said. The Masquerade Ball found an eastern HQ at Ryles in Cambridge, which will have its inaugural staging of the show tomorrow. For Worcester, the Masquerade Ball and Zulu Parade of the Golden Blade (as the event is officially christened) gets under way Saturday at 8 p.m. The show here will have Chicken Slacks headlining plus appearances by local faves Uncle Billy's Smokehouse, the Umpteenth Mardi Gras Brass Band, and the Babes in Boinkland burlesque burlesque (bûrlĕsk`) [Ital.,=mockery], form of entertainment differing from comedy or farce in that it achieves its effects through caricature, ridicule, and distortion. It differs from satire in that it is devoid of any ethical element. review. "I hope people come dressed to the nines. We'll be crowning a king and queen and looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. the most outrageous participants," Berthiaume said. Costumes are encouraged, but not required, and to help kick-start one's sense of revelry Revelry Revenge (See VENGEANCE.) Reward (See PRIZE.) Bacchanalia festival in honor of Bacchus, god of wine. [Rom. Religion: NCE, 203] Boar’s Head Tavern scene of Falstaff’s carousals. [Br. Lit. , the club will provide Mardi Gras beads and masks for the partygoers. Berthiaume said that people are also encouraged to bring musical instruments and sit in with the second-line and parade bands. "We'll have tuba tuba (t  `bə) [Lat.,=trumpet], valved brass wind musical instrument of wide conical bore. , trombones, saxophone saxophone, musical instrument invented in the 1840s by Adolphe Sax. Although it uses the single reed of the clarinet family, it has a conical tube and is made of metal. and bass there,
and we want musicians to come and sit in, and then I envision a parade
to go around the entire bar," Berthiaume said.
While Mardi Gras has its roots in New Orleans New Orleans (ôr`lēənz –lənz, ôrlēnz`), city (2006 pop. 187,525), coextensive with Orleans parish, SE La., between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, 107 mi (172 km) by water from the river mouth; founded (as does Chicken Slacks' singer Diamond D) and is historically tied to the arrival of the Lenten season, today the celebration is something larger, Berthiaume said. "People everywhere just seem to know it and love it," he said. "You don't hear this kind of music every day, and it's a way to shake up the winter doldrums. People can get dressed Verb 1. get dressed - put on clothes; "we had to dress quickly"; "dress the patient"; "Can the child dress by herself?" dress primp, preen, dress, plume - dress or groom with elaborate care; "She likes to dress when going to the opera" up and just act crazy for a night." Scott McLennan can be reached at tgmusic1@yahoo.com -------------------------------------------------- Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball with Chicken Slacks and others When: 8 p.m. Saturday Where: Ralph's Chadwick Square Diner, 148 Grove St., Worcester How much: $10 -------------------------------------------------- ART: PHOTO CUTLINE: Three of the Chicken Slacks, who will be Ralph's in Worcester on Saturday night. |
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