Tricky Repertoire

The Soul Rebels step out of the box

- Amanda Mester

Since the late 1990s, the Soul Rebels brass band has forged its own brand of New Orleans music. The eight-piece outfit may look like a traditional brass band, but the sounds emanating from its instruments are far from fixed. In late 2017 the Soul Rebels signature is the collaboration, whether it be with iconic names in rap like Rakim and Prodigy or the metal stylings of Marilyn Manson and Metallica.

Most recently, the group has taken steps towards becoming New Orleans’ most popular touring brass band in hip-hop, albeit through the export of its talent. With international gigs alongside Nas and Talib Kweli, the Soul Rebels continue to represent the Crescent City in ways that push the boundaries of what audiences can expect from a brass band. But the formula isn’t relegated to performances abroad; in December, the crew will perform alongside Kweli again, this time at the Joy Theater with New Orleans rapper Curren$y.

Audiences can expect to hear a mix of covers and original music during any given performance from the Soul Rebels, who routinely perform at Le Bon Temps Roule on Thursday nights while not on the road. What remains consistent in the band’s repertoire is an ability to bridge the familiar with the unexpected.