Mardi Gras Meets EDM: Beads, Babes, Bottles and Borgore

 Mardi Gras is a party destination for people around the world. As EDM continues to grow in popularity, of course the two coincide. NOLA celebrated Mardi Gras with some of the biggest names in EDM: Adventure Club, NGHTMRE, Borgore, Krewella, Bear Grillz... the list goes on. 

As we made our way to Republic Nola for NGHTMRE, there were so many sites that made me ask myself, “Is this real life?”

Stopping on Bourbon Street to get the night started with an infamous Hurricane cocktail, I couldn’t tell who was an EDM fam and who had no clue what those three letters even meant.

Fish nets, leg wraps, feathers, rave bras, masks, and light toys were everywhere. Rave wear and Mardi Gras styles definitely overlap.

I felt like I was at a music festival that had taken over an entire city. Neighborhoods and houses looked suitable for stages. 

There was no need for a second drink. We packed up and headed to the banger. The first thing I saw when we walked in was CRWNS spinning on a hot dog stand. That instantly set the mood to get silly and let go of reality. NGHTMRE then crushed it and proved that NOLA knows how to get down to the trappy-bass waves.

Excitement took over me the next morning knowing that the night would be filled with beads, babes, bottles, and Borgore. First stop, Endymion Parade. It started with girls flashing Gene Simmons and ended with even more beads and light toys.

We rolled up to Republic with light up glasses, led masks, a light saber, which of course didn’t make it in with us, and most of all, beads on beads on beads.

Borgore finally stepped to the hotdog stand. The entire venue went crazy. Soon there were girls twerking on stage and champagne showers on the balcony. He gave us such an awesome set that the crowd wouldn’t accept it was over, even after he played two more bangers.

Bourbon Street couldn’t get enough of us and we strolled through one more time before getting some rest for Sunday Church.

Praise the underground! Church at the Dragon’s Den was a completely different feel. There were many more flowtoys and locals. I felt a little less like a tourist there. The Mardi Gras Sermon was brought in by Thelem’s funky wubs and resident DJs such as Innerlign and Kidd Love.

There were so many great acts to catch, that it was impossible to catch all of them, like when you’re at a festival and two of your favorite artist are on at the same time. I feel like I started my festy season with Mardi Gras and counting down the days until next year.

Mardi Gras for the EDM fan is an experience I recommend.