Octagonal mobile party-starters, THE HOT 8 BRASS BAND hit town Wednesday March 6, bringing the vibes of their hometown New Orleans to Sydney. 14,000kms away on the streets of Louisiana, a different kind of Mardi Gras to Sydney’s recent queer celebrations has been in full swing for a fortnight, but this year the band haven’t been around to join the knees-up. Instead The Hot 8 Brass Band have been touring furiously across Europe, Britain and now Australia, in support of a terrific new EP called Take Cover. Their ballsy, signature blend of funk, hip hop, jazz and the feet-motivating street-brass sound that is steeped in hundreds of years of tradition, is probably best experienced live. Yet on record it can also reach critical mass as it does in the new EP’s crowning piece, an inspired, rowdy revision of George Benson classic Give Me The Night (which you’ll get a taster of below).

Tonight at Enmore’s Factory Theatre the band will give Sydneysiders a night to remember. From their Sydney hotel on Broadway, close to 2SER’s studios, trombonist TYRUS CHAPMAN took a little time out to answer some questions from 2SER’s Paris Pompor about the new release and being on the road.

Here’s what he had to say about the new George Benson cover, the original of which came out in 1980 when half the band were probably still in primary school. Does Tyrus remember when he first heard the tune and why the band picked this particular track to cover? What is the process of working up a cover between eight of them and do they chart their arrangements, or is it more of a freeform jamming process?

Tyrus Chapman: 

See you at Hot 8 Brass Band TONIGHT, The Factory Theatre Enmore supported by The Seven Ups + Papaya Tree. 8pm. Last minute tix here