The Kings of Brass (K.O.B.) were founded in 2018 by a crew of New Orleans natives determined to carry second-line brass band tradition into the present. Their sound folds funk, rock, jazz, and hip-hop into the street-beat tradition — as authentic as they come, bringing the vibe of the New Orleans second line wherever they go.
Their breakout moment came on September 24, 2022, when they won Red Bull Street Kings at the Music Box Village — topping Sporty's Brass Band, Big 6 Brass Band, and Young Pinstripe Brass Band in a three-round head-to-head battle judged by Mia X and Mannie Fresh, with local hip-hop collaborators on every band. After the judges called an encore throwdown, Kings of Brass was the last band standing; member Caleb Windsay accepted the crown "for the city we love."
Since then the band has played the Congo Square Rhythms Festival, the New Orleans Brass Fest, and regular nights at d.b.a., and has crossed into the wider scene — collaborating with Dr. Michael White and Gregg Stafford, and appearing alongside Big Freedia and HaSizzle on singer Robin Barnes's 2025 single "Hey Na (Iko Iko)." Their own releases are still to come; the band's own site is the best place to find them live.
