The Rumble ft. Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. was formed in New Orleans in 2021, fronted by Big Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. of the Young Eagles Black Masking Indian tribe. The band's name refers to the propulsive back line of drums and chanting that announces a Mardi Gras Indian tribe's approach before the elaborate beadwork of their suits ever comes into view. The group's full lineup includes trumpeter and percussionist Aurélien Barnes, trombonist José Maize Jr., bassist TJ Norris, guitarist Ari Teitel, keyboardist Andriu Yanovski, and drummer Trenton O'Neal.
Boudreaux Jr. carries forward a family legacy of Mardi Gras Indian music: his father is Big Chief Monk Boudreaux of the Golden Eagles, a member of the legendary Wild Magnolias alongside Big Chief Bo Dollis, and himself a 2021 Grammy nominee for Best Regional Roots Music Album. The Rumble's sound pays direct homage to trailblazers like the Wild Magnolias and Golden Eagles while pushing the tradition into new territory, blending Mardi Gras Indian funk with brass band traditions, jazz, and hip-hop, drawing on New Orleans funk forebears like The Meters and the Neville Brothers.
The Rumble's debut album, Live at the Maple Leaf, earned a Grammy nomination for Best Regional Roots Music Album. Their first studio album, Stories From The Battlefield, released August 23, 2024, earned a second Grammy nomination in the same category the following year, with tracks including "Now You Know," "Trouble," "Golden Crown," and the title track. The band has continued releasing new material, including the album Ain't No Dying. Their live shows are built around shared vocal duties among band members and the classic call-and-response chanting rooted in Mardi Gras Indian tradition, bringing what the band describes as an immersive celebration of New Orleans culture to audiences well beyond Carnival season.
