bingo!
Preservation Hall, New Orleans, LA
April 24, 2005

story by Ritchie Champagne
photos
by Ritchie Champagne

Preservation Hall is a non smoking facility (if only this would catch on!) located next to world famous Pat O’Brien’s on St. Peter Street. Bingo! fans turned out in droves that Sunday night to line up outside of the venue, itching to see the band once more. Once the queue had been let into a room much too small for those in attendance, it was apparent that anyone under six feet tall and not in the first two rows would not be able to see much. As the night wore on, though, and the crowd shifted as people left or went out to the courtyard for some relief in the cool breeze, it became easier to get a good view.

bingo!
As the crowd filed in, perpetually face-painted Ronnie Numbers exhorted the fans through his bullhorn, his manic/profane motivational words bringing nostalgic smiles to many faces. Finally, near 12:30, the band took their places (we can’t say “climbed onstage” as this room actually had no stage to speak of). “Okay, let’s do this,” said Maedgen as he launched into Celebration, the traditional Bingo! show opener. The band obviously was enjoying itself, as was the crowd. Bingo! has always drawn a rather diverse crowd and this night was no exception with the tattooed and pierced grooving next to the jeans and t-shirt people partying next to the cross dressers etc.
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