It's cold outside as the Bilge Pumps prepare for sound checks and they contemplate setting Maroon's drum on fire for warmth.

The Bilge Pumps return to the 23rd & Strand stage to prepare for an evening show with all the lights and pageantry.

Sharkbait Simon doesn't mind exposing himself to the elements briefly... or exposing his briefs to the elements.

Galleon O'Galleon must have found that house of ill-repute on the Strand as he suddenly has a voracious itch.

Sharkbait eyes Maroon wondering if he's going to collapse under the weight of all those beads.

Uh.... I think it's time to take back those happy pills from Phil McGroin.

It's might be cold, but that never stops Phil from showing his underwear at Mardi Gras... he's a bead whore.

Saturday saw us on the main stage at 21st & Strand opening up for all the headliner bands.

It's still early during sound checks and few stragglers come up to check out the pirates... kind of like wanting to see a car wreck.

Phil looks up in delight.. not in a song or anything, but because he thinks people are still throwing beads at him.

Sharkbait glares at Maroon and Galleon, probably bitching about the rhythm or key or something trivial like that.

The crowd seems to be enjoying the show, regardless.

Fanny decides to dress down for the show, showing off the latest Bilge Pumps casual wear fashions.

All I can say is the parents of this child are very brave, very dumb, or just sold this baby to John Crow the Cook.

Maroon and John get surrounded by Navy blokes but instead of running, they convert them to piracy.

The crew said the ran across one of our old Bosuns somewhere during the festival, but they didn't say which one.


Our thanks go to Mary Dossey and Beverly Lemond for their picture donations.