Second Line Photos - New OrleansSecond Line parade in the Treme neighborhood in New Orleans. March 9, 2014 - Photos by South Carolina photographer Sean Rayford

"GET YOUR HENNY! GET YOUR CIROC! GET YOUR RITAS!" announced a "bartender" from the back of his pick-up truck on North Broad St. in the Treme neighborhood of New Orleans. It's the oldest African American community in the country and jumping point for the HBO series by the same name and it's where I caught up with my first second line parade. On the way to SXSW we pit-stopped in the Crescent City and just before getting back on the road to Austin we tagged along with a "jazz funeral without a body" - but more like a "human tornado of party."

Second Line Photos - New OrleansSecond Line parade in the Treme neighborhood in New Orleans. March 9, 2014 - Photos by South Carolina photographer Sean Rayford Second Line Photos - New OrleansSecond Line parade in the Treme neighborhood in New Orleans. March 9, 2014 - Photos by South Carolina photographer Sean Rayford

Finished drinks ricocheted and smashed against the trees along the street. Mass littering appeared to be encouraged and I got a sense of lawlessness as gangs of four wheelers raced around sidewalks while people danced atop bus stops. It was colorful and loud and everyone ran around hugging, laughing and dancing. Until now I had been completely ignorant of the New Orleans tradition that is basically a parade of party people led by one brass band organization referred to as the "first line." As the parade moves through the neighborhoods more bands and people join up (the second lines) until you've got this giant snake shaking through the city on a Sunday afternoon. If you are ever in the Big Easy on a Sunday, go find a second line parade. You won't regret it.

Second Line Photos - New OrleansSecond Line parade in the Treme neighborhood in New Orleans. March 9, 2014 - Photos by South Carolina photographer Sean Rayford Second Line Photos - New OrleansSecond Line parade in the Treme neighborhood in New Orleans. March 9, 2014 - Photos by South Carolina photographer Sean Rayford Second Line Photos - New OrleansSecond Line parade in the Treme neighborhood in New Orleans. March 9, 2014 - Photos by South Carolina photographer Sean Rayford Second Line Photos - New OrleansSecond Line parade in the Treme neighborhood in New Orleans. March 9, 2014 - Photos by South Carolina photographer Sean Rayford Second Line Photos - New OrleansSecond Line parade in the Treme neighborhood in New Orleans. March 9, 2014 - Photos by South Carolina photographer Sean Rayford Second Line Photos - New OrleansSecond Line parade in the Treme neighborhood in New Orleans. March 9, 2014 - Photos by South Carolina photographer Sean Rayford Second Line Photos - New OrleansSecond Line parade in the Treme neighborhood in New Orleans. March 9, 2014 - Photos by South Carolina photographer Sean Rayford