Parquet Courts Take on “Mardi Gras Beads” in New Video, Add More Tour Dates

After the release of last month’s “Wide Awake” visual, Parquet Courts continue their Mardi Gras saga with “Mardi Gras Beads,” the latest single and video from their forthcoming album Wide Awake!, due out May 18 on Rough Trade.

The Brother Willis-directed visual picks up where the last video left off as the band’s guitarist Austin Brown is seen catching Mardi Gras beads before the visual goes from color to black-and-white. He wanders off from the rest of the band, leading to an all-day search. The group is seen putting up missing signs as Brown wanders around New Orleans during the parade. Brown finds himself sitting by the river before the beads lead him on a journey. Eventually, he meets back up with his bandmates for a jam session during a rowdy house party as the visual transitions back to color. The video ends with the band frolicking off into the night.

The song represents a more vulnerable and tender side to the band after the raucous “Wide Awake.” As the song’s writer, Brown comments, “[‘Mardi Gras Beads’] is a song about commitment to yourself for better or worse.” It’s also the first Brown-penned track released from Parquet Courts’ forthcoming album. Diehard fans may have already heard it, though, as the band released “Mardi Gras Beads” as a Record Store Day-exclusive 7” two weekends ago.

The video’s release comes hot on the heels of the group’s debut on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where they performed “Wide Awake.” Along with their appearance on Ellen, the group has announced some additional dates for their upcoming tour, which includes a stop at Atlanta’s Shaky Knees, right in Paste’s backyard.

Parquet Courts seem poised to be the next big act in indie rock for 2018. Watch the “Mardi Gras Beads” visual while peeking at the band’s new tour dates below. You can find the rest of their tour slate here.

Parquet Courts Tour Dates:

September
17 – 22 – Lincoln, Neb. @ Lincoln Calling Festival
23 – Seattle, Wash. @ The Showbox
24 – Vancouver, British Columbia @ Imperial
25 – Portland, Ore. @ Wonder Ballroom
27 – San Francisco, Calif. @ The Fillmore
28 – San Jose, Calif. @ The Ritz