Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue Crush the Capitol Theatre

Article Contributed by Jamie Huenefeld | Published on Sunday, March 16, 2025

Trombone Shorty | Port Chester, NY | March 8, 2025 | photos by Jamie Huenefeld / Killahwave

Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue returned to The Capitol Theatre on March 8, 2025, as part of his Shorty Gras 2025 Tour. This show was the second night of a two-night stand. The band uniquely blended jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and rock, along with plenty of Big Easy swagger, to create a fun sound that resonated throughout the iconic venue. Troy Andrews, also known as Trombone Shorty, brought his always-impressive stage presence, which included singing, dancing, and playing brass instruments like a boss. Tank and the Bangas were on hand to provide their support.

Tarriona "Tank" Ball | Capitol Theatre

The evening began with the 2020 Grammy nominees Tank and the Bangas, who delivered their own infusion of funk, soul, hip-hop, and pop, along with spoken word. Also hailing from New Orleans, the band was led by singer Tarriona "Tank" Ball, who brought a lot of energy and excitement to the mix. She sang and danced around the stage along with another female vocalist while their bandmates dialed into the music. All band members wore bright orange clothing, including Tank.

Orleans Avenue | Capitol Theatre

After a short break, Orleans Avenue entered the stage with their lineup for the night, which included guitarist Pete Murano, saxophonist Dan Oestreicher, saxophonist BK Jackson, and drummer Joey Peebles, along with others. Andrews eventually followed after Orleans Avenue got the crowd riled up.

Saxophonist BK Jackson | Trombone Shorty

Dripping with charisma, Andrews owned the stage with his trombone-fueled dance moves and authentic smiles. He has been performing and playing trombone since the age of three, including as part of a family band. This creative brass instrument specialist performed a jazzy rendition of America the Beautiful prior to the coin toss at the recent Super Bowl LIX, which was held in his hometown of New Orleans, LA.

Saxophonists Dan Oestreicher and BK Jackson along with Trombone Shorty | Capitol Theatre

His show included a mix of originals, traditional tunes, and some eclectic mashups. Some notable instances included Hurricane Season from his 2010 release Backatown. He also brought plenty from the bayou with tunes like the traditional When the Saints Go Marching In and Fire on the Bayou by The Meters.

Trombone Shorty | Capitol Theatre

They also unleashed some really stellar medleys, including a mashup featuring Rollin’ (Air Raid Vehicle) by Limp Bizkit and Hip Hop Hooray by Naughty By Nature. The fans were in full-on dance mode during this '90s-themed sequence.

Tank and her bandmate joined Trombone Shorty for "Here Comes the Girls" | Capitol Theatre

About halfway through the set, the band started playing Here Come The Girls from his 2017 album Parking Lot Symphony. Tank and her female vocalist bandmate joyfully joined the party to a vibrant applause and contributed their vocals to this catchy tune that we are adding to our party playlist.

Fans loved the show | Trombone Shorty

As the show wound down, the band delved into James Brown's Sex Machine. Andrews uttered, "I'm having so much fun that I don't want to leave!" This was certainly the vibe, both from the stage and the crowd.

Capitol Theatre | Port Chester, NY

Trombone Shorty and his accomplished band, Orleans Avenue, crushed their performance at The Capitol Theatre. Their slate of clever originals and NOLA-inspired covers, combined with plenty of great dance moves, produced a very memorable evening. Everyone appeared to truly enjoy themselves, both on stage and off. They are up next in Memphis, TN, on March 16 and Tulsa, OK, on March 18. Head on over to their tour page for more details on the Shorty Gras 2025 Tour.

Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue | Capitol Theatre

The Capitol Theatre has a number of great shows coming up as well. On March 17, they will host Unbroken Chain: A Celebration of the Life and Music of Phil Lesh. Head on over to this link for more details. On March 22, Railroad Earth will be supported by Tom Hamilton. Visit The Cap's tour page for more upcoming shows on their jam friendly ledger.

Check out more photos from Trombone Shorty along with Tank and the Bangas!

Trombone Shorty | Capitol Theatre