El Monstero Set To Perform At Mayor’s Ball

By Mary Miller Cullins

I’ve been to the Mayor’s Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball a couple of times.  It was  fun to watch city hall “notables” party and carry on while dressed in gowns and tuxedos and sporting extravagant masks and boas.  The food was excellent and the entertainment always ranked high with the revelers.  This year, a twist, or bonus if you will, was added to the venue!  

That’s right, the Pink Floyd cover band, El Monstero is slated to perform at this year’s ball.  I’m sure the band will only play for part of the evening, it’s not like everybody digs “Pink”, but let me tell you, Mardi Gras-lovin’ Pink Floyd fans are getting two for the price of one!

This year will mark the 11th Annual Mayor’s Ball.  Sponsored by the Mardi Gras Foundation and Anheuser Busch, the ball has raised about $300,000 to support the Soulard neighborhood as well as some beatification projects in the downtown area.  If you’d like to buy tickets to the ball you can do so by visiting www.stlmardigras.org/mayorsball or by calling (314) 771-5110.  Prices range from $100-$2,500.

OK, back to El Monstero!  The band launched their show in November 1999, they are a Monster Truck version of the band Pink Floyd.  The full show consists namely of Gilmore/Waters era Floyd and runs about 2 1/2  to 3 hours.  ( I am sure they will only play and hour or so at the ball).  Fans of the band look forward to December each year, where they sell out 7-10 shows at The Pageant.  Some going to as many as three shows back to back.  If you are a Floyd fan, it’s hard not to; you may as well be watching the original band.

This past summer, thousands of Pink Floyd fanatics enjoyed an awesome show at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater.  I’d say it was the best show I’d ever seen, and a lawn ticket was only $10!  So if the Mayor’s Ball is not in your price range, no worries, rumor has it, El Monstero will be back this summer, bigger and better than ever!

Oh by the way, which one’s PINK?