[Updated] Last season, one of the Treme storylines involved Antoine Batiste’s high school band wanting to play in a Mardi Gras parade. Sunday’s Krewe of Carrollton Parade tipped the direction that plotline goes when a band from Theophile J. Elie High School marched, accompanied by a handful of cameras and mics. Walking in front of the band looking casual in his band windbreaker and slouch hat was Wendell Pierce. New Orleans’ ability to play along was impressive as people around me shouted “Antoine” instead of “Wendell” as the parade passed. I haven’t got confirmation yet that the television band marched the whole route or that they played – they didn’t in front of me – but The Uptown Messenger has a photo.

— Alex Rawls

 

Updated 2:42 p.m.

According to Treme production staff, the Elie band did march the entire route, and they did perform. No word as to how many songs were in their repertoire.

Updated 3:36 p.m.

The band had a five or six-song repertoire.