Far from the parade routes of the major krewes who fling beads by the millions are lesser-publicized centuries-old rituals that play out on Mardi Gras in predominantly African American neighborhoods.
The North Side Skull and Bone Gang will make a predawn appearance on March 1 outside Little People’s Place, 1226 Barracks Street, in Treme between 5 and 5:30 a.m. Attired in handmade skull masks made out of papier-mâché and black shirts and pants painted with skeleton bones, the mysterious group will proceed to raise a racket in the neighborhood with drums, chanting, and the knocking on doors and walls of random houses.
The North Side Skull and Bone Gang tradition dates back to the early days of the Treme in the early 1800s. The group’s stated intention is to remind everyone that death is always lurking, and sooner or later, it will come knocking at your front door. “We wake up the spirits in the cemetery, bring them back, and set them loose in the streets on Carnival morning,” said Big Chief Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes who leads the group.
Tipitina’s will host a free Mardi Gras morning sunrise set at 5 a.m. with Big Chief Juan Pardo and the Golden Comanches and Billy Iuso and Friends. Following the set the Golden Comanches will head out of the venue to begin their day roaming the streets.
At 5 p.m. on March 1 the Mardi Gras Indian Orchestra, an all-star lineup of musicians, will perform on March 1 at Café Istanbul, 2372 St. Claude Ave in the New Orleans Healing Center. The group will feature classics from the Black Indian canon alternating with songs from funk and soul band WAR.
The group will include vocalists David Montana (Big Chief of the Washitaw Nation), Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes (Big Chief of Northside Skull and Bone Gang), drummer Terence Higgins (Ani DiFranco, Dirty Dozen Brass Band), guitarist Billy Iuso (Restless Natives, Iko Allstars), bass player Reggie Scanlan (Radiators), percussionist Rosie Rosato, saxophonist Brad Walker, cellist Helen Gillet, violinist Rurik Nunan and keyboardist Mike “Mikey B-3” Burkhart.
