Ah yes... the sun is shining, we have an NCAA champ crowned, people are
logging off for the summer, and the talk turns to hockey bands... :-)
 
Jeremy Salmon <[log in to unmask]> quoth:
>Unfortunately, they never do "In Heaven There is no Beer," but from the
>other bands(or at pro games), I have yet to hear Wagner, Santana, even
>John Williams for that matter(although this has probably changed in the
>last 3-4 months).
 
Just thought I'd chime in and mention that the UW band does "Everybody's
Everything" by Santana, to great effect.  The original featured the Tower
of Power horns, so if any band arranger is looking for a hot trumpet
feature, check it out....
 
I have to agree that the UMich band is rather run-of-the-mill for a hockey
band.  As a former bandsman, I should acknowledge the work and spirit that
goes into making a good "pep band," and the UMich band certainly has spirit
and plays their music well. The problem really comes down to creativity and
variety.  Too few songs, and especially too much of the much-maligned "high
school band" cheer.   My personal bias is that a band needs to recognize
its audience -- I'm sure the alums love "Hail to the Victors" over and
over, but the student body would probably relate somewhat more to modern
music. Retro is "in" these days, and songs like "Call Me" or "Psycho
Killer" seem to go over well with a hockey crowd.  The best responses to
bands that I've seen lately are to bands that ooze high-spirit (I
grudgingly admit that the Cornell pep band can get a crowd really going),
make us laugh and cheer (the MTU band is a riot), and mix up the song
selection so we cheer with the band instead of yelling at them to play
something else (the UW band does this, and is one of the most
fan-appreciated bands I've seen).
 
Now, this is very much in my opinion.  I think that the "drone the fight
song" method works well for football, when you're playing to a stadium with
a lot of alumni/ae and musical sublety is wasted energy.  But in the
confines of a smaller hockey arena, the fans demand more, and the band
really does act as cheerleader.
 
Ob. comment on other bands: the UND band made a lot of noise for their
small numbers. I could hear them singing clearly across the Bradley Center.
BU's band was fine, even if they do look like candy canes. :-)  Does CC
have a band?
 
-john nash
Harvard Band '91
 
p.s. to whichever band did Rush's "Monsters!" as a cheer (it was either
Umich or BU), yes someone did recognize it. (a memory from high school!) Do
more stuff like that!
 
-==-John R. [log in to unmask] Chem. Dept-==-
                 --- "When in doubt, roll!" ---
 
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