Need New Music for the Stands - would love a band opinion

[Strouse]

There are a lot funky marching bands out there.

What about punky marching bands? Is there such a thing?

That would evoke a sense of place, maybe.

I'm gonna start playing my White Stripes CDs and try to imagine a band covering some of the songs. That would be a damned cool marching band.

The first thing that came to mind when I read that was "Play that funky music white boy"

[SaxyGirl85]

There are a lot funky marching bands out there.

What about punky marching bands? Is there such a thing?

That would evoke a sense of place, maybe.

I'm gonna start playing my White Stripes CDs and try to imagine a band covering some of the songs. That would be a damned cool marching band.

The first thing that came to mind when I read that was "Play that funky music white boy"

we played that in high school, it was a pretty cool arrangement our director did, but there are a lot of "funk" tunes some bands play...i don't remember any specific songs cuz none of them seemed to be all that great, but i know they're out there.

[Strouse]

There are a lot funky marching bands out there.

What about punky marching bands? Is there such a thing?

That would evoke a sense of place, maybe.

I'm gonna start playing my White Stripes CDs and try to imagine a band covering some of the songs. That would be a damned cool marching band.

The first thing that came to mind when I read that was "Play that funky music white boy"

we played that in high school, it was a pretty cool arrangement our director did, but there are a lot of "funk" tunes some bands play...i don't remember any specific songs cuz none of them seemed to be all that great, but i know they're out there.

I didn't mean it that we should play it, I just meant it as I could just hear it being sung.

[The Niz]

There are a lot funky marching bands out there.

What about punky marching bands? Is there such a thing?

That would evoke a sense of place, maybe.

I'm gonna start playing my White Stripes CDs and try to imagine a band covering some of the songs. That would be a damned cool marching band.

I have heard a band do seven nation army. It wasn't too good. A lot of the "pop/punk rock" and alternative rock make for very poor marching band music because there is almost no substance to them.

[bgmaggot00]

A lot of the "pop/punk rock" and alternative rock make for very poor marching band music because there is almost no substance to them.

There's the "bold" statement of the day. I've always had an inkling to do a Green Day show myself. Ahh.. wait 'till I have my own band.

[Rightupinthere]

I'm gonna start playing my White Stripes CDs and try to imagine a band covering some of the songs. That would be a damned cool marching band.

I think you're on to something, Schad. Conquest would be an AWESOME stand tune! Hotel Yorba(?) would be a fun one too.

[Schadenfreude]

I'm gonna start playing my White Stripes CDs and try to imagine a band covering some of the songs. That would be a damned cool marching band.

I think you're on to something, Schad. Conquest would be an AWESOME stand tune! Hotel Yorba(?) would be a fun one too.

"Hotel Yorba" was sort of rattling around in my head. It's very catchy -- sings itself -- but I'm having a hard time hearing a marching band play it. I'm not a musician.

I'm thinking bold, bold riffs (which is part of the magic of the White Stripes. Most of their stuff is distilled down to a certain essence. You have a riff, and you have a lot left to your imagination. Jack White = genius).

Anyway, on White Blood Cells, "I'm Finding It Harder To Be A Gentleman," and "Offend in Every Way" come to mind. Tremendous riffs. I'm not sure the tempo is right, though.

"Fell In Love With A Girl" has the tempo, but are the (implied, at times) riffs bold enough?

I could go on and on: "Hello Operator," or "Let's Build A Home," (De Stijl); "Rag and Bone," or "I'm Slowly Turning Into You," (Icky Thump)

I dunno. Maybe none of it would work. (See my next post for a song that I really do suspect might work).

I don't care for "Conquest," by the way. It's as if Abba kidnapped Jack White that day -- which might be a terrible analysis, but that's how I react emotionally.

[Schadenfreude]

I have heard a band do seven nation army. It wasn't too good. A lot of the "pop/punk rock" and alternative rock make for very poor marching band music because there is almost no substance to them.

Ah, but I didn't say "pop/punk rock" or "alternative rock." I said "punk(y)" and I mentioned the White Stripes (who happen to be from Detroit).

Also, you don't have to tell me that "Seven Nation Army," would be a bad idea for a marching band. I don't even know a flute from a piccolo, and I can see that coming a mile away.

Part of the essence of "Ay Ziggy Zoomba" is punk. Think about after game celebrations, when you play AZZ like an runaway train -- the way notes are occasional missed, and yet the song is almost stronger that way. Think about what the football team is doing on the field as you play it.

That's what I'm trying to get at. Punk.

There are a ton of marching bands that out funk ours. Our band is never going to outdo what Florida A&M does (as sad as that is for me to think about, sometimes).

So, I toss punk out there as a way to do our own thing, to innovate and to honor where we live.

And I'm just tossing it out there as an idea. Can a band really evoke punk? We could have a deep discussion about that.

Imagine, for instance, the band playing "Gut Feeling" (by Devo, who happen to be from Akron) at the end of the third quarter.

Seriously. Humor me. Imagine it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDZUHxqnn3Y

Wouldn't that be infintely better than "Sweet Caroline?"

I'd rather see our band try to do something like that -- and even fail at it -- rather than just aping the American stadium flavor of the month.

[Rightupinthere]

I'm gonna start playing my White Stripes CDs and try to imagine a band covering some of the songs. That would be a damned cool marching band.

I think you're on to something, Schad. Conquest would be an AWESOME stand tune! Hotel Yorba(?) would be a fun one too.

"Hotel Yorba" was sort of rattling around in my head. It's very catchy -- sings itself -- but I'm having a hard time hearing a marching band play it. I'm not a musician.

I'm thinking bold, bold riffs (which is part of the magic of the White Stripes. Most of their stuff is distilled down to a certain essence. You have a riff, and you have a lot left to your imagination. Jack White = genius).

Anyway, on White Blood Cells, "I'm Finding It Harder To Be A Gentleman," and "Offend in Every Way" come to mind. Tremendous riffs. I'm not sure the tempo is right, though.

"Fell In Love With A Girl" has the tempo, but are the (implied, at times) riffs bold enough?

I could go on and on: "Hello Operator," or "Let's Build A Home," (De Stijl); "Rag and Bone," or "I'm Slowly Turning Into You," (Icky Thump)

I dunno. Maybe none of it would work. (See my next post for a song that I really do suspect might work).

I don't care for "Conquest," by the way. It's as if Abba kidnapped Jack White that day -- which might be a terrible analysis, but that's how I react emotionally.

What, no Beau Coup?

I only have a pedestrian appreciation for White Stripes, but the horn intro (I think that's the song) for Conquest would be pretty awesome for a stand tune. I see your point in that it does have a similar feel of old ABBA.

Riffs are pretty difficult to transpose into a marching band arrangement. What's really needed is a strong backbeat and a firm melody for it to fly. Riffs are strong in their improvisational feel which makes it very difficult for that feel to fly with a 200+ marching band.
But, you are onto something with some B-side* DEVO. It may have more legs during Homecoming. How about some Escaped Dead Fetal Pigs?**

Michael Stanley Band tunes would be a decent standards.

*An not-so-obscure reference to something called "vinyl."
**Alternative band from the BG band scene in the late 80's/early 90's.

[The Niz]

Didn't one of the members of The Cars attend BGSU for a while? Some of their songs would be great for a stand tune.


I know Devo is from Akron. Mark Mothersbaugh, the original drummer, lived accross the street from my dad in Cuyahoga Falls when they were growing up. I also used to hang out with his daughter a lot as she would let us take her horses out for free.


Punk would be hard to convey for a marching band, as part of the whole point is total uniformity. I think if any bands have captured punk, it would probably be either Stanford or Wisconsin. I'm glad we're nothing like Wisconsin, but Stanford is/was pretty awesome.

[Schadenfreude]

Riffs are pretty difficult to transpose into a marching band arrangement. What's really needed is a strong backbeat and a firm melody for it to fly.

I might be saying "riff" when I really mean "melody." I'm really not a musician.

How about some Escaped Dead Fetal Pigs?**

What are you stalking me?

(Wred Fright's a friend. Did you know he has a book now, Pornographic Flabbergastted Emus?)

[Rightupinthere]

How about some Escaped Dead Fetal Pigs?**

What are you stalking me?

(Wred Fright's a friend. Did you know he has a book now, Pornographic Flabbergastted Emus?)

Are you kidding me? I'm not stalking you - unless you're a doe-eyed blonde I saw in the most recent edition of HotBoat magazine.

I just remember seeing EDFP once during my undergrad at Howards (or was it Brathaus?) They were good. I always got a chuckle out of their name. I figured you would have known them from your taste in music. Are they still around?

That book sounds like a good one.

[Falcon30]

I have the perfect song for a school so close to Cedar Point

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Rollercoaster

I arranged it for my pep band played it when I was teaching....best song we ever did. We didn't break out the kazoos, though.

I hereby nominate it for arranging by someone good...Heck, I would do it if they would let me. I do have a degree from the finest music school in the midwest.

Here's the re-make. http://r-dev.com/purple/LoveRollerCoaster.mp3

The original - Doubt the link will work:
http://mp3.juno.co.uk/MP3/SF194316-01-02-01.mp3

[Falcon30]

I have the perfect song for a school so close to Cedar Point

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Rollercoaster

I arranged it for my pep band played it when I was teaching....best song we ever did. We didn't break out the kazoos, though.

I hereby nominate it for arranging by someone good...Heck, I would do it if they would let me. I do have a degree from the finest music school in the midwest.

Here's the re-make. http://r-dev.com/purple/LoveRollerCoaster.mp3

The original - Doubt the link will work:
http://mp3.juno.co.uk/MP3/SF194316-01-02-01.mp3

And for those of you who don't understand the funk...Listen to Long Train and then listen to the band version of it by Ohio U. Some songs are better by a marching band.

[Falcon30]

I have heard a band do seven nation army. It wasn't too good. A lot of the "pop/punk rock" and alternative rock make for very poor marching band music because there is almost no substance to them.

Ah, but I didn't say "pop/punk rock" or "alternative rock." I said "punk(y)" and I mentioned the White Stripes (who happen to be from Detroit).

Also, you don't have to tell me that "Seven Nation Army," would be a bad idea for a marching band. I don't even know a flute from a piccolo, and I can see that coming a mile away.

Part of the essence of "Ay Ziggy Zoomba" is punk. Think about after game celebrations, when you play AZZ like an runaway train -- the way notes are occasional missed, and yet the song is almost stronger that way. Think about what the football team is doing on the field as you play it.

That's what I'm trying to get at. Punk.

There are a ton of marching bands that out funk ours. Our band is never going to outdo what Florida A&M does (as sad as that is for me to think about, sometimes).

So, I toss punk out there as a way to do our own thing, to innovate and to honor where we live.

And I'm just tossing it out there as an idea. Can a band really evoke punk? We could have a deep discussion about that.

Imagine, for instance, the band playing "Gut Feeling" (by Devo, who happen to be from Akron) at the end of the third quarter.

Seriously. Humor me. Imagine it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDZUHxqnn3Y

Wouldn't that be infintely better than "Sweet Caroline?"

I'd rather see our band try to do something like that -- and even fail at it -- rather than just aping the American stadium flavor of the month.

Punk translates well to marching band. After watching that video, I can imagine a pretty kickass Devo show....