OT: VCU Band

[GiddyUp]

Not this is how you let loose and play - VCU and Wrecking Ball. Space Kitten is good for free throws.

[ponydawg]

that was awesome. but notice that the student section right next to them could have given a rat's arse. All standing there with their arms crossed. bizarre.

[GiddyUp]

wish our band would let loose and play some modern hits like this. we are too square, new DJ and tunes were good at Uconn gamr

[LHS81]

wish our band would let loose and play some modern hits like this. we are too square

Don't feel bad. . . Was watching Gonzaga @ Portland, and they were playing Tom Jones It's Not Unusual over the PA system.

[SMUPhil]

VCU's band is one of the best at the pep band thing.

A few things to note:
-They don't have a marching band, so their efforts are 100% directed toward being a pep band.
-Their director is young, been leading the band since he was 21, and he is like 35 now.
-There are easily 60 members in that video above. (Indiana's pep band boasts 100 at games)

[AustinPerson]

They aren't cool. USC has the only cool band. Especially when they play "Tusk" and chant U-C-L-A suks
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GYwSIP78Om0

[couch 'em]

They may be letting loose but in an extremely dork manner so the effect is totally nullified as seen by the indifferent students.

[gostangs]

tom jones is now cool again - it a tongue in cheek thing. I say we go with it.

[gostangs]

and that was seriously goofy "let loose-ism". very contrived. the reason they were being ignored is because it was embarrassing.

[couch 'em]

and that was seriously goofy "let loose-ism". very contrived. the reason they were being ignored is because it was embarrassing.

This one is the worst. I don't think she has ever legitimately let loose in her life!

[gostangs]

yeah - she was horrible. embarrassing

[SMUPhil]

They aren't cool. USC has the only cool band. Especially when they play "Tusk" and chant U-C-L-A suks
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GYwSIP78Om0

No way that can be cool, it's a song from 1979. It has to be Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, or Justin Bieber or else it's just old-fashioned.

[SMUPhil]

and that was seriously goofy "let loose-ism". very contrived. the reason they were being ignored is because it was embarrassing.

This one is the worst. I don't think she has ever legitimately let loose in her life!

Ha, truly the worst one. Also, when they zoom in on her, there's NO WAY she's actually playing the trumpet. So on top of looking like a [deleted], that's ALL she's doing, not even playing the song.

[couch 'em]

The USC band seems cool because it is the USC band and has that reputation. If SMU copied 100% of what they do it wouldn't change the criticisms or get more fans. 'Tusk' is more outdated music as Phil touched on.

College bands are inherantly uncool because it is an outdated concept since, at best, the 1970s when horns stopped being used in pop music. Everyone is trying to do the best they can to make the old concept relevant to various degrees of success like all 'retro' concepts.

The SMU band was an early modernizer of the band concept when it played jazz, the pop music of the time, when everyone else was still playing Susa marches. But have they advanced from there?

There are three paths they can go on from here:

1. Continue to do essentially what everyone else is doing - a mix of modern, 60s/70s, and some jazz tunes

2. Go hardcore old jazz and shun anything from the rock era or later. Doesn't connect with anyone but at least it is a gimmick that differentiates.

3. Embrace the spirit of the early days and hit the reset button. How? Not sure, but it would involve something like throwing out most of the horn players and bringing in some combination of modern instruments: guitars, singers/rappers, DJ type controls, keyboard, who knows.

[gostangs]

overly emotional bandsman response in 4, 3, 2, 1......