Marching Band Mosh Pit: What Cheer? Brigade
July 20, 2010 2 Comments
Marching band inspired mosh pit on a Monday in Providence, RI. Mosh pit is an exaggeration, but it was an exciting, intimate , group musical frenzy. There weren’t any guitars. But this was expressive. This 18 piece co-ed brass ensemble has players who are masters of their instruments, composing addicting rhythms and delivering it all from within the audience. Make room for the trumpet player. Sit on the ground with with bass drummer. Move out of the way of the arms of the small woman making big noise with a big drum while smiling and sweating. Let their wilding gyrations inspire yours. There were so many of us and and so many of them so tightly immeshed, I couldn’t possibly call this a show. It’s an experience. And if they had marched away the entire audience would have followed without question or concern for direction. This apparently will happen on Saturday as the Providence Sound Session 10 festival continues and features the What Cheer? Brigade in the event parade.
I left wondering what a rehearsal is like…
so I wrote them and here’s how it went down:
What are your rehearsals like?
Interesting. A mixture between really focused and far too all over the place.
Do you dance around?
Some of us do, even at practice. How can one not!?!
Where do you practice?
Onleyville! Hip hip hooray! In a big ass warehouse. Where else, ware house? (I like the sound of the rhyme)
How often?
twice a week, about five hours a week.
Are you all from RI?
Not originally, but we all live here now.
How did you meet?
It’s different for different members of the band. There is no one story. For the early members, it was folks being asked, “Wanna be in a marching band?”, for later folks, they saw us perform and wanted to be part of the love. neat, eh?
How did this get started? Who is in charge (besides the dog)?
Ha, that’s funny you noticed the dog. No one is actually in charge. we have no one leader. different folks take turns being responsible for different things at different times. There are some who are better at the logistics than others, and thankfully they work it up. But really, folk all take turns being in charge of this, or running that.
Is this original music?
Some of it. The other tunes are original arrangements of Balkan, bollywood, some hip hop and and the such. A very small number of our earlier tunes were arranged by other folk.
What is the biggest dream for What Cheer? Brigade?
That would be tough for me to answer, as I am just one of 18, and I am sure there are 18 different dreams. I do think I am safe in saying — for all of us — that we wish to continue to make the music we do, to spread the joy and fun the way that we do. We’re a big family, really. I have never been involved with a band like this, so I would imagine the ultimate dream for all of us is to do these things as a family, with the love of family.
For the ladies: were/are your families and friends supportive of this idea? Do they appreciate your passion for it?
I am afraid I cannot answer this personally, as I am a dead monkey, and not a lady. But from what I can see, the ladies are well supported, by friends, by the fellas in the band. Heck, we would like some more talented women playing with us. They help round things out and make us a better full unit as a result.
Could there ever be a guitar in the mix? (We have to ask that, we’re Chicks with Guitars).
I can appreciate the question, and the reason why, but — no, no…no guitars in the mix. We’re a band of no electric amplification. We are brass and drums. We are unhindered by power running out, or cables being too short. To throw a git-fiddle in the mix might jeopardize that. Luddite hardcore!
And then he wrote…
If you have more questions, feel free to ask. I will answer as best a dead chimp can.
Sincerely. Chop Chop the dead chimp – drummer for the what cheer? Brigade.
If you liked this show, check out http://honkfest.org/ for info on the 5th Honkfest in Boston this October 8-10. Dozens of bands like “What Cheer?” will be playing all over the area.
Sounds fun! We’ll try to come and check it out. Thanks for stopping by.