Found 'Em
Friday, May 6, 2011 at 10:10AM Previously on I Want Your Everything As Long As It's Free:
- I manage to lose an entire marching band
- Could be buckeye leaves, could be poison ivy
- Never infuriate your hip flexors
The Spring Athletic Band was in the process of justifying its existence by rehearsing for the Spring Game. Jason The Ridiculously Young Drum Major was strutting out in front, as much as a Drum Major in an A-band rehearsal three weeks before tryouts is willing to strut, which is not very much. As struts go, he was hanging out on the lido deck, boat drink in one hand and baton in the other.
Behind them sprawled Ohio State's science and hospital complex, which I am sure is very impressive. But I am also sure that it is very ugly. The rain was delightfully accented by temperatures in the low 40s, and steam rose from the little skyline, wafting past a crane that had stilled for the day. The flat clouds, the tall towers, the Johnson administration aesthetics: This is precisely what I shrank from when I chose my own college. Saint Mary's had no neurology major. It did have, however, shade.
I perched on an empty bleacher, watching the clarinets step out of the way of the trumpets. Assistant Director Jonathan Waters had a megaphone, which he used only for good. We were occup
ying the square basin of a concrete canyon, and the hard sharp corners of it threw the sounds back at us, sharp echos of bass and tenor.
"Okay," he told them from atop a ladder. "Best time yet."
They were playing the official rock song of the state of Ohio (priorities FTW!), "Hang on Sloopy." "Sloopy" is kind of a big deal with this band; there are arm motions, and Drum Major twirling, and nobody knows the words to the verses. As the music ricocheted through the little buckeye leaves in the grove and the big buildings across the way, students paused on their way to class and work, some forming an O-H-I-O with their arms at the proper point in the song, others heads still bent over iPhones. But they all slowed down, they all huddled less.
Because what was happening, against that nasty melting sky and tangle of concrete, was utterly beautiful.
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Reader Comments (48)
"As struts go, he was hanging out on the lido deck, boat drink in one hand and baton in the other."
virgin boat drink, of course
OK, if these short bursts are all she's got for now, I'll take 'em.
Derby's tomorrow.
Much as I love my campus... yeah that's not exactly the most scenic part.
Is Jason the Young in this picture? Either way, it's cool to see some band action!
slooooooooooooopy!
Assistant Director Jonathan Waters had a megaphone, which he used only for good.
I don't believe you. Megaphones are NEVER used for good.
Welll, half a post is better than none, I suppose.
"Jason The Ridiculously Young Drum Major was strutting out in front, as much as a Drum Major in an A-band rehearsal three weeks before tryouts is willing to strut, which is not very much. As struts go, he was hanging out on the lido deck, boat drink in one hand and baton in the other."
But it was still awesome, right?
No offense to you Ohio State folks,, but it sounds as if our DMs are desperately needed visual improvement factor on that campus....
Derby's tomorrow.
Hell YES Derby's tomorrow!
"As the music ricocheted through the little buckeye leaves in the grove and the big buildings across the way"
that's cool!
Where are they practicing? Is that a soccer field?
Check out the piñatized version of Hang on Sloopy, brought to you by the legendary Los Rockin Devils
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_VYRh52gT8
haha RPJ, that was great!
"Welll, half a post is better than none, I suppose."
doubled
This is just a little post but I think it crystallizes what I like so much about this blog. Ugly scenery but beautiful life-things taking place... I think that reflects MBs life right now.
Louisville by morning... ;)
"Saint Mary's had no neurology major. It did have, however, shade."
SMC trees FTW!!
"No offense to you Ohio State folks,, but it sounds as if our DMs are desperately needed visual improvement factor on that campus...."
Aw, you just gotta know where to party, and how long.
"Because what was happening, against that nasty melting sky and tangle of concrete, was utterly beautiful."
sniff
"and the hard sharp corners of it threw the sounds back at us, sharp echos of bass and tenor."
Hard background, smooth jam : )
Where are they practicing? Is that a soccer field?
Looks like artificial turf.
"They were playing the official rock song of the state of Ohio (priorities FTW!), "Hang on Sloopy."
Heh. 10% unemployment, what 10% unemployment?
SMC trees FTW!!
** fist bump **
"The rain was delightfully accented by temperatures in the low 40s"
Welcome back to Ohio, MB
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_VYRh52gT8
that's rockin, Red Pill!
Got my mint julep, my big floppy hat and a plate of buckeyes ready to go.
BLONDECHAMPAGNE DERBY LIVE BLOG '11, WHHHHHOOOOOHHHHOOOOO
I like how she grabbed a cellphone picture (I assume that's what it is) of the band-in-progress. Like art!
"Saint Mary's had no neurology major."
There is, however, a major in Glee Club Appreciation Studies, with a minor in Pre-Drum Major Exaltation.
I was in Columbus on business once and yeah,that campus us huuuuuuge. It seemed like everywhere we went there was some kind of Ohio State building.
Okay, The Readers, got your Derby picks ready to go? If there's a grey named "Slicing Like a F'ing Hammer" I'm chucking the mortgage.
Is Tink in Louisville?
Mary Beth I can't get over how you've inspired so much admiration for the Band and the drummajors beyond just what the eyes can see. Thank you for it....
This story--whatever it is, however it ends, and wherever it takes us-- is being told from vantage points that people who just kind of casually see the band and DMs don't even think about. That's what makes it quadruple awesome.
"Is Tink in Lousiville?"
She "covers the coverage," as she always says. Don't know where she is right now but what sets her apart from every other t-bred blogger is that she incorporates what the broadcast feed is doing into her impressions of the race. It is epic.
Last year's Derby post which she wrote from a writing residency in Colorado:
http://tinyurl.com/2fhmr2m
jumpin up and doooowwwwwwnnnn waiting for the LIVEBLOG!!!!!!!!!!!!
does she do it actually in live time, or does it post as one later?
Animal Kingdom FTW
well I guess that answers our question about liveblog in real time LOL
Animal Kingdom going away
OK, so the preliminaries are over, now we have the main event: BLONDE CHAMPAGNE DERBY LIVEBLOG
bwahahahaha, this band has NO PATIENCE with soccer goals
I'm sorry but that crane in the background is hilarious. It's like, "What can we do to make all this just a liiiiiiitel bit uglier and urbanized? I KNOW....!"
rippin' this page apart until the liveblog shows up!!!!!
"it sounds as if our DMs are desperately needed visual improvement factor on that campus"
Oh they improve the scenery WHEREVER they go.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_VYRh52gT8
Pinataized is now my new favorite word.
OK, who else got hosed on that race?
Never infuriate your hip flexors
Do we need to add this to the Blonde Champagne tee shirt collection? It needs to be up there with the entire Paul Anka rant (my personal favorite is any and all references to "loose s--t.")