Geaux_Blue

January 3rd, 2011 at 6:46 PM ^

i think there's a value to having a satire element to a show to push the "don't take this too seriously" but half the things listed in that article are just shock value "omg they went there" stuff. the OJ thing is just ridiculous.

SFBlue

January 3rd, 2011 at 6:53 PM ^

Agree the OJ prank was over-the-top.  Here is a more detailed report from Wikipedia.  (Apparently, some of them skipped practice before the game to pay "She's Not There" outside an LA courtroom during jury selection.)

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

 

Fits the "Stanford as scrappy upstart" image, but not really the "Stanford as power football program" incarnation.  When SC is kicking your tail, it's a (rather sophomoric) way of sticking it to them. 

PurpleStuff

January 3rd, 2011 at 6:46 PM ^

Just a bunch of dorks in blazers and floppy hats who then bang their instruments like pots and pans when the opposing band is performing. Still, they can't be any worse than Ashley Simpson.

blueheron

January 3rd, 2011 at 7:07 PM ^

It's one thing to be clever.  They're often clever.

It's another thing entirely when you're clearly trying too hard.  I think they try too hard in a Stuff White People Like (http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/) sort of way.

I get the sense that, for many of them, it's important to be considered *cool* by other people.  Real artists wouldn't worry about that.

NardDogg

January 3rd, 2011 at 6:57 PM ^

At least they aren't as boring as our band.

We gotten less boring in the last couple years, but how many times are you going to play Lady Gaga?

caliblue

January 3rd, 2011 at 8:32 PM ^

As far as marching bands go its one thing to be clever and show the world you have talent at the same time. However, with Stanford's band you only get the clever. The talent never gets to the surface. 

Mi Sooner

January 3rd, 2011 at 9:15 PM ^

yes I know that I am old, the MMB rocked.  They had the uniqueness of Stanford's band without the total flakiness.  Okay and less sarcasm.  They started their slide towards boring in 80 when they replaced their band director, who retired, of 27 years with a guy from OU.  They started to perform more sedate pieces without the flare of the past.   more lines and diamonds/drum and bugle core, less complicated forms with motion. 

Mi Sooner

January 3rd, 2011 at 9:35 PM ^

I'm old, but there was a guy between Becher and Cavender; he was Richter, who lasted one year.  In spite of him, I still went to OU; I just didn't watch the band at half time.

 

I have been trying to forget him for over 30+ years; I really did not want to google his name....

 

tybert

January 3rd, 2011 at 7:02 PM ^

I always loved the Stanford band shows, even when they crossed the line. What the hell, it's a college prank when they put on a show. Most shows could have been used in Animal House.

My favorite...the Irish Potato Famine spoof at the Notre Dame game. The band actually got banned from playing at ND games for a few years.

p.s. I was at the Illinois game this year and loved the MMB's show of Wizard of Oz. What a ton of laughes and creativity!

stankoniaks

January 3rd, 2011 at 7:03 PM ^

I think they were just worried that the band would try to enter the field for the Halftime show early and might get run over.  Apparently they have issues discerning when a half of football is over.

Ben from SF

January 3rd, 2011 at 7:11 PM ^

1.  Band lines up in the shape of a cannibis leaf and the number 34, while playing "Born to Run" by Springsteen.

2.  Dress up in fatigues, University of Miami hats, and snort large quantities of white powder while playing "2 Live Crew"'s greatest hits.

3.  Introduce three vertically challenged band members dressed as LeBron, DWade, and Chris Bosh while playing the theme song to "The Three Stooges".

4.  Change into vintage Michael Vick  Virginia Tech jerseys while playing "Three Dog Nights"' greatest hits.

and finally...

5.  Play Josh Groban's "You Raise Me Up"...

pz

January 3rd, 2011 at 8:02 PM ^

Probably would have been exceptionally entertaining.

Can't believe they've been denied what would have been their biggest stage... maybe ever.

Bando Calrissian

January 3rd, 2011 at 9:04 PM ^

Their halftime show at Michigan Stadium in '99 could have been the funniest show I've ever seen in my life.  Genius stuff.  Just about the biggest ovation I've ever seen a band get, too.

They went to East Lansing the next season and did something similar, and got viciously booed.

You do the math.

MMBbones

January 3rd, 2011 at 8:44 PM ^

Had a friend in the Stanford band in the late 1980's.  He was in the MMB as an undergrad, then went to Stanford for grad school.  He said they had a keg in the band hall at each rehearsal, and a big sign at the front of the room read, "No Fat Chicks!"

Blue in Seattle

January 3rd, 2011 at 10:04 PM ^

they marched on to the field while the football game was still being played?  They completely helped California score the touchdown that lost Stanford the game! Hilarious!

Although the trombone player has never recovered fully from that hit.