DSU's Band

Submitted by marc_from_novi on

Anyone else disappointed in Delaware State's Band? I thought they had great potential and some good ideas. They very much lacked polish. However, I was pleased that the crowd gave them a nice cheer at the end of their half-time show.

HartAttack20

October 17th, 2009 at 5:03 PM ^

I thought they were pretty entertaining and I enjoyed the performance. They seemed to enjoy Michgan's drum line as well. They also enjoyed the wave we did, which was run to absolute perfection, and got in on it. Even during our fight song they seemed to learn the beat and raised their arms on Hail. I'm pretty sure they were sincere in all of that, and weren't making fun of us. Anybody that was close to the band hear any band members making fun of us at all? Seemed like a grateful bunch of people that enjoyed the big crowd.

Zonereadstretch

October 18th, 2009 at 12:41 AM ^

Less is more...The PA guy acted more as Captain Obvious than anything else. I felt he took more away from the performance as you heard him more than the band. Yes I knew what DSU stood for and yes I know what a Diamond looks like. All in all I could have done without the PA guy. Would have been nice to have seen a drumline competion between the bands though.

andriy

October 17th, 2009 at 5:04 PM ^

They were loud, but really really sacrificed pitch control and accuracy. There were a few moments that resembled violent and unfortunate bodily functions.

They were pretty good for the most part though.

HartAttack20

October 17th, 2009 at 5:10 PM ^

That's find and dandy that you noticed the pitch issues, but the vast majority, and I do mean VAST majority, of fans do not care one bit. That includes myself. They sounded pretty good to me and they were pretty entertaining. They lived up to the hype in my book. I did see members of our band go over and talk to the DSU band, and that was cool.

andriy

October 18th, 2009 at 2:04 AM ^

I understand that most fans don't care about pitch control and accuracy, hence the general approving final sentence that completed my comment.

Your qualms with something which leans toward objective over subjective seems quite weak. The DSU band had pitch control issues. They were excellent on some songs, quite bad on others and in general, sacrificed accuracy for the sake of being loud. Was this due to a larger stadium compared to what they are normally accustomed? Perhaps, and I thought they did a pretty good job in those circumstances.

See, this is evenly-handed review of a marching band. Please continue masturbating to your gospel hand bell choir CD. They may have poor accuracy and hit the wrong notes occasionally, but damnit, you just don't care about that. Your there for the bells. Glorious bells.

Flood

October 17th, 2009 at 5:33 PM ^

I've never had so much fun listening to an opponent's marching band PA guy.

"Now watch as the band forms three diamonds! And then watch as the diamonds rotate!"

"Side two: get down! Hit it!"

"Thrillllller!"

I definitely enjoyed it

Hard Gay

October 17th, 2009 at 5:41 PM ^

This was just like the movie Drumline, when the one band plays some cool hip song and the other band responds with flight of the bumblebee. DSU's band won this one easily.

Undefeated dre…

October 17th, 2009 at 6:09 PM ^

"Delaware State needs to hire the Michigan band's fashion designer. Michigan needs to play like Delaware State's band."

Heresy, I know, and I would never trade the Michigan band for anyone. But I thought it was funny my daughter liked DSU's sound better, but thought that light-blue and red was atrocious looking.

Don

October 17th, 2009 at 6:17 PM ^

Now I'm really glad I wasn't at the game. Fucking opera. Sweet. I hope they play opera for Penn State and OSU. That'll really get the crowd charged up. Opera. Jesus Tap-dancing Christ.

Talpostal

October 17th, 2009 at 7:54 PM ^

To tell you the truth I couldn't really make out most of the music DSU's band was playing, but the dancing and announcer made the entire experience awesome. My absolute favorite part was when the band was playing and the announcer randomly said in a menacing voice "the approaching stormmmmm," although the connecting AND rotating diamonds were great as well.

Also, like everybody else I was very disappointed that the MMB played opera. Seriously, opera?

chortle

October 17th, 2009 at 8:27 PM ^

I am surprised that no one mentioned the DSU Drum Major!

His slow jive walk to the center of the field and then that Whooping Crane stand that seemed to last for 5 minutes! That was really fun to see.

MaizeNBlue

October 17th, 2009 at 10:32 PM ^

Before the game, a few of the people with me were making fun of how they warmed up, but they turned out to be really fun to watch. It's just a different style of entertainment that they're aiming for (relative to the MMB). Those band members were trying to have fun, and while I'm sure ours do too, the MMB is aiming much more for a professional and polished look.

jabberwock

October 17th, 2009 at 9:03 PM ^

As in amazingly loud per person AND amazingly bizarre.
The announcer spent so much time hyping the band that he ended up talking over half of their performance.
Their drum major (with the smooth moves) was the "Hurricane"!
They sounded like a bad high school band (in fact my high school HAD more band members and sounded better).

But they had a good funk, blew hard, and seemed to be all around good sports.
I applauded like hell for them every chance I got (even if I was laughing).

Remember, DSU is a tiny school. I wish it hadn't been Michigan's Opera halftime show however, if anything could have portrayed us as a bunch of wine and cheese snobs, it would be an opera halftime.
They could have at least done Phantom of the Opera. Geez.

Anyway, I've yet to see anyone mention the single best part of the DSU band (and no, I don't mean the semi-talented 19 member "sweet sixteen" flag core).

The "Delegates" dance team were a trip.

M-Wolverine

October 17th, 2009 at 9:50 PM ^

It's Elegance and Delaware. And yes, I did hear the DSU band director interviewed like 3 times on the radio on the way to the stadium.

Didn't think they were very coordinated, but in those outfits in that weather? They get a point.

M-Wolverine

October 17th, 2009 at 10:01 PM ^

At first I was a little disappointed with all the hype. Particularly pregame. They weren't that coordinated. And the announcer talking over them. But by the time they had hit the medley at the end they had me. Dancing, getting down, THRILLER!! (That never gets old).

And then everyone around me in 18 laughed when he announced A Night at the Opera. Talk about a bad contrasting choice. Though they did play likeable and recognizable selections well. But it just seemed stuffy today. Save it for OSU when we're showing how much more cultured we are. lol

And the wave thing may have been the coolest band moment at the Stadium since Rice brought they're band. Couldn't cheer for DSU's band enough.