Insane marching practice: tAMU.

Posted by osklister on October 10, 2025, 9:13:53, in reply to "Do you see what tOSU does with making movable formations? YouTube it, that's cool*"

It's fine. Different types of bands.

Posted by JFG on October 10, 2025, 8:31:17, in reply to "Do you see what tOSU does with making movable formations? YouTube it, that's cool*"

Different people find different things exciting. Ultimately, the MI play great and do a great job at the games. If they're not perfect to you, go get a hot dog during halftime or something. Previous Message Previous Message Could be either more relevant or more exciting. As far as sound, yes the all brass marching bands are much louder. As others have pointed out, loud doesn't equal good or exciting. It's a combination of volume, dynamics, as well as musicianship and visual effect that equal the "excitement" for a marching band. Screaming in your face like Jon Taffer isn't effectively exciting. It's obnoxious. And thoughtless. Previous Message Were people genuinely entertained by the REO Speedwagon charade last home game? This week a mariachi collab? What's next?  We roll out the decomposed bones of the members of the Monkees and do a boy band tribute performance featuring songs by 'N Sync, Backstreet Boys, and Color Me Badd?  (Actually would be way better than the bullshit they usually play). If anyone has gone to road games and has seen other marching bands for big time programs, espeically outside of the Big Ten, the Marching Illini is boring at best and at worst, too woodwind and piccolo/flute forward lacking a big brass sound to be actually entertaining, and, way far off from creating crowd enthusiasm, which to me should me one of the main goals of any marching band. For those who went to the Sugar Bowl 20 years ago, our band palyed first, and LSU's was second, and my God it was like having William Hung followed by Justin Timberlake or something... Previous Message Congrats

Yep. OSU is a great band.*

Posted by Phytynlini on October 9, 2025, 20:47:31, in reply to "Do you see what tOSU does with making movable formations? YouTube it, that's cool*"

Previous Message Previous Message Could be either more relevant or more exciting. As far as sound, yes the all brass marching bands are much louder. As others have pointed out, loud doesn't equal good or exciting. It's a combination of volume, dynamics, as well as musicianship and visual effect that equal the "excitement" for a marching band. Screaming in your face like Jon Taffer isn't effectively exciting. It's obnoxious. And thoughtless. Previous Message Were people genuinely entertained by the REO Speedwagon charade last home game? This week a mariachi collab? What's next?  We roll out the decomposed bones of the members of the Monkees and do a boy band tribute performance featuring songs by 'N Sync, Backstreet Boys, and Color Me Badd?  (Actually would be way better than the bullshit they usually play). If anyone has gone to road games and has seen other marching bands for big time programs, espeically outside of the Big Ten, the Marching Illini is boring at best and at worst, too woodwind and piccolo/flute forward lacking a big brass sound to be actually entertaining, and, way far off from creating crowd enthusiasm, which to me should me one of the main goals of any marching band. For those who went to the Sugar Bowl 20 years ago, our band palyed first, and LSU's was second, and my God it was like having William Hung followed by Justin Timberlake or something... Previous Message Congrats

I remember when we flipped the bird during the olympics.*

Posted by illinibone on October 9, 2025, 18:15:18, in reply to "Do you see what tOSU does with making movable formations? YouTube it, that's cool*"

Previous Message Previous Message Could be either more relevant or more exciting. As far as sound, yes the all brass marching bands are much louder. As others have pointed out, loud doesn't equal good or exciting. It's a combination of volume, dynamics, as well as musicianship and visual effect that equal the "excitement" for a marching band. Screaming in your face like Jon Taffer isn't effectively exciting. It's obnoxious. And thoughtless. Previous Message Were people genuinely entertained by the REO Speedwagon charade last home game? This week a mariachi collab? What's next?  We roll out the decomposed bones of the members of the Monkees and do a boy band tribute performance featuring songs by 'N Sync, Backstreet Boys, and Color Me Badd?  (Actually would be way better than the bullshit they usually play). If anyone has gone to road games and has seen other marching bands for big time programs, espeically outside of the Big Ten, the Marching Illini is boring at best and at worst, too woodwind and piccolo/flute forward lacking a big brass sound to be actually entertaining, and, way far off from creating crowd enthusiasm, which to me should me one of the main goals of any marching band. For those who went to the Sugar Bowl 20 years ago, our band palyed first, and LSU's was second, and my God it was like having William Hung followed by Justin Timberlake or something... Previous Message Congrats Script Kiddie

Yes they do. Just not when USCs band was there and they had a truncated pregame show for HC*

Posted by Phytynlini on October 9, 2025, 16:15:50, in reply to "don't care. similar to them playing the opponent's fight song (which they seem to not do any longer)"

Previous Message

Cosign. For as much as it was played up beforehand, it was a complete flop*

Posted by IlliniOllie on October 10, 2025, 10:10:03, in reply to "As a former MI member, the REO thing was pretty awful. Way over promised and under delivered*"

Previous Message Previous Message as in, the only peoeple who heard REO Speedwagon were people in the west main stands with very good hearing... I'm old enough to remember when the band played to the east side more than the west and now the show is only towards like 20% of the attending fans.. and with REO speedwagon they had them hooked up to amps that were only pointing west

+100.*

Posted by illinibone on October 9, 2025, 16:35:27, in reply to "As a former MI member, the REO thing was pretty awful. Way over promised and under delivered*"

Previous Message Previous Message as in, the only peoeple who heard REO Speedwagon were people in the west main stands with very good hearing... I'm old enough to remember when the band played to the east side more than the west and now the show is only towards like 20% of the attending fans.. and with REO speedwagon they had them hooked up to amps that were only pointing west Script Kiddie

Kevin Cronin: age 74. Autotune??

Posted by osklister on October 9, 2025, 18:42:30, in reply to "I was expecting Kevin Cronin to actually sing, not just stand there and clap*"

that plodding sousaphone thing has just got to go. Nothing says excitement like

Posted by illinibone on October 9, 2025, 16:41:05, in reply to "I think in-game the band is good and has gotten so much better than it used to be"

quarter note, quarter note, quarter rest, quarter rest quarter note, quarter note, quarter rest, quarter rest quarter note, quarter note, quarter rest, eighth rest, eighth note-tied to a half note Feels like that has gone on for (however long it's been going on for) too long. Also, old man yells at cloud and all, but the "and down" at the end of every song is so high school-ish Previous Message halftime show is always kinda meh, half of it is dedicated to the three in one and the rest is playing a couple usually very aged songs in game I think the band does a great job (I love the Loki theme on 2nd down, they do a good job making noise when they need to and overall setting the tone) something that stands out to me is that the stadium and the band and the overall vibe looks and sounds fucking legit once you get a game when we get the CBS glow-up like the Michigan game last year (or Big Noon 2 weeks ago)... I have few complaints Script Kiddie

in-game, I wish there would be more of the band and less of the canned songs/video stuff

Posted by bjl63 on October 9, 2025, 15:43:56, in reply to "I think in-game the band is good and has gotten so much better than it used to be"

I wouldn't want the MI to go full Wisconsin, either

Posted by IlliniOllie on October 9, 2025, 12:40:49, in reply to "I would hate it if the MI sounded like Wisconsin"

but I think there's room to go for "excitement" a little more. I also think the Wisconsin high-step is visually a lot more impressive, so that's tough to match up with. I agree with IJKA that the band has made improvements on the in-game stuff. As great as songs like "Hey Baby" or "I'm Just a Gigolo" are, they were a little past their prime, to say the least. Previous Message the MI can and certainly should do more to bring more energy, but the Wisconsin band has always sounded awful to me (and I'm no music major)

But also, Basically the same as MI?

Posted by illinibone on October 9, 2025, 16:35:09, in reply to "The LSU fan next to me said..."

Previous Message while we were doing our pregame "what is this?" I shrugged it off. Then their band came out and I was like "oh, now I understand why he's confused". LSU fan did think that Three-In-One (RIP) was super cool and even asked "why don't you lead with that? That's super cool?" Interesting point of having the 3-in-1 as a pregame ritual. Previous Message Previous Message Were people genuinely entertained by the REO Speedwagon charade last home game? This week a mariachi collab? What's next?  We roll out the decomposed bones of the members of the Monkees and do a boy band tribute performance featuring songs by 'N Sync, Backstreet Boys, and Color Me Badd?  (Actually would be way better than the bullshit they usually play). If anyone has gone to road games and has seen other marching bands for big time programs, espeically outside of the Big Ten, the Marching Illini is boring at best and at worst, too woodwind and piccolo/flute forward lacking a big brass sound to be actually entertaining, and, way far off from creating crowd enthusiasm, which to me should me one of the main goals of any marching band. For those who went to the Sugar Bowl 20 years ago, our band palyed first, and LSU's was second, and my God it was like having William Hung followed by Justin Timberlake or something... Previous Message Congrats Script Kiddie

This is going to shock you....

Posted by JFG on October 10, 2025, 8:34:47, in reply to "Yes, but other musicians isn't their target audience*"

There are lots of kids in MI that are there to be a part of the band and play with a bunch of great musicians, not to support the team or entertain meathead audience members. If you don't like what they're doing, hop on your phone. You're not entitled to any certain kind of performance. Previous Message Previous Message Some of the 'excitement' that is being discussed. I think some of that could be improved with simplification of the music and the arrangements themselves, but that is not the M.O. of the Marching Illini. They've always focused on great musicianship and balanced sound. Among musicians, the Marching Illini is very highly regarded. Previous Message Previous Message Congrats

I understand that and I agree. I think they could maintain their musicianship and also achieve

Posted by Phytynlini on October 10, 2025, 7:48:26, in reply to "Yes, but other musicians isn't their target audience*"

More excitement by better arrangements, more innovative drill, throw in some "novelties" like the motion drills, lighting, choreography, storytelling, etc. There's a lot of ways to create interest and excitement vs blasting through your horn with poor technique and intonation. Previous Message Previous Message Some of the 'excitement' that is being discussed. I think some of that could be improved with simplification of the music and the arrangements themselves, but that is not the M.O. of the Marching Illini. They've always focused on great musicianship and balanced sound. Among musicians, the Marching Illini is very highly regarded. Previous Message Previous Message Congrats

Consider me annoyed that we're a top 25 team playing 2 of our closest possible opponents this year

Posted by ijustkrushalot on October 9, 2025, 12:41:02, in reply to "I don't know if they still do any road games (aside from bowl games)"

The road trips were awesome.

Posted by JFG on October 8, 2025, 12:09:07, in reply to "I don't know if they still do any road games (aside from bowl games)"

I think we did Iowa, MSU, and Wisconsin during my three years. But yes, that was the 90's, and things were different. But these kids get bowl games now, yeah? I would hope they give them a little latitude when they go to those. Previous Message Road games were a blast when I was in MI, but I can see why they'd scale those back in favor of other day trips and activities... the expense, being treated badly by some away schools, and probably most significantly, the hijinks associated with putting 300+ college kids in a hotel on a road trip for a night. Previous Message Previous Message Previous Message Congrats

The handbook also has some very strong no-hijinks language. If they did a road trip

Posted by illinibone on October 8, 2025, 12:05:29, in reply to "I don't know if they still do any road games (aside from bowl games)"

it wouldn't be as fun as when we were there. I'm not completely sold on Barry, but he's way better than Tom was. I'm not a fan of being a season long alternate, for example. I'm guessing there's no O&B or bar band, either... Previous Message Road games were a blast when I was in MI, but I can see why they'd scale those back in favor of other day trips and activities... the expense, being treated badly by some away schools, and probably most significantly, the hijinks associated with putting 300+ college kids in a hotel on a road trip for a night. Previous Message Previous Message Previous Message Congrats Script Kiddie

I didn't realize that...usually it was one trip per year plus unofficial mini-bands

Posted by RSMBob on October 8, 2025, 9:48:49, in reply to "I don't know if they still do any road games (aside from bowl games)"

this one time at band camp......

Posted by bulldogmba on October 8, 2025, 9:43:54, in reply to "I don't know if they still do any road games (aside from bowl games)"

I'm sure you've only heard that one 745,333 times since the movie came out Previous Message Road games were a blast when I was in MI, but I can see why they'd scale those back in favor of other day trips and activities... the expense, being treated badly by some away schools, and probably most significantly, the hijinks associated with putting 300+ college kids in a hotel on a road trip for a night. Previous Message Previous Message Previous Message Congrats

no due to cost*

Posted by Poldark on October 8, 2025, 9:21:46, in reply to "I don't know if they still do any road games (aside from bowl games)"

Previous Message Road games were a blast when I was in MI, but I can see why they'd scale those back in favor of other day trips and activities... the expense, being treated badly by some away schools, and probably most significantly, the hijinks associated with putting 300+ college kids in a hotel on a road trip for a night. Previous Message Previous Message Previous Message Congrats Social Misfit who wants to coach Illinois women's basketball. "Not everyone is just one bad day away from beating a domestic partner."