UIC Pep Band is actually children too...

[UWMKrazie]

I just noticed this private message sent to me on the UIC board this morning, referring to topics of our previous meeting with UIC. Why are band members always so easily offended and quick on the offense?

From FlamesFan @ the UIC message board:

"I read your post in response to the December game at the Pavilion, and I was quite dissapointed in the trashing the UIC pep band. I happen to be in the pep band, and unfortunately I wasn't there that night, and neither were any other regular band members because we had our holiday concert that night for concert band. The pep band director brought kids from his high school band to fill in. I don't think there should be rivalry against the bands, they are just trying to add to the game. And I will say I agree with you on the student shirts- I hate them. Of course there is a rivalry between UIC and UWM, but don't rag on the band- the game is about the players."

And the most interesting part of it is not only are the children bussed in as fans, but they also use them for the UIC Pep Band.

Now I'm sure it was great for the kids...but if you're gonna play D1 basketball, lets at least try and have a D1 band.

[uwfenske aka hardhat]

Butler did the same thing for there band when we played at The Barn this year. The band was huge. But the funny thing was... usually they sit about 8 feet from the end of the visitors bench... but Bud Haidet made them move to the opposite end of the floor, in front of the BU bench. I guess Bud said there is something in the HL rules of sportmanship about the bands.

[mwu]

being in the band here myself, I can only come to the conclusion that were are in need of a battle of the bands. NO kiddies to help out all inferior schools, let them fall on their faces to the might of UWM!

[BandBaritone]

I'm in!!

-Go Band
-Go Panthers

[7xchamps]

Hey, I'd be open to a Horizon League battle of the bands......i'm in the uwgb band......don't know if we'd win, but hell......it would be fun to try.

We've played with Detroit and Butler's band thus far....and I've heard UWM's band play when I was at the Klotsche for the uwm/uwgb women's game last season. They are good too.

When we played in the ncaa tournament, we played against some pretty good bands also.......LSU two seasons ago and Texas 3 years ago.

A battle of the bands would be fun....not as heated as the bball games, but it would still be fun.

[mwu]

maybe we need an elongated halftime or pep rally type thing. the later may be easier on the chops.

[WiscStHoopsFan]

If there were a battle of the bands type thing for all of the bands in the conference (even though the chances are very unlikely), my top 3 for sure in no particular order are UWM, UWGB and Butler. I'm not sure about the band traditions of GB's and BU's from years past, but I have to admit UWM's has gotten much much better, compared to the 90's (both size and sound quality). I'm assume new directors or an increasing budget of the band perhaps is the reason why it has improved. But then again, the ball teams in the 90s weren't so good either.

Just one question for the UWM Pep Band members though. The "Go Panthers" chant you guys play often during games, doesn't it sound exactly like North Carolina's "Go Tar Heels" cheer their band plays? Look I know bands play A LOT of the same stuff, and that's cool, no biggie. The only reason I remember that is because I watched an NCAA tourney name with UNC years ago. During that game their band played that cheer so many times during their turn and their fight song incorporates it too. So imagine during the course of a game, how many times that was played. Now I don't remember the band playing that exact cheer during the band's no so good years, but who knows, my memory lapses me sometimes. But I do remember accidently yelling "Go Tar Heels" with that exact band cheer at a men's game 2-3 years ago and the people around me gave me one of the weirdest stares. But again, I just ask this question to be sure that my ears aren't playing tricks on me.

As for the UWGBer, I have to admit I've never seen non-metal tubas like the ones y'all have. Is that something new or some really old? Is it like hard plastic, fiberglass?

[dunzz]

can the band get some new songs. more importantly, can the band stop playing heart breaker. the song doesnt pep me. it makes me feel tired and drowsey, and its more or less a sign i need another beer.

[BandBaritone]

A lot of what we play, cheer, etc. is the same stuff that is used all over the country...there is only so much out there that we can do.

As far as heartbreaker, we play it because it is a really fun chart for the band to play...and if it gives you an excuse to have another beer, seems cool to me. But seriously, we are open to suggestions from the fans.

The reason the band has gotten better, IMO, is based on a number of different factors. The new directors, Mr. Corley, has his roots in a couple big times schools and know how the pep band system should work. Also, the bball team being better has increased excitment in the university, and the band program is no exception. Sure we are band geeks, but a lot of us are big basketball fans and are very excited about being able to play pep band for a good team.

New songs, it's in the works. May not happen this season but next season it is a real possibility. I have reel big fishes sell out ready to go, but the band hasn't had a chance to learn it. Also have access to songs such as higher and higher, old time rock and roll, many blues brother songs, etc. Seems to me that the crowd favorite right now if you can call me al, which just so happens to be the bands favorite. I am open to taking suggestions for music and passing it along to the director, I can make a lot of things happen.

The non metal tubas, they are made of fiberglass...I don't like them, we don't use them.

Pass any suggestions you have on to me, I will make sure they get back to the director.

- Go Panther!!
- Go Band!!

~ Kyle

[7xchamps]

WiscStHoopsFan said:

As for the UWGBer, I have to admit I've never seen non-metal tubas like the ones y'all have. Is that something new or some really old? Is it like hard plastic, fiberglass?

The non-metal tubas are fiberglass. I actually am one of the tuba players...trust me, they are not very good....they are really old, but the sh*tty budget for pep band at uwgb doesn't allow us to get new ones.

You can call me Al is a crowd favorite for us also......but I would say the band's favorite song for us would have to be "Hey Baby"

[uwfenske aka hardhat]

You can Call me Al is great. As is, 'Hey Baby'. Especially when there is a large student section and they get into it.
I like the tradition of playing 'Celebration' at the end of the game.

Suggestions
- Ball St. somehow pulls off "Goodies" by Ciara...
- Reel Big Fishs "Sell Out' would be awesome. Looking forward to it next year.
- how would "Get Back" by Ludacris work out? It has a horn line.

[jvaldon]

How Bout "Move b****" by ludacris. There is a killer part for tubas, maybe trombones, and marching cymbals. you tubas should get together and learn houw to play it. after the other team gets a blocking foul, or we dunk on them. the couple tubas could break out in "move b****" i would love that, others probably would too.

- BruceismyHomeboy

[dunzz]

Thriller - Michale Jackson, my high school band played it and it was the best.

THe time Warp - Rocky Horror Picture show

Jump in the Line - you know shake shake senora,


pull those off, and i will roll out the red carp for the band.

[mwu]

all good suggestions. in high school we used to have the tubas play so fresh and so clean by outkast with our drummers doing thier own beat remix. needless to say, it was tight.

[dutchpthr]

anything new you guys in the band want to do i think would be awsome. nothing agaisnt anythign you ahve done in the past but it is always good to get some new stuff in once in awhile.