Hail, Hail, The Band’s All Here…

By Lake The Posts on November 18, 2010

Brittany Petersen is back in action.  Let’s get to business:

NUMB Gameday Schedule:
8-11 College Game Day
11-11:30 rehearsal in stadium
11:45 play for team arrival
noon lunch
12:45-1:15 Wildcat Way
1:45 N Club Band at President’s reception
2:10 Pregame
2:30 Kickoff

My dearest Wildcat Nation: I’ve missed you, and I’ve heard a few of you have missed me too, so let’s get right to it.

What. A. Season. (So far!) The highs reached heaven (I’m from Iowa City…sweet, sweet victory) and the lows make me want to sacrifice cute, fuzzy animals in the middle of Long Field. (I promise I’d never do that, but my post-Purdue hangover lasted way longer than is healthy.) As much as any diehard fan, NUMBers ride the tidal wave of emotions throughout the season, but the difference is they have to go out each week and put on a show. They have to always stay positive, because the world looks to them to be ambassadors for the university. As much as the players, the band has to be on their A game at all times. And in my humble opinion, what a phenomenal job they’ve done this year.

A run-down of the season so far, in case you missed it:

New music!
NUMB has finally started shuffling out old tunes (“Stacy’s Mom,” “Ants Marching”) in favor of stuff that actually gets the crowd – especially the student section – moving. Tunes introduced this season include “Poker Face” and “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga, “Love Drunk” by Boys Like Girls, “Calabria” by Enur, “Lollipop” by Lil Wayne, “Shots” by LMFAO, and a reintroduction of both the Holy Grail theme from Monty Python (a personal favorite) and “Seven Nation Army” by the White Stripes. Here’s to hoping next season sees the continuation of the rotation in of new songs (“F$&% You” by Cee-Lo, anyone?) and out of old. (I’d say “Gimme Some Lovin” and “Holiday” are definitely ready to retire.)

On the field
Speaking of halftime shows, I’ve been loving the music and drill this season; both are definitely up to par with what you’d expect from a Big Ten Marching Band, especially one run by one of the best music schools in the country. Halftime shows have featured music by Journey, Queen, and Buddy Rich and drill written in-house by director Dan Farris and graduate assistants. Unfortunately the Queen and Journey shows can’t be posted online due to issues with redistribution rights, but check out the Buddy Rich show as it was performed at Indiana a few weeks ago (the final set is my favorite):

Other bands
Besides traveling to Bloomington and exchanging glances with the Hoosier Marching Hundred, NUMB also hosted the Hawkeye Marching Band last weekend. I’m never more proud of NUMB than when there’s another band on the field. Both the Indiana and Iowa bands were solid – again, nothing less than what I’d expect from a Big Ten Marching Band – but there’s something about NUMB that is just so classy and put-together. I watched Hawkeye band members fidget and talk during postgame while NUMB stood at attention, eyes front, ready for action. (And wearing backwards shakos!)

I’ve heard that the Illinois band is sending a group of about 100 to Wrigley this weekend, but that they won’t be performing a halftime show. This is an unconfirmed rumor, but I hope it’s true; two bands creates such a lively atmosphere, especially in a space as large as Wrigley. NUMB will of course be on the field for halftime with a whole new show featuring music from the Pixar favorite “The Incredibles.”

Homecoming
More than 150 NUMBALUMS returned for Homecoming in October – the largest showing in history. The buzz amongst the NUMBALUMS has been growing exponentially this season, as many of them made their first-ever trips back for homecoming, in part due to an informal “reunion” of past Spirit Leaders, Grinders and Geeks. (If you’re unfamiliar with those terms, check out this and this.) A new NUMBALUM Board took the reigns that weekend and is working to provide more events and opportunities for the NUMBALUMS to get involved and feel like a part of the band and the university.* It’s a great time to be a NUMBALUM; check out their traditional homecoming pregame below:

The role of NUMB
I had a number of compelling discussions with alums at homecoming regarding the band’s changing role in the landscape of Northwestern football. During the team’s Dark Ages, it was up to the band to entertain not only themselves but also the fans, since there wasn’t much to watch on the field itself. It was out of this that NUMB developed so many of its odd quirks and even odder cheers. (“Two, four, six, eight, time to differentiate…”) Now that we’re in a Fitz-induced Renaissance, the band is working to figure out how they fit into the big picture – one that includes an actual, honest-to-God, loyal student fanbase.

Student excitement over football is taken for granted at so many institutions, but at Northwestern it’s a whole new era. We felt like the last fans on earth for so long, it’s oddly thrilling to look around and be surrounded by more and more purple. Thanks to efforts from Athletics and the Wildside Executive Board, student attendance has been solid at every home game. And NUMB is benefitting from this newfound interest, as drum major Will Borges told me students have expressed nothing but praise for the band. (I’m betting the new stands tunes are definitely a factor there.)

My hope is that as the team continues to do well and student involvement reaches a steady drone, enrollment in the band will increase. There really is no better way to feel a part of the Northwestern community than to be in a group like NUMB. I’m interested to see how recruitment efforts evolve along with the band.

But that comes later – we’ve still got three games yet this season! I live just a few blocks from Wrigley field, so you know it’s been hard to concentrate on work (or anything) this week. See you all on Saturday – be sure to get there early to catch NUMB in the makeshift “Wildcat Alley” between 12:45 and 1:15, and get in the stadium 20 minutes before kickoff to see NUMB’s pregame! All the cool fans are doing it! Go ‘Cats!

*Full disclosure: As of last month, I serve as the VP-Publicity for the NUMBALUM Board. I was also the one that organized the SpiriTeam Reunion. So, you know, I’m kind of a fan, I guess.