GMU Pep Band Doing Too Much

[sleeperpick]

This will probably be met with a swift smack in the face but is our pep band doing too much? The team starts every home game slow and with absolutely zero energy or enthusiasm for the first couple minutes. Could it possibly because no college aged athlete would want to warm up to Paramore (with a mean Sax solo) instead of something that actually can get you going?

BTW I love the Pep Band during the games as it was the only thing that kept many undergrads like myself going to games during the Hewitt days.

I just think the pregame warm-up music is extremely weak.

Am I alone in thinking this?

 

[GMU_DCU]

This team has many problems I think this is the least of our worries.

 

[MasonCrew]

The pep band is the sole shining spot in our program. While I believe we are on the right track, we have a long way to go. In the interim, I go to games to see the pep band.

 

[G M U]

This will probably be met with a swift smack in the face but is our pep band doing too much? The team starts every home game slow and with absolutely zero energy or enthusiasm for the first couple minutes. Could it possibly because no college aged athlete would want to warm up to Paramore (with a mean Sax solo) instead of something that actually can get you going?

BTW I love the Pep Band during the games as it was the only thing that kept many undergrads like myself going to games during the Hewitt days.

I just think the pregame warm-up music is extremely weak.

Am I alone in thinking this?

I agree, the team has bigger issues to solve but since we're in an 8 day lull, I don't mind discussing. First and foremost, we have the best band in college basketball and the best band leader. Do I disagree with some song selections at times? yes. We seem to have a solid 20 song rotation with about 5 songs that are included every game (somehow Livin' on a Prayer is not in that 5 anymore). Superstition during warm ups is getting a tad boring and yes Paramores song, New York from Alicia Keys, Power- Kanye are starting to age. The Snoop Dog song is still a classic and Rage Against the Machines' Bulls on Parade/Killing in the Name still get me hyped. As talented as the Green Machine is, I'm sure they can learn a few new songs in no time. Maybe they start out 2016 with some new material.

 

[gmujim92]

The pep band is the sole shining spot in our program.

Erroneous.

 

[The Great PATSby]

My only suggestion would be to update their uniforms and dial down on the singing.

 

[GMUgemini]

Am I alone in thinking this?

Yes.

Not to say that the Green Machine's song selection can't change, but no, Paramore isn't the reason why this team shoots and defends poorly in the first half of games.

 

[GMU92]

My only suggestion would be to update their uniforms and dial down on the singing.

Yea, there are times when the volume level is what would be needed for a full house crowd, which we don't have these days. I sometimes give up on conversations with the folks right next to me because we can't hear. But the flip side of the coin is the energy Doc Nix/Green Machine bring.

 

[BandWagon18]

I agree, the team has bigger issues to solve but since we're in an 8 day lull, I don't mind discussing. First and foremost, we have the best band in college basketball and the best band leader. Do I disagree with some song selections at times? yes. We seem to have a solid 20 song rotation with about 5 songs that are included every game (somehow Livin' on a Prayer is not in that 5 anymore). Superstition during warm ups is getting a tad boring and yes Paramores song, New York from Alicia Keys, Power- Kanye are starting to age. The Snoop Dog song is still a classic and Rage Against the Machines' Bulls on Parade/Killing in the Name still get me hyped. As talented as the Green Machine is, I'm sure they can learn a few new songs in no time. Maybe they start out 2016 with some new material.

New charts come in and replace old ones all the time, but there are ones that Doc calls all the time (like Superstition, Power, or Empire State of Mind). I'm not exactly sure why Superstition always comes after the fight song but it seems like that's how it's always been. Power gets called a lot because it seems to work and people still know it. However, with the A-10 tournament moving to Pittsburgh next season and DC after that, I'm pretty sure that Alicia Keys won't be making very many more appearances after this season.
All in all, new music does come in all the time as new songs are arranged but they may take a while to become fixtures as Doc feels out how they fit in during a game, so stay tuned

 

[psyclone]

I like the fight song-Superstition sequence a lot and hope that it continues to be used in perpetuity! I'm willing to defer playlist judgements to Doc Nix who has a better sense of what works than most of the rest of us.

 

[Vurbel]

My only suggestion would be to update their uniforms and dial down on the singing.

Those tank tops look like they were screenprinted in somebody's basement. Maybe we can get some adidas stuff for them?

 

[HoopsAdmin]

What would it take to work up something adidas to replace the tank tops? If we had a target, maybe we can drive a fundraiser to cover it?

If, Doc and the band are cool with it, of course.

 

[Scythe]

I'd donate for some new/improved band uniforms.

 

[smccart5]

I still like the intro music. However, I agree that there is too much singing. The use of vocals should be by far the exception, not the rule. It brings a lot more energy to have a full line of trumpets screaming the vocal part, then 1 person singing whose voice is OK (and BTW is probably classically trained for stage performance and not for pop vocals)

 

[mkaufman1]

I'd like to see the intro for the team coming onto the court change, maybe a new song and then into the fight song. Sorta silly to come out to zombie nation, the windup machine and then the fight song like they have done for 10+ years.

Of course the most important item is the product on the court.

 

[phoenix-arizona]

 

[GMUSig03]

You guys really pay this much attention and care this much about this stuff? The band kicks a**. If you don't like the intro, just have one more drink at Brions or wherever beforehand and arrive a few minutes later (or get your wife season tickets so she makes you 15 minutes late to every game)

 

[TwoFootTackle]

If you want to donate for uniforms or to simply assure their music superiority, go to this link:
http://greenmachine.gmu.edu/

 

[Jack Strop]

They certainly deserve to be the nation's Number 1 NCAA Basketball Pep Band. They work hard at their game. The players pay respects to them often after many final buzzers.

Least not to say, the band's song selection no longer includes Gary Glitter's "Rock & Roll, Pt. 2 (The Hey Song)" — you know, the one that vcu pirated for their glorious anthem and plays it like they're the only school that EVER played it!

Singing is OK, but a bit overdone, I agree. Stick with the chorus lines, like, "Now you do what they told ya!!" Or shout-outs. Leave the complete song lyrics to be sung in the car when you're on the road. The singers are decent, but they're no Aretha Franklin or Kanye West.

I'd like to see more choreography, or better coordination for that which is already in place. Or, even better, get together with the Patriot Platoon and coordinate the shout-outs and choreography with them. That one primal scream that the band does at the intro of one of their tunes would be Earth shattering if the whole fan base would chime in!

 

[mkaufman1]

You guys really pay this much attention and care this much about this stuff? The band kicks a**. If you don't like the intro, just have one more drink at Brions or wherever beforehand and arrive a few minutes later (or get your wife season tickets so she makes you 15 minutes late to every game)

Lol, all I'm saying is that it's something I would like to see changed up since it's the same thing since before I even started going to games. Unfortunately i can't make myself late for games since I like being there at tipoff. It's a fairly minor situation. Perhaps you can find when the last time they came out to something different