Active Band Man Chats - Brass Band Summer 2022 Edition

Go for it, Kizuhiko!

Huh?

Boom! Boom! Boom-boom-boom! ...And with that, it’s summer high school baseball season again!

Right...?

I want to release a hit song!

Okay, okay... so, what’s the main topic?

I turned on the TV and saw the high school baseball prefectural tournament was on.

Yeah?

I was watching, wondering what the brass band trends were this year.

Hmm... this sounds familiar...

And then!

Then?

Same as spring!

Well, of course! It’s only been about four months! So, what songs are being played?

“Neraiuchi” (Target Shooting)!

Is Linda in trouble? ...Wait, no, she’s not. That one’s a classic.

And that one! “The one who consoles a scarlet-stained Kizuhiko is only Horry...”

Hey!

No consolation!? Instead, I got scolded!

That’s just “Kurenai”! Stop making up your own lyrics.

Not even covering for me!

Oh, so you’ve been making a pun on ‘Kurenai’ and ‘kurenai’ (won’t give)? Clever, clever.

Oh, so you do pick up on things.

I mean, I kind of have to!

And what about the bones?

Bones? But really, when did this song start being used? It was released when we were in high school, but I don’t remember it being played back then.

Not sure. Probably after it had gained some recognition... and also, “Sakuranbo”.

One more time?

One more time!

If you keep saying “one more time,” the game will go into extra innings forever.

Ugh... okay, next up is “Natsu Matsuri” (Summer Festival).

That one’s a staple now. And as we discussed before, most people associate it more with Whiteberry than with Jitterin’ Jinn, even though the original is by Jitterin’ Jinn.

It's like a massive home run disappearing into the summer night sky like a firework! I wanna hit one!

Any other songs? By the way, so far, this list is exactly the same as the one from spring... Maybe we should mix things up a little before we get complaints?

“Alps Ichiman-jaku”!

Oh! You threw a different type of pitch! Yeah, hearing “Alps Ichiman-jaku” echoing from the Alps Stand is basically a tradition now.

Right? From what I saw, the bass drums had either the Pearl or Yamaha logo.

Makes sense. Those are well-established brands. Most school bands probably buy their instruments from local music stores, and those stores tend to carry the major brands. Not sure if that’s still the case nowadays, though...

Yeah.

Would be cool to see a school using Gretsch drums, though. Wonder if that happens?

That’d be awesome! Or Ludwig? Then they could play “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da”!

And what else?

“Gakuen Tengoku”! “Southpaw”!

Both are brass band classics.

“Lupin the Third”!

Oh, definitely. Probably played during stolen bases, huh? But this one is a brass band favorite regardless of baseball.

I think that’s about it!

Wow, really nothing new since spring, huh? Is this okay?

By the way...

By the way?

I did a little research, and apparently, some instruments are banned from high school baseball cheering.

Like what?

Anything that uses an amplifier!

That means all electric instruments are out... huh? But I swear I remember seeing another school use them when I was in high school. Maybe it varies by region or has changed over time?

Could be regional differences... But in this heat, the solder inside the circuits would melt!

It’s not that hot. If it were, summer music festivals would be a nightmare...

Also, woodwind instruments, violins, cellos, and contrabasses aren’t banned, but they’re rarely used since heat affects their condition and they’re vulnerable to rain. (According to Kizuhiko’s research.)

Yeah, imagine bringing a double bass to an outdoor stadium, and then it suddenly starts raining... That’d be heartbreaking. Not to mention, just carrying one would be a hassle...

Right? And a double bass is bigger than you, Horry.

So, about woodwinds... I remember flute and clarinet players joining in back in our day. Did they switch instruments for the games? It’s true that the heat isn’t great for them, but then again, that kind of heat isn’t good for any instrument.

Yeah. So, they’re not banned, just rarely used.

Got it. So, is that all for today?

Oh, by the way!

Still going?

I changed the channel and saw the MLB All-Star Game!

Wow, you’re really enjoying your summer break... And is this related to what we were talking about?

I figured the cheering must be intense, and it totally was!

Like how?

Each batter has their own theme song playing when they step up to bat, and the music is insanely good!

Oh yeah, that’s a thing. It’s the MLB, after all.

Exactly! And they use organs and synthesizers too!

Because it’s the Majors, electronic instruments are allowed?

But when I listened closely, I realized—it’s all pre-recorded tracks!

Well, yeah. That’s obvious. Are you okay? Has the heat gotten to you?

(Ignoring that) So I thought, maybe high school baseball should use backing tracks too? But in the end, I feel like it’s just not the same without a live brass band.

Yeah. It’s not just about the players—watching the students in the stands passionately supporting their teams is moving too. Gets us old guys all teary-eyed...

Right. Because everything is for?

Both: Love!