Brass band flash mob (ish) - the video
It’s a Sunday morning and I am planning recording the next episode of TableRappers when joy of joys, the next door neighbour begins his DIY tapping, filing, and drilling. “Oh great,” I exclaim, “I hope he doesn’t keep that up for long.”
A minute later and a very unusual sound wafts through the flat. This is what was outside:
We have no idea why, but the Salvation Army brass band turned up, played a few tunes on the green (positioning themselves quite symmetrically, I must point out), then vanished. It was close to a military exercise in guerilla band playing.
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They’re a bit good!
I love how the people on the sidewalk about halfway through the video didn’t even look over at them! You just don’t see a brass band on the lawn everyday, people. Sheesh.
If they set up on a different lawn everyday, they never have to pay for a rehearal hall. They must practice quite a bit because I’ve never heard a S.A. band here in the U.S. sound that good!
@ Jen. People over here never actually look at a S.A. person for fear of being expected to donate…except at Christmas. Then we’re pretty good at throwing money in the kettle.
Can’t say I’ve ever hear a bad Sally Army brass band. I actually quite enjoyed the sound wafting in from outside, though I did feel all Christmassy for a few minutes (a rather confusing state at this time of year).
On one level this is hilarious. Your bemused comment shows that the Sally’s attempt to communicate with the people who live in their community through music has spectacularly failed to hit the spot!
On the other hand, there’s a sadness about the fact that their sincere efforts are so culturally at odds with regular people’s lives that they soldier on (excuse the pun) regardless of how big the disconnect is. I can say all this, because I’m in The Salvation Army. (Hence a bit of random googling led me to your blog)
If you don’t mind I’m gonna post this on my blog, to see what the response is.
J
I think Neil needs to write a brass band scene into an upcoming Persistent Spirit chapter. You have a wonderfully evocotive background track all ready to go (if you can find a few seconds without a car zooming by).