What Cheer? The Legendary Urban Marching Band Turns Five This Month
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Monday, May 10, 2010
Timothy O'Keefe and Camilla Hawthorne, GoLocalProv Arts Team
In a city enlivened by art compounds, electro-dance parties, and noisy grunge kids, the What Cheer? Brigade fits into Providence as nicely as a hipster in a vintage plaid shirt. Providence’s 18-piece brass street band has come to symbolize the brazenly independent spirit of the local arts scene. The marching band plays an eclectic mix of Bollywood, Balkans, New Orleans, Samba, and Hip Hop—all with the growling intensity of punk rock. Founded in 2005, What Cheer? is celebrating its fifth birthday this month.
The What Cheer? Brigade has played to venues as diverse as nonprofit galas and nightclubs. They’ve performed at Lollapalooza, toured internationally, and appeared alongside artists such as Wolf Parade and Matt and Kim. And their appeal is just as cross cutting. What Cheer?, known for its high-energy, dynamic performances, has recently been praised in the
New York Times and had a video featured on the popular music website
Pitchfork.
Anchor Brain Records is releasing a vinyl pressing of the band’s debut recording “We Blow, You Suck,” and there is some talk of a new record in the near future.
Although the marching band has achieved a level of renown and popularity, it remains close to its alternative, underground roots. Joey DeFrancesco, a sousaphone player with What Cheer?, describes the group as “a traveling party in addition to a band.” At its core, the What Cheer? Brigade is a group of enthusiastic and quirky kids who love to make music that will get people of all ages and backgrounds up and dancing. “We owe a lot to Providence for seeing past our strangeness and smelliness," said DeFrancesco, "and just dancing with us.”
What Cheer? Brigade, www.whatcheerbrigade.com
What Cheer? celebrates its fifth birthday on May 21 at AS220, 9:00-11:55 pm. Musical guests include Veveritse (Brooklyn), Arcing (PVD), and Jacob the Terrible (Worcester/PVD).
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