The Valentine Band Turns One

Just about a year ago, I walked into Bunker and met Jay, Ian, Bryan and Kris. We played some drums. We may have worked on South Bronx Stomp that first practice. Sam rage-quits learning chants to join the band. So we practice every other Wednesday, Nick shows up so we have a horn section - him on sax. And then right before the first game, Nick can’t make it until halftime. My son Trix steps in and says, “I’ll play trombone for you, Dad.” (I’m tearing up as I write this.)

So we play the first ever game in Lewiston with 8 bandits, 9 if you count Atti on tambourine. Oh WAIT! 10 if you count Frank the One-Armed Drummer who never showed up again. Haven’t thought about him in a minute…

The real-deal, original bandits at Game 1.

And we play more games, learn some new songs, Original Ethan shows up from time to time on trumpet. We sound better, there are noise complaints. Things are going ok.

We get to July or so and things really started to roll. Ray Routhier from the PPH wrote that nice article about us, and musicians started coming to us to join this musical collaboration that one DU member refers to as a “volunteer-driven, community-focused joy machine.” We had not just a sax, but saxes! Multiple trombones!  Ethan Maus joined! (Did you even know there was a Valentine Band before Maus? Who did we take pictures of?) 

I love the Moxie shirt so much. Anyone got a large they want to sell me so I have a backup?

Through all of it, these people became my family and we became the soundtrack to Fitzy. I’d rather the team win every game, but I can definitely feast on supporter thanks after every game even when we lose. Trust me when I say that every bandit is having the absolute time of their lives providing you with songs, beats and noise. And remember to thank them when you see them in the wild - they put a lot of time into this thing!

Towards the end of the season, Mark Leach at the club showed us tremendous thanks and support by providing us access to tickets for bandits who’d been scrounging each week for tickets and for new members to build the band. If you think we’ve sounded a little better and louder recently, you’re almost certainly right. Adding an entire trumpet section, a sousaphone (the one you think is a tuba), and about 6 other bandits will do that! 

Thanks Chris Linscott!

We are finishing the season strong, but already planning for the offseason. We already kill it at Fitzy; this winter will be about learning whole songs and turning into a band that can also play other events. Nothing will ever come close to a Fitzy night, but playing the Beach to Beacon and the Maine Marathon were other highlights of the year, as was opening for Ike Reilly at Heartsapalooza. We’ll keep in touch if we have any gigs before next season for sure.

My description of the band has evolved to “International Punk Rock Brass Band,” which is somewhat a joke and somewhat not. What it means to me is that we are going to play brass band music from around the world, using music to make people feel welcomed. We will be punk in music and in spirit, standing up for marginalized groups and challenging authority. We will do it for years to come at Fitzy, and we will do it loudly. 

This band, and this SG, have been the coolest non-family things I’ve ever been involved with in my life. I cannot tell you how honored I am to have had the chance to start this band with Kris, to lay down a foundation for what it will be for years to come, and to set the musical tone for Fitzy every damn game. Thank you all for cheering along, for dancing, for joining in, for everything.

And finally, thank you to the real stars, the bandits themselves! Thank you to each and every bandit who showed up once or 50 times. Thank you for trusting me with nearly absolute creative control to get the band up and running. The “benevolent dictatorship” model has its advantages, but it’s all of you who make it actually work. We have done amazing things this year. We will continue to do amazing things and I defy anyone to find a better band and group of human beings at any soccer stadium in the world.