The Southwest Minnesota State University Mustang Pep Band knows how to show a crowd a good time. For the group responsible for creating an energetic atmosphere at football and basketball games, getting the party started is all in a day’s work. It is no surprise, then, that at their first-ever stage concert on Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Theatre, the group had the entire audience’s toes tapping, regardless of their age or musical preferences.
They opened and closed the concert with the classic “SMSU Fight Song,” but mixed up the rest of the show with classic party favorites as well as contemporary hits.
They brought their own brand of attitude to the Rolling Stones’ “Paint it Black” and Green Day’s “Holiday.”
Pink’s “Raise Your Glass” was translated especially well by the band’s percussion and brass sections, who had even the most respectable audience members bopping their heads.
“We never get to play this much,” said John Ginocchio, the band’s director. “Usually there’s other distractions going on; a football being tossed around or a round ball being shot through a hoop.”
The Mustang Pep Band more than proved themselves worthy of an uninterrupted spotlight by the night’s end. After playing a solid selection of dance party songs, including a solid version of “Forget You” by Cee-Lo Green with a distinct monosyllabic word in the main phrase of the chorus, the band brought out their music stand favorites. This selection included “Centerfold,” “Crazy Train,” and “Time Warp” from the “Rocky Horror Picture Show.”
The Mustang Pep Band will be playing at the home basketball game on Dec. 14, although there will be the problematic interruption of a ball being thrown at a hoop and men running around in shorts.