The Atlanta Sedition Orchestra

Atlanta Sedition Orchestra marching band mixes politics, punk and parade

By JAMIE GUMBRECHT
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/26/08

It started as a parking lot party, more friends than strangers, all drinking beer and enjoying a cool night near the end of May. They were celebrating the opening of the community arts center WonderRoot, touring its fancy new digs and waiting in the breeze for the bands in the basement to turn on the amps.

It didn't take long for the drags of an old familiar tune to blow through the parking lot off Memorial Drive, no amplifier necessary. After that first brass bellow was a tap on a drum, the shuffle of movement, then a full marching band in black-and-purple stripes, ribbons and tassels. It wailed "Saint James Infirmary Blues" and poured from the basement led by a double-belled sousaphone painted like a fire-breathing dragon. Euphonium, trombone, alto sax, tenor sax, bass and snare drums, cymbals, tambourine, a whistle.

Conversations stopped. Rookie audience members raised their eyebrows; regulars at protests and benefits smiled. It took a few songs before they were officially introduced.

But the drums were labeled: ASO.

"Some people were just shocked," says Chris Appleton, a WonderRoot founder. "A marching band?"

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