Articles
139 GARDEN LANE
Decatur, Georgia 30030
Cost:donation
The Grannies for Peace are 10 women who were arrested at an Atlanta military recruiting station after staging a sit-in on the 5th anniversary of the war. This party features food, the ASO, free food and drinks, and performers such as Elise Witt, Kodac Harrison, Dancing Flowers for Peace, Alice Lovelace, Theresa Davis. Near Scott Blvd/Clairmont in Decatur. We play at 8:30 pm.
Songs we're Learning
First, a quick note. When you think of marching band music in the US, you're probably thinking of high school or college bands playing at football games, patriotic bands playing in parades, or military bands. The music is mostly big fanfares written a long time ago by people like John Phillip Sousa or covers of pop songs that somehow all sound the same. This is fine, many of us were in bands like this and they were fun and had their place. This is not what we are playing. Out music comes from other traditions: the local town bands of Europe, especially the Balkans, the walking jazz bands of New Orleans, the street music of samba bands in Brasil, and the revolutionary role music has played throughout the ages. At the same time, we're not above playing a remix of some great modern dance tunes. Here's a small sample of what we're working on:
Bella Ciao, trad., Italy
A classic Italian partisan anti-fascist song. Many versions in many languages exist across the world.
Bubamara, Boban Markovic, Serbia
A popular tune by the modern Balkan master. Popularized by the film Black Cat, White Cat. Markovic, due to his popularity in the Balkans, was often able to speak out through his music against the authoritarian rule of the Soviets.
We Shall Overcome, trad. US
A gospel classic adopted as an anthem by the civil rights movement of the 50's and 60's. Our arrangement vamps on a version of a Argentinian murga groove.
Kosice, phil not bombs, US
An original by our trombone player Phil, it fuses Balkan melodies and rhythm with the sensibilities of American hardcore punk.
Ederlezi- trad., Balkans
A beautiful mid tempo om-pah song from Eastern Europe, a standard amongst Balkan groups and Balkan-inspired US brass bands. It has been recorded in many languages. It's name means "Time of the Gypsies"
St. James Infirmary, trad., US
A New Orleans standard jazz dirge of unknown origin, it embodies New Orleans to many. The modern definitive version was recorded by Louis Armstrong, but dozens of version exist in one form or another.
Push It, Salt n’ Pepa, US
The classic 80's dance tune by the hip hop duo, one of the original female rap groups to hit big. Quickly becoming a standard amongst US radical marching bands. Our version includes a surprise segueway into another 80's classic.
Brasilovic, phil not bombs, US
Another original by Phil, this song fuses samba rhythms with balkan scales and bass lines.
Down by the Riverside, US
A spiritual popularized with new words by Pete Seeger and an anthem of every anti-war movement since Vietnam.
Bombs Over Baghdad, US
By the Atlanta supergroup Outkast. Andre 3000 says that while the verses are classic hip hop battle raps, the chorus is meant to be an anti-war statement.
Dead End Town, phil not bombs, US
Another balkan-influenced original from our trombone player. The name refers to that charming habit of Atlanta's streets, usually due to the superhighways that rip through this town.
Ay Carmela, trad., Spanish
A classic partisan song from the Spanish Civil War in the 1930's, it was the anthem of the left and specifically the anarchists against the fascists.
Continue Reading…
Posted by ASO on May 15, 2008
If you were paying close attention tonight, you might have spotted us surreptitiously performing at various fine establishments in Virginia Highlands. If you didn't happen to be in the Highlands tonight, keep your eyes open. You never know where we'll pop up next.
Songs we're Learning
First, a quick note. When you think of marching band music in the US, you're probably thinking of high school or college bands playing at football games, patriotic bands playing in parades, or military bands. The music is mostly big fanfares written a long time ago by people like John Phillip Sousa or covers of pop songs that somehow all sound the same. This is fine, many of us were in bands like this and they were fun and had their place. This is not what we are playing. Out music comes from other traditions: the local town bands of Europe, especially the Balkans, the walking jazz bands of New Orleans, the street music of samba bands in Brasil, and the revolutionary role music has played throughout the ages. At the same time, we're not above playing a remix of some great modern dance tunes. Here's a small sample of what we're working on:
Bella Ciao, trad., Italy
A classic Italian partisan anti-fascist song. Many versions in many languages exist across the world.
Bubamara, Boban Markovic, Serbia
A popular tune by the modern Balkan master. Popularized by the film Black Cat, White Cat. Markovic, due to his popularity in the Balkans, was often able to speak out through his music against the authoritarian rule of the Soviets.
We Shall Overcome, trad. US
A gospel classic adopted as an anthem by the civil rights movement of the 50's and 60's. Our arrangement vamps on a version of a Argentinian murga groove.
Kosice, phil not bombs, US
An original by our trombone player Phil, it fuses Balkan melodies and rhythm with the sensibilities of American hardcore punk.
Ederlezi- trad., Balkans
A beautiful mid tempo om-pah song from Eastern Europe, a standard amongst Balkan groups and Balkan-inspired US brass bands. It has been recorded in many languages. It's name means "Time of the Gypsies"
St. James Infirmary, trad., US
A New Orleans standard jazz dirge of unknown origin, it embodies New Orleans to many. The modern definitive version was recorded by Louis Armstrong, but dozens of version exist in one form or another.
Push It, Salt n’ Pepa, US
The classic 80's dance tune by the hip hop duo, one of the original female rap groups to hit big. Quickly becoming a standard amongst US radical marching bands. Our version includes a surprise segueway into another 80's classic.
Brasilovic, phil not bombs, US
Another original by Phil, this song fuses samba rhythms with balkan scales and bass lines.
Down by the Riverside, US
A spiritual popularized with new words by Pete Seeger and an anthem of every anti-war movement since Vietnam.
Bombs Over Baghdad, US
By the Atlanta supergroup Outkast. Andre 3000 says that while the verses are classic hip hop battle raps, the chorus is meant to be an anti-war statement.
Dead End Town, phil not bombs, US
Another balkan-influenced original from our trombone player. The name refers to that charming habit of Atlanta's streets, usually due to the superhighways that rip through this town.
Ay Carmela, trad., Spanish
A classic partisan song from the Spanish Civil War in the 1930's, it was the anthem of the left and specifically the anarchists against the fascists.
Continue Reading…
Posted by ASO on May 05, 2008
We will be performing at a benefit and silent auction to raise funds to support the victims of the tornado that hit Cabbagetown on 3/14. The event is this Saturday, 3/29 from 2pm-8pm at Studio 900 on Dekalb Avenue. We’ll be playing at 5:30.
For more information on the event and how you can help families in need, check out the website
Songs we're Learning
First, a quick note. When you think of marching band music in the US, you're probably thinking of high school or college bands playing at football games, patriotic bands playing in parades, or military bands. The music is mostly big fanfares written a long time ago by people like John Phillip Sousa or covers of pop songs that somehow all sound the same. This is fine, many of us were in bands like this and they were fun and had their place. This is not what we are playing. Out music comes from other traditions: the local town bands of Europe, especially the Balkans, the walking jazz bands of New Orleans, the street music of samba bands in Brasil, and the revolutionary role music has played throughout the ages. At the same time, we're not above playing a remix of some great modern dance tunes. Here's a small sample of what we're working on:
Bella Ciao, trad., Italy
A classic Italian partisan anti-fascist song. Many versions in many languages exist across the world.
Bubamara, Boban Markovic, Serbia
A popular tune by the modern Balkan master. Popularized by the film Black Cat, White Cat. Markovic, due to his popularity in the Balkans, was often able to speak out through his music against the authoritarian rule of the Soviets.
We Shall Overcome, trad. US
A gospel classic adopted as an anthem by the civil rights movement of the 50's and 60's. Our arrangement vamps on a version of a Argentinian murga groove.
Kosice, phil not bombs, US
An original by our trombone player Phil, it fuses Balkan melodies and rhythm with the sensibilities of American hardcore punk.
Ederlezi- trad., Balkans
A beautiful mid tempo om-pah song from Eastern Europe, a standard amongst Balkan groups and Balkan-inspired US brass bands. It has been recorded in many languages. It's name means "Time of the Gypsies"
St. James Infirmary, trad., US
A New Orleans standard jazz dirge of unknown origin, it embodies New Orleans to many. The modern definitive version was recorded by Louis Armstrong, but dozens of version exist in one form or another.
Push It, Salt n’ Pepa, US
The classic 80's dance tune by the hip hop duo, one of the original female rap groups to hit big. Quickly becoming a standard amongst US radical marching bands. Our version includes a surprise segueway into another 80's classic.
Brasilovic, phil not bombs, US
Another original by Phil, this song fuses samba rhythms with balkan scales and bass lines.
Down by the Riverside, US
A spiritual popularized with new words by Pete Seeger and an anthem of every anti-war movement since Vietnam.
Bombs Over Baghdad, US
By the Atlanta supergroup Outkast. Andre 3000 says that while the verses are classic hip hop battle raps, the chorus is meant to be an anti-war statement.
Dead End Town, phil not bombs, US
Another balkan-influenced original from our trombone player. The name refers to that charming habit of Atlanta's streets, usually due to the superhighways that rip through this town.
Ay Carmela, trad., Spanish
A classic partisan song from the Spanish Civil War in the 1930's, it was the anthem of the left and specifically the anarchists against the fascists.
Continue Reading…
Posted by ASO on Mar 28, 2008