LHS Takes Runners-Up in Orange City

by Jeff Goddard, Roadie Chairman

Posted October 14

Sitting in my chair at 3:00 a.m. Sunday morning, winding down from the Orange City competition, I opened up my home newspaper (it's a weekly from a small town in southwestern Nebraska), and the first thing I read was the 'Thought for the Week' which went: "Anyone can be happy when times are good; but the richer experience is to be happy when times are not."

Recapping the events from the day, it was easy for me to think that we just experienced a time from the 'are not' category. But I thought a bit further about the whole experience, and it didn't take me long to realize what a wonderfully rewarding day it was. Here are some highlights:

- Once again working with a great crew of Roadies, unloading and reloading horns, drums, props, uniforms, and pit equipment. Roadies hanging tough and standing in there to get the job done despite the on and off drizzle. During one such truck unloading, I looked over at Eric and couldn't decide if he was dripping with rain or sweat.

- Working for a great bunch of pit kids that were told they couldn't warm up and basically just had to stand around for a couple hours and watch their instruments get wet. I talked with most of them to offer encouraging words, but I needn't have worried, their spirits were high and I think they just had a great time.

- Watching the band deliver another GREAT show!!! (the comment with the fewest words, but really says the most)

- Just when the fireworks started (which coincided nicely with the heaviest rain), I was lying on the roof of the pit trailer trying to fix the roof vent as the wind had torn it away from the latching mechanism. I was also half standing on the drum majors ladder, which was in turn standing on a wet slippery picnic table. Fortunately, my good Roadie friend Greg Waters was standing below, holding the ladder and offering words of encouragement: "This don't look too safe." There I was, lying on the roof in the rain. laughing!

- Back at LHS, we unloaded the horns during a 'dry' spell, thinking the buses weren't too far behind. The buses ended up being farther behind than we thought and the dry spell didn't last quite long enough. So we rolled out a 30x50' tarp and 6 of us Roadies stood in the wind and drizzle holding it over the horns and drums. Did I mention wind? It was at this time that the wind decided to add to the enjoyment; a gust would arrive and announce itself by sending a wave from one end of the tarp to the other. Did I mention rain? When the 'wave' got to the end of the tarp and 'snapped,' it would send a fairly sizable spray of water into the face of whichever Roadie happened to be at that end of the tarp. and the swirling wind made sure we all got our turns. But even so, the spirits of these Roadies weren't dampened as we kept ourselves occupied by laughing and joking at our predicament.

Though I'm proud of all the Roadies that got 'er done this wet weekend, my 'heroes for the day' are those that 'shared the tarp' with me: Greg Waters, Amy Knutson, Chris Pearson, Beth Schlup, and Scott Feltis. Maybe it was the rain, maybe because it was 1:00 a.m., maybe because most of the free-world probably considers us loony birds, but this is one Roadie event I'll never forget.

Speaking of all the Roadies, here are the proud and the wet that served: Dean Versteeg, Jon Sogn, Jim/Kristie/Becca/Cassie Fitzgerald, Tim/Janice/Shelby Dykstra, Dean/Amy Gesch, Chris/Kim Pearson, Eric/Amy Knutson, Jim/Diane McCann, Robert/Beth Schlup, Cindy Stanga, Ben Greenlee, Aaron/Lisa Asmus, Scott Feltis, Brenda Childerston, Greg Waters, Ron Sisk, Dave Ulmer, and Tony Reed. Note that Jim & Diane McCann are retired Roadies, along with Neil Krohse and Tom Reed who couldn't make the trip but helped pack the truck at LHS.

Special thanks to the Roadies who loaded up the uniform trailer at LHS and again at Orange City. I'm not sure who was there, because I didn't have to be, which is what I appreciate most in a Roadie: just knowing something needs to be done, and doing it. And special thanks to Eric Knutson who helped me fix tires in the pit during the Saturday rehearsal.

So as I drug myself to bed, I dozed off with the satisfaction of knowing that this was really a wonderful day. and yes, my aching body today is proof!!! (How 'bout yours?).

Click here for pictures From Sha Langenfeld.

Senior Night & Festival of Bands

Posted October 6

The travel was limited but it was a busy weekend as the LHS band performed at halftime Friday at the Lincoln-Spearfish game, marched in the Festival of Bands parade on Saturday morning, and were exhibitionists in the evening at the FOB finals.

Friday evening the band held their annual Senior Recognition Night, honoring senior marchers and their parents. Senior Ryan Landeen had a photo op with his father Neal (at left) who is away in the military. A cutout of Neal was held next to Ryan during the Ave Maria warm-up.

Lincoln was the first high school band down the street shortly after 9 on a muggy FOB morning. After parading Main Avenue, the band boarded buses and returned to the school.

The band's even performance was awesome, especially given the near-gale force winds that picked up late. The poles swayed, but the band ROCKED the crowd.

Among the highlights of the weekend ... Neil Krohse, lead pole guy for Friday night jumped the gun setting the five power poles shortly after the little cheer girls had finished their number. The problem was they performed two numbers ... Imagine our surprise when a cell phone went off in the back of the truck with the ring tone "Singin' In The Rain". Robert Schlup - we would have never guessed ... Sha Langenfeld coined a new term for volunteers doing double duty. Our Pit Mom named people like her "Chaperoadies" ... One of the best scenes of Saturday evening - well, I can't even say. It happened in the north parking lot, and, after what happened last week, was priceless.

For pictures from Senior Night click here and view as a slide show. For FOB pictures, click her

Pats Take Ivory Class At Marshall

Posted September 24
The kids treated us to another great show and finished third to the same two outstanding bands that placed 1 and 2 at Eastview. And the Roadies stepped up and delivered. Thanks to all for jumping in and helping Saturday, every time I tried to lift something, it seems like somebody was
there to lend a hand.

It just seemed like we were destined for a long day, here's a few examples:
- Jeff's back going on strike
- cars left behing LHS causing us to stage trailers south of the auditorium
- Tom K. falling ill just as we were heading out and couldn't make the trip
- the trap set cart falling apart
- the battery not holding a charge
- a marimba doing the splits as we took the field
- more issues with buzzing and humming in the electronics
- a pit kid getting her hand caught in a tow chain, and bleeding for it
(a future Roadie perhaps?)
- and when it was all over, seeing an injured Color Guard and a Flute player
draped across Dean's ATV and Trailer for the trip back to the buses.

But in light of all these set-backs, we did what Roadies are supposed to do,
and just made it work.

Lincoln Band Runner Up In Blue Springs

Unedited version Posted September 30
The Lincoln Band made the 400 mile trip to Blue Springs over the weekend and brought home Runners-up honors. After taking first in the 6A not prelims in the afternoon, the band finished second to Blue Valley West. The drum line took second in the drumline competiton, and Lincoln's Caleb Berdahl took "fastest hands" honors.
Long trips tend to bring out some of the more interesting events of the season. This year was no different. For instance …
- A color guard 'lost' her rifle, claiming some little kid was playing with it and took it (one version heard). Roadie Kimberly Smith went on a fairly detailed search for it and even borrowed one to use from the host band. It was eventually found... in the girl's flag bag.
- Pit kid Austin L. was changing in the pit trailer and received a nice gash (by any Roadie standards) on his foot. We’re sure how he did it, but there was glass all over the parking lot and lots of kids running around barefoot. Surprisingly there was only 1 foot cut.
- After arriving in KC, one of the Tuba players asked Mr. Carlson where the tubas were. Bob's reply, "Where did you load it?" "We put them in the White Truck Friday night." Mr Carlson: "Everybody was told to make sure you load your own instrument under the bus because the White Truck wasn't going." "Oh," was the tuba players reply. Of course Jeff and the Roadies had loaded them under the buses. And it was extra difficult because they were the last things loaded." Mental note: load tubas and drums first when putting them under the buses.
- Drummer Adam A. somehow got a full cup of hot coffee spilled on his lap at breakfast Sunday morning. He let out quite a holler and it had to hurt like heck, given the area of the injury. Several Roadies witnessed the event, one commenting, "looks like a chaperone problem to me."
- Yes, for a second week in a row, we loaded drumline equipment... and I know Mr Carlson confronted them about it last week. It didn’t get through to them.
- The coup-de-gras, when all was said and done
Sunday night and the buses and kids were all gone, one suitcase that was left lying in the parking lot had a tag on it that read "E. M. - Chaperone!!!"

See photos by Eric Knutson, Jon Sogn, and Sha Langenfeld.

Homecoming Happiness

Posted September 29

Homecoming was a success for the Patriots on September 28th, but the game was in doubt up until the final three minutes when LHS added a touchdown to make the final score 22-13.

The night was perfect for the game, though a little windy, and the band had reason to celebrate as senior trombonist Sarah Peters was named Homecoming Queen.

The band performed a somewhat ragged show, and the Roadies were as well. Multiple marchers tripped over the poles, which for the first time this season, were not placed correctly. A mis-measurement led several poles to be out of line.

The poles themselves featured a new twist, as they all sported a single light at the top. Unfortunately two broke before taking the field, but the bugs were to have been worked out before the band performed in Blue Springs on Saturday the 29th.

Click here to see photos from Homecoming.

Through Roadie's Eyes: Dean Gesch

Posted September 26

Being a Roadie gives you a perspective other fans just don't get. We see

and experience things others don't get the opportunity to. And with that comes

some great stories.

Dean Gesch is in his 4th year as a Roadie. His son Karl is a senior and member of the trumpet section. His other son Brian is a sophomore alto sax player. This is Dean's Roadie story:

Last year at Marshall -- you remember the Great Deluge of '06. We arrived late to the annual roadie picnic due to coming from a cross country meet in Apple Valley. We were greeted with a wonderful sight in the parking lot: the most beautiful arrangement of tarps, ropes, etc., all serving to keep the picnicking/grilling/eating/enjoying life roadie contingent dry and happy. As usual, the lift gate buffet was tremendous, and best of all, dry. Afterwards, the procession of pit equipment into the student union, and the subsequent rehearsal was memorable. To say it was quite loud would be an understatement. It was entertaining seeing the expression of the occasional college student that happened to wander into the scene. So, while the wet day was unfortunate in terms of canceling the field performance, it did allow the well known qualities of adaptability and flexibility of the Lincoln roadies to be exhibited quite well.