September Competitions Are Always Exciting For Roadies!

Posted September 25

The last week of September has always made for an interesting weekend of competition. We've traveled near (Luverne, MN) and far (Blue Springs, MO). And it has NEVER been dull. Here's a look back at some of the things we've encountered as Roadies on that last weekend in September in the last few years

2000: Luverne: It was an 80-degree day that featured some of the NASTIEST little biting black bugs. And the wind had no effect on them.

2001: Luverne: For the parade that year the 3 pit kids that carried marching bells for the parade forgot theirs in Sioux Falls.

2002: Irondale. It rained in Sioux Falls at the load-up, and it was raining when we got there. The field was so sloppy LHS people helped them spread straw on the field. When we took the field for the show, a cross brace on the big drum major stand broke two Roadies had to sit during the show at the base of the ladder, looking into the pit below key level. Not a good sight line.

2003: Luverne. We needed 2 buses to tow big trailers, only 1 showed up with a hitch. We towed the uniform trailer with the white truck. In Luverne we discovered the hitch on the back of the bus had nearly broken off. A different bus pulled the trailer home that night, and that hitch cracked too!! And Craig had the pit warm up about 3/4 of a mile away down a gravel road

2004: Sioux City. The hills were alive with the sound of our music (and whining) as we had to first tow the pit up and downs hills 6 blocks to warm up before the preliminary, and then even farther up and down a different set of hills after supper to warm up prior to the evening performance. One Roadie did a complete flip on the backside of the field while trotting to place the ladders during the preliminary performance.

2005: Irondale. A cross-country runner showed up without her uniform, reducing her to temporary Roadie duty when no spare uniforms were placed on the trailer.An ATV wouldn't start as we attempted to take the field, prompting a quick unhitching of everything. At the end of the show, a trailer became detached from the other ATV scaring the daylights out of the cross-country-girl passenger. And it started raining just after we loaded everything up. And then POURED the ENTIRE WAY from New Brighton MN to Sioux Falls.

2006: Coon Rapids/Irondale double header: Nice day but LONG. Two Roadies ran back the length of the field to retrieve yard markers in Coon Rapids and a Yahoo map showing an exit to New Brighton that didn't exist certainly added to the excitement.

2007: Blue Springs: Kid issues prevailed more than equipment this trip: a missing rifle, gashed pit kid and difficulty finding tubas highlighted the longest of our late September trips.

With that in mind what will happen this year?? Stay tuned!!

Lincoln Second At Marshall

Posted September 21
Competing at near perfect conditions in Southwest Minnestota State's new stadium the Lincoln Band kicked off the 2008 competition season with a 85.25 Ivory Class win and second place overall finish, bested only by Minnesota marching power Rosemount's 86.33. (You can see the success that Rosemount has had by visiting their website). With the temp near 60 and NO WIND IN MARSHALL (who would believe that?) the band turned in easily their best show of the season. Lincoln won captions in Battery Percussion and general effect. Click here to see the results.
The day was certainly an eventful kickoff to the season Roadie- wise. Our new drum major platform, the Acme BFL, traveled to Marshall sans guard rails. We're grateful for Allison Schlup and beau for tracking them down at HWF and driving them to Marshall.
As always - the Roadie cookout was a big hit - this year it was a two-grill event courtesy of Tom Reed and Tim Dykstra. The 7th annual event has grown beyond chips and hot dogs, with some bragging rights for most exotic dish going to Jeff Goddard's hot fire shrimp cabobs.
But the Roadies aren't just about food - they are all about getting things done. A big "thumbs up" to Tim D: we needed electrical power for the pit rehearsal and he had his generator along. We've come a long way since batteries, baby.
Of course, not all went right (see platform tale above). There were no yard markers... so when we were staged, we went down the line and handed each Roadie a yard marker and a weight (o.k. it's Marshall, so you never know when wind will suddenly make an appearance).
And while we love our kids, their excitement to leave overrides their ability to account for some of their own possessions, and this week was no different. Of course, it goes without saying that we had stuff laying around everywhere when we got done: a cell phone in the truck, stands, instruments, uniforms, flag bag, ... all laying in the parking lot. Oh, along with the hat and plume of a regular contributor to Roadie lore. But, given the afore mentioned BFL guard rails we left at HWF, this week they are "un-named".
Click here for Jon Sogn's and Sha Langenfeld's pictures from Marshall. (Thanks, Sha & Jon!!) And please note: many photos have been added to the President's Bowl and USF performance, as well as several others. Over 800 pictures are posted on line to date for the Spellbound Season! - and they can be downloaded FREE!!

Homecoming Celebrated with Good Show - Great Game

Posted September 21st
Fans of Lincoln High were treated to the band's final pre-competition performance at halftime of the LHS Homecoming game on September 19th. The band gave a decent show given it was a daylight performance, and the football team woke up after a slow start to pound the Scoopers of Sturgis 49-0. The directors were hoping for a crisp performance before the band headed off to Marshall the following day, and while there was room for improvement, it was still a good performance.
The Roadies kept themselves entertained by designing a new percussion accessory tray that Tom Reed left to build, and discovered a cable off pulley in the old pit trailer.
For those not paying attention to the Roadies during the show, be sure to look carefully at pictures from homecoming - a power pole from the "Wired" show appears in one of the shots. Be sure to look at the picures by clicking here - and look carefully!!!

Thanks To Our Trailer Towing Crew

Posted September 14

Band fans are sure to notice that everytime the band practices or performs, the Lincoln Band trailers are there - before the band arrives and after they depart. Thanks to our volunteers that pull these trailers across town and around the region to competitions: Dean Versteeg, Robert Schlup, Tim Dykstra, and Jeff Goddard. These folks are moving and setting our equipment at odd times all through the band season. Next time you see them - thank them for the extra work they do. These guys are definately "pulling more than their own weight!"

A Long Day: Rehearsal, USF Halftime & Presidents' Bowl

Posted September 14

It may not have been the longest day of the season but Saturday September 13th was indeed one long day. The triple feature day included a morning rehearsal, a halftime performance during the University of Sioux Falls/Dana football blowout (USF 70, Dana 0) and the night cap at Howard Wood field. As Lincoln was the "visiting team", the band performed their show just prior to the Washington-Lincoln game, a 41-22 defeat for LHS.

The day included morning rains, a cloudy afternoon performance and a partly sunny evening show. The show at USF did not completely please the directors, but the fans and staff at USF were delighted. Willie Sanchez, Athletic Director, took time after the game to praise the pit for the band's outstanding performance, saying it was as good as any marching band he'd ever seen.

The performance in the evening was the first time the Sioux Falls bands were invited to perform at Presidents' Bowl. The annual school fund raiser benefits many organizations, and the bands got to strut their stuff in front of more than 10,000 fans. And Lincoln fans were "treated" to the show from the visitors stands, a view they don't usually get.

The day was not without incident, among them, a muddy parking lot altering the band's stadium entry plans, and the new drum major stand buckled supports being moved in the morning and required a quick repair. For pictures of the day, click here, & use the "slide show" feature to enjoy a look at the day.

Band Wows Crowd; Patriots Stun Riders 21-6

Posted September 6

The Lincoln Patriot Marching Band took the field for their first halftime performance on Friday September 5th and wowed the crowd with the 2008 show. The band did their best to work a little magic with the "Spellbound" show, and it must have helped at the Patriot football team stunned the number one ranked Roosevelt Rough Rider 21-6.

The night was perfect for the show and the game as the temp hung near the 60 degree mark most of the evening. And for the first time in recent memory, the majority of fans stayed after the halftime show to see the unfolding gridiron upset.

The band didn't disappoint the Patriot faithful, turning a good early September performance. "We're still working on some timing issues, but the show is coming right along" said director Bob Carlson.

Roadies had their first chance to really get int the action Friday night as well. Roadies Jeff Goddard and Robert Schlup took advantage of the down-time before the show to fix the white truck's trailer light harness.

Considering Jeff returning from a near death experience (okay - it was a cold, but he was still heavily medicated) the pit placement went extremely well, with a nice blend of newer Roadies and grizzly old veterans manning the equipment. And no injuries to Roadies were noted - a first time ever, maybe?? The pit kids pulled off one of the quickest load-ups ever, having both trailers secure well before the end of the third quarter. The two tubas that stayed for the entire game did slow the truck load a bit though. But the Best Roadie move of the night should go to Chip Loudon who scored a free pizza for the Roadies still on-hand late in the 4th quarter.

The excitement didn't end at the stadium though - a roof vent blew off a pit trailer on the way to LHS. Bandparent Don Becker retrieved it ... after being run over multiple times (the vent, not Don). Repairs to the vent were already underway Saturday morning.

You can check out pictures from the evening by clicking here.

Get Ready To Roadie!!

Posted September 2

The first public show where the Roadies get to strut their stuff is this Friday, September 5th. The band will report at 6:00 p.m. and the Roadies and the pit will unload and prepare for their first show at that time at the back gate at Howard Wood Field.

All Roadies working that event must display their 2008 Roadie Nametag. If you haven't received your tag, Head Roadie Jeff Goddard will be distributing them at the back gate area prior to the performance.

As always, do NOT come in the back gate with your tag on unless you are working at the event.. Please do not abuse this privilege.

Jeff will give Roadies their work assignments at the game prior to halftime, so everyone will know what their task is.

If you are new to the Roadies, or just want to see who the people that give up their seats to help the band put on the show, go to the "Meet the Roadies" page on this website.

Take the time to check out pictures too - 370 pictures on-line so far this season already!

The Roadies Have Been Busy Already!

Posted August 26
The band has hit the point of the season where spat camp is done, and school is started. But the first football game halftime is coming and you wonder, what have Jeff and the Roadies been up to? Plenty.

You probably heard there are no props in the show this season, and that is easily the biggest omission from the Roadies preseason agenda. But many projects have been undertaken behind the scenes. There have been several work nights at MES, with space and time graciously donated by long-time band supporter and former bandparent Jay Hardy.

The most recent Roadie event had them, at Howard Wood Field tagging horn cases before the annual Roadie meeting.

The Roadies equipment and projects included: building a new PA cart for the massive sound system, they built and painted a cart for the bells, built a new mini low rider (not quite done yet), repainted the shark cage, put a new wheel on the low rider and repainted it, put a new wheel on the mallekat cart, added mallet bag hooks, and repainted it, added wheels to the gong stand and painted it, repainted the bass drum stand (new wheels are on order), and modified the wheels/dollies for the big sign and repainted them.

That sounds like a lot, and it is. But it's not all. In one evening recently they also replaced the backs and seats of 75 chairs in the band room, assembled 50 new music stands,

attached the registration and insurance papers on all 5 trailers, swept out the Uniform Trailer (and boy did it need it!), staged and loaded the trailers for the trip to HWF several times, got the sign down, assembled it, then loaded it into the Uniform Trailer, marked and verified the keys and locks on all the trailers, and repaired some interior trim in the Uniform Trailer.

A new drum major platform is the newest piece of equipment for the group to figure the logistics of on and off field transport.

So even though the Roadies haven't taken the field officially for 2008, the group has been very active. You can see the Roadies at work by clicking here