Watch the Ohio State Marching Band's Incredible Halftime Salute to Rush

[demmiblue]

“We’re speechless,” prog-rock legends say of 15-minute performance that included “Tom Sawyer,” “Limelight” and tribute to Neil Peart

The Ohio State University Marching Band staged a halftime salute to Rush — and paid tribute to the band’s late drummer Neil Peart — during the Buckeyes football team’s home game Saturday versus Maryland.

The marching band delivered renditions of Rush’s “Tom Sawyer,” “Limelight,” “Red Barchetta,” “Fly by Night” and more. Ohio State News reports that for the performance — to capture Peart’s “sonic impact” — the Buckeyes band added expanded their percussion section by adding 20 toms and 20 extra cymbals mounted on four racks.

Almost as impressive as the marching band’s arrangements of the prog-rock classics were the formations the band created on the field: During the halftime show, the marching band spelled out “2112” and “YYZ” — which the OSU crew also performed — as well as creating a three-piece stick figure band complete with Peart’s Rush drumhead.

The 15-minute halftime performance earned the seal of approval from Rush themselves, who tweeted simply, “We’re speechless.”

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ohio-state-marching-bandhalftime-salute-rush-1239932/

[CurtEastPoint]

1. at first I thought it meant Limbaugh.

[Irish_Dem]

2. I know, I never heard of a group called Rush before.

But the OSU band did a great job.

[Ferrets are Cool]

19. ...

[Irish_Dem]

43. I must have missed a big chunk of pop culture.

[Ferrets are Cool]

63. just think of all the wonderful memories you have yet to make then.

[Rebl2]

26. Oh I

have heard of Rush from way back in the last century 😉

[Irish_Dem]

44. Hey I know who the Beatles are....

Also heard of Mick Jagger.

[Rebl2]

51. What I didn't know

about Rush is they are from Canada. I’ve heard of them, but can’t say I remember their music, even though I was a teen and in my twenties in the 70’s. Have you heard of the group Kansas? Again they were popular when I was in my early 20’s but really don’t remember their music.

[Irish_Dem]

52. Sounds vaguely familiar.......

Couldn't tell you anything about the band Kansas at all.

I guess I really did miss a lot of pop culture, was going to graduate school, working, raising a family.....

[Rebl2]

53. You were

very busy! Understand why you weren’t up on pop culture way back when. You were doing very important work in your life!

[Irish_Dem]

54. The good thing is now in retirement, I am watching all the movies I missed.

And TV shows.

Everything is new!

[Rebl2]

56. Enjoy your retirement!

[BlackSkimmer]

74. Sure ya do.

[Rebl2]

75. Yep I do

remember that. I just haven’t heard their music in so long, just like Rush, the music doesn’t come to mind until I hear it. Like others on this thread, I would know the music but not the artist.

[skypilot]

58. You may not have heard OF Rush but...

...you've most likely HEARD Rush at some point in your life. There are many songs I've heard over the years where I never knew who the artist was. Even songs I like.

[Irish_Dem]

59. I just did a random selection of Rush songs.

I never heard any of these songs before.
I feel like I was living on Mars....

But yes, often I recognize a song I have heard before even if I don't know the artist or name of the song.

[LeftInTX]

76. Ever hear of Supertramp?

Supertramp's Long Way Home happened to be playing in the background on in an old home video. My son would watch the video from time to time and became familiar with the song.
One say he says, "This song is so atypical for Rush. I didn't know they were top 40"
I reply, "That's because it's Supertramp"
He replies, "Oh, I thought maybe it was Rush in extra high voice".
My son was born in 1986.
Both groups were popular in the early 80s before he was born.

Spirit of the Radio is probably the Rush song, you would most likely recognize.

This is the song that would play in the background of the home video.

[Irish_Dem]

77. Never heard of Supertramp, but yippee I do recognize one of their songs.

And I like it a lot.

Take the Long Way Home. Very great song!

I was beginning to feel like an outcast!
Thank you for redemption!

(I was in college for a lot of years, and then in a time consuming career. I missed most music pop culture it appears.)

[Demovictory9]

5. Me too

[RVN VET71]

12. Now THT's funny!

Imagine the band forming a giant fat fascist on the field, maybe a mouth, big mouth, spewing crap (maybe the winds could spell out C-R-A-P coming out of a half-moon shaped . . . . I know, this is bad of ne. The fascist, racist, sexist swine is dead. I should be respectful. Right?

[BobTheSubgenius]

28. All things considered...

...that was pretty respectful.

[Rebl2]

25. My first

Thought as well.

[Escurumbele]

38. I did too...I can breath again...Next time add the word "Band", you will save some cardiac arrests

[underpants]

3. Thanks. 👀

I keep meaning to watch this.

[Fullduplexxx]

4. RIP Neil 😪 oh the things we missed

[Ligyron]

30. He was a great drummer, one of Rock's best.

But the voice of the lead singer? Oh my gawd, I couldn’t stand to listen to that band because of him.

Creeped me the fuck out. Just sooo weird.

If I wanted to hear a female voice I’d listen to Benatar, Crow or even Joplin.

[Fullduplexxx]

65. Neil wrote all the lyrics

[Goodheart]

6. Approaches the unreal

[doc03]

7. Rush Limbaugh?

[JHB]

8. Whew! The group. I knew it had to be the group, but still had that dread running through me

[ybbor]

9. Love Rush

Hate OSU so couldn’t watch.

I’ll trust the reviews.

Go Blue!

[demmiblue]

36. For you (a collab w/ Penn State at The Big House):

[ybbor]

64. I just started watching GOT

That was much more to my liking 😀

I can hear the band practicing from my house.

Go Blue!

[mountain grammy]

10. Amazing.. thanks for posting.

Bravo..

[Beatlelvr]

17. Wow. That was a work of art.

Do they have awards for this stuff? I'm always amazed at and love the sounds of the huge bands that are in the Rose Parade. (I hope we have one this year)

[sinkingfeeling]

11. Thanks so much. It's been 50 years since I watched script Ohio in

that stadium. It still gives me goosebumps.

[WinstonSmith4740]

24. Doesn't it though!

A few years back, the kid that dotted the "I" was blind. It was awesome. And I love the strut on the way to do it. Tear up every time. And I didn't go to Ohio State!

[RVN VET71]

13. Everyone in the stands masked and vaxxed?

Otherwise this would be a super-spreader, no?

[Irish_Dem]

48. Ohio State requires all students, staff, faculty to be Covid vaccinated.

Not seeing many masks in the football stands however.


https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/education/2021/08/24/covid-19-ohio-state-now-requiring-students-staff-vaccinated/5577333001/

[RVN VET71]

66. The vax mandates are great. I hope all comers-to-the-game were screened to ensure they'd been vaxed

Otherwise what’s the point.

But even assuming that they were, the dearth of masks is concerning because vaxxed folks can still be carriers and spread it to other vaxxed folks who would then be carriers who might then spread it to unvaxxed or particularly vulnerable family members, friends, and others.

With 700,000 already dead from this thing, I am feeling very leery about things opening up too fast, too soon.

(Jeebus! Spelchek changed my refs to “vaxxed” to “vexed” and refs to “vax” to “Tax” or “fax”!)

[beaglelover]

68. 1st, the game is outdoors. 2nd, baseball games have been full of fans most of the summer.

Have yet to hear about any of these outdoor events being super spreader events.

I attended the L.A. Rams game a few weeks ago. Masks were required, supposedly, but no one wore one once they got to their seat. Myself included. That event did not turn out to be a super spreader event. In fact, COVID cases are falling, not only in L.A. but all over the country at the moment.

[RVN VET71]

69. Was everyone social distancing in the beer and hot dog lines?

I know that open air events are less conductive of the disease than closed stadiums. I’d rather not attend, but maybe I’m erring on the side of caution.

[beaglelover]

72. It's fine to err on the side of caution. You have to behave in whatever way makes you comfortable.

There was really not much social distancing on the concourses in the stadium or in the restrooms, but people did wear masks when they left their seats. The new stadium in L.A. if HUGE, so it never felt super crowded except for in the bathroom. And the stadium is open on both ends so it did feel like you were outdoors even with a roof over your head.

[jonstl08]

14. Awesome

Awesome tribute to one of the best Rock Bands of all time.

RIP Neil

[Earth-shine]

15. My favorite band of all time.

My favorite song of all time: Cygnus X-1

When Peart died, I felt it.

Rush went out with their talent still intact. 40 years of amazing music.

[FakeNoose]

16. This is awesome and amazing

Thanks for posting.

What an incredible band, learning all the music and the marching routines. Wow!

[ananda]

18. Oh thank goodness, not Rush Limbaugh.

...

[LunaSea]

20. Stunning!

Fine tribute to the most influential cult band ever.
( suck on it Rolling Stone...)

[marble falls]

21. Rock on Bucs!

[genxlib]

22. I have to admit

I absolutely hate marching bands but that was pretty spectacular.

My daughter was at that game and is a student there. I am so happy they are having a more normal college experience this year. That kind of pageantry and celebration really helps to make the college experience.

[LisaM]

29. I have to digress.

How can you hate marching bands? I could see being indifferent, but hate?

The time I spent in marching band (four years in high school) was some of my happiest time ever. I loved it, marching at games, and in local parades (including Halloween parades for the town's three elementary schools, where we were considered a big deal).

It makes me sad that this was fomenting hate in some people.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

35. Here I am thinking if big music like that doesn't stir one's soul you might be dead.

I’m not even a Rush fan but throw it in that big band and it sounds amazing.

[genxlib]

42. Sorry I didn't mean to insult

And "hate" is certainly too strong of a word.

I just never cared for the arrangements of taking pop or rock songs and playing them with band instruments. I just don't think it sounds great. I actually like when they play music meant for marching bands. Give me a Souza and it works for me.

I am sure you brought plenty of joy wherever you went. Forgive me if I implied otherwise. Just not for me.

[Jon King]

23. I went to Ohio State for 2 years until they politely asked me to leave.

At 17 years old left home and was a freshman at Ohio State. Lived in the towers right next to the football stadium. Completely went wild and partied like no tomorrow. After 2 years the counselor called me into his office and made me an offer. If I left the school and transferred somewhere else, they would apply 'freshman forgiveness' and make many of my terrible grades disappear off my transcript.

But boy it was fun while it lasted!!

[genxlib]

46. Jeffrey Dahmer is that you?

My Daughter lived in one of those towers (Lincoln) last year and they had great fun with that.

They were on reduced capacity because of COVID so they only had 7 in their suite designed for 16. I can't imagine living 16 people to a suite in those buildings. That must have been crazy.

[Jon King]

49. We were also in Lincoln Tower. It was crazy 16 to a suite.

4 freshman guys to a room, 16 in a suite. Right next to the football field. Then my second year we moved to a dorm right next to High Street, tons of craziness and bars.

Needless to say the studies were not priority back then.

[sinkingfeeling]

55. Got to ask what years? I think they took the dorms out of the towers a couple of decades ago.

[Irish_Dem]

62. The two towers are still dorms for students.

[Wingus Dingus]

27. Unbelievable. Even Red Barchetta in there.

Just fantastic.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

47. It really bugs me that the announcer gets all the songs wrong though

"Playing songs from 2112!" and they play "Spirit of Radio"
The drumline performing YYZ - and they play "Closer to the Heart"

[jcgoldie]

31. Rush one of my all time favs!

Thank you!

[Delphinus]

32. That

was pretty dang cool!! Way to go OSU marching band!

[Laurian]

33. Graduated from OSU a long time ago. TBDBITL and Script Ohio are

just as the announcer always says, “Incomparable”

Go Bucks!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

34. That's amazing.

Dumb question: is that all done from practice/coordination? Or do they use some technology to assist?

I guess they practice all through the off season?

[llmart]

40. Hours and hours of intense practice!

I would actually say they practice as much if not more than the football players do. They usually start before the school year begins also.

If it's a school in the South they practice in intense heat also. I have always admired how committed to their music these students are that they would go to those lengths to put on such an amazing show.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

50. I was in a college marching band that was nowhere near that level

We started 2 weeks before school with 8 hour practice days (marching and playing). Then we did 2 hours a day during marching season.
I imagine that their practice schedule is a lot more intense.

[Irish_Dem]

61. Some articles says the band practices only 10 hours a week.

They pride themselves on being efficient.

[mercuryblues]

57. When my kid was in marching band

I totaled up their practice hours. Just shy of 400 hours for a 10 minute show. They placed 3rd in the state. 31st in nationals.

[Irish_Dem]

60. They use iPads during practice, but not on the field.

Ipad instead of paper copies like in the past.

[beaglelover]

70. I was in the marching band at Syracuse University all 4 years I attended.

At Syracuse, you sign up for Marching Band as a class in the fall semester. You got credit for it and it was pass/fail. They might have tryouts now, but they didn't back then. The band was about 300 strong, including the flag line, dancers and twirlers.

You had to show up for fall semester 2 weeks in advance of school starting for band camp.

Those 2 weeks were very intense with training all day every day. Learning the pregame show which does not change throughout the season. And learning the first half time show.

Once school started, band practice was every night Monday through Thursday from 6 - 8 p.m. plus 2 hours on Saturday morning.

We learned a new half time show for every home game. We usually went to 1 or 2 away games to perform and usually performed at either a Canadian football league game of NFL game on the Sunday after we attended the away game. All music had to be memorized by game day, period. Plus you had to memorize your field positions and moves. It is a marching band after all.

It was pretty serious business and a huge time commitment during the fall semester. But I loved every minute of it.

Going from a tiny high school in NJ to a large university, the band allowed me to have 100s of friends already established before school even started freshman year. It really helped with the transition to college.

I do remember when we traveled to West Virginia University for an away game, their band did have markings on the field to assist them with their field positions during their shows. We didn't have that at Syracuse.

[ARPad95]

37. Amazing precision and cool formations!

Does it look odd to anyone else that the OSU side of the stadium is half empty (people leave their seats to go to the restrooms and/or concessions during halftime) and the visiting team's side looks filled?

[Sogo]

39. Why isn't this posted in the Lounge?

[themaguffin]

41. LOVE this.

[Backseat Driver]

45. And THIS is why they are TBDBITL!

What an all-around excellent show! It's got it all.

[GoneOffShore]

67. The band should get more money than the football team.

[BannonsLiver]

71. Based on what exactly?

Sure as hell isn’t a real world economic argument.

[GoneOffShore]

80. I'm one of those people who thinks that sport should be self-funding and the arts supported.

YMMV

[ProfessorGAC]

73. Pretty Cool!

I probably shouldn't have listened on my tablet.
I should have thought to get it to sound bigger.
The choreography is very impressive.
I wonder if that job got easier now that it's so easy to design the routines on a computer.
Either way, the nearly constant motion & morphing was fun.
The addition of the extra tom players was inspired, as well.

[JanMichael]

78. Ayn Rand must have been proud. Thank goodness no vocals. Nice band though.

I wonder if they know that they are peddling lyrics to serve the master?

[Buckeye_Democrat]

79. Hmph! They didn't move fast enough to portray...

... Neal Peart's rapid drumming before the 4-minute mark!