TubeNet

Just so you know, these guys are soldiers in the British Army.

While I am on this subject, there are things about the British Army which impressed me when I was stationed in Berlin, Germany (1979-82), with the 298th U.S. Army Band.

When you are assigned to a British Army band, you are assigned to it permanently. You won't leave the band unless the band disbands, then everyone goes to the same band.

The band to which you are assigned is part of the regiment covering where you live.

When there is a change in location, the entire regiment moves to a different location. We had four British Army bands in Berlin during the three years I was there, two at a time.

The Royal Air Force works like the U.S. Forces in that each airman gets individual orders, instead of the whole unit moving at one time.

I was happy to catch them a couple weeks ago in Philadelphia. I was surprised they were no longer performing in the Spectrum [former home of the Flyers] as the British band shows have for years, but instead in the Kimmel Center, home of the Philadelphia Orchestra. On one hand, I wondered how they would make out with the limited space a stage provides; on the other, I couldn't wait to hear the sound! For all those of you who haven't heard a performance in that magnificent hall, please try to make it sometime you are in the area. The acoustics are superb.
Well, the show was wonderful. The marched, albeit limited, and danced, but mostly, they played. Believe me when I tell you that they were among the finest of the British groups I've had the pleasure to watch and hear over the past 40 years of attending. I spoke to one of the bandsmen at intermission and he was just going on and on about how thrilled they all were to play in a hall with that exquisite sound. He mentioned some of the awful sports arenas in which them played, none of which were famous for their acoustics! Go if you can--they are worth the hefty admission.