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Sousaphone as Instrument of Protest

Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 4:34 pm
by Ace
I've seen Sousaphones in many different settings, but not in an angry protest group.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/2 ... 2%7C214520" target="_blank

Re: Sousaphone as Instrument of Protest

Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 9:16 pm
by Kevin Hendrick
Ace wrote:I've seen Sousaphones in many different settings, but not in an angry protest group.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/2 ... 2%7C214520" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank
As instruments go, they can be very blunt:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a8Wy0Y-fbk

Re: Sousaphone as Instrument of Protest

Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 11:13 pm
by Donn
http://www.radioproject.org/2010/09/mar ... n-the-u-s/

I personally have appeared on sousaphone at a number of protest events, including the Seattle WTO. The band on that occasion has been around for decades but isn't mentioned in the above article, and I'm sure there are more out there.

Among the bands that were mentioned - for anyone who would care to listen to "Heavy Brass" by the Italian group "Pink Puffers" ... it's something of a sousaphone feature!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=284T7B7Ht9o

Re: Sousaphone as Instrument of Protest

Posted: Sun May 29, 2011 12:21 am
by David Richoux
There are many "Political Action" bands all over the world and many of them have Sousaphones - it is a long tradition, especially in union parades and protests. Many of the current bands that function for protests (among other activities) have been seen at HonkFests in Boston, Seattle, and Austin. Links to many band websites can be found here.

There is also a brass band "Bay Area Progressive Musicians Association" (you can listen to them in this radio archive. ) I have seen them at a few protest rallies and marches since the 1970s in San Francisco and Berkeley. They now have the name Musicians Action Group.