photo credit: Savanna Smith
Every year, the band puts on a show called Friday Night Live, a compilation of their performances throughout the year. The show lasts around two hours which are filled with music, lights, and movement.
“Friday Night Live is the final performance for the Marching Band season. The performances take place inside the theater, leading many to believe it’s similar to a convert band, but it’s really quite the opposite.” Color Guard section leader Taylor Boyd said.
For the last show of their season, the marching band likes to go all out with two hours full of music, sounds and colors. This is definitely not a typical band concert, as many may believe.
“There is tons of movement involved, and is definitely not a standing performance at all. There’s tons of marching through the audience and constant movement across the stage, dancing, playing or spinning” Boyd said. “There are screens put up by the stage to engage the audience, as well as lots of colorful lights, and most of all it is super super loud!”
The band works hard throughout the season to produce this amazing show, and there are several long practices in anticipation. The whole two weeks preceding the show are filled with hard practices.
“Three hour rehearsals began the Monday after our last playoff game, continuing on every day but Friday leading up to the four performances. As well as five hour dress rehearsals the Wednesday before,” Boyd said. “It takes a lot of work and I don’t even know how it all comes together in just two weeks, but it’s all worth it.”
After being a part of the band for the past three years, Boyd has witnessed three FNL shows. The 2021 show was outdoors due to COVID-19.
“I thought this years’ FNL was incredible overall. Everyone put in a lot of effort over the course of the season and it truly showed when we brought everything together and performed everything,” Boyd said.
The band members thoroughly enjoyed performing FNL, as they do every year.
“My favorite part of FNL was performing our second show because it has one of my absolute favorite flag routines. Show two contains three songs by the band ‘Journey’, which I truly believe are such a hit with the audience too,” Boyd said.
Tenor Saxophone player Mariam Ibrahim also very much enjoys FNL.
“I love Friday Night Live because of how rewarding it is. After a whole season of hard work, we finally get to show what we’ve learned during the season.” said Ibrahim.
Everyone should try to attend at least one show of Friday Night Live, as it is an extremely immersive performance and very fun to watch.
