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To say that March Fourth Marching Band is eclectic is an understatement. Although the mobile group consists of the usual marching band staples, including a 12-piece horn section and a 10-piece drum and percussion set, everything else about the group screams circus. Fire-eaters, stilt walkers, hula-hoop dancers and puppeteers are just a few of the elements that make March Fourth an act to remember.
The Portland natives who make up March Fourth performed Wednesday at Necropolis, a club in Old Sacramento.
Necropolis is small, so the performers and musicians mingled with guests at the bar while their equipment was set up. The show started a little late because of trouble with the tour bus — a 1984 MCI Coach purchased on eBay — but once it began, things got lively.
Unfortunately, because Necropolis’ ceilings are relatively low and the venue is downstairs, there were no stilt walkers, fire eaters or puppeteers. But that had no effect on the spirit of the performers or the energy of the crowd.
When the black lights came on, the costumes of the group really came to life. The glow from the black-and-white color combinations of the marching band’s jackets, vests and hats lit up the room. And the white flags of the flag twirlers and the neon-pink hoops of the hula hoop dancer appeared particularly psychedelic.
The intimate venue allowed dancers to pull guests onto the dance floor to boogey with them. Everyone was encouraged to jump out of their seats and cut a rug.
“I love their junkie, artistic, thrown-together, sort of hodgepodge sound,” said Stephanie Bird. “I actually saw them at Burning Man and when I heard that they were playing here in Sacramento, I just had to go see them again. They really are entertainment for all your senses.”
The crowd at the venue ranged from toddlers to older gentlemen. Regardless of age, the antics of the dancers and the energy of March Fourth Marching Band kept a smile on everybody’s face, even without the more extreme elements of their act.
“The music is all about having fun,” stilt walker Sid Simpatico said. “That’s the most important thing.”
(4/1/2010)