Walking along the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis, a trumpet player began to play a melody that is usually played on the piano: ‘Welcome To The Black Parade’ by My Chemical Romance. In fact, the intro to this song is so recognizable that it has become a running joke that former emo kids can recognize it from its very first note. Despite how recognizable the song has become, these musicians were about to turn it on its head, and Music Man readers will be amazed by their creativity.
Before long, the trumpet player was joined by a trombonist, a saxophonist, another trumpet player, a euphonium player, and two drummers. It was only when the drummers joined them, the whole band walking together down Stone Arch Bridge, that viewers realized that they had become the marching band from the lyrics of the song. They performed a completely unique brass band cover that created an unexpectedly upbeat feel, prompting one listener to call it a “seriously amazing job.”
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the cover. As someone who also grew up listening to My Chemical Romance, this song is a classic for me, and I found it hard to imagine anyone being able to take on the song’s iconic sound and make it their own. However, I was more than pleasantly surprised to hear what the Funky Spuds Brass Band did with the song. Despite being associated with emo culture, the song has an inspiring message, and the brass band’s bold sound communicates that perfectly.
The trombone player in the band, Shane Cox, has made a name for himself online with his unique brass covers of popular songs. Music Man readers might know him from his unusual heavy metal brass band covers of songs like ‘Iron Man’ by Black Sabbath or ‘Falling Away from Me’ by Korn. The Funky Spuds Brass Band, however, seems to be a new project from Shane, with only one other cover by the band, a version of ‘Jolene’ by Dolly Parton, featured on his YouTube channel.
The Funky Spuds Brass Band’s joyful and upbeat sound has proven extremely popular already, with both videos receiving thousands of views in only a matter of days. A lot of online music lovers appreciate a good cover, but to hear such a talented band taking on some of the most iconic songs of all time and making them their own is something truly special. If the band decides to continue posting covers, there is no doubt that they will receive more and more attention as time goes on. It seems that there is something about this brass band’s sound that is utterly irresistible.