What Cheer? Brigade

What Cheer? Brigade. The What Cheer? Brigade is a 19-piece DIY brass band from Providence, Rhode Island, known for its high-energy fusion of New Orleans brass band traditions, Balkan music, and punk rock ethos. Founded in 2005, the ensemble performs as a mobile, unamplified unit, often leading spontaneous street parades and playing in unconventional venues. The group is a staple of the Providence arts scene and has gained a national reputation through extensive touring and festival appearances.

History

The band was formed in 2005 by musicians from the city's vibrant art school and underground music communities, drawing initial inspiration from the Rhode Island School of Design and local artist collectives. Early performances were centered in Olneyville warehouses and at events for AS220, a prominent nonprofit arts center. The ensemble's name is derived from a traditional Rhode Island greeting. A significant early influence was the Burning Man festival's culture of participatory, spectacle-driven performance, which shaped their commitment to mobile, interactive shows. Key founding members had backgrounds in groups like The Devil's Workshop and the Extraordinary Rendition Band.

Musical style and instrumentation

The band's sound is a raucous amalgamation of second line rhythms, Balkan and klezmer melodies, and the aggressive drive of hardcore punk. Their instrumentation is entirely acoustic and portable, built around a core of brass instruments and percussion. The frontline typically includes multiple trumpets, sousaphone, trombones, and alto horns, while the rhythm section is anchored by a modified drum kit featuring a bass drum played with a mallet, snare drum, and an array of cymbals and marching machines. This configuration allows for dynamic, polyphonic arrangements that can shift abruptly from mournful dirges to frenetic, danceable explosions.

Performances and tours

The brigade is renowned for its guerrilla-style performances, often appearing unannounced in public spaces like subway platforms, parks, and busy street corners. They have been a frequent act at major festivals across North America, including the Bumbershoot festival in Seattle, South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, and the Montreal Jazz Festival. The group has undertaken multiple coast-to-coast tours, sharing stages with diverse acts such as Arcade Fire, The Pogues, and DeVotchKa. Notable annual events include their Halloween parade through Providence and performances at the First Night celebrations in Boston.

Discography

The band's recordings capture the chaotic energy of their live shows. Their debut album, *You Can't See Inside of Me* (2009), was released on Corleone Records. It was followed by *Carnival (2012), which featured more complex compositions and studio experimentation. A split LP with The Devil's Workshop was released in 2014. Their most recent full-length album, ''** (2018), was praised by outlets like NPR and The New York Times for its ambitious scope. The band has also appeared on compilation albums for Community Music Works and the Providence Phoenix.

Cultural impact and legacy

The What Cheer? Brigade has been instrumental in popularizing the punk brass genre and inspiring a wave of similar DIY street bands across the United States, such as the Environmental Encroachment and the MarchFourth Marching Band. Their model of artist-run, mobile performance has influenced public art initiatives and cultural activism. In Providence, they are celebrated as cultural ambassadors, contributing to the city's identity as a hub for experimental art. The band's commitment to accessible, community-engaged performance has cemented its legacy within the American folk music revival and alternative culture.

Category:American brass bands Category:Musical groups from Providence, Rhode Island Category:Musical groups established in 2005