Holy Cross Goodtime Marching Band
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Formed in 1845, the Holy Cross "Goodtime" Marching Band (HCGTMB) is one of the oldest organizations at The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. The HCGTMB first began performing at football games in 1910, and the band's role has expanded significantly since then. Performances include every home and most away football games, and trips to local nursing homes during the Christmas season, for caroling. In the spring, the marching band converts into the Holy Cross "Goodtime" Pep Band and plays at all home basketball games. The Marching Band performs at Fitton Field, and the pep band plays in the Hart Center.
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[edit] Marching Band
During the fall, the "Goodtime" Marching Band practices during the week (traditionally three times a week for an hour and a half each session) and performs at all home football games, as well as selected away games. Performances include playing songs in the stands, the halftime extravaganza, as well as a variety of other zany antics. When the band is not entertaining crowds at sporting events, it tries to keep itself busy in other fashions. Traditionally, the band travels to area nursing homes during the holiday season to play Christmas carols and visit with the residents. In the past, the band has played at the annual Holy Cross Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Other events have included the Relay for Disaster Relief, an open-air concert at Faneuil Hall in Boston, the Boston MS Walk, the Worcester St. Patrick's Day Parade, and the Woburn Halloween Parade. The 'Sader Band has also performed internationally, including engagements in Ireland and Bermuda.
[edit] Membership
The band is made up of a cross-section of students who have immense school spirit and a strong camaraderie. Members are accepted from schools in the Worcester Consortium, and members currently attend both Assumption College, and Worcester State College. There are band members from all classes and musical backgrounds, representing eighteen different majors and five academic concentrations.
[edit] Music
Music performed at games includes a wide variety of classic pep band songs, and some HCGTMB originals.
[edit] Drill
The Holy Cross "Goodtime" Marching Band, unlike an Ivy League scatter band, plays music throughout the entire halftime show, and moves while doing so. The drill is traditionally written by a student, the Drill Coordinator, who also teaches new members how to march.
[edit] Pep Band
During the spring, many of the marchers trade in their uniforms for striped rugby shirts and transform into the Holy Cross Crusader "Goodtime" Pep Band. The band attends the basketball games played at Holy Cross, as well as selected hockey games. With luck, the teams make it to the NCAA Tournament, and the band travels along with them. Past trips have included St. Louis, Missouri, Indianapolis, Indiana, and College Park, Maryland.
[edit] The Tone
The incomparable Tone Dance, also referred to as the "Goodtime Shakedown", is the most popular of the band's game time shenanigans. Words can not describe the dance. A link to a video is at the bottom of this page, but only seeing the Tone Dance in person can really give the full impact.
[edit] The Band Name
Every year, band members vote on a new section of the band name. The official band name is:
The Holy Cross Crusader, Hit and Run, Giant Killer, Neutral Field, Pull Through the Clutch, Never Say Die, Have Ticket Will Fly, Have Coffee Will Sober, Legendary and Notorious, Tug of War, Apple Corps, Halloween Howling, Rugby Shirt Erasing, Only Undefeated, Papally Blessed, Award Winning, Lost in Paramus, Cigar Smoking, Push It, Tone Deaf, Waterlogged, "Got There, Got There", Our Power is Beyond Your Understanding, Lush and Haunting, Feeling the Unit, Topless on the Turnpike, Visually Stimulating, Sublimely Sybaritic, What About Bob?, Band is Safe Sex, Maximum Capacity, March to the Arch, Turning Over a New Rob, Holy Cross College High School, Harnessing Our Inner Chu, Brrreakdown, "Goodtime" Marching Band
