Marching Owl Band
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Marching Owl Band (aka The MOB) is the Rice University band for football, basketball, and other events. The MOB is a scatter band. It does not march, and even features members who play non-standard instruments (or none at all). For example, in the most recent season these instruments included violins, violas, a cello, electric guitar and electric piano. Show Assistants are also a perennial inclusion in the MOB; these students play no instruments besides the kazoo (or an occasional didgeridoo), and are responsible for constructing and employing props in the half-time shows. Rather than wear traditional marching band attire, The MOB instead dons pinstriped three-piece suits, ties, and sunglasses, and fedoras. They are famous (in their own minds) for their satirical "wit" and unique halftime shows that poke fun at rival universities' "sacred cows," as their director, Chuck Throckmorton, is fond of saying.
The MOB's signature song is a rendition of "Louie Louie" (the university's unofficial fight song). Other staples include "Bonnet" (adapted from "Put on your Old Grey Bonnet", 1909) and the Rice University Fight Song. The MOB plays primarily rock-and-roll pieces though blues, swing, funk, classical, and other styles are featured on various occasions.
In 1973 the Texas A&M Aggies took exception to a performance of Rice's MOB and formed an angry mob outside Rice's own stadium, trapping the Owl band inside for hours until police dispersed some of the crowd and allowed the band to exit, transported by food service trucks. (The entire show can be found here[1].)
