The Lumberjack

Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: Campus

Media Credit: Melinda Spencer The Marching Lumberjacks take on UC Davis in the time-honored tradition of the Picnic Day Battle of the Bands.

Humboldt State University's Marching Lumberjacks travelled to UC Davis this weekend to compete in the time-honored tradition of the Picnic Day Battle of the Bands. It is referred to as a battle, but it is technically an exhibition for the bands to show off their different styles. Although Davis is the self-proclaimed "winner" most years and Stanford the technical winner this year, Humboldt State and Stanford have become favorites among the crowd. Other bands that participate include Berkeley, UC San Diego, UC Irvine, and Oregon State.
The bands gather at UC Davis on a large grassy field. Crowds totaling upwards of 1,000 people gather around their favorite bands, the crowds around Humboldt State and Stanford the largest. The bands take turns playing songs, with a no-repeat rule. Bands that run out of songs lose and the last band left standing is the winner. Getting crazy with wild props, they use everything from torches to lawn furniture. The Lumberjacks even broke out fire dancers from the Humboldt Circus.
Alex Fonseca was the axe major, or conductor, of the band in 2004. Fonseca said the crowd around the Marching Lumberjacks knows that they will have the most fun all day. "I think it is the one day a year when being in band is the coolest thing in the world to the audience," he said.
A tradition that takes place at the battle is playing the song "Louie, Louie," made popular by the movie "Animal House." This college classic is played in an intense 30 to 45 minute rendition. Members of the band perform solos as the entire crowd watches in awe. Other traditions involve the song "Beginnings," by Chicago, being played simultaneously by every member or every band. Musicians group together by instrument section to share music and dance. This song can last for more than an hour because all of the hundred-plus drummers are allowed a solo.
Erik Moreno is a junior engineering major attending UC Davis. Moreno has attended three Picnic Day battles in his lifetime. He is impressed by the Marching Lumberjacks' never-back-down attitude and is torn between supporting them or his home school. "It's a hard decision, they're both challenging competitors, but Davis is my alma mater," Moreno said.

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