Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Go-Devil's Band Funky

BY JOHN MILLER

There'll be a funky time at the ball games this season.

Alan Wimberly, director of the Gurdon Go-Devil Marching Band, said this year's halftime shows will be heavily into funk.

The band will perform music from such groups as the Ohio Players and KC and the Sunshine Band.

Tunes to be played include: "Roller Coaster", "Jungle Boogie", "Brick House", "Funky Stuff" and "Chameleon", Wimberly said.

Last year's group went through its competition much the way the Devils went through their opposition leaving much destruction and devastation while bringing home the gold.

This year's crew is expected to do much the same thing. Wimberly said the band has a hot percussion feature and a great flag line.

The 34-member band will be led this year by drum major Annie Otwell, who has been doing a great job, Wimberly said, in off season work.

Mary Lee will again be the featured twirler, taking center stage during the halftime break.

"I'm excited about this year," he said. "The band has a great attitude and enthusiasm. They have an excellent work ethic."

Wimberly said there has been no problem with attendance during the summer session either as the band members have been showing up and working in the extreme heat to prepare to carry on the winning tradition.

The percussion section will have a new look as well, Wimberly said, while not going into specific detail on how the drummers would look. The flag line and majorette will be sporting new outfits as well.

He did say the new look would be in keeping with the "funked" up show the band will be performing.

Wimberly and company will help inaugurate Go Devil Stadium Friday, Sept. 10. "I'm excited about the new stadium," he said. "We can't wait to play in it."

The new concession stand will again be manned by the Gurdon Band Boosters Club, which will be selling commemorative items for the new stadium, including T-shirts with pictures of the stadium on them.

One last thing, this year's band may be in better physical condition than bands in the past. Wimberly has been having the students work out to get in shape for the coming season.

So, if the band's exercising and working on its new act, fans on both sides are in for a treat when the Marching Go-Devil Band takes to the field.