River City Brass (RCB), hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, played at the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center last Thursday. An all-male band with a wide range in age, RCB walked onto the stage wearing tuxedos, sat down and blew into their brass instruments.

First, the audience was treated to what sounded like nostalgic Fourth of July music, the kind you would hear watching a parade with family and friends, eating hot dogs under the sun and waving tiny American flags.

The band catered to other universal cultural memories. The audience, consisting mostly of senior citizens, was invited to visualize scenarios in conjunction with the power of brass sounds.

Similar to memories of the Fourth of July, the song “American Patrol” captured the atmosphere of a casino in Las Vegas, as if you just won big at a blackjack table.

RCB went across all different types of sounds, from Chicago brass, to the theme song of the movie “Pink Panther,” to “Strike up the Band,” originally composed by George Gershwin for the movie “An American in Paris.”

Although this may simplify the great night and the performances, there is one word that encompasses it all: fun. RCB put on a fun show. While it is not the most descriptive way of putting it, it is not a bad thing when you just have fun.

Audience members bobbed their heads along, an elderly woman tapped her hand on her lap in rhythm to the tempos. Everyone was enjoying themselves.

Then things got interesting. After the intermission, RCB decided to tug on the heart strings a little harder.

The classic song, “Ruby Tuesday,” famously written by the Rolling Stones, was translated for a brass composition. It was captivating immediately. Perhaps the best part of it was when theband played the refrain — so fine in execution that its sharpness chilled your spine.

Soon after, RCB featured vocal solos for both “Circle of Life,” originally by Elton John and “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood. For “Circle of Life,” cornetist Shawn Wilson provided the vocals and percussionist Philip Webster played a djembe — an African drum.

For “God Bless the USA,” Drew Fennell, who played the flugelhorn, powerfully provided vocals. Members of the audience began to stand up in tribute early on. By the end, it was met with a standing ovation. Unlike other covers of this song throughout time that have often lazily strutted through, Fennell and the rest of RCB correctly transitioned from note to note.

It reflected an on-going component of RCB. Every song they band played was spot on, even for those that were re-imagined through brass accompaniment. The band consists of professionals, playing fun and light music.

On the band’s website, rivercitybrass.org, there is information about the band, its mission and individual biographies for the members. RCB’s next performance will be at the Englewood United Methodist Church in Englewood, Florida.

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