Stanford and Pittsburgh bands battle it out

The Pittsburgh Varsity Marching Band walked into the El Paso Convention Center one by one.

The college students played with control, command and concentration. Hats shined, tubas polished, in perfect synchronicity.

Stanford had a different style.

“We have heart,” said a talking tree, the mascot for the The Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band.

Blue hair, pink saxophones, and a drum fashioned out of a bicycle wheel.

Leading the group was a lanky, exuberant drum major dressed up as a Whataburger employee.

“I feel sweaty,” said the pretend fast food employee, who identified himself as Tony Moller.

By the way, I just googled Tony and apparently he’s the student body president for the class of 2019. I would hope the kid’s post-grad employment plans include more than working a fast food drive-thru.

Listen: I could write about the colorful, charismatic and compelling performance all day. But words don’t do it justice. To fully experience the bursts of tuba, sweaty college students and epic battle, do me a favor and watch the video above.

Cool? Thanks.