Mucca Pazza
{{Short description|US musical group}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Mucca Pazza
| image =
| caption =
| image_size =
| background = group_or_band
| birth_name =
| alias =
| origin = Chicago, Illinois, United States
| instrument =
| genre = Circus
Punk
Marching band
| occupation =
| years_active = 2004–present
| label =
| associated_acts =
| website = [http://www.muccapazza.com/]
| current_members = Freaks:Hope Arthur (Accordion), Charlie Malave (Guitar/Mandolin), Rachel Mossburg (Violin), Molly Rife (cello)
Woodwinds: Airan Wright, Dave Smith, Luc Mosely, Angela Wong
Trumpets: Sam Johnson, Jim McBride, Anna Jacobson, Peter Gillette
Bones:Chris Dixon, Jessica Sigur, Dominic Gaietto
Sousaphone/Tuba: Mike Hogg, Akshat Jain, Carrie Sullivan
Percussion "K12": Larry Beers, John Carroll, Andy Deitrich, Hershyl Edwards, Rick Kubes, Amanda Legner, Brent Roman
Cheerleaders: Sharon Lanza, Vanessa Valliere, Rawson Vint, Lily Emerson
| past_members =Nick Siegel (trpt), Jim Langenberg (Sousa), Justin Amolsch (trpt), Susie Inverso (trpt), Maria Hernandez (sax), Garrick Smith (sax), Nora Barton (cello), Myra Hinrichs (Violin), Sara Morgan (K12), Amanda Bailey (violin), Elanor Leskiw (trombone), Nick Broste (trombone), Ronnie Kuller (accordion), Gary Kalar (mandolin), Donnell Williams (cheer), Shaye Cohn (accordion), Ben Cole (trumpet), Dave Ramey (trombone), Lori Myers (cheer), Dan Dorff (percussion), Loto Ball (trumpet), Max Crawford (trumpet), Winston Damon (trombone), Nick Dempsey (saxophone), Michael Hartman (cymbals), Jeremy Jacobsen (accordion), Ernst Karel (trumpet), Eve Monzingo (woodwind), Vanessa Stalling (cheer), Dan Stark (trombone), Noah Tabakin (saxophone), Greg Nicolett (trombone), Jay St. Germain (tenor saxophone), Jon Steinmeier (percussion), George Lawler (percussion), Ronnie Malley (percussion), Timothy Heck (cheer), Lindsey Whiting (cheer), Paul Brannon (percussion), Jessica Hudson (cheer), Greg Hirte (violin), Jeff Thomas (guitar), Mark Messing (sousaphone), Tony DiMartino (snare), Dave Levine (saxophone), Ellis Seiberling (trombone), Kelsee Vandervall (Cello), Tom Howe (Trombone), Neil Brown (Trombone), Katy Collins (Cheer), Susan Bratton (Trombone).
}}
Mucca Pazza is an interdisciplinary instrumental music and performance ensemble based in Chicago, USA.
Mucca Pazza consists of approximately thirty active members and performs instrumental music; their mode of performance is informed by physical theater. Mucca Pazza’s instrumentation is loosely based on that of a traditional American marching band—drumline, sousaphone, trombones, trumpets, saxophones—but also includes electric guitar, mandolin, violin, cello, accordion, and cheerleaders. Their sound references American marching band and big band traditions,{{cite web|author=Jon Parelesjan |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/15/arts/music/globalfest-world-musicians-at-webster-hall.html?_r=1 |title=Globalfest, World Musicians at Webster Hall - The New York Times |work=The New York Times |date=2013-01-14 |accessdate=2017-04-18}} as well as Middle Eastern music, California surf, Ennio Morricone, and 1950s television show themes. They perform in mismatched marching band uniforms, and are known for their energetic performances.
Their debut album, A Little Marching Band, was released in 2006. Their second full-length album, Plays Well Together, was released in June 2008. The band's song "Borino Oro" was featured in a season 4 episode of the Showtime television show Weeds, and the songs "Tube Sock Tango" and "St. Fresca's Regret" were used in season 1, episode 8 of Amazon'sTransparent. Their third album, Safety Fifth, was released in July 2012 and a fourth full-length album, L.Y.A., was released in October 2014. Their most recent studio effort, GET PUMPED!, was released in May 2023.
History
Mucca Pazza was formed in Chicago in 2004. Many of the founding members met while performing with Redmoon Theater.{{cite web|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-04-06/entertainment/ct-ae-0408-kogan-sidewalks-20120405_1_mucca-pazza-marching-band-joyful-noise |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412232533/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-04-06/entertainment/ct-ae-0408-kogan-sidewalks-20120405_1_mucca-pazza-marching-band-joyful-noise |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 12, 2012 |title=Circus-punk marching band Mucca Pazza makes joyful noise in springtime |publisher=Articles.chicagotribune.com |date=2012-04-06 |accessdate=2017-04-18}} Early on, rehearsals took place in the parking lot of a steel mill.{{cite web|author=Andy Downing |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/06/09/mucca-pazza-marches-to-a-very-different-drummer/ |title=Mucca Pazza marches to a very different drummer |publisher=Articles.chicagotribune.com |date=2006-06-09 |access-date=2017-04-18}} The first official Mucca Pazza gig was at trombone player Tom Howe’s wedding at Bond Chapel at the University of Chicago.
Collaborations
;With the Chicago Sinfonietta
In September 2014, Mucca Pazza performed as part of the Chicago Sinfonietta’s opening concert of the season.{{cite web |last=Wiley |first=Melissa |url=http://chicagoist.com/2014/09/17/chicago_sinfonietta_opens_season_wi.php |title=Chicago Sinfonietta Opens Season With Mucca Pazza And Craft Beer |publisher=Chicagoist |date=2014-09-17 |accessdate=2017-04-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007042449/http://chicagoist.com/2014/09/17/chicago_sinfonietta_opens_season_wi.php |archivedate=2017-10-07 }} Together, the Sinfonietta and Mucca Pazza performed two pieces by Mucca Pazza composers, in orchestral arrangements by Joe Clark: “Rabbits and Trees,” by David Smith; and “Holiday on Ice,” by Mark Messing. The two ensembles also collaborated in performing the 1812 Overture by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, in a conceit which featured Mucca Pazza as the invading French army and the full symphony orchestra as Russia.{{cite web|last=Munice |first=Amy |url=http://www.lasplash.com/publish/Entertainment/cat_index_chicago_entertainment/chicago-sinfonietta-and-mucca-pazza-at-symphony-center-review.php |title=Chicago Sinfonietta and Mucca Pazza at Symphony Center Review- Kindred Spirits Leave Audience Beaming Smiles | Splash Magazines | Los Angeles |publisher=Lasplash.com |accessdate=2017-04-18}}
In May 2018, Mucca Pazza reprised their collaboration with Chicago Sinfonietta in a concert titled Praise and Punk. There were two performances, one at Symphony Center in downtown Chicago, and one at Wentz Hall in Naperville, Illinois. In addition to performing the "ending of all endings", a medley of famous classical music endings, Mucca Pazza performed the original composition "War of Amusements" by composer and drummer Andy Dietrich and arranged by Joe Clark.
;With the Chicago Children's Choir
In May 2014, Mucca Pazza performed together with the 3500 children of the Chicago Children's Choir at the CCC's annual "Paint the Town Red" concert at Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park.{{cite web |last=Graef |first=Jon |url=http://chicagoist.com/2014/04/19/mucca_pazza_to_perform_with_3500_ch.php |title=Mucca Pazza To Perform With All 3,500 Chicago Children's Choir Members In May |publisher=Chicagoist |date=2014-04-19 |accessdate=2017-04-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314093549/http://chicagoist.com/2014/04/19/mucca_pazza_to_perform_with_3500_ch.php |archivedate=2017-03-14 }}
With dance company Pilobolus
In July 2019, Mucca Pazza collaborated with dance company Pilobolus on the opening ceremony of Old Forester's Kentucky Center in Louisville, Kentucky. The band was featured in some of the dance company's shadow work and provided a transition between acts.
Tiny Desk concert
In January 2015, Mucca Pazza performed on NPR Music’s Tiny Desk concert series, with either 23 or 24 band members present.{{cite web|author=Bob Boilen |url=https://www.npr.org/event/music/384964401/mucca-pazza-tiny-desk-concert |title=Mucca Pazza: Tiny Desk Concert |publisher=NPR |date=2015-02-10 |accessdate=2017-04-18}} Bob Boilen, creator of the series, described the band’s performance as “the biggest and most colorful Tiny Desk show of them all, this one was a challenge and a thrill to pull off.”{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2015/12/30/461279961/2015-looking-back-on-a-year-at-the-tiny-desk |title=2015: Looking Back On A Year At The Tiny Desk : All Songs Considered |publisher=NPR |date=2015-12-30 |accessdate=2017-04-18}} Mucca Pazza’s appearance was later selected by Bob Boilen as one of the 15 best Tiny Desk concerts of 2015.
Music videos
Mucca Pazza has created music videos for the songs "Boss Taurus",{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3sWewh_UwM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/G3sWewh_UwM |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=Mucca Pazza: Boss Taurus (official music video) |publisher=YouTube |date=2012-05-17 |accessdate=2017-04-18}}{{cbignore}} "All Out of Bubblegum (live at Mass MoCA)",{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ851d117Ic |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/XJ851d117Ic |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=Mucca Pazza: All Out of Bubblegum (live audio from MASS MoCA) |publisher=YouTube |date=2014-10-06 |accessdate=2017-04-18}}{{cbignore}} "Tube Sock Tango (wax cylinder version)",{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBAjSkRGkSQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/gBAjSkRGkSQ |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=TUBE SOCK TANGO 1894 |publisher=YouTube |date=2012-10-30 |accessdate=2017-04-18}}{{cbignore}} "The Sit Down Waltz",{{cite web|last=Bayne |first=Martha |url=http://beltmag.com/video-mucca-pazzas-the-sit-down-waltz/ |title=Video: Mucca Pazza's "The Sit Down Waltz" | Belt Magazine | Dispatches From The Rust Belt |publisher=Beltmag.com |date=2015-08-14 |accessdate=2017-04-18}} "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maHsoY4q08k Rest on Muffin Street]", and "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GC0ddcupqI Mr. Spider Goes Home to Spiderland]".
Mucca Pazza is featured in the official music video for Andrew Bird’s song “[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjJknXGR7QE Fitz and the Dizzyspells]”, which was filmed at [http://www.hideoutchicago.com/ The Hideout] in Chicago in 2009. The video storyline was written by Sharon Lanza.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjJknXGR7QE |title=Andrew Bird "Fitz and the Dizzyspells" |publisher=YouTube |date=2009-02-09 |accessdate=2017-04-18}}
Discography
- A Little Marching Band (2007)
- Plays Well Together (2008)
- Safety Fifth (2012)
- L.Y.A. (2014)
- Barbarous Relic, single (2017)
- Trick or Treat, EP (2017)
- War of Amusements, single (2018)
- GET PUMPED! (2023)
In 2019, Mucca Pazza opened for "Weird Al" Yankovic at Ravinia.
In 2020, Mucca Pazza was chosen for Newcity’s Music 45—outstanding artists of Chicago’s 2020 music community.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:American marching bands