More Cowbell With Your Concert Sir?

If Christopher Walken wasn't present for this year's Pottstown High School Spring Concert, he was at least there in spirit.

To get that joke, you need to be familiar with the infamous Saturday Night Live skit in which Will Ferrell plays an over-enthusiastic cowbell player at the recording session of Blue Oyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reaper."

No matter how over the top he gets (not including how his stomach is over the top of his pants), producer Christopher Walken wants more -- as in "I've the fever, and the prescription is more cowbell!"

And to understand why you're reading about this in a blog post about Pottstown High School's spring concert, you need to know that Director Michael Vought gave the band some freedom this year to have input into the program -- and that's what they came up with.

As the band played a medley of "Don't Fear the Reaper," "Tequila" and "Oye Como Va," some members armed with cowbells did what cowbell players do best.

The Jazz Band added a new number to their repertoire,

Trombone Shorty's "Buck Jump."

But that was at the end.

Before we got to any of those shenanigans, we heard first from the Jazz Band, which added a new number to their repertoire, as well as from a spin-off of the Jazz Band, a trio who call themselves "The Gentlemen."

They are comprised of trombonist Kyle Kratzer, baritone saxophonist Casey Mest and guitarist Gary Oberholtzer. As is evident in the video below, it is definitely something different.

The Pottstown High School Flute Ensemble

Then veteran music educator Nancy Mest took the stage with her flute and clarinet ensembles, students she has taught since they were wee little musicians.

After a nice intermission, we came to the main event, which was the full concert band, which played five numbers, the last of which featured quite a bit of cowbell.

The Pottstown High School Concert Band

Another example of input from the students was the selection of the theme from
"Avengers: Age of Ultron," just in time for the release of the next Captain America movie.

For extra authenticity, some of the low brass donned masks and helmets that Tony Stark would have been proud to call his own.

Senior Awards await presenting.

Before closing out with said cowbell feature, and an impromptu and spirited rendition of the marching band anthem, "Horse" -- which had the band members spelling out "Trojans" at the top of their lungs -- there were the senior awards.

And without further ado, we present the Tweets (and some cowbell).