The Last Word: A Hot Night & The Music of a Steel Drum Band

It's been rather warm lately. Even downright hot. I could complain, but instead I'm going to embrace this weather. I've got a cold drink. And, I'm going to listen to some tropical music.
I'm attending a concert by the Flagship Steel Drum Band. It's being held at Pleasant Ridge Park in Fairview Township. What a great way to spend a hot summer night!! I'm listening to music I've never heard performed live. Brian Gresh organized this band three years ago. This longtime music teacher has been the mover and shaker of steel drum music in Northwest Pennsylvania since forming a steel drum group at Sheffield High School in 1994.
"It became a niche for Sheffield. Like something Sheffield was unique for. That's how I got started into it. I didn't know anything about steel drums before that,” says Brian.
Musicians in Trinidad began transforming industrial drums into percussion instruments in the mid-20th century. Those musicians discovered that different sections of the metal drum would play different sounds. The drums are now professionally made. However, learning where to find those sounds is the biggest challenge for the people Brian recruits to join the band. Most of them have never played a steel drum before.
"The hardest thing about steel drums is learning where all the notes are at,” says Brian. “There's a pattern but you have to learn where the notes are at. Where's C at? Where's C? But, after a while, you learn where C is and you learn all the other notes."
This group has learned well. The Flagship Steel Drum Band puts on a great show even though they asked a certain reporter with zero music skills to join them for a rendition of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."
It's hot tonight. It's so hot that a canopy has been set up. The canopy prevents the rays of the sun from heating the steel drums to the point they could go out of tune. Despite the heat, the audience is enjoying this special night. They are enjoying the opportunity to listen to various types of music with a tropical calypso sound..
"Somehow, on a hot day like today, they just like listening to feel-good music,” says Brian. "We try a variety of music and I think people really enjoy just the variety and the unique sound of it."
The Flagship Steel Drum Band will have a couple of performances in the month of July. They will play outdoors at the Soldiers and Sailors Home in Erie on Thursday, July 17 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. They also will be on the main stage at Dan Rice Days in Girard on Thursday, July 31 from 8 pm. To 10 pm. Of course, they always are looking for new members.