Travis Brass brings new Air Force sound to AV

Published Sept. 10, 2014
By Rebecca Amber

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The United States Air Force Band of the Golden West's Travis Brass ensemble headlined the fifth annual Celebrate America on the Blvd. event in Downtown Lancaster Sept. 6.

They performed at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center. The BLVD was "everything American" with a classic car and bike show, live entertainment, photo-ops and children's activities.

The Travis Brass concert was what they call their "Purely Patriotic Show," which celebrates military heroes past, present and future. The brass quintet from Travis Air Force Base, California, played American classics like "Amazing Grace" and "America the Beautiful." The Band of the Golden West is a public affairs program under Air Mobility Command that covers the entire West Coast including, California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Idaho, Nevada and Utah.

"We're the only active duty Air Force band west of the Rocky Mountains, so that gives us a huge area to cover to get the message out. We support many of the bases, and of course, Edwards AFB being one of our closest, and nearest and dearest to our hearts," said Master Sgt. Michael Andrew, Travis Brass NCOIC and tuba player.

In addition to their musical duties, the musicians run the band. With a music library, a public affairs department, a productions department and supply, the band is "pretty much self-sustained."

"Just as you would imagine with any job in the Air Force, they want the best doing that job. The band is no different," said Senior Airman Matthew Garza, Travis Brass trumpet player. Many of the band's musicians like Garza audition as civilians and attend basic training after they are hired.

"We are the most powerful, non-lethal weapon the Air Force has, which is the power of music and bringing in positive messages to the community," said Andrew. "Often times [people] only see what's in the news; in the main media. Our job is to go out and put a face to the Air Force uniform and tell them about what a great job our Airmen are doing."

"Air Mobility Command is all over the world," added Garza. "One of our taglines is 'we can move people and equipment to any location in the world within 24 hours.'"

During the show, Garza shared the story of a C-17 Globemaster III that was deployed from AMC from Travis AFB to bring food and water to the people of Amirli, Iraq.

"They needed help so we teamed up with partner nations and brought them what they needed by air drop," said Garza. "Most people don't have access to these stories, that's not headline news these days. Part of our job is to come out and tell those stories."

The USAF Band of the Golden West is composed of around 60 members and Travis Brass is just one of its smaller ensembles. Several times during the year, the entire band will come together to form a 45-piece concert band or a large, ceremonial marching band to march in formation.

"We play in these communities like Lancaster and California City where they know of the Air Force testing all these planes, testing all these loud things above them," said Andrew. "The band is here to give them a different kind of Air Force sound, something they may not hear all the time, something that will put a smile on their face and make them feel good."

At the start of the concert, the Edwards AFB Blue Eagles Honor Guard performed the presentation of colors. Senior Airman David Stanley, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, NCOIC of the color team, found the concert "really enjoyable."

"I believe it helps bring awareness that there are other facets to the Air Force besides aircraft and pilots. There's the band, there's an honor guard, there's all kinds of other things people can get involved with," said Stanley. "Our little guy [son] loves music, especially the instruments. He'll sit there and be entirely calm no matter how tired he is - he just wants to listen to it."

The concert was enjoyed by people of all ages. USAF retired Chief Master Sgt. John Schaab and U.S. Navy retired Chief Jerry O'Brien were both in attendance that afternoon. The veterans, who had each served for more than two decades, said the concert brought back all kinds of memories and some tears too.

"It's important for the community so they can appreciate the military and veterans," said O'Brien.

"To be able to go out and represent all the Airmen who don't get to the local veterans and general audiences we do," said Andrew. "That gives us a special place to go out there and show the excellence through our playing."

Later that afternoon, the Lancaster Sheriff's Explorers kicked-off the opening ceremonies at the BEX Bandstand with the presentation of the colors followed by the Mojo Flight Formation Team. The Team's fly-over featured a series of five experimental aircraft including a Thorp T-18, a Glasair II SFT and a Yak-52. Marvin Crist, Lancaster vice mayor, invited Lancaster councilmen and women to speak during the opening ceremonies, along with Palmdale Mayor Pro Tem Tom Lackey.

"I think we all share the sentiments of being proud to be American. And There's a reason why we're proud to be America," said Lackey. "This is one of the only countries that sets the example to rest of the world for the importance and power of personal liberty and freedom. When given that opportunity to excel we can do unbelievable things like we have."

As residents strolled the BLVD, they listened to live entertainment including the Swing Dolls, Big Lucky and tributes to American artists like Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. Backdrops were placed throughout the area for photo-ops like Surfin' in the USA, Farmland USA and a mock Army bunker and Douglas DC-3. Roaming entertainment paid tribute to the Korean War, Iwo Jima and 9/11.

"It's a really good family-friendly event that lets us all celebrate everything that is America and make us realize why we're so lucky to live in such a wonderful place," said Nicole Jones, City of Lancaster recreation program coordinator.

The evening also included an ice cream social, a pie eating contest and a "Patriotic Pooch Parade." The festivities ended with a fireworks demonstration at the American Heroes Park.