Although the uniforms are standard attire for the group, they were particularly apropos in the Pabst, as that is what the original band would have looked like during its three Pabst Theater performances in the early 20th century. Sousa and his band played Milwaukee, in various venues, some 30 times in all. But Brion and the band are more than a nostalgic gimmick. This is a tight, polished ensemble made up of players that gather from around the country to play these tours. Players frequently step out of the sections to take the spotlight as soloists.
Entire sections make their way to the front of the stage, or out into the house, periodically.
Najoom brought the warm sound of a mezzo to the piece's lyrical passages and tossed off the piece's flashier bits with ease. Other soloists on the evening's program included Earle Louder on euphonium, Diane Powers on piccolo and soprano Virginia Croskery. Brion included a medley of the songs of the five U.S. military branches on the program. He asked that house lights be raised and invited anyone in the audience who was currently a member of the military, or had been at one time, to stand for a moment of recognition when the song of that branch was played. A surprising number of men, as well as a few women, rose during the various songs, many visibly moved by the experience.