Asphalt Cocktail By John Mackey

This frenetic piece by John Mackey is a concert opener designed to "shout" all the way through. One of the composer's key works, this fantastically fun-sounding piece is certain to wake the audience up :-) World premiere performance by the Michigan State University Wind Symphony.

[@covajo9]

This piece is like bass trombone heaven..

[@mlefeb]

covajo9 Every Mackey piece is Bass Trombone heaven

[@DelawareDark]

JOJO

[@maccox4629]

Sitting in front of the trombones, I completely agree. My friend is the bass trombonist in our band and I can't hear myself over him

[@joshhhhhhepp]

I’m the only bass trombone in my band and this is the only song I’m not shy about when playing.

[@Southpaw-hk2gf]

I would kill to play this piece, my band director could never tell me to be quiet on this one

[@BobbyJCFHvLichtenstein]

We should take a moment to appreciate how perfect this recording is

[@andrewofarkansas2121]

Well, considering that this is the world premier performance...

[@alanartz]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqqZnIasm82gaa8 this ones better

[@harrys3313]

This, Foundry, Turbine, and Undertow. Mackey reeeaaaally knows how to make a percussionist happy.

[@L0Ldude11]

As a percussionist- so jealous of people who get to play this!

[@camdynclarke]

Gotta say that Aurora Awakes is oddly fun as well

[@AgniGatling]

Let's not forget Night on Fire and Xerxes

[@raiden1690]

Well he did date a percussionist for most of high school. I got to meet him today

[@connorutegg2486]

Turbine is my favorite right now, but Wine-Dark Sea is the best

[@unnamed2877]

I get the privilege to play the trash can part at the Midwest Convention this year

[@meloyelody]

mackey should totally write for video games, this piece just screams "intense final boss battle" (bonus points if undertow is a regular boss theme)

[@McYoob]

And Xerxes should be used to introduce the final boss in some way.

[@noisywhispers1164]

Xerxes would just be like a dungeon theme.

[@mr.cleanarchonoflight8120]

No it doesnt. Its not final at least. Its like an underboss. Like bowser jr., a cuphead mini boss. Its too chaotic and fast. It feels less like a lion and more like a hyena.

[@Cpt.710]

True butt o me it would make an incredible boss music for a game similar to cup heads style

[@gmail377]

Third movement of wine dark sea is more appropriate as a bgm to a final boss battle

[@FishTetris]

I was a first chair clarinet in highschool and we played this song, I remember looking at the clarinet solo on the first day and laughing...then crying a little....then letting the other first chair do it. Amazingly fun song to be a part of, but that solo is Excessive.

[@jerrytruckn]

You did this in high school? WOW

[@kennystimac3167]

Bo Boutwell I'm also doing this in highschool for festival this year (current concert coming up) and I'm only a junior lol. Check us out at TheCaspa.org

[@liamm113]

FishTetris I'm a freshman and we are playing this. I'm first chair bassoon, and the second page is really something for me

[@zkatt3238]

It's not called the "misery stick" for nothing

[@taborclifton8473]

kenny stimac I’m a trombone and did this as a freshmen it was heaven

[@michaelbouschet5634]

The band: So Mr. Mackey, what time signature are we in today? Mackey: All of them. The band: haha very funny Mackey: The band: The band: oh shi-

[@ericdavidson9942]

Non-band people: why does the trombone have a slide? John Mackey: allow me to demonstrate...

[@Nathan_Jay]

When you realize it's the French Horns the entire entire

[@ericdavidson9942]

@@Nathan_Jay ngl, you had me for a minute, i had to relisten to it for a bit, but I see what you're talking about, and I agree. Some of the things I thought were trombone were indeed french horn, but I was referring to the really low glisses: 3:48 As a percussionist, I don't think that's possible for your basic french horn, but, of course, I could be wron.

[@Nathan_Jay]

@@ericdavidson9942 as the first chair Horn in my high school wind ensemble having played it 3 years in a row, there's a lot of things a French Horn shouldn't be able to do.

[@ericdavidson9942]

@@Nathan_Jay Oh, cool! So how do you do a glissando?

[@Nathan_Jay]

@@ericdavidson9942 you hold down all 3 main valves at half length so air goes through both ways, and you pray it works right.

[@RainbowDj7]

My director asked me to learn harp specifically for this piece. I have John Mackey to thank for this amazing opprotunity to learn a dying art.

[@jadcubes247]

I live for that clarinet solo😍😍

[@liamm113]

This piece reminds me of a more chaotic, dissonant version of Frank Ticheli's "Vesuvius"

[@justeeny9368]

So proud to say that frank ticheli is from my state

[@ppebisnade5592]

So proud to say that for last years spring concert my school band played vesuvius

[@djnodoubt615]

I airways think ticheli and hindemith when I hear mackey

[@liamm113]

@@djnodoubt615 lowkey such a good way to think about Mackey tho

[@aunyastevens3249]

This song makes me break the speed limit.

[@CalebMartinPercussion]

Mackey will always be one of my favorites, because he's one of the only composers that actually writes good percussion parts haha

[@drinkablesausage3420]

this is like the daddy to undertow

[@Tmbirch3]

+Jordan Miller what a coincidence! in my playlist undertow is right after this

[@aunyastevens3630]

This song is like the big brother to Foundry (you can check his blog)

[@jerrysgardentractorsengine2243]

I've played Undertow and Foundry, but if my band was to ever sight read this, we'd sound like a 6th grade band that just got their instruments out for the first time

[@ktonkin]

Harry Potter nice to see they're introducing Mackey at Hogwarts now

[@jerrysgardentractorsengine2243]

Harry Potter I assume Snape would constantly want to go to measure 394 if he was the professor

[@zgmerz7305]

I'm in 7th grade and playing Undertow. Maybe in 8th or high school I'll be able to play this song!

[@mia.the_artist]

@@zgmerz7305 A couple of years ago, my band tried to play Undertow in middle school, it was soo confusing for practically everyone, it wasn't until last year, in high-school, where we actually got to play it (I got to play Contrabass clarinet, super fun!) This year we r playing Foundry, which is like, amazing. Hope our director lets us play this next year

[@dumbpunk1165]

We were gonna play Foundry before corona hit and let me say I'm kinda jealous that it was just Foundry we played. He's gotta so many songs that just go so hard

[@JoshLeRose]

Best clarinet solo rendition!! And this whole recording is just 😍😍

[@powerguard2988]

love hearing (and playing) Mackey's stuff, really keeps you on the edge of your seat

[@chrislinhares7311]

I can't believe such a difficult piece can even be played - and perfectly.

[@TheNameIsGamestar]

Last year our concert Band played Undertow. This year we have a good chance at playing Lightning Field and our Wind Ensemble is playing this. Just John Mackey all around. I love his music.

[@iang9918]

5:06 hits and my marching brain goes into severe overdrive with enough energy to power all universes that ever have, are, or will exist

[@lastronin8175]

Agreeable

[@nyve3014]

Our high school top band is playing this. I cry every rehearsal. 😂

[@wyrmur727]

I saw this performed live and the percussion is ridiculous.

[@Teridactyl]

My band is using this for our marching show😍

[@adamshaw1310]

We are for our closer, Ben lee is writing it, since he is real close friends with our band director

[@lastronin8175]

@@adamshaw1310 Our opener

[@carolynhong6038]

trippy clarinet

[@xxIceKnight]

Mackey is genius.

[@Espik_23]

100% Agreed. Great composer and knows how to write a unique, creative, and challenging song.

[@natebrown4689]

My senior year of high school or marching band used this song as a basis for one of our movements.

[@lauraloveleyy8639]

My bands supposed to march this this year and it's been a disaster thus far lmao

[@brybrybry995]

Laura.ren101 how do you march to this???

[@lauraloveleyy8639]

blueredpurplebeans kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWGWZ5ShnJZ0Zrc that's the video

[@joshneckar6524]

Is your band from Greendale WI?

[@lauraloveleyy8639]

One With The Force nope lol

[@andrewbutler7328]

Laura.ren101 marein catholic

[@TrumpetingEthan]

all about that 2x speed

[@bigpongo9963]

Lmao that's about 248 bpm

[@joshuaelwood6050]

Honestly doesn't even make a difference

[@steverman2312]

this song sounds like the words "crack cocaine"

[@jamesbooth7185]

Still miss playing this, my favorite 8th grade band piece

[@mrman12w]

8th grade????? How????

[@jamesbooth7185]

@@mrman12w we did a John Mackey concert and this was the last song we played in it

[@dejgreen4843]

The Flute part reaches Db 4 reg. #ugh

[@wormy1734]

This was part of our closer for our marching show this year. So much funnnn!!

[@AlfonsoDiaz-os6jk]

what marching band?

[@wormy1734]

​​@@AlfonsoDiaz-os6jkQueen Creek High School. The show was titled Out There :)

[@TheEricJr]

We just played this in concert band last semester. Best timpani part I've ever had and I don't even like playing timpani xD

[@mlefeb]

That's John Mackey for you. ;)

[@AndrewYocom]

I'm marching this for my show and I'm hyped

[@macyturner7263]

man does this piece get stuck in your head

[@nicolasherrera-vega6899]

When I was done listening to this I my ears were hurting so bad

[@the_harlequin6467]

This sounds so hectic, it could be a bluecoats show. I LOVE IT

[@dadthecrewmate1429]

Bubbs H it was I believe

[@iCupboard]

It was the closer of the show Metropolis, 2010? I think! :)

[@Emma-ul3gz]

Ugh we played Kingfishers Catch Fire last year and now I really wanna play thissss

[@seaflcwers]

My band director just showed me this and i love it

[@djnodoubt615]

Sheeeesh this song is nuts! I'd love to play it, (clarinet)

[@jimbojambo9936]

I honestly cant stop litening to this, its so fucking good

[@jasonbarrette4980]

I played piano in my university’s wind symphony when they performed this. An absolutely insane ride from start to finish. At one point there is literally just something labeled “chromatic forearm cluster at bottom of piano”. Me: “what? OH, YES!!!” (slams elbow on keys)

[@julianvalenzuela5277]

We played this for marching band, it was challenging but was worth it in the end

[@rann808]

Saw this in concert!

[@lisaammerman9846]

Love it

[@lauraloveleyy8639]

7/8😭😭😭😭 rip next years marching show

[@JeaBo]

Bluecoats?

[@cdanforth112799]

When??

[@JeaBo]

Closer 2011? I think.

[@natetipton1292]

+Joshua Paul Santiago +Connor Katchmarik 2010 actually.

[@JeaBo]

Thank you!

[@someoneelse7287]

+Nate Tipton (NTip27) It's 2011

[@juhstyn.1623]

Marching this my freshman year. Wish me luck.

[@ashle876]

Where? What show??

[@juhstyn.1623]

Tom Riddle Hillgrove High School this year. No decent videos and were only doing part of it

[@devinbrown7274]

Were doing it too, it's a show called ready set go on marching munk it's pretty cool

[@steverman2312]

@@juhstyn.1623 quite ballsy for a highschool to be playing something like *this* then again my marching band played Attentions of Souls last year so what am i saying

[@scarlett5175]

soo how did you do

[@nicolastime4086]

My band has a stroke every time we play this

[@clobypeet5940]

:(

[@lobstermeat5230]

:(

[@claytonwaller7912]

;(

[@andrewd555]

playing this with pmea all state band this year and tbh i have no idea how i'm going to practice with this recording 😂

[@charleycookie9605]

everytime i look down at my music i cry a little bit

[@zachlum4754]

I think it is his second best piece behind Kingfishers Catch Fire

[@thejolegion1971]

+Zach Lum omg kingfishers catch fire is so underrated its so good!

[@Aguamentea]

We are playing this in our “tik -tok” marching show. It’s gonna win us some more trophies (I hope lol) 😭

[@llindsseyy8833]

im playing this in my highschool marching band and still cant seem to get the hit right ;-;

[@didilydont]

Me looking at this piece for the first time : *needs more trumpet*

[@lunarwanshot]

Very cool

[@jasminebenigno-hall1596]

Where can I buy or download concert band pieces?

[@kid10249595]

You know this would be brilliant to put to a roller coaster, although it might be a little jerky given how the song is XD.

[@neilevans1907]

Timpani part is so difficult but so fun

[@tonylamaestra8402]

I gotta play this in freshman band

[@EthanNeal]

5:05 to 5:13 sounds like something from a marching band show...

[@RoyaltonDrummer922]

Probably because he writes for a field drum

[@BrianChristoffersen]

RoyaltonDrummer922 not field drum, marching snare drum (kevlar head and VERY different from a field drum)

[@TheEricJr]

+RoyaltonDrummer922 yeah we played this, there isn't any field drums, only a marching snare

[@RedstoneManiac13]

+Eric Roberson In the score it says "Field Drum w/ Kevlar Head"

[@mctraxxasman10]

Field drums are generally low tension where as a drum with a kevlar head is going to be high tension. High tension snare drums are synonymous with marching snares

[@tobiornottobi8710]

my band wants to play this, but it sounds like chaos and the music is going cost us about $1000 just for one concert... I'm very skeptical

[@andyjacobs7010]

The score costs $60 and it is $375 to rent parts.

[@pauletheridge2412]

This will surely raise Carl Stalling from the grave!

[@noemigarcia7275]

love when our conductor makes us play this. i’m one of the few freshmen in our symphonic band. #whatdigetmyselfinto

[@jaepaul6678]

Asphalt is the dad of undertow and foundry is the uncle of undertow

[@edxniel4292]

epic

[@heatherdiley2690]

My bands playing this for oba

[@haywoodyablowme9486]

Heather Diley MAN I LOVE OF BANDS AMERICA

[@heatherdiley2690]

Haywood Yablowme same we went last year too

[@naufalmuhammadalif-siths]

2010 Bluecoats !!!

[@ppebisnade5592]

fr

[@philipbest2009]

Damn no horn players here?

[@Avstinato]

philipbest2009 really similar to the trumpet part

[@josecenteno4974]

philipbest2009 I'm a horn player and currently playing this song in high school ;)

[@SiandeFish]

Oh, there is some horn work in there too, but not as grandiose as some other music Mackey has written. Nice and funky stop-horn here and there, quite fun to play. Listen to the horns at 5:12 kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqqZnIasm82gaa8m6s the top there is 8 horns, 0 trumpets helping out there :)

[@captainvontrapp8]

Lots of horn rips and flutter tonguing. Play this in two days. Actually starting to like it.

[@fioletovium7801]

2019 seattle cascades✨

[@giltzexuh]

2020 orchestrated

[@zgmerz7305]

Damn Undertoe is nothing to this, this is the real shit

[@devinbrown7274]

4:02

[@vdawg8622]

Marching band show based on this song

[@acerhythm7026]

i could see this in a legend of zelda game lol

[@ethancampbell9096]

Fighting Ganon? I could see that!

[@billyrueckert5113]

Mackey's Xerxes on steroids.

[@saltymuffin286]

*rapid tambourine playing*

[@Txdcblues]

Mackey: key signatures are for the weak!

[@csnoot]

[@csnoot]

[@ginogamboni689]

Actually at 1:31 , there should a 5 octave C

[@ginogamboni689]

only those will get the reference

[@floraflorafloraflorafloraflora]

tom & jerry dir. michael bay

[@Kai-mg1rz]

Jesus lol

[@ethex01]

Roll Tide

[@stevenioannidis8392]

The best part is at 5:33

[@teyce5454]

When it ends? Lol

[@nathanschmidt4889]

@@teyce5454 it's the unison deep breath and passing out that got cut out

[@teyce5454]

Makes alot more sense lmao

[@hamsteronacomputer6692]

small metal trash can

[@fioletovium7801]

5:07