Chelsea Bossert/Daily Mining Gazette Huskies Pep Band Faculty Adviser, Drew Kilpela, conducts the final song of the band's performance Tuesday night at The Rozsa Center

HOUGHTON — There is simply other experience like a the Pep Band performing next to a rowdy student section during a home game at Michigan Technological University.

Huskies Pep Band President, Josh Arango, put it best with the introduction of the Huskies Pep Band, during its annual Rozsa performance Tuesday. “The Cream of the Keweenaw, The Pride of Pasty Land, The Only Non-Maritime Emergency Excuse to Honk The Bridge, The Destroyer of Household Appliances, The Second-Best Feeling in the World … Huskies Pep Band!”

The the pre-show energy on in the performance hall was electric. And then the show, “25 Years of Stripes on the Wall” at The Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts officially began.

The show kicked off by Arango theatrically introducing the band and its many arm wavers — who enthusiastically led the show throughout its two hour run time.

Huskies Pep Band’s Rozsa performances are highlighted by three things: funny looking hats, laugh-out-loud skits and bombastic pep arrangements. All three were present Tuesday night.

Animal hats, weird shaped hats, pirate hats, hats from iconic movies and hats which do not make a lick of sense — Tuesday night was all about oddball moments making up an endearing and truly Michigan Tech experience.

Some of the skits sprinkled throughout the performance included a national geographic spoof jokingly poking fun at Arango, two ridiculously hilarious Canadian-themed skits which saw two arm wavers throwing around a makeshift curling rock, and a “this or that” interactive game where the band, as well as the audience, decided which of two choices they preferred.

Skits like these can be tacky if done wrong, but Huskies Pep Band never skimps out on their campy attitude — they know they are being ridiculous and it works.

The musical arrangements for classic songs like “Carry On My Wayward Son,” “Seven Nation Army” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” echoed throughout the venue. Brass, Horns, Winds, Percussion — the whole band stood loud and proud on stage.

Arango, a third-year MTU student, spoke on how important the band celebrating 25 Years at The Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts is. “Ever since the Rozsa opened up, it really opened up the door for what the Huskies Pep Band can do here on campus,” he said. “We’re really happy that we have 25 years here and hopefully at least 25 more.”

Near the end of the performance, Faculty Adviser of Huskies Pep Band, Drew Kilpela, gave recognition to the 29 seniors graduating in the spring and fall this year. He shared the honorees’ favorite moments of being a part of Huskies Pep Band.

Kilpela then made his way up onto the raised podium on stage where he conducted the final songs of the night, something he has rarely tried before.

“I really love conducting the Pep Band because they give you all the energy that you give them,” he said. “They’re really good at putting out a ton of sounds and a ton of enthusiasm. It’s a nice give and take between the conductor and the band.”

Huskies Pep Band Arm Waver, Lily Ketelsen, shares the same sentiment about conducting. She feels there’s a strong connection between the band and whoever is standing above them on the podium. There is a great deal of respect.

“Being a student though, it really is like a one in a lifetime experience,” she said. “I look out across them and I like making eye contact and just feeling that connection with them one on one.”

To see the full performance, visit the Rozsa Center’s YouTube Channel and click on “live.” More information about the Rozsa Center can be found at mtu.edu/rozsa.