Traditions of the Mellos/HMB

As is the case with the majority of college bands out there, the HMB has a number of traditions and the mellos are no exception. Here you'll find the traditions which everyone in the band takes part of as well as those exclusive to the mellos.

Traditions Specific to the Mellos

• Pre-Game Ritual: All sections have to do something before the game, right? Even though we say we'll always get a new one, we never do. Before every home game (and once or twice on the road), the mellos form a circle behind the east-end bleachers and, starting with the section leader, each member says something inspirational about gameday (i.e. show reminders, be loud, have fun, days left until the Oregon game). After everyone is done, the circle shrinks and everyone sings Bow Down to Washington about 5x faster than normal. Good times...
• The Mello Socks: Not practiced as much as it once was but on some rallies before homegames, some in the section choose to wear purple-and-white-striped socks for everyone to see. It's a shame we don't do this much anymore
• Rally Song Starting: While warming up in the HUB parking lot before rallies, the mellos are usually known for starting Throne Room (from Star Wars) and everyone joins
• Mello Treats: You could say this is done in every section, but on every road trip (via bus), each mello brings snacks ranging from cookies to fried chicken for the section.

HMB Traditions (more to come since there are about a billion of them, these are the main ones)

• HMB does the Drum Yell and sings Bow before every rehearsal/recording/anything related to HMB
• All rookies must know the entire set of lyrics to Bow Down to Washington before the first road game and are tested on the bus at some ungodly hour of the trip
• Following Husky victories (and there will be a lot next year), all the band wears their baseball cap backwards in celebration
• After each first down, the band plays a unison note. For each consecutive first down an additional tone is added to the run, half a step higher.
• Since 1921 The Siren has sounded after each Washington score, every Washington victory and upon the entrance of the Purple & Gold into Husky Stadium. Care and operation of The Siren is vested in the bands Equipment Manager (how hard can it be to operate the thing though? You pull a string it makes a sound)