Many Cincinnati natives are familiar with the bucket drummers that perform outside of Reds games every night.
But not as many people know about Xavier’s own group of impromptu percussionists. Wrecking Crew is a student-run
organization whose members read and play music written for bucket drums. The group rehearses twice a week, and members choose one of four different buckets: small buckets, large buckets, trash cans or barrels. When played together, the buckets create a unique percussive medley that Vice President, senior music education major Taylor Brown, is hoping will find a way to be heard. “We hope to play in the atrium
in Cintas Center during basketball games,” Brown said after a rehearsal Sunday night, though the Wrecking Crew has no official plans yet. Despite high interest early last fall, Wrecking Crew struggled to maintain regular rehearsals throughout the school year. Brown has high hopes for the group despite setbacks last year. “I would love to have so many people interested that we have to buy new buckets,” Brown said. Rehearsal times vary for each of the four “bucket sections,” and
each member is expected to be at rehearsal for a total of two hours per week. Two of the bucket sections have sectional rehearsals from 7 to 8 p.m. on Sunday nights and the remaining two sections rehearse from 9:30 to 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday nights. All four sections come together for group rehearsals each Sunday at 8 p.m. and each Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. Anyone interested in joining Wrecking Crew is encouraged to stop by room 205 in Edgecliff Hall during rehearsal times. Brown stresses that everyone is welcome, regardless of musical ability. “Having people of different backgrounds makes the whole thing more rewarding,” she said.
Tuesday, June 24, 2025