Stand by me, but apart: 2-man band lifts up one St. Louis neighborhood
Dominique Burton (left) and Benjamin Kosberg (right) formed a two-man brass band to spread some joy during the coronavirus pandemic in Tower Grove. Photo courtesy of Dominique Burton.
ST. LOUIS — It wasn’t a fancy setup. Just two guys, one tuba and a trombone slowly moving down a St. Louis street.
But the impromptu two-man brass band made up of roommates Dominique Burton and Benjamin Kosberg lifted up neighbors in Tower Grove sheltering in their homes this week to slow the coronavirus pandemic.
My sister lives in St. Louis and just sent me this. Apparently these two did it last week and the whole block cheered them on. pic.twitter.com/YHXpNLNgE9
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) April 1, 2020
Burton and Kosberg, both 28, decided to first perform for their neighbors on Sunday.
“I was getting stir-crazy at home, so I said let’s just go play,” Kosberg said. “That was all we really planned.”
The two men walked through their neighborhood, switching roles on the tuba and trombone and playing whatever songs came to mind: New Orleans brass-band classics such as “Do Watcha Wanna” were in the mix along with “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers, whose death was announced by his family Friday.
Saw you in the park pic.twitter.com/L4v50fSJ9m
— Anthony Atencio (@Anthony_Marc_) April 2, 2020
“It was all spur of the moment,” Burton said. “We’d end a song when we got to the end of the street and would just say, ‘Uh, OK pick another direction.”
Neighbors stuck their heads out windows and came to the side of the road — standing 6 feet apart — to sing along. Often at the end of a song, the scattered audience would break into applause.
One Tower Grove neighbor who asked to be identified only by her first name, Adrienne, said she missed the show the first time they played, but caught the roommates when they filled her street with music again Wednesday.
She took out her phone and started to record as they struck up a slow rendition of “Stand by Me” while walking past the classic St. Louis brick residences.
The ladies across the street from her started to dance and sing, but she stopped recording before many neighbors began to clap and cheer for the musicians.
“I really wish I recorded that part,” Adrienne said. “Because it brought tears to my eyes.”
Adrienne sent the video to her family, and her brother posted it on Twitter. By Friday morning, it had at least 1.7 million views.
“I had to make a Twitter account to watch it,” said Kosberg, who works in construction and makes custom furniture on the side.
Burton, a high school music teacher, said he’s loved seeing the video spread some joy online far beyond who they could reach in-person. The roommates are considering more performances, but have so far stuck to Tower Grove.
“We could only really go as far as you can carry the tuba,” Kosberg said.
Burton said he thinks the video got such a positive response in part because “Stand by Me,” made famous by Ben E. King, is a song that brings people together.
It’s a song that gives a bit of comfort even now when, yes, we all have to stand apart.
Red and Black Brass Band rolls through Old North St. Louis
Red and Black Brass Band rolls through Old North St. Louis
Members of the Red and Black Brass Band stroll through the Old North St. Louis neighborhood in the 2900 block of N. 14th Street on Sunday, April 19, 2020. At the start of the stay-at-home order two friends, Dominique Burton and Benjamin Kosberg, took to the streets of the Tower Grove South neighborhood with their instruments and played for their neighbors. A video of the men posted on social media went viral, they began playing more and they invited their musician friends to join them to complete the band. State Rasheen Aldridge heard the band playing in Soulard and suggested they come up to Old North St. Louis and play for the residents up there. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Red and Black Brass Band rolls through the Old North St. Louis
Sammy Cheung, left, Chase Cheung, 9, Leslie Tipton, and Chanel Cheung, 6 months, step out of their house to hear the Red and Black Brass Band perform in the streets of the Old North St. Louis neighborhood on Sunday, April 19, 2020. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Red and Black Brass Band rolls through the Old North St. Louis
Dominique Burton, the trombone player for the Red and Black Brass Band, play his instrument as he marches through the streets of the Old North St. Louis neighborhood on Sunday, April 19, 2020. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Red and Black Brass Band rolls through the Old North St. Louis
The Red and Black Brass Band begins their parade east along St. Louis Avenue in St. Louis on Sunday, April 19, 2020. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Red and Black Brass Band rolls through the Old North St. Louis
A man watches from his window as the Red and Black Brass Band marches east on St. Louis Avenue in St. Louis on Sunday, April 19, 2020. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Red and Black Brass Band rolls through the Old North St. Louis
People out for a walk listen as the Red and Black Brass Band parades east along St. Louis Avenue in St. Louis on Sunday, April 19, 2020. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Red and Black Brass Band rolls through the Old North St. Louis
Kevin Spencer photographs the Red and Black Brass Band as the parade along the 2800 block of N. 14th Street in St. Louis on Sunday, April 19, 2020. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Red and Black Brass Band rolls through the Old North St. Louis
Members of the Red and Black Brass Band move east on St. Louis Avenue through the Old North St. Louis neighborhood on Sunday, April 19, 2020. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Red and Black Brass Band rolls through the Old North St. Louis
Gina Sheridan and Travis Sheridan listen from the second story of their home, constructed from shipping containers, as the Red and Black Brass Band march around the Old North St. Louis neighborhood on Sunday, April 19, 2020. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Red and Black Brass Band rolls through the Old North St. Louis
People whip out their phones to record the Red and Black Brass Band as the band parades east along St. Louis Avenue in St. Louis on Sunday, April 19, 2020. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Red and Black Brass Band rolls through the Old North St. Louis
Courtney McDermott listens and records the Red and Black Brass Band on her phone as the band rolls through the Old North St. Louis neighborhood on Sunday, April 19, 2020. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Red and Black Brass Band rolls through the Old North St. Louis
A girl listens from her window as the Red and Black Brass Band performs in the Old North St. Louis neighborhood on Sunday, April 19, 2020. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Red and Black Brass Band rolls through the Old North St. Louis
Monique Ward listens and records the Red and Black Brass Band on her phone as the band rolls through the Old North St. Louis neighborhood on Sunday, April 19, 2020. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Red and Black Brass Band rolls through the Old North St. Louis
Members of the Red and Black Brass Band march south of N. 14th Street through the Old North St. Louis neighborhood on Sunday, April 19, 2020. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
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Dominique Burton (left) and Benjamin Kosberg (right) formed a two-man brass band to spread some joy during the coronavirus pandemic in Tower Grove. Photo courtesy of Dominique Burton.