Band of the Irish Guards

Olivia Flores Alvarez February 18, 2010 4:00AM

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So, you're a trumpet player, and suddenly you find yourself in Kosovo as part of a NATO peacekeeping force. Such is the life of the musician-soldiers in the Band of the Irish Guards. Organized at the turn of the 20th century by command of Queen Victoria, the Guard started out as a regimental band but was also tasked as support for the Army Medical Services - and it still is. Along with worldwide tours as a band, the group is occasionally deployed to areas of conflict. That's how some musicians ended up in the first Gulf War in 1990, and the whole band spent time in Kosovo ten years ago. Thankfully, during today's performance, the group will be functioning more as musicians than as soldiers. It's a little early for St. Patrick's Day ditties, so expect lots of marches and rousing, patriotic songs, such as the tunes they recorded for their Marches of Two World Wars CD release last year. 7:30 p.m. Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana. For information, call 713-227-4772 or visit www.spahouston.org. $22 to $57.
Tue., Feb. 23, 2010