Feb. 29th only falls on a Saturday once every 28 years, and so Neal Howard knew if he were going to throw a blow-out birthday bash for his Leap Year baby, now was the time.
And since son Myles loves music so much, Howard knew a band was a party must. He also knew he couldn’t afford to hire the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a favorite of father and son.
To the rescue came The Seed & Feed Marching Abominable, an outlandishly dressed, theater-inspired, high-energy community band that’s been marching in parades and entertaining audiences around Atlanta since 1974.
The all-volunteer band based in Atlanta’s Little Five Points waived its $1,250 fee for playing a private party outside the perimeter to be a part of Myles’ 20th birthday celebration.
That’s not unusual. The band, with a playlist of feel-good, danceable rock and pop standards, regularly performs for free for good causes, said Paige McKay Kubik, chief executive officer of the education nonprofit, Frazer Center, and the band’s musical director and conductor.
Band members are all ages, from middle schoolers to 90-somethings. They represent a wide range of professions and levels of musical experience.
They come from all over metro Atlanta and play at all types of events, from parades and weddings to funerals and festivals. They’ve even performed on a merry-go-round.
The band was busier than usual in the run-up to Myles’ birthday, playing five events in eight days, including a Mardi Gras party for hospice patients, family, and staff at Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
They had a band fundraiser and silent auction planned for the night of Feb. 29, but still couldn’t say no to making a trip to Howard’s Woodstock home.
Myles’ story had touched the heart of Patricia Pichardo, director of product management at RentPath and the band’s booking manager. In a passionate plea for the band’s help, Howard had described Myles, a special needs adult with Down syndrome, as “one of the angels walking among us.”
Miles was lucky to be alive at 20. Just after his 18th birthday, Myles spent 69 days in the hospital with acute respiratory distress syndrome and had to be revived by doctors when his heart stopped beating for a moment or two, his father said.
And there couldn’t be a better gift for Myles’ than a band concert.
One of Myles’ favorite pastimes is to be in a swing in the doorway of his playroom. Opera or other music is playing, and Myles is pretending that he’s conducting an orchestra comprised of some of his favorite action figures.
Between the fundraiser that evening and the long car ride from Little Five Points to Woodstock, Pichardo and Kubik weren’t expecting a big turnout of band members for Myles’ party.
“We were wrong,” Kubik said. “Myles and his dad inspired about 30 band members to show up.”
Band members came from as far as Blue Ridge and Hogansville and were dressed in super-hero costumes, befitting the theme of Myles’ party. They gathered in the cul de sac down from the Howards’ home, as about 30 guests mingled in the front yard.
On a signal from Dad, band members began marching toward the house.
“Myles had no idea we were coming,” Kubik said. “When he saw us, he ran up the street to meet us and joined our ranks.”
Guest of honor Myles was able to try his hand at playing the drums and trombone.
“He danced, did a little conducting, pumped his fist, and gave us the rock-and-roll hand sign throughout the performance,” Kubik said.
Howard had hoped the band might do a song or two, but, instead, they performed for 30 to 45 minutes.
Myles was elated. Dad was overwhelmed.
“I was almost overcome at what these amazing people were doing,” Howard said. “They were all dressed up in wacky costumes, wigs, and such. They had their instruments, and they were all there to help my sweet son have an amazing day.”
WHAT INSPIRES THE SEED & FEED MARCHING ABOMINABLE
“Spreading joy. Making life better. That one smile, that grandma who breaks it down, that kid who can’t help but join in. Years ago (25+), the special citizens of Atlanta’s luncheon had their band cancel, and someone in the band heard about it. A phone tree later (this was before texting and the internet), they had a band and have had a band since. If we can do good and spread the joy we feel at playing, then we will.” — Patricia Pichardo, booking manager for The Seed & Feed Marching Abominable all-volunteer band.
HELP US INSPIRE ATLANTA
We recognize a big part of our journalistic mission is to shine a spotlight on wrongdoings and to hold our public officials accountable.
But we also understand the importance of celebrating our region’s moments, milestones and people. That’s exactly what we hope to accomplish with Inspire Atlanta.
Each week, Inspire Atlanta will profile a person that makes metro Atlanta a better place in which to live.
Of course, we can’t do this alone: We need your help in finding extraordinary people and identifying inspiring stories across our region. We learned about The Seed & Feed Marching Abominable from band member Mary Kay Kreisle.
Know someone who inspires you or makes metro Atlanta a better place for others? Email us at inspireatlanta@ajc.com.
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