Kazoos were not made for rap music.
Toledo’s Kazoo Kids have tried.
Instead, the music group — which, yes, really plays kazoos — sticks to classics, holiday jams, and top-40 style hits.
“When people first see us, they’re like, ‘What is this?’ Five seconds later they’re like, ‘I’m into it. It’s so weird.’ And then they’re into us,” said band member Ann Petlow, 35, of Toledo.
Ms. Petlow is one of 16 band members, although not all can always meet for all of the various practices and gigs such as performing at art walks and in parades. They played a birthday party once, too, and were to be paid in cake.
That bill could be headed to collections.
None of the Kazoo Kids on the Block are professional musicians or kazooists — if there is such a thing — but most played an instrument in high school or college.
It’s not hard, they said. Just hum.
Eventually it will start to sound like music.
“I heard someone say it almost took them back to their childhood because it’s something they used to play,” said Michelle Keller, 30, of Toledo.
The idea to start a neighborhood-based band in the Old West End started years ago. Neighbors who were still hanging on to their trumpets and clarinets and saxophones, which sat unused for at least a decade, met to practice.
“Turns out if you haven’t played your saxophone or clarinet in 10 to 15 years, it’s terrible,” said Beth Dalzell, 38, of Toledo.
The neighbors considered taking private lessons to improve their skills, but the commitment seemed unrealistic.
“I thought it was cool that the spirit was there,” Ms. Dalzell said.
The Kazoo Kids, which is not exclusively Old West Enders, started one night with an impulse buy on Amazon.
“I was like, ‘We’re going to make this happen,’ ” Ms. Dalzell said. “My credit card is linked to my Amazon app on my phone, so I just decided to order some kazoos.”
Some of the 30 colorful, plastic instruments were passed out among the group, all longtime friends. Their first public performance was at the Old West End Festival in June, marching along the parade route. They even won an award for their performance, the “stand on your head award” (which requires no actual headstands). They won $130 and, instead of going out for beers or dinner, they did what any good kazoo band does: bought more kazoos.
“People think it’s a riot to see a kazoo band,” said Jessica McCray, 34, of Toledo.
Contact Taylor Dungjen at tdungjen@theblade.com, or 419-724-6054, or on Twitter @taylordungjen.
First Published December 20, 2015, 5:00 a.m.
