Nothing screams “WISCONSIN” quite like playing “The Star Spangled Banner” before a Brewers game on a charcoal grill.
There’s nothing quite like our nation’s anthem. The playing of “The Star Spangled Banner” before sporting events is one of my favorite parts about attending games in person. Nothing beats rising up with your fellow Americans, placing your hand over your heart, and taking in the national anthem as a collective group. For those couple of minutes, there aren’t fans of this team and that team… there’s only one team: America.
Gives me chills every time.
And I only bring up sporting events because that’s traditionally one of the only places you’ll hear the “Star Spangled Banner” live. Prior to each contest, teams bring out a vocally gifted individuals to serenade the crowd with a song celebrating this great country. Or in this case… the team calls upon someone who’s gifted in grill-percussion.
The Milwaukee Brewers had the Violent Femmes – an 80s-era folk punk band comprised of Brian Ritchie and John Sparrow, among others – perform the national anthem at American Family Field over the weekend, and it’s slowly but surely gone viral. Why? Because the Milwaukee-born band went with a non-traditional rendition of America’s national song.
Ritchie played a bamboo flute, and Sparrow traded out his drums for a 22-inch Weber grill (it’s become quite a regular staple of the band in the past decade or so). Though it was an unconventional way to play “The Star Spangled Banner,” it actually sounded spectacular:
“What a wild rendition of the national anthem tonight at American Family Field. First time I’ve seen a grill used as an instrument!”
Well, that answers the age-old question, “Is a grill an instrument?”
I don’t know about you, but I’ve never heard our national anthem performed that way. For some reason, playing the song on a charcoal grill makes it feel that much more American, no? The only thing that could have made it better was if, immediately upon wrapping up the song, the duo opened up the grill to reveal hot dogs grilling.
Tossing a hot dog into the crowd that just played a part in the game’s national anthem ceremony? That’s peak America. Maybe the Violent Femmes can work on that for next time. Until then, enjoy some of the replies that were left underneath the post:
This rules
— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) August 9, 2026
This is the most Wisconsin thing I’ve ever seen.😂
— Endo🐻 (@IEnders11) August 9, 2026
Next time someone asks what America is like I’m showing them this
— Mariah (@shesgotagripe) August 9, 2026
That’s super effective
— James Houchin (@JamesHouchin) August 9, 2026
The European mind cannot comprehend this.
— Vin Mariani (@BranchFl0ridian) August 10, 2026
“How do you want the Star Spangled Banner?”
“Well done”
— Glen (@glenfrommke) August 9, 2026
Phenomenal grilling pun right there…
