The message of this year’s Fountain Hills High School marching band performance is simple: these kids are gearing up to take over the world.

The show is called “Uprising,” and it boasts a collection of songs including “Uprising,” by Muse; “Smells like teen spirit, by Nirvana; “Creep,” by Radiohead; and “Numb,” by Linkin Park.

For those unfamiliar with this year’s songs, they all share the theme of a generation of young people who live in a world that blames them for much and expects little of them. In short, it’s about youngsters who are being written off before they are even given a chance to shine.

Band members Sam Aker (senior, drum major), Kevin Perreault (senior, trumpet/horn section leader), Laura Anderson (senior, flute section leader) and Leah Osborn (junior, baritone/librarian) agree that this was a good time to roll out this type of performance. They are part of a generation that feels trapped between two sides that are locked in constant conflict; sides that can only seem to agree that “these kids today” won’t amount to much.

“Uprising,” the show, argues the opposite. But whether you’re in it for the message, the music or a mixture of the two, the Fighting Flock of Falcon Fury just wants you to be entertained.

“We’re playing more modern music this year,” Aker said. “It all has this kind of rebellious spirit to it.”

Anderson agreed.

“It’s definitely angsty,” she said. “It’s supposed to represent a teen uprising. Teens these days feel like adults are suppressing them, saying ‘oh, this is the worst generation yet.’

“So the show is supposed to show the teens rising up against that idea and showing that we can do anything; that we will be a great generation.”

Osborn said that the show basically says, “We’re here and we have power.”

Perreault, being a senior, said he is getting his first taste of that “power” that comes with growing older. He said that this is the first year he’s had to concentrate more on the band rather than himself, helping make sure that the underclassmen are prepared and ready to roll once it’s time to perform.

Aker agreed.

“[Being drum major] is completely different from playing in the band,” he said. “Your responsibilities change and are increased. You also get a lot of authority to carry out those responsibilities, and obviously there’s a lot of pressure that comes with that.

“Personally, it was a rude awakening. But then we got into a groove and now I’m having fun. It’s a great adventure. You have to be there for the band, be solid and confident and act like you’ve done it a million times even though, half the time, you’re wondering ‘what am I doing?’”

Anderson said she feels this show is powerful and impactful, and she’s looking forward to fans seeing more of it during halftime performances at home football games.

“I really, really enjoy the song choices,” she added. “Some of them will be easier for the audience to relate to, and we really like having a fun time with the crowd.”

Osborn continued.

“I think we’re going to get a lot of reaction from the crowd, which is one of my favorite parts of marching band,” she said.

As for Aker, he described the show as an “underdog win,” a feeling he hopes the audience can share with them.

“Our band is kind of an underdog in a lot of ways,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of the resources other programs have, in terms of school population and financial support. I think it’s cool if we can go out there and perform an awesome show so that people say, ‘wow, here’s this band from little Fountain Hills and they’re just rocking it.’”

Perreault agreed. adding, “I like playing music I think most of our generation can understand…All I ask is that [the audience] looks like they’re enjoying it. We’re going to be giving it all that we’ve got, and that’s all we can do.”