MARCHING BANDS: [ PDF] [ JPZ]
PROGRAMS: [Adobe Reader] [Crossword Solver]
For those that don’t know, I write roughly 294 puzzles a week, give or take a handful. I don’t sleep. I’m just a machine that cranks these things out all the [expletive] time. And one of those umpteen puzzles is a biweekly Marching Bands. All serious puzzle connoisseurs know the form. Crossword Jesus Mike Shenk invented it, and according to our friends over at Crossword Fiend, I’ve mastered it.
For the uninitiated, here are the instructions:
In this themeless variant, answers appear in two different directions, Rows and Bands. Each Row has two answers side by side with no black square separating them (except for row 7). And Each band starts at the lettered square and goes around the grid clockwise, one answer after another all the way around the circle. Every square appears in two answers.
Simple enough. Anyway, enjoy this puzzle. And if you’re interested in signing up for this feature, year six (where’d the time go?) starts up on April 27th! $15 gets you a year of these puzzles (PayPal or Venmo (@TheBEQ) preferred). Hell, if you’ve got time on your hands, and you want any of the previous years, tack on $10 for each additional year (up to five to choose from), or $30 for the entire batch. All right? All right.
Share the puzzle. Themeless Thursday is on deck.
Never completed one. Was enjoyable. I did have to have some 5 single letters revealed, and confused Serena with Vanessa!
Puzzle is not working on my end.
Same on my end.
Puzzle does not work for me, either.
Hi, Brendan, I love a good Marching Band. One quibble, you rated this as Medium. I’d say it was HARD! I did it on paper, so no way to check answers. I Googled, a lot.
Dear Mr. Quigley,
I love your Marching Bands puzzles; when the NYTimes publishes one it makes my week. I’m amazed that anyone can construct such a complicated set of interlocking letters and words. Congratulations, and thank you.
Regarding there being no rhyme for “silver,” Stephen Sondheim answered that challenge back in the 1970s:
To find a rhyme for silver
Or any “rhymeless” rhyme
Requires only will, ver-
bosity and time.
Granted, it’s a trick rhyme, but still pretty clever.
Cheers and stay safe,
SEC
Brendan,
I don’t know how else to contact you, but I am interested in buying a subscription to Marching Bands (all six years), How do I do this?
Hi Brendan, interested in signing up for current and past marching bands – thanks for all you do!
Hi,
I just sent you $45 via PayPal for a year’s subscription to Marching Bands plus all of the earlier MBs. Please use email below.
Thanks–looking forward to hours of pleasure.