GSU Band Woo’s Audience in Nevada

by Thomas Ranson
Behind the Plate

Grambling State University is nothing without its marching band.

And the same needs to be said about the Pride of the Sierra.

The “Best Band in the Land” dazzled 20,000-plus fans last weekend at Mackay Stadium in Nevada’s home opener. The Marching Tigers performed several times over the weekend, including a free show at the Peppermill followed by shows at halftime and after the Pack’s game with Grambling State. Nevada’s band even performed with the Tigers after game.

If Grambling State comes back to Nevada for an encore performance, it might not see or hear an opposing marching band. Over the summer, UNR President Milton Glick proposed cutting the marching band and one of its directors after the end of this season. Told by Gov. Gibbons to make unrealistic cuts, Glick opted the easy way out with the band.

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Marching Band Weather

 By Jonathan Ahl
All Things Considered

Autumnal weather patterns have hit my new home state that lies on the eastern edge of the plains and the western edge of the Midwest. I walked outside the other morning to notice the crispness of the air and the cooler temperatures. There is a certainly clarity that comes after the heat goes away. Humidity is no longer the enemy, but somehow better integrated into the feeling of the climate. The dew is a little heavier, and the sky a bit more open.

This, my friends, is Marching Band Weather.

Call me a band geek, a music nerd, or whatever, but it’s true. Ask anyone who marched in their high school or college marching band, and they will know what I’m talking about. There’s that day when the heat of the summer gives way and it starts to feel like fall is on the way. Maybe its just a coincidence, but during my teenage years, that change always happened during marching band season.

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Showtime Band Anticipates Debut Performance at Greene

By Traver Riggins / HU Daily Voice

One week before the hustle of freshmen move-in week, the Howard University Showtime Marching Band was preparing for a new season and Saturday’s home football game against Georgetown.

With their first halftime performance rapidly approaching and music from popular artists such as Lil’ Wayne and Soulja Boy, band direction Kelvin Washington anticipates the performance.

“We are looking forward to representing the university with much pride and executing the halftime show with precision,” Washington said.

Each year, band directors Washington, John Newson and Cortrell Davis begin the season early with a rigorous band camp in order to acclimate the new members to the program.

“We arrived in the second week of August and since have been working on the fundamentals such as style and technique,” Washington said. “Also, trying to master the fundamentals of playing as a group.” Read more

Florida A&M Performs for Dolphins Game

Source:   WCTV.tv

This weekend the Florida A&M Marching 100 heads to Miami for the Dolphins - Jets game.   Members of the Florida A & M Marching 100 have been getting ready all week long–practicing some special additions to their show, such as the Miami Dolphins theme song.

The band has a long history of special appearances by request and band members say it’s an honor every time. “Just being humble about the experiences that we’ve done because we’ve done the Super Bowl in the past down there a couple of years ago. It’s just another humbling experience to go back down there and show the city what we can do.” said Steven Cooper, a senior Marching 100 band member.

Many band members and football fans are also excited to see Brett Farve hit the field as a New York Jet for the first time when the game kicks off at 1:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

Marching 101 heads to Atlanta for HBCU Hall of Fame Classic

Source:  The Times and Democrat

The sounds of the South Carolina State University Marching 101 band will fill the skies of Atlanta this Labor Day during its performance at the first-ever HBCU Hall of Fame Marching Band Classic.

“I’m very excited to showcase our band. … We’ve been there before but not to an event of this magnitude,” said S.C. State Band Director Eddie Ellis of the trip. The event will be held at Herndon Stadium on the campus of Morris Brown College.

That event will culminate a busy weekend that includes a stop in Orlando for the Bulldogs’ opening football game against the University of Central Florida on Saturday. When the band finally returns to campus, they will have traveled more than 1,000 miles this weekend.

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Prairie View Invited to Tournament of Roses Parade

Source:  KBTV.com

Everything is coming up roses for Prairie View A&M.

The university’s renowned Marching Storm Band and Black Foxes dance team have been invited to perform in the New Year’s Day Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena California.

A news conference is set for August 29th for the official announcement.  The Marching Storm had entertained audiences around the U.S. earning a reputation for its outstanding performances and showmanship.

Past appearances include President Bush’s Inauguration Parade in Washington, D.C. and halftime for the Dallas Cowboy.

La Marque High School Changes Styles

By Rhiannon Meyers
The Daily News

Published August 29, 2008

The La Marque High School marching band has given up flashy dancing and hip hop songs for a more subdued “multicultural” routine. The Texas City High School marching band has sacrificed its original score for a tune by the Beatles.

Tonight, high school marching bands will roll out routines that are much different from what fans have come to expect. And while some are changing their halftime shows to make fans happy (listen for Texas City High School’s band to open with the Beatles’ “Hey Jude”), other bands are curbing the crowd-pleasing routines that have bordered on the risqué.

This year, the band director at La Marque High School said he is “cleaning up” the routine. Abraham Cosse, band director for two years, eliminated hip hop songs and dancing from most of the band’s halftime show. Instead of rap music, the band will play R&B, gospel, classical and maybe even some rock songs, he said.
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Boston Brass at South Carolina State Univ.

South Carolina State University and the Bamberg Erhardt High School Band are proud to present the Boston Brass in concert on September 17 at 7 PM at the MLK Auditorium on the campus of South Carolina State University.

Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for Adults.

Contact Mike Miller at 803-383-2764 for more information

http://www.bostonbrass.com/

HBCU Band Hall of Fame Battle of the Bands Moved to Herndon Stadium, Event Still Scheduled as Planned

The HBCU Band Hall of Fame Battle of the Bands has changed venues and will be held on the campus of Morris Brown College at Herndon Stadium.

As we get more information we will keep you posted.

Nevada, Grambling bands to perform together after game

They’ve brought their version of “Ball of Confusion” to three Super Bowls and two presidential inaugurations, and this week members of Grambling State University’s world famous Tiger Marching Band will be shaking things up in Reno.

Nevadans have two chances to catch the Tigers: Friday at a free performance at the Peppermill and Saturday when Grambling State’s football team plays the Wolf Pack in Mackay Stadium.
It’s an athletic and musical matchup that has been two years in the making, Rory Hickok, Nevada associate athletic director, said.

“We started the negotiations in 2007, so this has been in the works for quite a while now,” he said. “This is truly a historic occasion to get a band of this renown in Northern Nevada. They have played at presidential inaugurations and Super Bowl halftimes, so this is an opportunity to see one of the world’s most famous bands.” Read more