(07-16-2020 08:49 AM)HyperDuke Wrote:  

(07-16-2020 08:32 AM)TrueBlueDrew Wrote:  I think it's also important to differentiate between bands that only perform one show a season and bands that perform multiple different shows a season. Jacksonville State and Western Carolina are known for their grandiose shows, but that's because they have 6 months to perfect it. Meanwhile when I marched SPMB, we performed a new show at every home game.

I should’ve mentioned Jacksonville State in addition to Western Carolina. Those are the two best corps-style college groups in the country.

I understand what you’re saying, but that conversation never really ends. JMU (‘94 Sudler Trophy recipient) currently plays two shows each year. Which category are they in? While I appreciate those bands that perform new shows every week, excellence is excellence. Directors make choices about style and missions for their bands & one of the side-effects is a band like Virginia Tech (new shows every week) will NEVER be able to achieve some of the corps-style excellence of a WCU or J-ville State.

Your comments also presume that WCU and JSU couldn’t put out multiple shows of that quality. I suspect they could, but choose not to.

But your comments also presume that a band who performs six shows a year wouldn't look and sound just as good as JSU if they only had to learn one. I've seen both JSU and WCU bands in person and they are great at what they do, but I disagree it makes them the best.

(07-16-2020 08:32 AM)TrueBlueDrew Wrote:  I think it's also important to differentiate between bands that only perform one show a season and bands that perform multiple different shows a season. Jacksonville State and Western Carolina are known for their grandiose shows, but that's because they have 6 months to perfect it. Meanwhile when I marched SPMB, we performed a new show at every home game.

That's a good point. A college band should be a "working band", meaning one that drills and prepares routines in support of athletic events, marches in parades, etc.

A band that just exists to compete in competitions with other bands, or otherwise is just kind of its own showcase thing, isn't really comparable.

There’s not really any college competitions. Some entity tried to push that a few years back but it was a gigantic flop with almost no participation.

(07-16-2020 10:05 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(07-16-2020 08:32 AM)TrueBlueDrew Wrote:  I think it's also important to differentiate between bands that only perform one show a season and bands that perform multiple different shows a season. Jacksonville State and Western Carolina are known for their grandiose shows, but that's because they have 6 months to perfect it. Meanwhile when I marched SPMB, we performed a new show at every home game.

That's a good point. A college band should be a "working band", meaning one that drills and prepares routines in support of athletic events, marches in parades, etc.

A band that just exists to compete in competitions with other bands, or otherwise is just kind of its own showcase thing, isn't really comparable.

Both are “college bands”, just with different missions and styles. I respect the heck out of the Human Jukebox. They are a great example of existing well in both realms. They would flourish even if football died because of what they do. I also think their field shows are kinda the least impressive thing they do. WCU & JSU are the opposite. All three bands are exceptional.

And my G-South friend is correct. I should have considered it in reverse. I just have never found as much to admire in the quick turnaround bands based on the quality of sound.

Best band? LYNYRD SKYNYRD!!!!!
Freeeeeeeeeeeeeee Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiird!!!!!!!!!!

I love Vanderbilt on every level but will admit our band is modest in numbers and distinctive routines. But I still watch the band when I attend games and always give its members a strong cheer and clap.

As a Tennessee State fan, too, I strongly enjoy the Aristocrat of Bands. Those young women and men "get after it."

Some history from Wiki:

The band emerged from the Jazz Collegians of Tennessee State University, and was requested by TSU President Walter Davis as support for athletics. In 1946, J.D. Chavis started the organization with 100 pieces after some weeks of practices. Originally titled as "The Marching 100", the name "Aristocrat of Bands" was given by a sportscaster at a National Football League game.

TSU Band was my favorite when they played at the last Queen City Battle of the Bands in Charlotte (before the event rebranded and moved to NRG in Houston). I miss going to that event every August!

(07-16-2020 11:36 AM)army56mike Wrote:  Best band? LYNYRD SKYNYRD!!!!!
Freeeeeeeeeeeeeee Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiird!!!!!!!!!!

Ironically, Liberty’s MB (specifically their Percussion section) is truly outstanding.

(07-15-2020 07:45 PM)Love and Honor Wrote:  As a former Miami band member, I'll freely admit that we weren't very good (though we certainly had a good time).

While the OP asks for the best band in college sports, I will say that the best groups are undoubtedly the ones in DCI (also made up of college-aged performers) in terms of musical talent, visuals, creativity, and general effect. But that's apples and oranges, it's not fair to compare kids in the middle of a semester (who often rotate shows every week) against a group where the best in the nation shell out thousands to voluntarily eat and breath their ensemble and a single show during the summer. But here's a great one in case you're interested:

This. I should say that I didn't do college band because I didn't think it was worth it without the competition aspect (although getting free trips for Auburn's championship appearances would have been a good perk). Obviously the collection of talent in a college band is better, but my high school had significantly better performances than any show I've seen a college do. College is usually just doing one formation every 3 minutes while playing some song that you hope fans will recognize.

HBCU bands are really entertaining but yeesh they're bad if you actually know what's going on.

The Southern University Human Jukebox

(07-16-2020 02:05 PM)GreenHornet33 Wrote:  



The Southern University Human Jukebox

+3 for a screencap that shows our Fabulous Dancing Dolls.

(07-16-2020 12:11 PM)Auburn_Blazer Wrote:  HBCU bands are really entertaining but yeesh they're bad if you actually know what's going on.

This is an ignorant comment. Just because you know DCI & corps-style through & through doesn’t mean other different styles aren’t valid. The characteristic tone is MUCH different in a DCI corps (RIP 2020) or corps-style college group than the HBCU target sound. Pretending like one characteristic tone is “right” is ignorant as it relates to college marching bands. It ignores the decades of history of the HBCU show-style band and attempts to put it in a lower tier. It’s just very different!

I have never played in nor led an HBCU-style marching band. My professional career HAS involved performing in or leading corps-style groups. That said, I’ve tried to learn a lot by attending performances and talking with colleagues who are experts in that style. There are SOME bands that fall short of excellence in the given tradition (like you mention). However, there are many exhibiting world-class excellence within the style.

One of Southern’s big band rivals is the Sonic Boom of the South (Jackson State University). Here’s them demonstrating high-level musical performance WITHIN THE HBCU STYLE. Hope you can appreciate!

(07-16-2020 12:11 PM)Auburn_Blazer Wrote:  College is usually just doing one formation every 3 minutes while playing some song that you hope fans will recognize.

And to be fair, I also strongly agree with this part of your post. College band directors do what their bosses and fans want. It’s created a scenario where many college band directors SELL this message to their participants that their ensemble is so fantastic because they're always preparing new shows each week. It’s a bit of a car salesman bit to keep morale up as other groups they encounter are perhaps achieving at higher levels or pulling off more complex music or drill.

I view it a bit more cynically because of scenarios I’ve seen while working in this industry. I prefer the bands that play 2-3 shows per season at most, but put more work into polishing the performances and adding design depth. But if those new weekly shows drive the bus (GATA reference!), more power to those programs. I just think it’s a bit of a stretch when they tell themselves they’re on the same levels as a WCU or J-Ville State.

In this subdivision? James Madison.

In major college? Texas A&M.

I enjoy all the different types of bands and think it might be unfair to compare them.

Some folks like strawberry ice cream, while others enjoy peach, it just comes down to personal preference. The difference is what makes them interesting, and the fact they are different from what you are used to seeing from your school's band.

As far as Western Carolina's Pride of the Mountains, yes it's one show per season, but each week, more is added to the show, so it's not like you are just seeing the same thing, week after week. The entire show is not performed until the final home game of the season.

(07-16-2020 11:54 AM)HyperDuke Wrote:  

(07-16-2020 11:36 AM)army56mike Wrote:  Best band? LYNYRD SKYNYRD!!!!!
Freeeeeeeeeeeeeee Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiird!!!!!!!!!!

Ironically, Liberty’s MB (specifically their Percussion section) is truly outstanding.

I love Spirit of the Mountain. They are always entertaining and do a great job. Not saying they’re one of the best around, but they represent LU and marching bands admirably.

(07-16-2020 09:43 PM)HyperDuke Wrote:  

(07-16-2020 12:11 PM)Auburn_Blazer Wrote:  College is usually just doing one formation every 3 minutes while playing some song that you hope fans will recognize.

And to be fair, I also strongly agree with this part of your post. College band directors do what their bosses and fans want. It’s created a scenario where many college band directors SELL this message to their participants that their ensemble is so fantastic because they're always preparing new shows each week. It’s a bit of a car salesman bit to keep morale up as other groups they encounter are perhaps achieving at higher levels or pulling off more complex music or drill.

I view it a bit more cynically because of scenarios I’ve seen while working in this industry. I prefer the bands that play 2-3 shows per season at most, but put more work into polishing the performances and adding design depth. But if those new weekly shows drive the bus (GATA reference!), more power to those programs. I just think it’s a bit of a stretch when they tell themselves they’re on the same levels as a WCU or J-Ville State.

Consistent with my experience as well, I went back to tech at my high school during some summers in college so that gave me some good insight on the industry. Coming from a MAC school however I can tell you that the reverse can be true as well; we'd do one big show per season and refine it, while we'd build it up and make it better there comes a point when you get into the chilly November games (specifically MACtion for us) where no show arrangement will keep morale extra high when there's only a few thousand in the stands. Then again when I went we were awful with no hope for postseason play, kids nowadays have a bowl and potential championship game to look forward to.

(07-16-2020 07:38 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(07-16-2020 07:25 AM)HyperDuke Wrote:  Thank god someone posted WCU before me.

Fun facts:

ECU is closer to the Naval Academy in Annapolis than it is to WCU.

WCU is closer to Alabama in Tuscaloosa than it is to ECU. It's closer to Louisville and Cincinnati too.

Yeesh. Never knew that.

Lots of people don't realize how far east-to-west North Carolina is, and WCU and ECU aren't even the farthest extremes. Murphy, NC to Manteo, NC is a 546-mile, 8 hour 40 minute drive according to Google Maps. It's just a hair longer than Memphis to Mountain City, TN (544 miles, 8 hours 13 minutes).

(07-17-2020 07:11 PM)Michael in Raleigh Wrote:  

(07-16-2020 07:38 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(07-16-2020 07:25 AM)HyperDuke Wrote:  Thank god someone posted WCU before me.

Fun facts:

ECU is closer to the Naval Academy in Annapolis than it is to WCU.

WCU is closer to Alabama in Tuscaloosa than it is to ECU. It's closer to Louisville and Cincinnati too.

Yeesh. Never knew that.

Lots of people don't realize how far east-to-west North Carolina is, and WCU and ECU aren't even the farthest extremes. Murphy, NC to Manteo, NC is a 546-mile, 8 hour 40 minute drive according to Google Maps. It's just a hair longer than Memphis to Mountain City, TN (544 miles, 8 hours 13 minutes).

Virginia has that same deal where it borders North Carolina. When I was a sports reporter two lifetimes ago, I covered a regional softball playoff involving a school that drove eight hours from the deepest most western part of the state; it was further west, in fact, then all of West Virginia. I talked to the coach a bit before the game and he said that they were closer to 12 state capitals than Richmond, their own. Virginia used to hold the smaller schools basketball tournaments in Norfolk, and some schools had to drive 12 hours in a big yellow limo for that one.

(07-17-2020 07:20 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(07-17-2020 07:11 PM)Michael in Raleigh Wrote:  

(07-16-2020 07:38 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(07-16-2020 07:25 AM)HyperDuke Wrote:  Thank god someone posted WCU before me.

Fun facts:

ECU is closer to the Naval Academy in Annapolis than it is to WCU.

WCU is closer to Alabama in Tuscaloosa than it is to ECU. It's closer to Louisville and Cincinnati too.

Yeesh. Never knew that.

Lots of people don't realize how far east-to-west North Carolina is, and WCU and ECU aren't even the farthest extremes. Murphy, NC to Manteo, NC is a 546-mile, 8 hour 40 minute drive according to Google Maps. It's just a hair longer than Memphis to Mountain City, TN (544 miles, 8 hours 13 minutes).

Virginia has that same deal where it borders North Carolina. When I was a sports reporter two lifetimes ago, I covered a regional softball playoff involving a school that drove eight hours from the deepest most western part of the state; it was further west, in fact, then all of West Virginia. I talked to the coach a bit before the game and he said that they were closer to 12 state capitals than Richmond, their own. Virginia used to hold the smaller schools basketball tournaments in Norfolk, and some schools had to drive 12 hours in a big yellow limo for that one.

It's actually nine state capitals, coming from the extreme southwest county.

Frankfort, KY, Nashville, TN, Charleston, WV, Atlanta, GA, Columbia, SC, Indianapolis, IN, Columbus, OH, Raleigh, NC, and Montgomery, AL are all closer than Richmond is.