Battle of the Bands: This is Our Turf

Before my current writing life, there was The Hilltop, Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form.

From The Hilltop Archives

Originally published in The Hilltop, Howard University — November 7th, 2003

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Battle of the Bands: This is Our Turf

Perfection, it's what "The Showtime Marching Band" has been trying to achieve all week as they prepared for the Battle of the Bands at RFK Stadium on Sunday. 

If you live in the Quad, Cook or even Drew and you wanted to take that always useful power-nap between 7 and 9 p.m., chances are the peace and quiet of the early night were disrupted by the "Showtime Marching Band."

They don't mean to be rude, but the "Showtime" band members are loud by nature. Since the lights of Greene Stadium shined on the Bison for late night football practice, the band couldn't practice on the field. So, "Showtime" moved to the yard all last week to prepare for tomorrows halftime show during the game against South Carolina State. 

The best seats, however, won't be in the stands of Greene Stadium; they were on the steps of Douglass Hall where freshman Adria Anderson and Erin House sat. 

"We saw them, so we wanted to watch," said Anderson from Detroit. As "Showtime" played, Anderson and House were enjoying the performance laughing and dancing along. 

"They (students) appreciate what we're doing and respect us," said tuba player Shaun Roberts from Miami. "They get to see all the hard work we put in." 

It's all work no play. There's no clowning at practice, right? 

Drum Major Arthur "Skeet" Washington couldn't disagree more, "They (students) give us energy. We use it and try and show off." As much love as Anderson and House showed love to the band in the glow of the lights, members returned that love whether it was over exaggerating moves or straight clowning. They gave those few students who watched a little extra. 

But, it's not all fun and games. 

"We treat every practice as a performance," said snare drummer Brian Watson from Baltimore. "The more you practice in front of people, the more comfortable you get," 

Their first priority will be the game. Both the Bison and "Showtime" were getting ready for tomorrow because this will be the first time they both touched they turf of Greene Stadium for a home game in a month.

Not only will "Showtime" be greeted by an eager home crowd, but a representative from the Honda Battle of the Bands will be awarding the band director with a check for one thousand dollars.

This is Honda's second year sponsoring the Battle of the Bands. Their Tour is designed to celebrate, support and recognize 43 Historically Black College Bands. 

It doesn't end there. Of the 43 bands on the Celebration Tour, 10 bands will be selected to go for the Invitational Showcase at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Jan. 24. In addition to invitation to Atlanta, each band will receive $10,000. 

Mark Riggs, Senior Account Supervisor of French/West/Vaughan, clarified, "This is not a competition. All schools are showcasing their skills."

The only competition that will be taking place is online. Each of the 43 bands exist within either the MEAC, SWAC, CIAA, SIAC or are Independent. They will be judged on sportsmanship, musicianship and fan interaction. Each of the three voting categories, online, president/commissioner and band directors, receive an equal share of authority. But, it was online voting that was blown up on Sept. 24 with 165,000 hits on www.hondabattleoftheband.com. Since, there have been over 7 million people voting for their favorite band. 

Their second order of business will be on Sunday at RFK Stadium for the "Often Imitated, Never Duplicated Battle of the Bands."

Competing on Sunday will be Bowie State, Morgan State, Howard and North Carolina A&T and high school bands Eastern, Friendly, Largo, Northwestern and Oxon Hill.

"It's a good opportunity for all the bands to get together," said trumpet player Columbus "Blue" Wynn III. "We're going to show them how we get down in our hometown. I don't plan on losing."

"We don't want anybody outshining us. We're "Showtime" for a reason," Watson explained. "We have an acclaim to be the best and we have to prove that every time we go out."

As high as the confidence of "Showtime," the only factor will be fatigue.

But, Skeet was clear about which event will be most important this weekend.

"It's the game. We're at home, this is our backyard. Without the game, there's no band, that's our whole reason."

Howard could be one of the two school selected out of the MEAC, which means more late night yard work. To give them a shot to make plans for a trip to Atlanta in January cast your vote on www.hondabattleoftheband.com by Friday, Nov. 14.