Favorite Marching Bands (not your school)

[bluehenbillk]

UMass is the best in the CAA IMO. Michigan & Nebraska are the best FBS bands I've seen. Texas A&M is a different kinda band to watch, but was extremely impressive.

[Tribe4SF]

JMU MRDs by far in the CAA. Best sound I've heard from any college band.

Norfolk State Legion is awesome.

Best Pep Band at basketball is George Mason.

[bobbythekidd]

I have a double album of all the great football fight songs. Was produced by the University of Michigan Band back in the 1970's. I've taped it and made a CD to play in my car on Saturdays as I drive over to Goodman. If you can get your hands on it, get it.

Best Band I've seen: Florida A&M

Best Song: The Victors (U of Michigan)

Send me a copy. That would really set the tone in the van on our 45 minute ride to Statesboro.

[JMU DJ]

JMU Band = excellent.
JMU Fight Song = lame.

What are you talking about dude? It's friggin' awesome! Maybe this rendition will change your mind:

[youtube][/youtube]

[JConnolly]

[youtube][/youtube]

This one is awesome. Also Southern Cal, and Penn State were really cool when I saw them in the '09 Rosebowl. Last year, Furman's band did a pretty cool show for the Elon game, and they did Thriller, and danced to it. Elon's Marching Band also did the Thriller Dance, and it was awesome.

[JConnolly]

[youtube][/youtube]

This one is awesome. Also Southern Cal, and Penn State were really cool when I saw them in the '09 Rosebowl. Last year, Furman's band did a pretty cool show for the Elon game, and they did Thriller, and danced to it. Elon's Marching Band also did the Thriller Dance, and it was awesome.

[polsongrizz]

I can honestly say that I have never seen a marching band. That is time reserved for more beer drinking. At the very few places that didn't allow one to leave at the half I still didn't watch the band. Just not really all that interested.

[DukeJack]

JMU Band = excellent.
JMU Fight Song = lame.

What are you talking about dude? It's friggin' awesome! Maybe this rendition will change your mind:

[youtube][/youtube]

DJ knows his stuff. The answer is without a doubt the Marching Royal Dukes.

[youtube][/youtube]

[youtube][/youtube]

[youtube][/youtube]

[youtube][/youtube]

[Col Hogan]

When it comes to excellence in bands, winning the Sudler Trophy is about the highest award a college band can receive...

Only four FCS school bands have ever won the award...

1985 - FAMU
1994 - JMU
1998 - UMass (same year we won the NC Game...)
2009 - WCU

The Sudler Trophy is an award bestowed on one university marching band every other year, and was an annual award from 1982-2007.. The award does not represent the winner of any championship, but rather a band surrounded by great tradition that has become respected nationally. No school may be honored with the award twice. The official description of the trophy is:

The purpose of the Sudler Trophy is to identify and recognize collegiate marching bands of particular excellence who have made outstanding contributions to the American way of life. The Sudler Trophy is awarded annually to a college or university marching band which has demonstrated the highest musical standards and innovative marching routines and ideas, and which has made important contributions to the advancement of the performance standards of college marching bands over a period of years.

The complete list is located here... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Phili ... Foundation

I've seen three of the four FCS bands (FAMU, JMU and of course, the Pride and Power of New England UMass Minuteman Marching Band) and they are all excellent...

[T-Dog]

Last year, Furman's band did a pretty cool show for the Elon game, and they did Thriller, and danced to it. Elon's Marching Band also did the Thriller Dance, and it was awesome.

Guess who beat you to the punch the year before?

[youtube][/youtube]

I really dug the UMass band at the 2006 National Championship. Really liked their version of "25 or 6 to 4". From personal experience, UMass > JMU in terms of marching bands. They're also much better disciplined.

And I will admit WCU's band is good for what they do with all their gadgets they use.

[Rob Iola]

When it comes to excellence in bands, winning the Sudler Trophy is about the highest award a college band can receive...

Only four FCS school bands have ever won the award...

1985 - FAMU
1994 - JMU
1998 - UMass (same year we won the NC Game...)
2009 - WCU

The Sudler Trophy is an award bestowed on one university marching band every other year, and was an annual award from 1982-2007.. The award does not represent the winner of any championship, but rather a band surrounded by great tradition that has become respected nationally. No school may be honored with the award twice. The official description of the trophy is:

The purpose of the Sudler Trophy is to identify and recognize collegiate marching bands of particular excellence who have made outstanding contributions to the American way of life. The Sudler Trophy is awarded annually to a college or university marching band which has demonstrated the highest musical standards and innovative marching routines and ideas, and which has made important contributions to the advancement of the performance standards of college marching bands over a period of years.

The complete list is located here... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Phili ... Foundation

I've seen three of the four FCS bands (FAMU, JMU and of course, the Pride and Power of New England UMass Minuteman Marching Band) and they are all excellent...

Wait - Western Carolina?

[Col Hogan]

When it comes to excellence in bands, winning the Sudler Trophy is about the highest award a college band can receive...

Only four FCS school bands have ever won the award...

1985 - FAMU
1994 - JMU
1998 - UMass (same year we won the NC Game...)
2009 - WCU



The complete list is located here... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Phili ... Foundation

I've seen three of the four FCS bands (FAMU, JMU and of course, the Pride and Power of New England UMass Minuteman Marching Band) and they are all excellent...

Wait - Western Carolina?

Yea...I was surprised too when I read that...since I haven't seen them...

[SactoHornetAlum]

Bands:
Cal Band
UT Longhorn Band
JMU Marching Royal Dukes
Michigan Marching Band
Ohio University Marching 110

Seriously???

I have a minor in music education and have been an assistant in a couple high schools, I think I have a pretty good grasp of a well balanced ensemble both in sound and in their execution of marching fundamentals...

For the record, I have also seen the Texas State band. They have a good sound, but they dont have a signature sound that those above mentioned groups do...

[GannonFan]

In terms of the CAA, UMass is by far the best one out there in terms of sound and performance. UD and JMU and Towson would probably come in the next pairing. After that, I'm not sure anyone has a band worth mentioning other than pep bands (which is fine, no intent to knock pep bands).

[Cadbury20J]

Since someone posted their own schools band, I feel obligated to do the same.

2008 "From Russia with Love"
[youtube][/youtube]
2007 "Higher, Faster, Louder"
[youtube][/youtube]
2009 " Of Thee I Sing"
[youtube][/youtube]

[AshevilleApp]

From what I've seen:

FBS
Michigan

FCS
James Madison
Western Carolina
FAMU
Massachusetts

and my favorite, maybe because I've seen them most recently,
South Carolina State Marching 101

[youtube][/youtube]

[CatMom]

Seriously???

I have a minor in music education and have been an assistant in a couple high schools, I think I have a pretty good grasp of a well balanced ensemble both in sound and in their execution of marching fundamentals...

For the record, I have also seen the Texas State band. They have a good sound, but they dont have a signature sound that those above mentioned groups do...

I just don't like the UT band and I'm not real keen on ours either

Like over at BCF, this is a question put to the general populous on here and while I was in bands and have seen tons all my life, I'm not an expert or a music education phd. I just know what I do and don't like.
(I was in various choirs all my life so I do know a bit about quality music; as some of the choirs/choruses I was in were elite)

Any of you music people out there ever heard of Robert or Jeffrey Lowden? just wonderin'

[DukeJack]

Since someone posted their own schools band, I feel obligated to do the same.

I was posting the MRDs as an NAU fan

[BlackFalkin]

You guys cant be serious. All this crap sucks, its boring.

[JConnolly]

Last year, Furman's band did a pretty cool show for the Elon game, and they did Thriller, and danced to it. Elon's Marching Band also did the Thriller Dance, and it was awesome.

Guess who beat you to the punch the year before?

[youtube][/youtube]

I really dug the UMass band at the 2006 National Championship. Really liked their version of "25 or 6 to 4". From personal experience, UMass > JMU in terms of marching bands. They're also much better disciplined.

And I will admit WCU's band is good for what they do with all their gadgets they use.

AHHHHHH!!!!! You guys beat us to it. I didn't know you guys did it, but yours was really good. They say imitation is the highest form of flattery.

[green&gold75]

What are you talking about dude? It's friggin' awesome! Maybe this rendition will change your mind:

[youtube][/youtube]

DJ knows his stuff. The answer is without a doubt the Marching Royal Dukes.

[youtube][/youtube]

[youtube][/youtube]

[youtube][/youtube]

[youtube][/youtube]

DukeJack: I had a feeling my post wasn't going to slide by you or JMU DJ, but in case you scanned it too quickly, I really do admire the MRD; they're awesome. IMO your fight song has a little too much of a "sing-song" quality--not so good for football, but maybe if JMU had a ladies badminton team. . . JMU DJ: words cannot express the gratitude I feel to you for sharing that rendition. Who knew that "fight song" and cute could work. FYI, I also have a version of the JMU fight song that I don't think you've heard--done on kazoos. I smile everytime I think of it. Can get you a copy if you like.

[LastMinuteman]

Gotta get the UMass and JMU bands on the same field more often. It's a wasted opportunity not to have them face off and build it into something bigger, especially since they have contrasting approaches stylistically.

Here's a cadence so clean you can eat off the percussion waves:
[youtube][/youtube]

[JSU02]

As a UAB fan I gotta say I like Cadbury20J's post the most

[Sly Fox]

Add me to the Ocean of Soul contingent. If their athletic program was anything close to the calibre of their band, TSU would be winning championships and have the NCAA chasing them with sanctions non-stop.



Come on, CatMom. Why the Longhorn Band hate? I put them alongside Ohio State's BDBITL and USC as the top major program bands in the land.

And for the record, I enjoy the amusing halftime shows from Stanford & Rice with all of the stupid attempts at humor. But I can only take the MOB once every now & then.

[BlackFalkin]

Here's a cadence so clean you can eat off the percussion waves:
[youtube][/youtube]

I have to admit... that was sweeeet. I just ate a Mac'NChesse off the percussion waves.