On Sunday, October 2, a band war between the Southern University’s Human Jukebox and the Jackson State University’s Sonic Boom of the South took over the crescent city.
As you entered City Park in New Orleans, Louisiana, the atmosphere was overwhelming. Alumni from each of the universities, as well as regular “bandheads” began forming lines that were starting to curve into the street. Since these schools have one of the biggest SWAC band rivalries, there is nothing else to expect but hearing the “Southern Who and JS-JS Poo” chants entering the gate. The Battle of the Bands started at 6:00 PM but many people were waiting inside and outside of the stadium since 4:00 PM.
After waiting in anticipation for two and a half hours, announcers come on the microphone and introduced the bands as they entered the stadium. The repetitive banging of drums triggered responses in everyone, as we all knew what was about to happen. The Sonic Boom of the South began to play the World famous song “Get Ready” by The Temptations, with their Drum Majors (J5), dancing and shimmying as their band marched across the field. Next, was the internationally famed Human Jukebox Marching Band, which resembled a well-disciplined military band who didn’t laugh, or smile; did not look to the side or wave to the crowd. They looked straight and picked their knees up high into the air and pointed their feet to the ground.
Following, the Sonic Boom played a soft classical march that was very pleasing to the ear, but the Jukebox hadn’t come to play any classical music, they wanted to entertain!
The most interesting part of the BOTB featured The Sonic Boom in the middle of playing a song. They began to play, stop, and then play again, and then stopped and started from the beginning of the same song. The crowd began to chant “The Sonic Do-over.” Next, the Human Jukebox played their rendition of Lauryn Hill’s “Joyful Joyful”, which moved the entire crowd. “Jackson State attempted to put up a fight, but at the end of the day we know the Human Jukebox will always be on top,” explained Junior Music Education Major Michael Bingham from Baker, LA.
The bands continued to play songs for an hour or so, and completed over 13 rounds. Of course the band directors engaged in a “smack-talking” session to each other, enjoying the rivalry between each other.
There was no selected winner of the battle so everyone’s opinions may be biased. When asked how does he feel about the outcome of the BOTB, Assistant Director of Bands Kedric Taylor stated
“I feel that it wasn’t close in relationship of what we do, we showed a variety of different musical skills and our arrangements were far better than theirs.”
The next time these two bands will see each other will be in Jackson, Mississippi on October 15, 2016 when the Southern University football Team and the Jackson State football team have their annual matchup.
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