Sprite Queen City Battle of the Bands

[Capler]

I was there and here is my take.  First off, there is no comparison between the two small bands and the 4 larger ones so I won't do it.

JCSU did their thing and was inline what I've seen previously.  

Shaw seems to be better this year compared to the past two years. Shaw has never drilled much so things are on par with the past. The glaring weakness has always been the dancers but from what I heard they are much improved this year. The crowded loved Shaw and many folk sang along. I really did not get a chance to see Shaw because they were the only band to play to the opposite side.  I give them props for doing that because those folks got shafted. Even the announcer was telling people to sit over there because that side would get played to, - it did not happen, except for Shaw.  

FAMU was the biggest disappointment of the evening for me. I was so underwhelmed, being that this was my first time ever seeing them. I was expecting fillet and got chopped steak. The crowd loved them and their size was really impressive. They filled the field  and the drill was interesting. Loved the flags, but at the end of the day, the sound was sub par. Again the crowd loved them but they can't hold a candle to B-Cookman. Listening to Cookman is like listening to a fine tuned machine, I'm sorry but FAMU's sound was all over the place.

NCA&T was the biggest surprise. Franky the Aggies have sucked the last few years. I don't know what they did this off season but they are back on point. They were hitting on all cylinders. They had every thing:  theatrics,  drill, dancers, and song selection. The crowd loved them and I did too. By far they were the best of the evening.

SCSU give us what I've seen in recent years, a solid show. If it were not for A&T's energy and theatrics, they would have been the best of the evening.

NCCU. I really want to love this band so badly but there is always something that makes me bring out the red marker. Normally it's a crazy theme or a wacky song selection. This years it was something a little less annoying, but never the less, it still sent pause through the crowd. It was no other that that damn MJ show. When they first started it I was thinking; 'what is this, four years now?' While I was trying to count the years, I heard someone  in the crowd grumbling and yell out something about five years in a row. Oh well! Aside from the MJ obsession, I actually liked Central's show. It was the most normal  thing I even seen them do and I did not have one of those 'what the funk moments' their shows tend to inspire.  

All in all it was a great night in Charlotte.      

[Aggie Blues]

in the most unbiased way possible....


The Blue & Gold Marching Machine Came to Play...them jokers were killing flies with SLEDGEHAMMERS last night...Their opening Fanfare woke the crowd up in memorial and the cameras flashes were going off. Luther was great and golden delight is still the hardest working auxiliary in black college bands. there were issues with over-blowing with sections, and as much as i love cold steel, i need a little something more from them, its nice but, its getting redundant. but that front flip over all the tenor drum players was hot though. A&T got the show of the night award from me, as they were the most entertaining and capped it all off with the bed intruder song.

It was nice to see The Hunned, and given the circumstances on the day for them, they get some leniency. for the most part the drill was nice, although you had tuba players going AWOL on the field. I guess its going to be a LONG ride back to Tally-ho for that person    The Melanie Fiona piece was great, overall i was glad they came, but "something" wasn't right with them last night...  

SCSUs Marching 101 had a pretty good sound. Their numbers are smaller this season, but honestly that could be a blessing in disguise. They have a new arranger on staff, and with the horn holders out the band, i see a good product coming out of Urng'burg this season... on the other hand, that ballad was WAY too long. Like church is over @ 1 and pastor is still preaching at 2:30 long  

NCCU good dance routine...I appreciate different when executed well. I do like the mixed marching style that the MSM uses in its field shows. Reid has something great in the works when the MSM finally gets over the hump...Best of luck in the MEAC

I didn't get to see much of JCSUs show because i was coming in and had to make my rounds, but their drumline is on point and was prolly the best of the night from what i saw...

Shaw...not bad, not bad at all...that lil junior drum major was gettin' it...Lil man can go  

[Aggie Blues]

Clips up...well some bands

A&T Performance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9ogd8pfJpw

A&T Bed Intruder Song Encore (Best to watch in HD)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=399Wlt10b5E&feature=channel

[eagle pride]

FAMU was truly the better band.  No bands even came close to touching their sound and drills.  Bottom line, all the bands really did well.  They all had some good and bad points.  Sprite Battle was very good. 

[Bro. Askia Musa Afiba]

The NCCU Marching Sound Machine Performs at The Sprite "Queen City Battle of The Bands"
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1482493756694

NCCU @ Sprite Battle of the Bands  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZNISjHcuT8

Take Care!

[NCCU05]

  wow...NCCU looks very good. And they sound great! Very balanced! They have quite a few ppl this year! Tell Reid great job and keep up the good work. I keep hearing ppl say it's time to cut the michael jackson lean (which I personally agreed), but everytime I see it the crowd loves it. Gottta give the people what they want I guess. A&T did a great job as well! The eagle-aggie game should be very entertaining this year. Both bands will literally be directly in front of each other (good old o'kelly riddick stadium)...lol. Bring out all the stops against A&T and WSSU this year....show no mercy.......play the entire game.

On a side note....anyone tailgating thursday? I'll come grab a plate on my way to the stadium. hehehehehe

[mrknowitall]

FAMU was truly the better band.  No bands even came close to touching their sound and drills.  Bottom line, all the bands really did well.  They all had some good and bad points.  Sprite Battle was very good. 

While I respect your opinion, you are the first person that I have hear say that FAMU was the best band of the night. I think a lot of people get so use to expecting FAMU to be the best that they can't look past that. FAMU, sounded great on the concert ballad. But other than that there sound was not typical FAMU sound. I love FAM but that show needed alot of cleaning up marching and execution wise and sadly even musically.

[TrueEagle]

NCCU. .......... It was no other that that damn MJ show. ..........

All in all it was a great night in Charlotte.      

Perhaps they did the MJ Show because the King of Pop's birthday was this past weekend? I dunno. 

[eagle pride]

FAMU was truly the better band.  No bands even came close to touching their sound and drills.  Bottom line, all the bands really did well.  They all had some good and bad points.  Sprite Battle was very good. 

While I respect your opinion, you are the first person that I have hear say that FAMU was the best band of the night. I think a lot of people get so use to expecting FAMU to be the best that they can't look past that. FAMU, sounded great on the concert ballad. But other than that there sound was not typical FAMU sound. I love FAM but that show needed alot of cleaning up marching and execution wise and sadly even musically.

A lot of people like who?  FAMU's sound was balanced and very clean.  FAMU and Central had the cleanest sound of the night.  A&T blew loud and wrong at times.  People around me was like, are you serious?  Just because FAMU was not perfect doesn't mean that they were not the best.  What you said about FAMU could be said about all bands in attendance. 

I will say that judging bands where they are now is a bit unfair.  Most have just finished band camp.  Overall, good job bands. 

Gosh, we can't even celebrate MJ's birthday.   Great job Sound Machine.

[Capler]

FAMU was truly the better band.  No bands even came close to touching their sound and drills.  Bottom line, all the bands really did well.  They all had some good and bad points.  Sprite Battle was very good. 

While I respect your opinion, you are the first person that I have hear say that FAMU was the best band of the night. I think a lot of people get so use to expecting FAMU to be the best that they can't look past that. FAMU, sounded great on the concert ballad. But other than that there sound was not typical FAMU sound. I love FAM but that show needed alot of cleaning up marching and execution wise and sadly even musically.

I agree, the high point was the ballad. My issue with them was that  I had the bar raised so high because of the hype and the fact that  I had never seen them before. Also I was using Bethume Cookman as a measuring stick, which was likely unfair. Truthfully Norfolk State & Virginia State wows me more than Famu did.

I went back and looked at NCCU last night and I don't know. I also finally saw the Shaw clip posted and sadly, they sounded better listening from the rear.  Oh well, my bears  got a little of work to do, but they can only get better because as you said,  the arrangements are quite good. They only need to corral those little freshmen blowers.    God I love freshmen, they so full of energy.

[Brother Tony]

QUESTION:
Was this the "first" fall performance for the bands?

[Capler]

QUESTION:
Was this the "first" fall performance for the bands?

Yes, and it showed more for some than for others. A&T and SCSU seemed to be further along. 

[eagle pride]

QUESTION:
Was this the "first" fall performance for the bands?

Yes, and it showed more for some than for others. A&T and SCSU seemed to be further along. 

What???   We must not have been at the same event.   The only thing I would say A&T was the best at was the dancers.  SCSU & A&T better than FAMU?  Are you serious?   It was not even close.  YOu must like those loud bands that go hard, that is not FAMU nor Central's style.  However, I have to respect your opinion, knowing that it is just an opinion. 

[Aggie Blues]

NCCU. .......... It was no other that that damn MJ show. ..........

All in all it was a great night in Charlotte.      

Perhaps they did the MJ Show because the King of Pop's birthday was this past weekend? I dunno.  

Whats next...The anniversary of Michael First ares  whuppin from Papa Joe?  

Y'all can keep the lean...just PLEASE for the love of everything holy Retire that Smooth Criminal number...I'm Begging...let it AND Michael Rest in Peace....  

What???  We must not have been at the same event.  The only thing I would say A&T was the best at was the dancers.  SCSU & A&T better than FAMU?  Are you serious?  It was not even close.  YOu must like those loud bands that go hard, that is not FAMU nor Central's style.  However, I have to respect your opinion, knowing that it is just an opinion.  

I tell ya a CHILD will defend their DADDY to the end...  

Lets keep it 100, FAMU was not the same FAMU...again it could be that expectation was high and this was the first performance of the season but they just were not "THE HUNNED"...as for Central, all imma say is good job, best of luck this season, and welcome back to the MEAC...

[eagle pride]

NCCU. .......... It was no other that that damn MJ show. ..........

All in all it was a great night in Charlotte.      

Perhaps they did the MJ Show because the King of Pop's birthday was this past weekend? I dunno.  

Whats next...The anniversary of Michael First ares  whuppin from Papa Joe?  

Y'all can keep the lean...just PLEASE for the love of everything holy Retire that Smooth Criminal number...I'm Begging...let it AND Michael Rest in Peace....  

What???  We must not have been at the same event.  The only thing I would say A&T was the best at was the dancers.  SCSU & A&T better than FAMU?  Are you serious?  It was not even close.  YOu must like those loud bands that go hard, that is not FAMU nor Central's style.  However, I have to respect your opinion, knowing that it is just an opinion.  

I tell ya a CHILD will defend their DADDY to the end...  

Lets keep it 100, FAMU was not the same FAMU...again it could be that expectation was high and this was the first performance of the season but they just were not "THE HUNNED"...as for Central, all imma say is good job, best of luck this season, and welcome back to the MEAC...

I am not going to sit hear and let you say nice things about the Sound Machine.   I'll get you later about that FAMU being our daddy.  We only claim "Mother Shaw."