Six sensational marching bands each put their unique sound, style, energy, and choreography on full display at the 2025 Honda Battle of the Bands, firing up thousands of ticketholders at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood California. In addition to the incredible battle performances, the crowd was also treated to a performance by Grammy-nominated artist, GloRilla, and appearances by the host of the event, Nick Cannon, and Orlando Jones, for a true Drumline reunion. The concept for “Dr. Lee’s” band in that iconic movie was, “one band, one sound,” and the following HBCU bands that went head-to-head February 1st exemplified that sentiment perfectly.
The Alabama A&M University’s Marching Maroon and White put on a stellar show, effectively conveying their nickname, the “Showband of the South,” and representing their history of excellence as one of the oldest HBCU band programs in the country. The university was founded in 1875 and the band program in 1890. Assistant Director of Bands, Charles Conner, explained what an honor it was for their historic university to have been selected to perform at the HBOB’s.
“It is truly an honor. The opportunity to showcase our students’ hard work, dedication, and talents on such a large stage is special to us and we are thankful for all the love and support that allowed us to make it happen.”
The band’s performance was influenced by the late great Quincy Jones and concluded with some of the iconic artists and songs from the west coast. They also paid homage to the rich, extensive history of both the university and band program, as the founding dates of each were represented in the performers’ formations within the drill.
Charles Conner designed the drill for the HBOB performance through Pyware, as he not only serves as the Assistant Director of Bands, but as the band’s drill designer as well. He has used Pyware to create shows throughout the course of his career and our team has been fortunate to assist him along the way. He described his experience with the software and listed some of his preferred features in the latest edition.
“Personally, the software and the high level of customer service that I’ve received from its developers has been instrumental to my growth over my 17 years as a band director. The features in Version 11 such as the customizable tool palette options, multiple page tab layers, and the fast edit selection tools are a few of my favorite new features.”
“Pyware was extremely helpful in creating and executing our shows throughout the season and for this year’s HBOB’s performance. It allowed me to provide accurate visuals which aided in the learning and development of our show.”
The Marching Maroon and White delivered on all fronts — flair, rhythm, sound, showmanship — a real “Showband of the South” performance.
Full AAMU Performance at the HBOB: https://youtu.be/d0coWRg0-oE?si=kEddST7FjoHsw5dM
The Blue and Gold Marching Machine of North Carolina A&T State University commanded the field the instant they entered, and the intensity just continued to climb throughout the entire show. Their bold sound, fun choreography, and coherence between each section of the band are a few reasons the band is a crowd-favorite and an ESPN Band of the Year winner. Led by Director of Bands, Dr. Kenneth Ruff, they performed a number of hit songs in their “The GRAMMYS Field Show.”
Full NC A&T Performance at the HBOB: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOL_QPobjs0
The Hampton University Marching Band justified its name and reputation as The Marching Force with a superior performance. The artistry from the flag line and majorettes, the incredible sound and synergy from the drumline and horns, all paired with the song selection, made for an impeccable, standing-ovation worthy show.
The Hampton University Bands Program takes precedence in instilling a sense of work ethic that transcends music and motivates students to become the best version of themselves in all areas of life.
“To be selected to this event not only validates the hard work we are doing as a program, but it gives our students an opportunity to play in a venue that they would otherwise not see. In that sense, it gives them the motivation to continue to work hard at their craft and to heed the lessons we are teaching them,” Director of Bands Thomas Jones, stated.
Leading up to the HBOB, they experienced very cold weather in Hampton, Virginia, which could have interfered with rehearsal, but the directors utilized Pyware to both create drill and teach students inside.
Assistant Director of Bands Clifford Cox said, “Pyware was extremely helpful, especially when it came to teaching the drill. We had unusually cold weather, and the software allowed me to begin instructing while indoors. Once we went outside, it was just a matter of executing what was already demonstrated. The Command Editor and ability to save as PDFs are the most beneficial for me and shave hours off the instruction time.”
“Our practice hours are limited, so we have to rely on the most efficient means of rehearsal possible. By using Pyware, this technology allows us to create and teach in a time-efficient manner, which comes in handy on those cold days or when the students have to balance time with their academic studies,” Director Jones added.
Their hard work and preparation was evident as The Marching Force executed a thrilling performance.
Full HU Performance at the HBOB: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnLPAyCL2pQ
The Alabama State University Marching Hornets once again displayed their unique style and sound on the HBOB stage. The band represented their university with an exciting performance under the leadership of long-standing ASU Director of Bands, Dr. James Oliver.
Full ASU Performance at the HBOB: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PKQUWuYxTM
The Southern University Human Jukebox entered the field with an introduction from the one-and-only Cedric the Entertainer and immediately captivated the audience. They continued to elevate the energy throughout the show, resulting in an exhilarating performance. The speed and fluidity with which they transitioned from set to set, all the while remaining perfectly in sync, was stunning.
The creativity within the drill was first-rate, as customary for the talented Human Jukebox staff, including Director of Bands Dr. Kedric Taylor, Associate Director William Young, and Assistant Director Cedric Todd.
It has been an exceptional year for the band — in addition to their HBOB performance, the band also made history as they performed at the Super Bowl Pregame Show in Louisiana with several musical icons from their home state. The drill design for each of these major performances were created in Pyware.
Full SU Performance at the Super Bowl Pregame: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X9gDbnK_RM
Full SU Performance at the HBOB: https://youtu.be/aC4aqJRKB_A?si=hNdFhBcPVPeKlTWb
The University of Arkansas Pine Bluff “M4” took advantage of every inch of the field in an electrifying performance that captured the crowd’s attention. The high-energy band has been under the leadership of Director of Bands John Graham for roughly 30 years. Harold Fooster and Darryl Evans serve as Assistant Band Directors. The trio has led the band to perform on several national stages including the dynamic show at this year’s HBOB.
Full UAPB Performance at the HBOB: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTcNNYkjGe4
The Honda Battle of the Bands is an unparalleled experience — the annual event showcases incredible HBCU programs throughout the country and celebrates their message. The HBOB also provides a wide variety of opportunities for attendees through scholarships, grants, and job fairs. This year Honda awarded each of the participating schools $50,00 for their band and music education programs, and roughly 200 college and universities offered attendees interviews and scholarships totaling more than $10 million.
Our team at Pyware was honored to play a role in preparing the HBCU bands that participated in this special event. And we will continue to champion these programs for as long as they will have us! This year’s event was unbelievably entertaining. Congratulations to all the spectacular marching bands; we can’t wait for next year!
Leave a Reply