Saturday, January 25, 2014
For all of middle school and two years in high school I played the trombone. I was and still am a band geek and I am proud of it. I love the music made by marching bands and this weekend I got the chance to take some photos of what is locally know as the Super Bowl of marching band competitions. The 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands pitted eight marching bands from the Historically Black College and University association, including Morehouse College, Winston-Salem State University, Alabama State University, and North Carolina A&T, against one another. For three hours I was in heaven as bands took the field to perform at the Georgia Dome to crowd numbering in the tens of thousands, which seemed louder and more fanatic than at a Falcons game. As an added bonus, rap artist Big Sean also performed in between bands.
Rap artist Big Sean (right) answers questions during a press conference before the start of the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Rap artist Big Sean (right) answers questions during a press conference before the start of the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Rap artist Big Sean (left) hugs Katelyn Johnson before the start of the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Morehouse College’s Reggie White plays his saxophone for a solo during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Morehouse College drum major Joseph Williams (center) performs during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Morehouse College’s Dray Belle (center) marches while playing the trombone during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Morehouse College Deviere Lephere (center) performs during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Morehouse College drum major Tre Wells (center) performs during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Morehouse College’s Nigel Burnett (center) marches while playing the tuba during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Morehouse College’s Jordan Rogers (center) marches while playing the snare drum during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s Tyreek Thompson (left) plays the snare drum as he marches onto the field during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s Erica McCoy (center) performs during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s Sydnei Howard (left) dances with drum major Antwuan Walters during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s Jon Derek McCann (center) plays his trumpet during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s Josh Fletcher performs during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s Kenneth Parks plays the snare drum during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s Gejuan Thompson (center) performs during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s Christopher Gates (right) crashes his cymbals together during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s Justice Cullens (center) plays her clarinet during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
North Carolina A&T State University’s Michael Bradford-Calhoun (right) plays the saxophone as he marches on the field during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
North Carolina A&T State University’s Donyel Bruton (left) plays the melophone during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
North Carolina A&T State University’s Cierria Hendricks performs during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
North Carolina A&T State University’s Ashanti Sweat (front) and Cierria Hendricks perform during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
North Carolina A&T State University drum major Patron Marshall (center) marches on the field during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
North Carolina A&T State University’s Meghan Gerald plays the piccolo during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
North Carolina A&T State University’s Joshua Dowdell plays his bass drum during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
North Carolina A&T State University’s Kelly Best twirls her batons as she performs during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
North Carolina A&T State University’s Denard Smith twirls his drumstick as he plays the quads during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
North Carolina A&T State University’s Trey Caldwell (center top) holds Alan Siggers upside down as he plays the snare drum during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
North Carolina A&T State University’s Brandon Byrd plays the cymbals during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
North Carolina A&T State University drum major Juan Ventura performs during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
North Carolina A&T State University’s Bryant Davis plays his trumpet during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
North Carolina A&T State University’s Kierra Lucas performs during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Rap artist Big Sean performs during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Rap artist Big Sean performs during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Rap artist Big Sean performs during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Rap artist Big Sean performs during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Winston Salem State University’s Willie Davis (center) and Shaquessa Price prepare to take the field during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Winston Salem State University’s Kevin Malone (center) marches onto the field during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Winston Salem State University drum major Joshua Hayes (center) performs on the field during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Winston Salem State University’s Christian Orr (center left) and Darrion Keck (center right) march as they play their trumpets during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Winston Salem State University’s Shazlyn Best (right) plays her baritone during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Winston Salem State University’s Stacey Best (right) marches as he plays his bass drum during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Winston Salem State University’s Tequila Cook (center) plays her snare drum during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Winston Salem State University’s Keenan Easter (center) plays his trumpet during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Winston Salem State University drum major Braxton Allen (center) marches on the field during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Winston Salem State University’s Tyler Curbeam plays his snare drum during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Winston Salem State University’s Darrion Keck plays his trumpet during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Winston Salem State University’s Rashad Sidbury plays his tuba during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Drum majors for Alabama State University take the field during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Alabama State University performs during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.
Alabama State University performs during the 2014 Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2014.major