Dr. John Lopez taught the band to play. They’ve been going in and out of style, but they’re guaranteed to raise a smile some Saturday evenings this fall.
With a new school year and a new football season comes another showcase from a group considered to be the heart of Javelina Nation, the Javelina Marching Band (JMB).
This year’s show is a blast from the past for Texas A&M University-Kingsville’s (TAMUK) Centennial year, with the theme of the show being “retro.”
“This year’s show is called Retro Iterations, and the idea is we have taken tunes from the ’70s and ’80s that have recently been reused in newer movies. So, we open with a tune called ‘Shakedown’ from the ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ movie that is on Netflix; ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’ by Queen, and then the third tune is called ‘White Rabbit’ by Jefferson Airplane which was used in the Matrix. To close we have ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ by The Beatles,” Director of the JMB Dr. John Lopez said.
A detailed show like the JMB traditionally puts on comes with hours of work starting even before students are back on campus for the semester. The show cannot be played to the level it is when crowd members see it on Saturday nights without hard work and organization of the show.
“It has felt amazing putting the show together so far. I’m a rank leader this year so I get to step out and make sure everyone looks amazing while they march and do their visuals,” Trumpet and Rank Leader for the JMB Brooke Palmer said. “We learn drill pretty quick so seeing the show come all together at this speed is really cool. It’s fast and fun the whole time and the crowd will definitely hear some familiar favorites. I can’t wait for everyone to see it because it’s going to be great.”
The hard work and dedication of the band gets showcased on Saturday, Sept. 6, at the first home football game.
“It has been nothing short of fun,” Piccolo Section Leader Jesus Lugo said. “This year has held the most weight as not only is it my last year marching, but I am the section leader for the piccolos, and it has been a joy to interact with all 23 of them. And it has been a joy to work with my fellow rank leaders, Airamy and Diego, who ensure the piccolos achieve the highest level of marching possible. A shout-out to the logistical and uniform staff who work tirelessly behind the shadows to make sure everything runs smoothly.”
The JMB is not just a marching band to its members, it is something that leaves a lasting impact on their lives. Being in the group is about leaving a mark in Javelina Nation.
“Being in any marching band is about being in something bigger than yourself, and in the JMB that’s multiplied by a thousand, and made better by how much the group pours energy into every performance and rehearsal. I feel lucky I get to be a part of it,” Drum Major Zander Wasielewski said.