If simply knowing that four of the nation’s most recognized HBCU marching bands aren’t enough to get you to attend the 2nd annual Crankfest this Sunday at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans, the creative viral marketing campaign promoting the event might.
Southern University’s “Human Jukebox” and Jackson State’s “Sonic Boom of the South” were the featured bands in last year’s inaugural exhibition.
This year, however, Alcorn State’s “Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite” and Talladega College’s “Marching Tornados” band have been added to the event.
So far, without even a note played or drum struck, the collaborative video marketing campaign that has ensued involving all four bands calling out each other alone is worth the $20 pre-sell ticket price.
If the YouTube publishing dates of the videos posted are any indication of when the campaign started, it all began on Sept. 1 with the Alcorn State band firing the first shot at “the other school in Mississippi”, praying that the band “would show up” for the performance.
Then it was Southern’s turn. The band produced a skit involving its band members and band director Nathan Haymer, who all appeared surprised that “Da Corn” would want to “step up to the big boys”, before calling out “J-S-Who” and “that other band, Talladega.”
Jackson State apparently heard all that was said. And without calling out any band directly, used the famous words of Maya Angelou’s And Still I Rise to speak for them.
The Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite published another video that creatively highlighted the Cherokee theme song along with video footage featuring the band and the Golden Girls dance team.
The Southern band produced a second video in which Haymer completely dismissed JSU’s “I Rise” video, but threw another direct shot at the Talladega band.
Southern produced a third video in which members mockingly imitated the signature style of the drum majors from Alcorn State, Jackson State and Talladega.
Talladega’s creative video featured a montage of various band performances all while a massive tornado destroyed everything it touched.
Finally, SU took one last shot at all three of its opponents using parody from the classic movie, Friday.
Crankfest 2017 is scheduled from 4 p.m.- 8 p.m. Click here for tickets.
