Down and Off

Latest Episodes:

Drum Major Amanda Thomas Dec 23, 2021

Show notes

Bowl season is upon us and John and Tim have the privilege to talk with current Hawkeye Marching Band Drum Major Amanda Thomas. Amanda talks growing up loving marching bands, coming to Iowa to march and become an educator, her time in the mellie section, trying out for drum major, favorite memories, and how it's been this year working with two amazing Golden Girls in Kylene Spanbauer and Ella McDaniel. The three wish the Hawkeyes success at the Citrus Bowl on January 1st, and a grand time for the Hawkeye Marching Band.
While the HMB is down in Florida, the Alumni will take to the stands in Carver to play for the Men's Basketball team on the 29th and the Women's Basketball team on January 2nd. Come check them out!
As always, send feedback to iowaalumniband@gmail.com, "Like" the "Down and Off Podcast" page on Facebook, and follow the us on Twitter @DownAndOffPod. #OnIowa #GoHawks
Music recorded by the Hawkeye Marching Band, off the 2003 album "Roll Along!" and the 2007 album "Get Ready For the Boom"

Former Golden Girl Chelsea Russell Oct 29, 2021

Show notes

John and Tim have a special Halloween treat for the Down and Off family, our first Golden Girl Ms. Chelsea Russell (Mrs. Chelsea Potter)! Golden Girl from 2007-2011, the 2006 Ms. Majorette of America and *7* time world champ. Chelsea talks about her recruitment and audition for the Golden Girl of the Hawkeye Marching Band, the 2009 Michael Jackson Halftime Show, how she created shows with Drum Majors Chet Aliga and Joe Piasecki, road trips and bowl trips, and what the HMB means to her.
As always, send feedback to iowaalumniband@gmail.com, "Like" the "Down and Off Podcast" page on Facebook, and follow the us on Twitter @DownAndOffPod. #OnIowa #GoHawks
Music recorded by the Hawkeye Marching Band, off the 2003 album "Roll Along!" and the 2007 album "Get Ready For the Boom"

Dr. Myron Welch interviewed by Kirk Philips Sep 29, 2021

Show notes

John and Tim have a special treat for the HMB family. As part of the Hawkeye Marching Band history project, Band Board President Kirk Philips interviewed Director of Bands Emeritus Dr. Myron Welch about his time with the University of Iowa School of Music. HMBers from the 80s, 90s, and 2000's will surely have memories of Dr. Welch's support of the band and iconic instruction of the Star-Spangled Banner. John and Tim introduce the episode, then sit back and let Kirk and Dr. Welch do their thing.
We hope to see many of you at HMB 141 Homecoming Activities coming up!
As always, send feedback to iowaalumniband@gmail.com, "Like" the "Down and Off Podcast" page on Facebook, and follow the us on Twitter @DownAndOffPod. #OnIowa #GoHawks
Music recorded by the Hawkeye Marching Band, off the 2003 album "Roll Along!" and the 2007 album "Get Ready For the Boom"

80's Alum Scott Icenogle Sep 06, 2021

Show notes

Summer rested co-hosts John and Tim launch season 2 of the Down and Off Podcast with 80's alum and show biz veteran Scott Icenogle. John marched with Scott under Dr. Morgan Jones, and Scott shares about his journey from a military family in Virginia to the University of Iowa for Communication Studies, following in his father's footsteps through the HMB, his many memories with the band, and his journey through TV and music and soundtracks. Check out his most recent soundtrack work on the Netflix series Q-Force (Available to stream now!). Watch the most recent trailer on YouTube.
We welcome everyone to subscribe and follow along with a new slate of fantastic guests, or go back to the archives and listen to our awesome guests from Season 1. As always, send feedback to iowaalumniband@gmail.com, "Like" the "Down and Off Podcast" page on Facebook, and follow the us on Twitter @DownAndOffPod. #OnIowa #GoHawks
Music recorded by the Hawkeye Marching Band, off the 2003 album "Roll Along!" and the 2007 album "Get Ready For the Boom"

TA Dr. Carter Biggers - History of the HMB Part 3 (Morgan Jones, Dave Woodley, David Henning, & Kevin Kastens - 1973-2012) Jul 09, 2021

Show notes

Nostalgic co-hosts John and Tim continue to listen to Dr. Carter Biggers as he continues to discuss his doctoral dissertation on the History of the Hawkeye Marching Band. Part 3 of the interview looks at the eras most of our listeners know best: Dr. Morgan Jones, David Woodley, Dave Henning, and Kevin Kastens. Dr. Biggers gives us a fascinating look at the history of the Hawkeye Marching Band.
Part 1 looked at Carter's methods and how he put the thesis together, the HMB's military beginnings in 1881, their time as a student-led ensemble, then eventual organization under the first Director of University Bands, Orie Van Doren (1911-1937).
Part 2 covered the tenures of Charles Righter, Fred Ebbs, Frank Piersol, & Dr. Tom Davis (1937-1973)
Part 3 goes through the Morgan Jones, David Woodley, David Henning, and Kevin Kastens (1973-2012).
If you'd like to follow along, or do some background reading, check out Carter's thesis "On Iowa! a History of The University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band, 1881-2012". The pdf is free to download and a delight to read.
As always, send feedback to iowaalumniband@gmail.com, "Like" the "Down and Off Podcast" page on Facebook, and follow the us on Twitter @DownAndOffPod. #OnIowa #GoHawks
Music recorded by the Hawkeye Marching Band, off the 2003 album "Roll Along!" and the 2007 album "Get Ready For the Boom"

TA Dr. Carter Biggers - History of the HMB Part 2 (Charles Righter, Fred Ebbs, Frank Piersol, & Tom Davis - 1937-1973) Jun 16, 2021

Show notes

Wide-eyed cohosts John and Tim continue to listen to Dr. Carter Biggers as he continues to discuss his doctoral dissertation on the History of the Hawkeye Marching Band. Part 2 of the interview covers the tenures of Charles Righter in the 40s, Frank Ebbs in the 50s & 60s, Frank Piersol in the late 60s, and Tom Davis in the early 70s. Folks familiar with the HMB will be delighted to learn of the beginning of so many traditions they know and love today, from the name HMB, the Iowa Fight Song, the Big Ten Band high step & pregame, to The Boom, the Golden Girl, Hey Jude, and so many more. Dr. Biggers gives us a fascinating look at the history of the Hawkeye Marching Band.
Part 1 looked at Carter's methods and how he put the thesis together, the HMB's military beginnings in 1881, their time as a student-led ensemble, then eventual organization under the first Director of University Bands, Orie Van Doren (1911-1937).
Part 2 covers the tenures of Charles Righter, Fred Ebbs, Frank Piersol, & Dr. Tom Davis (1937-1973)
Part 3 will cover Morgan Jones, David Woodley, David Henning, and Kevin Kastens (1973-2012).
If you'd like to follow along, or do some background reading, check out Carter's thesis "On Iowa! a History of The University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band, 1881-2012". The pdf is free to download and a delight to read.
As always, send feedback to iowaalumniband@gmail.com, "Like" the "Down and Off Podcast" page on Facebook, and follow the us on Twitter @DownAndOffPod. #OnIowa #GoHawks
Music recorded by the Hawkeye Marching Band, off the 2003 album "Roll Along!" and the 2007 album "Get Ready For the Boom"

TA Dr. Carter Biggers - History of the HMB Part 1 (From Student Led Beginnings in 1881 through the first Director of Bands Orie Van Doren) Jun 04, 2021

Show notes

Newly learned cohosts John and Tim have an excellent series of episodes for you, sitting under the learning tree of Dr. Carter Biggers, HMB Grad Staff from 2009-2013, and his Doctoral Thesis on the History of the Hawkeye Marching Band. From the band's military beginnings in 1865 through each director, all the way to 2012 under Kevin Kastens, Dr. Biggers gives us a fascinating look at the history of the Hawkeye Marching Band.
Part 1 looks at Carter's methods and how he put the thesis together, the HMB's military beginnings in 1881, their time as a student-led ensemble, then eventual organization under the first Director of University Bands, Orie Van Doren (1911-1937).
Part 2 will cover the tenures of Charles Righter, Fred Ebbs, Frank Piersol, & Dr. Tom Davis (1937-1973)
Part 3 will cover Morgan Jones, David Woodley, David Henning, and Kevin Kastens (1973-2012).
If you'd like to follow along, or do some background reading, check out Carter's thesis "On Iowa! a History of The University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band, 1881-2012". The pdf is free to download and a delight to read.
As always, send feedback to iowaalumniband@gmail.com, "Like" the "Down and Off Podcast" page on Facebook, and follow the us on Twitter @DownAndOffPod. #OnIowa #GoHawks
Music recorded by the Hawkeye Marching Band, off the 2003 album "Roll Along!" and the 2007 album "Get Ready For the Boom"

00s Drum Major Pres Maxson Apr 09, 2021

Show notes

Three dudes, seven costume changes, zero regrets. John and Tim bring on Drum Major Pres Maxson to discuss his time in the Hawkeye Marching Band at the very beginning of the Kevin Kastens era. Pres shares about his drive to become drum major, Band Slide Show shenanigans with Robert Gallery & LKK & Jon Buetjer, the Iowa-Stanford email, and his writing career since. John and Pres give testimony to what made Dr. Jones and Mr. Kastens such great band directors. And between each section, Pres breaks out a different piece of vintage Hawkeye apparel.
You can find Pres' written work on Amazon if you search "Pres Maxson". You can find the link to his TEDxTalk about how bad art helps you make good art (made at Arts Quincy, whose director and friend of the pod and Episode 4 guest, Laure Sievert, recommended Pres to us and has her own talk about funding the arts talk at TEDxNormal!)
As always, send feedback to iowaalumniband@gmail.com, "Like" the "Down and Off Podcast" page on Facebook, and follow the us on Twitter @DownAndOffPod. #OnIowa #GoHawks
Music recorded by the Hawkeye Marching Band, off the 2003 album "Roll Along!" and the 2007 album "Get Ready For the Boom"

80's Alum Dave "Big Al" Griggs Mar 15, 2021

Show notes

Humbly talented co-hosts Tim Clay and John Brown sit down with a friend from John's marching days, Dave "Big Al" Griggs. John and Dave catch up, remembering old shows, traditions, parties, and directors. Where did the "Big Al" nickname come from? Dave was in the marching band for how long?! Give the episode a listen!
Also, a special thanks once again to those of you who reached out and donated to the Kelly Piccolo GOLDrush project. Thanks to your contributions, they were able to reach and exceed their goal, purchasing not only a line of game day piccolos, but other instruments for those who need them. All in Kelly's memory, and we thank you for that.
As always, send feedback to iowaalumniband@gmail.com, "Like" the "Down and Off Podcast" page on Facebook, and follow the pod on Twitter @DownAndOffPod. #OnIowa #GoHawks
Music recorded by the Hawkeye Marching Band, off the 2003 album "Roll Along!" and the 2007 album "Get Ready For the Boom"

Band Manager Kate Weldon Feb 19, 2021

Show notes

Esteemed colleagues John Brown and Tim Clay sit down with current and first ever female Hawkeye Marching Band Manager Kate Weldon to discuss her unintended journey to the HMB, unintended to the Band Manager position, and how she has thrived in all roles and how they have shaped her future. Get a behind the scenes look at what the Band Manager does on a weekly and game day basis to make the HMB function.
Send feedback to iowaalumniband@gmail.com and follow the pod on Twitter @DownAndOffPod. #OnIowa #GoHawks
Show Notes - Check out "End of Time" - The CBDNA Intercollegiate Marching Band Halftime Performance for the 2021 College Football National Championship Game! Over 1,500 nominees from 200 college bands, representing 45 states and Puerto Rico came together for the show, including 6 members of the Hawkeye Marching Band! (Make sure to watch the screen at the 1:30 mark, Hawkeye fans)
Music recorded by the Hawkeye Marching Band, off the 2003 album "Roll Along!" and the 2007 album "Get Ready For the Boom"

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected