Down and Off

Down & Off is back with Dr. Drew Bonner! Dr. Bonner is called the "Musical Voice of the HMB" and is responsible for many arrangements and shows the Hawkeye Marching Band has performed in the last 8 years, from Wave on Wave in 2018 to HMB TV in 2019 to Wicked this past year and beyond. He is the current Staff Arranger and master of Special Projects, and he gets into what all that enta...

Down & Off is BACK celebrating this year's Homecoming honored guests- Drum Majors, Golden Girls, & Silks.  Today John and Tim sit down with 80s Drum Major (and Homecoming Musical Director) Jeff Sebille and 2010s Drum Major (and serving member of the US Armed Forces) Isaac Anderson. Jeff tells John and Tim about his journey to becoming Drum Major and Director of Alumni Bands and Homeco...

It's Homecoming 2025 and John and Tim sit down with 70s Drum Major Dr. Tom Leslie to talk about his time under Dr. Tom Davis in the Hawkeye Marching Band. Dr. Leslie gives us an overview of his time in the band, as a twin drum major, with the first Lani Jo- the first Golden Girl, the legacy of Fred Ebbs, what the HMB taught him, and his journey to being a 40 year director at UNLV. Give it a l...

Down & Off is back with a look ahead to Homecoming! John & Tim sit down with Homecoming Chair and Musical Director Jeff Sebille to talk about what folks can expect for Homecoming 2025. Jeff gives a brief history of the Alumni Band, talks about the Thursday Reception, the Friday Parade & post-parade activities, and game day on Saturday! All the things necessary to Take Back the Field in...

THANK YOU LOU! In honor of the last game of the Legendary Golden Voice of the Hawkeye Marching Band Lou Crist, here is the interview Tim & John Brown did all the way back on Down & Off Episode 1 in November 2020! Listen to Lou talk about his time in the HMB, his journey to becoming the Golden Voice, the band under the direction Fred Ebbs, Dr. Tom Davis, the many road & bowl trips, did...

IT'S BAND CAMP TIME! The Hawkeye Marching Band is gathering and getting ready for the upcoming season, and Tim and John sit down with the Associate Director of the Hawkeye Marching Band, Dr. Nick Miller, and the Director of the Hawkeye Marching Band and Associate Director of Bands, Dr. Eric Bush to see what the upcoming season has in store! Topics include Student Leadership, Drum Major Brando...

Down & Off is back! Tim Clay is joined by John Barker, a trombone & sousaphone player that joined the Hawkeye Marching Band in 1989. John has agreed to join the Down & Off team and shares about his time in the band and his journey afterwards in the world of radio (and the other HMB, the Hungry March Band ).  Reminder for Homecoming! Registration closes on August 8th! Register Today ! I...

Finally! The re-release of the Jose Gallardo episode. Enjoy the conversation between John & Jose as they reminisce over great friends & memories from their time in the HMB. Enjoy this series of behind the scenes moments as John & Tim record the episode.  Find the whole conversation on Apple, Stitcher, Spotify, or whichever fine purveyor of podcasts you prefer!

University of Iowa Alumni Band 51 is here! We are joined by featured guest for Homecoming 2024, former Director of the Hawkeye Marching Band, Professor L. Kevin Kastens! Humble co-host Tim is joined by fellow Alumni Board member (and former guest of Down & Off) Craig Brown. Alumni Band 51 was a blast! Listen to the rest of Professor Kastens' remarks from the Homecoming Reception on Thursd...

The Hawkeye Marching Band is set to salute Lisa Bluder and her amazing career this weekend, and Down & Off is back to sit down with Homecoming Chair and Director of Alumni Bands Jeff Sebille to get a preview of Homecoming '24 festivities! Jeff Sebille shares his excitement for Homecoming 2024 and walks through logistics of the weekends events! Starting with the Thursday night Homecoming R...

Rumpadiddily! Band Camp is on, marching band season looms, and it's time for our annual check in on the State of the HMB. John & Tim are back to interview Director of the Hawkeye Marching Band, Dr. Eric Bush, and Associate Director of the Hawkeye Marching Band, Dr. Nick Miller, about all the goings on with HMB 144. Dr. Miller introduces himself, and his journey from St. Louis to the Unive...

The regular season has come to an end, bowl season approaches, basketball season is here, and John & Tim are back with 00's Drumline Alum & current Digital Media Specialist for the University of Iowa Center for Advancement and Hawkeye Marching Band John Emigh! John shares his memories of his time in  the band and the tremendous work Dr. Bush is doing with the Hawkeye Marching Band cur...

Homecoming approaches and John and Tim are privileged to sit down with former President & CEO of the Alumni Association, Vince Nelson, to share his stories with the Alumni Band and growing up. Vince is a delightful presence that fully supports the Alumni Band and the Alumni Association. As always, send feedback to iowaalumniband@gmail.com, "Like" the "Down and Off Podcast"...

The Hawkeyes prevailed against Utah State and the Hawkeye Marching Band had a wonderful performance of the music of ABBA! It is officially footba- marching band season, and John and Tim have the honor of sitting down with Hawkeye Marching Band Director Dr. Eric Bush and Director of the Iowa Alumni Bands Jeff Sebille to get a preview of the HMB's season and Homecoming festivities! First, Dr. B...

It's been a little bit, but John and Tim are back to end off Season 3 with a fantastic, sparkling, positive guest - the Operations Manager of the Hawkeye Marching Band and Band Administrator, Kathy Ford!  The always uplifting Kathy shares about her time in the HMB in the early 90s and the role she now plays within the HMB. Kathy tells of her first year marching in the Rose Bowl with the Sudle...

March Madness has come to an end, the Women's Basketball Team has enjoyed an historic season, and John and Tim are joined by Drum Major of the Hawkeye Marching Band, Christian Frankl. Christian shares his journey from Ames High to the HMB, his love of the alto saxophone section, quest to become drum major, and the many memories he's made along the way. As always, send feedback to iowaalu...

Happy New Year! Down & Off is back and celebrating Big Ten Basketball and Pep Band with sousie player Eric Jaffe. Jaffe talks about his time in the Hawkeye Marching Band, bowl memories, and all the Pep Band games and songs trips and chants and general shenanigans. From free throw distractions like STROKE!, to sousie horn movements, yelling at the players, Johnny B, White Castle Express, STICKE...

Down & Off is back and celebrating 50 years of Women in the HMB with three outstanding guests, Hawkeye Marching Band Flag Guard Captains & Staffers from the 80's, Sherry Marek, Ann Costello Miksch, & Donna Walton. They share their experiences being in the HMB, the special relationship between the silks and the sousies (the Association of Silks & Sousies), how they developed ro...

This episode will be very different from our previous ones. As many of you know by now, our Hawkeye Marching Band family lost one of our greatest legends, Dave Woodley, who passed away on the morning of May 21. He was an HMB member, Drum Major, Assistant Director, and the 9th Director of the University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band. Dave also led the marching bands at the University of Louisville...

Down & Off Episode 3 comes to you from across the Atlantic, all the way from The Hague! John and Tim are delighted to be joined by Arlene & Andy Houk, who reminisce on their time in the "Golden Era" of the Hawkeye Marching Band (Andy's words) in the early Fry Era. They share their story of growing up in Ottumwa, joining the HMB, Andy joining the pep band in the old Field Hou...

Week Zero is behind us, it is officially footba- marching band season, and John and Tim have the honor of sitting down with Hawkeye Marching Band Director Dr. Eric Bush and Director of the UIowa Alumni Bands Jeff Sebille to get a preview of the HMB's season and Homecoming festivities! First, Dr. Bush runs down the shows and trips for the year, highlights leadership with Golden Girl Ella McDan...

Tweet tweet! Twee-ee-eet! And Let's Go Hawks!!! John and Tim are back with Season 3 of the Down & Off Podcast! Season 3 kicks off with a wonderful guest from the 80's, the oft-mentioned Jose Gallardo steps into the studio to visit with John and reminisce on memories from the 80's under Dr. Morgan Jones. Topics run from Jose's transition from Regina HS to the HMB, favorite s...

Basketball season now behind us, behind schedule co-hosts John and Tim are out with an overdue episode, having the privilege to talk with Golden Girls Kylene Spanbauer and Ella McDaniel. They talk about their year together, the unique situation of having two Golden Girls on the field, working together and with Amanda, Kylene's past years, Ella's future, and a little roasting of Dr. Bush....