STUDENT BANDS UH: Besides the aforementioned Fat Tony, former UH students currently entrenched in the local music scene include guitarist Enoma Asowata of Otenki and Adam Martinez of the Tontons, arguably the hottest band in town right now. Furthermore, four of the five members of thelastplaceyoulook went to UH, as did Cody Swann of the Wild Moccasins, Arthur Yoria and Dwight Taylor Lee of The Literary Greats, Finnegan and The Wandering Bufaleros. And speaking of student bands, Rice can keep the MOB; UH has the fightin' Cougar Marching Band. Eat 'em up.
RICE: I'll admit I don't know every ensemble produced by the university, but it matters little when your marching band is the MOB. Like no other college band out there, the MOB descends on sporting events donning pinstripes and sporting instruments ranging from horns to electric guitars to violins and kazoos. When you go to Rice, smart often translates into smart-ass and the MOB is perhaps the university's greatest example of that character trait (or flaw, if you are a stick-in-the-mud).
WINNER: UH. The present-day Houston music scene bleeds Cougar red. Besides, we doubt anyone in the MOB (bless their hearts) much cares what we think. And as far as local marching bands go, TSU's Ocean of Soul gets our vote any day of the week.
CLOSING ARGUMENTS UH: I'll admit that Rice is the more renowned regional university. Some amazing things happen on that campus, and Houstonians should be proud to have it so centrally located in our city. But when it comes to music, UH is the superior school. Its music school is better, and it has educated and nurtured far more musicians who have gone on to do great things, locally and otherwise.
RICE: I did not attend Rice University. In fact, I attended UH, but my wife is an alumnus and her father has been a popular professor and administrator at Rice for more than 50 years. But their collegiate history had no bearing on my praise of Rice. The fact is, Rice has consistently incubated interesting and influential artists in the Houston music scene, and KTRU alone should win them the title of best school for music in Houston. Tack on the Monsters of Rock and I don't know how anyone could deny their superiority. I'm pretty sure if you ask a Rice student, he or she will certainly confirm it for you.
OVERALL WINNER: UH. That Monsters of Rock story is compelling all right, and KTRU will always be a treasure. But when it comes to boots on the ground — successful working musicians — UH has a depth and scope that Rice just can't match; hell, they spread out over two categories here. And we daresay the Owls will probably get over it.
