Aaron Burns | News Co-Editor
The ever so popular cover band and annual tradition for Buena Vista University (BVU) students, known as the Johnny Holm Band, is scheduled to be back on campus Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, at 8 p.m. in Dows Grand Ballroom.
Johnny Holm Band has definitely become a BVU tradition. As far as records indicate, Holm and his band have been performing on campus for 22 years. Although the locations have changed around campus, the performance usually takes place the night before fall semester classes start. It has been a way to bring the campus back together after the long summer break.
“Johnny Holm is the best thing ever. When I was a sophomore, I danced and sang with him on the stage. It was so much fun! He knows how to have a good time,” junior Kadie Dennison said.
Holm was not able to perform at the beginning of the 2012 fall semester due to medical issues. The absence was filled with an on-campus DJ, but still it unsettled some seniors that wouldn’t be able kick off the year properly.
“Personally, Johnny is a tradition that our school values and one that I have learned to love. I was disappointed that they were not able to perform, but I know Johnny’s health was more important than our tradition,” senior Dominique Daily said.
Although the performance is set to take place in Dows, there should not be any conflict with the location.
“Johnny has played in Dows before due to weather–about three or four years ago there was a really bad lightning storm. He is familiar with it, and he says it’s the same kind of environment as it is outside,” Director of Student Activities & Leadership Becka Neary-DeLaPorte said. The set-up will be as close to normal as possible. The show is scheduled for a few hours full of cover music, getting students on stage, and having an overall good time.
Location will not be a problem, but there are still issues at hand. There were difficulties trying to sync the schedule of the band with the schedule of the campus. The basketball team is scheduled to play an away game the night of the performance. Also, many students, including seniors, will be absent because of internships, traveling abroad, early graduation, and other commitments.
“I’m so disappointed I’ll miss Johnny this year. He is a great way to start off the school year,” Dennison said. Dennison will be attending the Comedy Studies Program with the Second City in Chicago during the spring semester.
“Overall, I think there will be good attendance. There are upperclassmen that are excited that he’s coming back and that they’ll get to see him before the graduate. There are also freshmen that have heard a lot about him but never have experienced it, so this will be their opportunity to see what everyone talks about when they say Johnny Holm Band,” Neary-DeLaPorte said.
“I’m very excited that he is better and that he will be returning in the spring,” Daily said.
Senior Ashley Rogers also spoke on behalf of the Student Activities Board (SAB).
“As a student and as President of SAB (Student Activities Board), it is very important to continue the tradition of Johnny Holm at the beginning of second semester, after he was unable to make it this fall. SAB never wants to disappoint the student body, so we did everything we could to bring him back during this school year. The Johnny Holm Band has been welcoming students to campus since the early 90s, and his appearance has become a tradition. Johnny brings out the campus spirit in everyone when he comes to BVU, and it brings students closer together as a whole because it is a time to socialize and have fun.”
Holm already has BVU scheduled for the regular kick off ceremony for the 2013 fall semester.
Photo courtesy of SAB
