"With Battle of the Bands, Keith Duncan displays his full formal acumen and narrative prowess as a painter. Like all of Duncan's work, it is figurative, personal, and rooted in the celebration of his community. Through telling this story, he focuses the viewer's attention on the cultural significance of the HBCU marching band tradition. It also opens dialogue around the rich history of the South's Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the increasingly important role they play at this moment in American history." -- Bradley Sumrall, Curator of the Collection, Ogden Museum of Southern Art