< PreviousJuly 5, 2018 -- Clifton, NJ . . . Tonight I’m at the Clifton, NJ, High School Stadium, home of many junior and all-age (senior) drum corps shows through the years. It has been hot and muggy over the past week on the East Coast, with temps close to the century mark and tonight was no exception. With the heat and the way the corps move on the field today, there were no calls for medical attentio, thankfully. You need to give the corps management a big hardy thanks for taking care of their performers on days like these!First corps to open tonight's show was Encorps. This was my second time seeing them in just a few days. You got to love these kids! Being the new kids to our activity in just a few short months they put on a well liked and recognizable musical show. Their numbers are very recognizable - they definitely are ones that you can hum and sing along too. "Roundabout" by the group Yes, "Family" from the show of Dreamgirls, "And Loves Goes On" done by Earth Wind and Fire are some of their numbers. These numbers were arranged by the legendary Larry Kerchner.Pat Perrillo, a former member of the Bayonne Bridgemen, is the founder and corps director of this fine young corps called Encorps (left, Larry Eckert). This is New Jersey's newest M&M junior drum corps, which now gives the state three.Good luck during the rest of the season, Encorps, and I hope to be able to see you again this season.Raiders (below, Larry Eckert) from Burlington, NJ, were next to take the field and again this was the second time I’ve had an opportunity to see this corps. You could sense that they have something to say as they started their warm-up. These fine young performers were ready to give a performance to this New Jersey crowd and they did! Call to War/Warrior is their first number and they seem to have nailed it tonight! There is a fight between the person who wants to be Queen and the person who wants to be King. Perhaps there is a better way to convey this part with a less physical and more of a emotional feeling. I understand that you can’t change history, but sometimes less is more.First of two shows at busy Clifton Stadium features World, Open DCI corpsby Larry Eckert, Drum Corps World staff (mrcymbals@aol.com) “All-aboard” the conductor yelled, “Our next stop, the City of Clifton, NJ. Music City (left, Larry Eckert) from Nashville, TN, is performing this year as a World Class corps in DCI. You have to love their performance. It is based on the wreck old #382, a 10-wheeler (4-6-0) engine and Casey Jones. Casey Jones lived in Jackson, TN, and most people think he was a folk lore, but he was actually an engineer on the Illinois Central Railroad in the late 1890s. Those who don't know what (4 6 0) stands for, it's the wheels of the engine -- four small wheels up front to keep the engine on the track, then six drive wheels and none under the cab.The corps opens with the passenger train of Casey's leaving the station of Jackson on that ill-fated night, with the engine head light shining so bright for the music written by Robert W. Smith as their opener. Crazy Train by Ozzy Osborne is next, used for the wreck scene. Hallelujah serves the theme after the wreck, as the only one who died was Casey, with one hand on the break and the other on the whistle. This production has the makings of a very entertaining production that will be talked about for years to come. I can't wait until the train comes back to Allentown Station the first weekend in August.A few things I would like to see in to their show are to have a cymbal line as the wheels of the engine leaving the station and a little smoke coming from the stack. Then when the wreck does happen, a lot of smoke or powder as the members are lying on the ground. A knock on the door happens as Spirit of Atlanta (left, Chris Maher) has so many doors on the field it's hard to pick which one will open to start their show. But when it does begin, it's like watching revolving doors, as the doors are staged to set up the next set in their program. I found it somewhat distracting, so being on the field taking photographs, I had the opportunity to watch from different angles and viewing the in and outs from in back of the doors, which I found more enjoyable. This year, like most of the corps, they have new costumes as the new wave of looks this year and Atlanta is no exception. I like the change in the style of costumes for Spirit this year. The rich blue blends in with the dark blues when the corps turns, as their backs are all black. So sit back and watch the doors open and close doors throughout their show and see who will be dropping in.What do you do with your scaffolding concept used last year? You design a new way of using in for the 2018 production, but with a different program and color. That's what Bluecoats (left, Larry Eckert) did.What a BLUES show as in blues music the ’Coats put on. From Billie Holiday’s God Bless the Child for a opener to their closer, Home by Wynton Marsalis, this show is on a move through to the end. The scaffolding is used very wisely and most effectively throughout. With their costumes and the yellow piping of the scaffolding, it only adds to the visuals and the brightness.What is drum corps without Boston Crusaders (below, Robb Quinn). Again, as in their show last summer, the corps presents another action-packed show. They even brought back one of their most talked about props. I’m talking about the fire pit. Again it is used most effectively during their show. Boston has gone to an island in the tropics.Their opener is called Distress, utilizing Pavel Tchenokov's Salvation is Created. The second act is called Survival, using the Minioru Miki's production of Marimba Spiritual, followed by Silvestre Revueltas’s Sensemaya. Act three consisted of the closing credits from the hit movie starring Tom Hanks, “Castaway.” One of most frequently-sung hymns in New England churches, Amazing Grace, closes the show. I thought last year’s show could not be topped, but this one has!Look out people, the raptors have escaped from Jurassic Park and they are on the prowl for meat and that MEANS YOU! Yes, Carolina Crown (below, Larry Eckert) has found these raptors deep in the jungle of the Carolina Tar Pits along the Cape Fear River.This corps has some of the most intriguing head gear used in some time. If you look close, you will see the eyes of the raptors. Yes, people, this is a production that goes to the next level of what you will see on the field in the coming years! Their musical staff has put a book together that solidifies their program.Next up,The Cadets (below, Chris Maher). The alumni for the corps were there, having stepped up to keep the Cadets alive and well. I must say that, with the change of the costumes for most of the corps I have seen, The Cadets’ cranberry with white and dark chocolate drizzle is a nice change, but for me, it's hard to get a photograph because of the contrast and with the all dark backs they sometimes blend together.The corps members and alumni should be very proud of all the support fans and everyone have given them. Just a quick note -- I noticed last week in Allentown the alumni held a ceremony in the center of the field giving both the Cadets and Cadets2 hats welcoming them into the family. It was quite a emotional moment for all.I must say in all of the years I’ve been going to Clifton Stadium for a drum corps show, I have never seen a complete sellout, as this year there was not a empty seat from the 10 yard to 10 yard line and at time, it was standing room only.In just 10 days I'll be back for the Hawthorne Caballeros annual “Grand Prix.” n n n“Northwoods Encore” showcases seven corps in the middle of Wisconsinby Jonathan OffernanJuy 5, 2018 -- Wausau, WI . . . This DCI tour started out sponsored by the Blue Stars, but it moved onto the Scouts’ schedule last season and is now one of four events the Madison corps is running, including Whitewater in June, Waukesha in July and East Troy in August. A larger crowd nearly filled D.C. Everest Junior High School in this town that once boasted the Wausau Story junior corps 30 years ago.An Open Class corps, Shadow (below, Ron Walloch) from Oregon, WI, began the line-up of performances with an entertaining production. This is actually a high-school affiliated corps that not only includes primarily students from this town located 14 miles south of Madison, but their membership is open to young people from multiple locations who want an experience marching in DCI and they chose to participate with this excellent group.Then came six World Class corps, opening with Genesis (below, Robb Quinn) from Austin, TX, in their second year touring the country with DCI. Their program provided a mid-50th century vibe featuring music from the Moody Blues, Peter Gabriel, Metallica and even an old Doris Day melody, Que Sera Sera, that provided a wonderful conclusion to this ever-improving and impressive organization.Pioneer (above right, Ron Walloch) has stepped up their game with this inventive production called “Celtic Dragons,” another way to continue presenting their Irish-themed shows. Much of their repertoire was written by Rob Stein, the corps’ assistant program coordinator and it fits well with the dragon prop pieces that provide a backdrop and are painted to show depth perspective, making for a very effective sets to tell the story.One of the most entertaining programs this season is brought to the field by the Colts (bottom right, previous pager, Ron Walloch). It contains some tunes that many fans will recognize in a season with lots of unfamiliar material. Billy Joel, Hans Zimmer, Georges Bizet and Patrick Matheny provide the variety and the concluding number, A Piece of Sky, from the Barbra Streisand movie “Yentl” brought fans to their feet with the emotionally-charged Michel Legrand selection.The Blue Stars (left, Ron Walloch) never fail to come up with a unique take on a program theme and this year’s “tribute” to carpenters and The Carpenters certainly keeps that tradition going. They have utilized a variety of tunes that range from three Paul Williams and Roger S. Nichols songs made famous by the brother/sister duo, but also some contemporary arrangements from John Alden Carpenter and Thomas Newman.The visuals include workbenches, large metal tool chests, hammers and saws, pieces of lumber, tool belts and work aprons. It all works and provides an effective way of telling a story while also being competitive as the corps solidifies their yearly being counted among the activity’s top 12 corps each year.The Madison Scouts (below, Ron Walloch) have taken their approach in a very new direction that features a very talented female flugel horn soloist, Megan Hutera, who is showcased during the last half of the show. Her initial appearance is from behind a red and pink set piece in the back left corner of the field where a color guard member first hands her the instrument and she plays an amplified segment that blends beautifully with the 80+ person brass section.The “Heart and Soul” message is becoming more clear at each outing, although at times the voice of the narrators is hard to distinguish the words. This production has potential for growth, among a cast of other strong World Class competitors after one of the 12 finals spots.The Phantom Regiment (above, Ron Walloch) has taken an iconic musical number and built a fresh approach around music in Dvorak’s “New World Symphony.” But there is some material from the Prokofiev repertoire, Piano Concerto No. 3, and even some tunes from a relatively recent movie, “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium.” And their arranger, Will Pitts, has even worked in several more recent pieces by David Maslanka and Adam Schoenberg.This is another strong production that is heavily backed with electronics and amplification, mixed among a set of ladder-type props that are maneuvered around the field throughout. n n nJuly 3, 2018 -- Cranston, RI . . . You can’t get more American than the celebration of the Fourth of July and there’s no better way to celebrate our nation’s independence than the events held in Bristol, RI, leading up to the holiday. Though Philadelphia has claimed that they were the first to celebrate the Fourth of July in 1777 with an anniversary dinner commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence for members of the Continental Congress, that same year the folks in Bristol had an all-out community celebration. This tradition has continued to this day which now includes the Bristol July 4th parade, which started in 1785 and is the oldest July 4th parade in the country. Today Bristol celebrates with the parade, fireworks, carnival rides, arts and crafts fairs, family events of all kinds and a beloved tradition for drum and bugle corps fans, the “Summer Music Preview” which this year took place on July 3. The event is a success story. Over the years, the number of people attending the show has increased. More people attending the show, combined with the popularity of Bristol on July 4 and the convoy of 18-wheelers, buses, vans, kitchens-on-wheels and souvenir trucks that is drum corps today, not to mention people heading to other summer hot spots such as nearby Newport, RI, and the ferry that brings people to Block Island, causing traffic to became a nightmare. Getting props and equipment into the stadium also presented challenges. The show outgrew Mt. Hope High School Stadium, so in 2016, the Bristol July 4th Committee moved the show from Bristol to nearby Cranston Stadium with a larger seating capacity and better parking opportunities, but the show still has the hometown appeal of the Bristol show. This event often attracts seasoned fans of drum corps, especially those who stay overnight and enjoy the parade the following day. New fans who may be in Bristol for the Independence Day celebrations, likewise, find their way to the show. This year some of the most enthusiastic attendees were members of Canada’s Burlington Teen Tour Band who would be marching in the parade. The folks who organized the show made the market place a bit of a festival this year that included not only the standard drum corps souvenirs, but an assortment of food trucks that sold everything from the traditional fare of hot dogs and hamburgers to Southern BBQ and Chinese noodle dishes, though the most popular vendors included a traditional ice cream truck, the Kona Shaved ice truck and the enterprising young teen who had nothing except a large plastic bucket filled with ice and bottled water on this day when temperatures were in the mid-90s at showtime.After a moving rendition of the National Anthem by the Cranston East High School Marching Thunderbolts, the Long island Sunrisers (early-season photos not yet available) performed an exhibition of their current production, “Outside In.” The DCA corps made the trip from New York to march in the Bristol parade as well as the July 4th parade in Norwood, MA. This is an all-age corps and for this season, all-age may be the best description of the corps, with marchers ranging in age from 12 to 65. This group is not only diverse in age but culturally diverse as well with many young members giving drum corps a try for the first time. A Sunrisers parent, Mary Jarvis, traveled from Long Island to lend a hand and see her inaugural drum corps show. “I didn’t know what I was getting into,” she continued. “Our school has nothing like this and my son wanted to march and asked his band director for help.” The band director encouraged him to look at the Sunrisers. Mary shared that her son spent the past year watching every drum corps video he could, follows Drum Corps Planet and Redditt, installed the DrumScorps app on his phone and, of course, he reads Drum Corps World. The mother of a onetime Spartan, a former 27th Lancer and a man who once marched with the Woonsocket Drum corps heats up the July 4 holiday for Rhode Island fansby Timothy Kearney, Drum Corps World staff (tekearney@msn.com)Telestars let Mary know her son’s interest was not a temporary thing and he’s probably hooked on drum crops for life. For Mary, “This is more than band. It’s athletics, it’s music, it’s amazing.” Another DCI division followed Sunrisers. For the two competing Open Class corps, Spartans and 7th Regiment, this was the third show in three days which were preceded with full-day rehearsals. This would be a recipe for fatigue for most of us, but not these two enthusiastic corps. As happened in both Lawrence and Lynn, MA, both corps were ready for competition and made steady progress from the previous evening’s performance. 7th Regiment (below, Pat Chagnon) is celebrating a milestone this year, its 15th anniversary. The group is known for being a close knit organization that provides a nurturing environment while also striving for growth in numbers and excellence. This anniversary year is no exception. Though 7th Regiment’s previous performances were very good early-season appearances, this evening’s program seemed to have a bit more polish to it. New London, CT,is less than an hour from Cranston on most days (July 3rd was an exception). Both cities are located along Interstate 95 which had more than the usual traffic flow with folks headed to Cape Cod or points north in Maine and New Hampshire for the holiday, so lots of family and friends attended the show to lend support, including Victoria Porter. For Victoria, an aspiring nurse, seeing 7th Regiment and Spartans was a moving experience, with tear-filled eyes after each performance. She spent two seasons with 7th Regiment and aged out with Spartans in 2012. Victoria was impressed with 7th Regiment’s growth and improvement over the years. “It’s very emotional to see them. You remember where you were when you marched. I wish I could be out there.”Spartans (left, Pat Chagnon) came on next with their show titled “Da Vinci’s Workshop.” It features four sections and four different musical styles. Each segment represents an aspect of Da Vinci’s interests: science, art, invention and flying. Though the musical highlight was once again Claire de Lune, the scenes depicting the inventions, with the color guard manipulating sledge hammers to original music that builds up from simple tinkering to depict a great mind at work, grabbed the audience’s attention as well. Victoria’s response to seeing her past corps was similar to that of 7th Regiment, praising those involved with instructing her during her time, beginning with director Richard Rigolini and mentioning others, many of whom are still with each of the corps. “They become mom and dad,” Victoria said. “They push you. What you think you can do is not all you can do, you can do so much more.”World Class competition followed a brief intermission and Spirit of Atlanta (below, Chris Maher) took the field first. The show opens with an energetic piece titled Lit which captures the audience’s attention and the corps maintains the grip throughout its performance. The show weaves different musical moods from the plaintive Hurt by Nine Inch Nails to an energetic Rattletrap. While the musical show was strong, people enjoyed the guard as well, especially a moment when one guard member walks through a door, tosses a sabre and it’s caught by the next person walking through the door, who in turn tosses it to the next. Spirit is a frequent visitor to New England and the audiences in Cranston, Lawrence and Lynn, were all appreciative of their being present again this year. When three people begin cheering and holding up the letters “B,” “O” and “N,” there must be a story behind it. It turns out the letters were held up by a grandmother, aunt and uncle of a Cadets color guard member, Madison Bonnell. She is not the first member of the family to march with The Cadets (right, Robb Quinn). She’s following in the footsteps of her sister Alexandra who also marched and was given the nickname “Bon-Bon.” Madison, being the younger sister was nicknamed “Mini-Bon.” Her grandmother stated she loves going to shows and watching The Cadets and her granddaughters have made her very proud. Grandmothers, due to their unconditional love, may not always be the most objective people when it comes to grandchildren, but The Cadets had a performance that could make any grandmother proud and the marching members should have been proud of a great performance, too. This year’s show, “The Unity Project,” features a wide range of music that includes music composed by music director Drew Shanefield, Ballet Sacra and a piece popular with drum corps audiences, Silvestre Revueltas’ Sensemaya. In a year that is proving to be competitive at all levels, especially those at the top, The Cadets are determined to place as high as possible and make people notice. This evening’s production was stronger than the previous evening’s excellent show, earned a higher score and no doubt has put competitors on notice.Boston Crusaders (right, Robb Quinn) handle outside forces well. The previous evening at “Beanpot,” a few airplanes began their decent to land at nearby Logan Airport as they performed. You barely noticed and it in no way hindered their performance, even if a few audience members snickered, wondering why the planes did not rescue the castaways. This evening, outside forces seemed more in their favor. The show, “S.O.S,” portrays people stranded on a deserted island and as the show began, a fireworks display over nearby Narraganset Bay got underway, which made one audience member who must have been familiar with the show shout, “Look, they’re shooting off flares.” Throughout the night, the wind, much appreciated by fans -- not so much by the corps -- had its way with a few of the props, but for the Crusaders, the wind blew the fire prop, featured prominently, in a way that appeared to look even more like a blazing inferno. Summer breezes and fireworks are not what judges consider when evaluating shows, good music, a strong drill and an active color guard are what matter most and all of this the Boston corps provided. A key element in the show is an emotional pull -- the audience has to care about the castaways and whether or not they will survive. Of the three New England shows, this evening’s performance had the strongest emotional connection between the corps and the audience, something that will no doubt continue to grow as the season progresses.Props have been playing a more prominent role in productions the past few years and among the most elaborate this year are those of the Bluecoats (right, Emily Julian). Theirs certainly caught the attention of folks who either decided to leave the show early or assumed the show was over after Boston Crusaders. As soon as they saw Bluecoats’ range of chairs arrive, the spectacle made them return to their seats. Four young brothers and a cousin, ranging in age seven to 14, on hand to cheer a sister/cousin who marched with 7th Regiment, also knew Bluecoats were going to be something to see. They were told they could cheer them either by clapping or shouting the traditional “Bloo” which had greater appeal to the boys than simple applause. Bluecoats do an excellent job creating a feel with the nonchalant percussion and front ensemble, and the brass line dressed in blazers, ties and Braid jazz fedoras. The scene steeler each evening has been the vocalist crooning Dry Cleaner from Des Moines and belting out God Bless the Child . Vocal selections were spectacular.The show concluded with an encore by The Cadets and the announcement of scores. The corps headed back to housing sites to rest up for the busy following day, fans went home and like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Betsy Ross, this year’s “Summer Music Preview” was history, but those in attendance hope history will repeat itself at next year’s DCI tour show. n n nNext >