July 6, 2018Volume 47, Number 6Copyright 2018 by Sights & Sounds, Inc. in the United States and Canada. The logo for Drum Corps World is a registered trademark and is protected by all applicable laws. Material originally published in Drum Corps World (in print or on-line) may not be reproduced in any other publication or in any electronic medium -- in whole or in part -- without the written permission of the publisher, in advance. Drum Corps World is published on-line monthly, for a total of 12 issues, plus five weekly e-mail blasts during June, July and August, with additional show reviews and photography. This is a complimentary service provided by Sights & Sounds, Inc., a privately-owned Wisconsin corporation, dedicated to the distribution of news, photographs and feature material on the drum and bugle corps activity worldwide through publishing Drum Corps World, as well as graphic design and recorded products and implementation of printed materials. Drum Corps World is provided free through financial support from advertising placed by companies, show sponsors and corps worldwide, and through the sale of history books, historic CDs and DVDs. Please support our advertisers and thank them for believing in Drum Corps World!Statements or opinions of columnists, correspondents, staff members, advertisers or readers that appear in Drum Corps World do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or owners.Register a change of e-mail address at least 10 days prior to the next issue release date by sending an e-mail with old and new address to: publisher@drumcorpsworld.com.Advertising specifications and demographic information will be supplied upon request. Information about advertising can be viewed at www.drumcorpsworld.com -- click on “Advertising” in the menu bar. A proposed advertising program can be provided by the publisher. Published by Sights & Sounds, Inc.Mailing/shipping address:4926 North Sherman Avenue, Unit HMadison, WI 53704-8443Madison office phone:608-241-2292 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Central time, Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Central time, Saturday/SundayProduct order line:608-241-22929:00 AM to 9:00 PM Central time, Monday - Friday9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Central time, Saturday/SundayWeb site:www.drumcorpsworld.comMadison staff:Steve VickersPublisher / Editor / Graphic DesignE-mail: publisher@drumcorpsworld.comAdvertising sales: Jeff Collins 916-200-8151 (cell, California)E-mail: jcdrumman1@yahoo.com or Steve Vickers 608-241-2292 (office, Wisconsin)E-mail: publisher@drumcorpsworld.com or 608-249-2590 (Steve’s cell, Wisconsin) 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Central time, Monday - Friday 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Central time, Saturday/SundayFrom the publisherThe next issueThe July 13 edition will be uploaded to the Internet on Friday, July 13.Photo creditsSupport our advertisersFront cover: Bluecoats, Canton, OH (Emily Julian)Back cover): Blue Devils C, Concord, CA (Jim Claytor)July 6 contents 4 • 07/01 -- Riverside, CA, Jim Claytor 10 • 07/01 -- Lawrence, MA, Tim Kearney 14 • Spotlight on The Diplomats, Gary Dickelman 16 • 06/30 -- Pasadena, CA, Russell Tanakaya 22 • 07/02 -- Lynn, MA, Tim Kearney 26 • 07/02 -- Mankato, MN, Chris Maher 29 • 07/01 -- Woking, Surrey, U.K., photos by Mark Neilson 30 • 07/03 -- Cedarburg, WI, Larry Denman 32 • 07/01 -- LaCrosse, WI, Larry Denman 36 • 06/30 -- Allentown, PA, Chris Maher 39 • TYMBA in the U.K., photos by Mark Neilson 40 • 06/30 -- Pittsburgh, PA, William Aldrich-Thorpe 44 • 06/30 -- Muncie, IN, Ron Baysinger 47 • In Memoriam -- Samuel Geati 48 • 06/24 -- Sacramento, CA, Christina Mavroudis 52 • DCA personality Jim Cossetti passes 54 • Independent report clears interim YEA! CEO Sean King, Peter Giles 56 • My love letter to Sam Geati, Larry McCormick 58 • A conversation with DCI’s first executive director, Don Pescone -- Part 4, Alan Karls 62 • From our photo archives Drum Corps WorldThe season is well underway and only a small number of DCI and DCA corps have yet to appear in competition. They will be included in next week’s issue. Probably the most significant development this summer is the dramatic change in the way corps have transitioned from traditional uniforms to costumes. Many have dropped headgear as part of their appearance. Several even have playing members and color guard wearing the same look. Many corps have experienced an increase in membership and talent levels, resulting in stronger performances for audiences who populate events from coast to coast. Even many of the Open Class corps are putting full- or nearly-full units on the field.Our writing and photography staff members are on top of things and this issue has another 11 show reviews and lots of great images to go along with them.Next week’s issue will have additional coverage of nine DCI and DCA competitions.Steve Vickers 3 • Drillmasters Shoes 5 • Kaleidoscope AdventuresWARNING TO BAND DIRECTORSIt’s the law. The ROLLED-HEEL™is patented technology that cannot be copied. Otherband shoes’ “turned,” “beveled” or “Tri-angle” heels are unstable and non-func-tional designs. Don’t be fooled.Protected under one or more US PATENTS #4,939,853, #5,469,642 and Design Patent D-327571www.drillmaster.comANY OTHERMARCHING SHOE ISWAY OUT OF STEP™The ONLY ROLLED-HEELTM Marching Shoe.AD 3r2_DRILLMASTER 5/19/14 2:43 PM Page 1The ONLY ROLLED-HEEL™ Marching Shoe.TEST-MARCH a FREE PAIRAsk your dealer, now!If you march our shoes or previously received a free pair please understand this offer is not available to you.any other superdrills.indd 14/3/18 2:41 PMJuly 1, 2018 -- Riverside, CA . . . Hey everyone, it’s been a while since I've written an article for Drum Corps World, but this year is unbelievable so let’s get right into it! We all know how Blue Devils have dominated the world for many years. Well, let’s just say so far this year the Santa Clara Vanguard (below, Jim Claytor) has said “Stop the presses!” Our turn! So they took their turn and came out of the gate like the Terminator just landed on Earth while keeping his promise when he said, “I'll be back!” This 2018 Vanguard show ROCKS BIG TIME! The horn line has to be the most powerful and balanced horn lines I have ever heard since I started drum corps in the mid-1970s (yes, I'm Old), but with the Santa Clalra corps, none of that one-sided or unevenness of heavy tuba on one side vs trumpets on the other, we're talkin’ balanced HD baby!The show is called “Babylon,” with music by Peter Gabriel, Peter Graham, Zacarias M di la Riva and the Club Sound by Gent and Jawns. It literally makes you tired by the end of their show. Can we talk gymnastics, full on hip-hop, full-corps hip-hop dancing and the drill difficulty . . . unbelievable? This performance left the crowd standing most of the show and screaming for more! This new major athletic style IS the new drum corps! This year we have a newbie in the DCI Open Class division, Vessel (below, Russell Tanakaya), formally known as City Sound. This corps and their 2018 show titled “Bloom” surprised everyone this season. After previously placing last or close to last place as the old City Sound corps several years ago, so far this season is in the top three in Southern California, with new uniforms, instruments, fantastic staff and family support system. The horn line is smaller than most, but musical ability makes up for not having 80 horns . . . YET! But they do have a phenomenal, World Class guard, a smokin’ full pit percussion and a huge battery. I would definitely and honestly say that if they at least double their horn line next year, look out because the competition will get Baker’s dozen corps strut their stuff at final Southern California World contestby Jim Claytor, Drum Corps World staff (musicforfilm@yahoo.com)fierce. The Blue Devils (right, Jim Claytor) this year and their show, “Dreams and Nighthawks,” incudes a plethora of musical excerpts, some new and some nostalgic, but still classic D arrangements. The horn line, still a power to be reckoned with, alongside their fantastic color guard, opens the show spanning the entire length of the field. This makes for a great opening visual. The fight for number one in California this year will be epic in both Open and World Class. The Blue Knights (left, Jim Claytor) upped their game this year, big time! With new costumes, much more stylish and colorful, as well as the elimination of the safe drum corps shows that were always beautiful, now it’s a truly blow-your-face-off kinda production that’s absolutely wild.Top 12 . . . ABSOLUTELY!. With 20-plus trombones and an extremely talented trumpet section, this makes for some beautiful melodic passages, as well as those hard-hitting, up-tempo sections that drove the crowd wild with their show titled “The Fall and the Rise” which is depicted throughout their performance. Next up we have the always-entertaining Academy (right, Jim Claytor) and their production called “Academic.” With uniforms reminiscent of an upper class boarding school, dancing on desks while playing their instruments reminds me of “Fame” with Irene Carra, Valerie Landsberg and Lee Carreri, one of my favorite movies, as well as THIS horn line. Powerful yet creative, this year’s production seemed to have taken their induction as a DCI top 12 member just a little more serious, but they do give you a little humor to show it's not gone for good, just a nice change of pace. This is a great show and the fact that they want to musically prove they are still definite top 12 contenders, and not just bunnies and the walking dead, I applaud them! Now on the flip side, we have the Sacramento corps, Mandarins (right, Jim Claytor)! This year the corps should be on your top five list of drum corps to see. Ok let’s be straight-up about this show. It’s a little dark, creepy, the afterlife, innovative and absolutely fantastic. This production of “Life Rite After” looks more like a top Broadway show on a football field, including a 30-foot rotating stage, giant stilt walkers, guard uniforms reminiscent of the goddess Medusa, horn and drum uniforms so creative you’d think you were in a Quentin Tarantino movie, all the while opening with where the “Rite of Spring” left off and their 2018 show actually begins with the horn line blowing you back into your seats. The performance requires athleticism similar to an Olympian raising their heart rate in the first 60 seconds and not letting up until the last note is played! A must-see!!In Open Class this year, Gold (left, Russell Tanakaya) and their “Through Our Eyes” production isletting people know they are on the hunt for gold in Indy. Their brand-new uniforms are half black and half white, with a much larger horn line, a full drum line and guard, but also a new sound, “BIG !” This year’s program has a big World Class sound even though they are still in Open Class. The 2018 program takes on how people with special needs experience the world and the challenges they face. The music is all original, written by composer Scott Director. It’s a beautiful show!The host of tonight’s show, Pacific Crest (below, Russell Tanakaya), came out with beautiful new uniform additions and a little “bling” to make them pop, which gives them a great new look. Their 2018 show, “Here’s to the Ones Who Dream,” came out of the starting blocks playing Planetarium from the film “La La Land” that was absolutely beautiful. This show is a little nostalgic, a little retro, with a lot of deco thrown in and it really brings back some good memories. I totally recommend this show and hope to see them in DCI Finals this year! Corps director and host Stuart Pompel is the greatest!The Troopers (left, Jim Claytor) celebrate their 60th anniversary this year with a very fitting show titled “The New Road West.” Opening with their world-famous and iconic sunburst, the corps has earned the name of “America’s Drum Corps” and have been DCI Finalists nine times. The show this year takes you through a spectrum of musical classics, especially the snippet of How the West Was Won that always brings the house down. But don’t let that fool you into thinking they are sticking with the same old thing. Oh no! Halfway through they go from Western hats and nostalgic new uniforms to bright yellow and white, long-sleeve shirts and no hats, to a more “dude check out my drum corps uni now!” I love the Troopers and this is a great show. I’m glad they drove West to show us their beautiful production for 2018 and look to see them for many years to come and hopefully another 60+. Also in the Open Class division, we can’t forget about Incognito (right, Russell Tanakaya). With their signature white mask on the front of their shakos, this corps is a fighter. Though small in numbers, the corps’ tenacity is off the chain. With music by the Foo fighters, Ruth B, Gary Barlow,and Elliot Kennedy, Incognito lets no one tell them they can’t because they do and they do it well! As we travel up the state of California, we get to Bakersfield, home of Golden Empire (left, Russell Tanakaya) and their celebration of five years as an Open Class corps. They’re looking fantastic this early in the season. With their show called “Hear Our Voice,” they boast a much tighter sound and are coming into their own style, which is so good! I love their 2018 repertoire, The Inside Out, We’re Not Gonna Take It, Revolt, Foundry and Cinderella Man. Being an extension of Bakersfield College, this year marks their first tour to Drum Corps International Championships at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and we wish them much success! Watch out for the Watchmen (below left, Russell Tanakaya). Their 2018 performance of “Altered” took the crowd by surprise tonight with their much-improved overall look and performance. Stronger, bigger, dramatic and a staff that has taken this corps into its next phase. It shows. This drum corps has come a long way, but Director David Becker is obviously looking to take it even further because their 2018 season is for sure going to rattle some Open Class cages! It’s early in the season, so check out the Watchmen’s new show at your local drum corps event! We next had Impulse(below, Russell Tanakaya) in the house! One of Southern California’s longest-running drum corps has just come on to the competition field with their 2018 production of “Time After Time.” Sporting their iconic black baseball hats and uniform top with the signature exclamation mark, this group is totally ready for business and prepared to take on the best DCI has to offer. With music by Pink Floyd, Cindi Lauper Phillip Glass and Muse, Corps Director Aaron Zellinger is looking to take this corps to new heights. In 2006, impulse was crowned the DCI Division III World Champion and now, as an Open Class corps, they are looking to gain that title back as well. n n nNext >