< PreviousMusic City (bottom, Raymond Fudge) was next to take the performance field. They had a very entertaining production of what I would call “The life of a mouse.” There are plenty of mouse faces out on the field during staging and actually way too much to absorb just watching in one performance. This could be called “The mouse that roared.” As the program evolved, it kept getting better as each segment of the show was presented. “BOSTON, it's not drum corps without BOSTON, or should I say “The House of David.” This year’s production for the Boston Crusaders (top of next page, Raymond Fudge) has an all-new look. Their production is based on the book of Samuel in the Bible -- the Israelites (David) and the Philistines (The Giant). The more popular version is meaning denoting an underdog situation. David and Goliath! What could top Boston tonight? Well, the Bluecoats (middle on next page, Raymond Fudge) could and did on the judging sheets and from crowd reaction. This year the Ohio corps is performing a musical book that weaves tunes from The Beatles’ songbook -- 17 of them, in fact. This program may just give the corps another Drum Corps International title come August at Lucas Oil Stadium! There is just one number I was not able to catch in the musical book, Yellow Submarine. This is a show that you should not miss witnessing this year! During the Bluecoats’ performance, the rain started to fall and the management of the corps asked to stop the show for the safety of their members. The members proceeded to gather at the center on the 50. After all concerns were addressed, the corps picked right up where they left off. Lastly this evening, our hosts, The Cadets (bottom, Raymond Fudge) performed their “Behold” production. I find that sometimes I became lost with the constant staging of the ramps/steps. This may be as a result of where I was viewing at field level along the sidelines. There is one bright moment when the four large white ramps are used in a very elegant way as the corps performs Bridge Over Troubled Waters as the guard uses blue silks and flow out from under the bridge while corps members are position on the bridge. The Cadets’ brass section gave an encore following their show. It's been a pleasure seeing drum corps again after nine months of not reading or hearing about any music for the 2019 season. Many of you may know that I had moved down to Florida for the winter. Well, I'm back on the 50 and I’ll be looking for all the members performing in front of me as I shoot a number of shows for Drum Corps World during the balance of the 2019 season! n n nLisle IL, July 5 (This page, top to bottom, left to right): The Cavaliers (Scott Bates); Santa Clara Vanguard (Bates); Blue Stars (John Matter); The Academy (Bates); (next page): Colts (Tery LeFebvere); Legends (Matter); The Cadets (Raymond Fudge); Bluecoats (Raymond Fudge). These were were not necessarily taken at the Lisle, IL, DCI event,July 5, 2019 -- Sacramento, CA . . . The Central California temperatures soared to new heights at the Mandarins' home show, both on and off the field. Despite the triple- digit summer heat, drum corps fans packed the stands and additional seating had to be set up for the overflow crowd. One of the most talked about drum corps this summer has to be the Mandarins (below, Jim Claytor) and their underworld production, “Subterra.” Although fielding one of their largest corps ever, the Sacramento troupe has returned to the roots of what made them hard to beat champions in their DCI Division II/III years. The horn line packs not only power, but soars through complex passages with untouchable precision. This is not limited to one or two climatic passages, but is the norm from the first note to the last. The color guard has always been a flow of beauty on the field, but this program is filled with new surprises and pageantry. From the opening bungee dance off one of 14 skull- covered towers across the field, to the high- flying rifle tosses during Run Boy Run, they are a troupe that has yet to be surpassed on the West Coast. The percussion section really shines in the ensemble combination of battery and front ensemble. The battery feature at the close of On Shoulders of Giants puts the spotlight on a line filled with remarkable talent, but it’s when they integrate with the symphonic precision of the pit that really earned them the recognition tonight. The evening highlight belongs to the haunting ballad, Truman Sleeps, a composition by Philip Glass, along with Capture, an original by Key Poulan. This presentation is packed with passion and musical emotion, capped off by the duet of flugelhorn Aaron Christianson and euphonium Matt Miller. “Capital Classic” marks the only Northern California appearance of Pacific Crest (top of next page, Jim Claytor) for the 2019 season. Always a crowd favorite, their production, “Everglow,” was well-received by the local fans. Their presentation is a mix of exciting experimentation, traditional visual beauty and bold delivery. From the very beginning, the corps unleashes surprises from its kit bag as numerous triangle props flicker in sync “Capital Classic” showcases World and Open Class corps by Michael Carlson, Drum Corps World staff (michael.carlson@mac.com)with the opening number, Awaken. These props change colors throughout the show, from light blue to white to green. The color guard is the strength of this program. They jump into Ready Player One in a dazzling display of flag work to propel the bold sounds of the Alan Silvestri composition to new heights. Later on, the scrim flags used in Jerry Goldsmith's Theme from Chinatown really come alive in brilliant colors under the stadium lights. Insight by Haywyre provided the evening highlight for this group. The corps really comes alive, both musically and visually, with this pulsating number. Although not quite holding to the dubstep genre, the PC version is definitely filled with energy and the trombone and single tuba ensemble proved a crowd favorite. The San Francisco Bay Area is the home of two drum corps that gained notoriety as the most prominent Open Class competitors of the past 15 years. Although there is heated competition each season, Blue Devils B and the Vanguard Cadets are quick to celebrate one another at the end of each performance. This bond and friendship can serve as an example for us all. Prior the 2019 season, the two organizations agreed to limit the summer tours to the borders of California. Consequently, these Open Class titans will close out the season together in just two weeks at the “Gold Showcase” in Vista, CA. In what some saw as a setback year filled with potential challenges -- the impact on recruiting, a lower quality show, etc., what kept these challenges at bay for the Blue Devils B and the Vanguard Cadets was the instilled spirit of family and belonging, and the drive to reach for the stars. Without compromise, these two corps are marching into the 2019 season with the power and quality of performance as though Indianapolis was their next stop. Judging from the performances tonight, these two titans are still on top of their game. The Blue Devils B (right, Jim Claytor) production, “Re:Calling,” looks at the evolution of telecommunications through a presentation that is packed with musical humor juxtapositioned against the bold, in-your-face sound fans love. Most notable is the use of Lionel Rickie hit Hello to re-enact the historical moment Alexander Graham Bell discovered his invention really worked. Also, keep your ears open for AOL background noises throughout the show. The recently added closer, Visionary by California composer Ken Froelich, is the night’s highlight. The BDB color guard and percussion sections were both on top of their game tonight, but the closer is all about the brass. This John Meehan arrangement opens with a musical statement that flows between the brass voices like a high-speed waterway. So much energy and power abounds in this number that you are left breathless by the final impact. Moving forward in an uncertain future is the theme of the Vanguard Cadets’ (right, Russell Tanakaya) production, “What About Us?” Although this may seem to be a foretelling of the 2019 season, when the corps takes to the field they are large and in-charge. This is a group laser-focused on setting its own destiny. Of note is the lack of field props common to their shows over the past five years. As a result, the visual book has a strong emphasis on getting back to basics. The presentation is dominated by the flow and precision of human designs and an elegant color guard choreography that earned them number one spots in the past. The highlight of this production continues to be Peter Gabriel’s Downside Up. The sweeping ballad is led by flugelhorn Alex Lopez, who delivered one of the best solos of the night. The tribute to the Golden State, “California Dreaming,” continues to provide the Blue Devils C (left, Russell Tanakaya) with one of their best competitive seasons. In the past 12 days since Sacramento’s “Moonlight Classic,” the young group brought a significant level of improvement to the stadium tonight. The evening highlight goes to the ballad, California Dreamin'. Through the Mamas and Papas’ anthem Blue Devils C demonstrates a very mature sound for the young musicians, many of whom are new to their instrument. The mellophone solo by Matthew Bell and the closing trumpet tag by Michael Baily were well worth the price of admission. And speaking of great solo work, surrounded by a color guard of beach balls, trumpet Lizzie Davies really kicked California Girls into gear and brought fans to their feet. A very special thanks goes out to the Mandarin’s staff and their hard-working army of volunteers who continue to ensure the long-standing success of “Capital Classic.” From the food to the ticket booth and from the ushers to the support for visiting drum corps, these folks take caring and helpfulness to new levels, which continues to make this one of the activity’s best drum corps venues! n n nU.S. Army Old Guard Washington D.C. (Raymond Fudge)“Drums of Fire,” July 5 Camas, WA (Previous page, top to bottom, left to right): Columbians (Donny Helvey); Blue Devils (Donny Helvey); Troopers (Donny Helvey); (this page): The Battalion (Donny Helvey); Blue Knights (Russell Tanakaya); Seattle Cascades (Donny Helvey); Genesis (Donny Helvey).Next >