< PreviousThe few drops of water increased as the Skyliners Alumni (above) started their show with a “traffic jam” resolving to a soprano soloist kicking out New York, New York. As the show progressed, the rain picked up, but it was the sound of thunder and sight of lighting that pulled the (figurative) plug on this show. I packed up my gear and hung out under the Caballeros’ souvenir tent as the rain picked up, but ended quickly. With no more lightning sighted, the show resumed after a half hour delay. After a brief on-field warm-up, Sky picked up where they left off, though without any flags. The honor guard and color guard stood in alternating positions on the sideline, they broke into an impromptu kick line as the corps played New York, New York. The competition resumed with a colorful sky and the White Sabers (below) performing “007 -Becoming Bond.” There were some additions to the show’s ending since last week, though the whole drill for the closer, Goldeneye, was not quite ready. The corps traveled six hours to be at tonight’s show and their presence was much appreciated by the crowd. The group seems strong across the board. I enjoyed the trombone quartet playing atop benches behind the front ensemble in You Know My Name from the relatively-recent movie “Casino Royale.” The guard continues to impress me and I thought the cymbal line had some great visual moments tonight. I love the look of this year’s Hawthorne Caballeros (left) with a modern uniform, yet one that distinctly fits the corps’ identity. The sombrero enhances the look. The hints of yellow on the sash tie into the yellow accents in the guard costume. The show is “Out of the Box” which invites the viewer to have the courage to step out of your box and become who you are. I can imagine that the drill includes many box formations, but that’s hard to read from the field level and close to the sideline. What I did see was a lot of confidence across the board as the corps made use of the entire field. More than a few times I said “wow” after a snare lick or guard move. The performances concluded with an exhibition from nearby Saints Brigade (below) from Port Chester, NY. As the group took the field, a small ensemble played from the track. When the corps was in position, all joined in. I enjoyed each of the soloists as the corps played popular drum corps songs including Empire State of Mind, Legend of the One-Eyed Sailor and When A Man Loves A Woman. The corps played a final number from the track. The original plan called for a full retreat and encore, but because of the weather issues a drum majors-only retreat commenced as I headed for my car. I had a two-hour drive to Woodbridge, NJ, to spend the evening before completing the drive home on Sunday morning. As I drove across the new Mario Cuomo Bridge (replacement for the Tappan Zee Bridge), I reflected on an entertaining evening of drum corps. I hope all drum corps fans have an opportunity to check out these entertaining groups! n n nJune 28, 2019 -- Muncie, IN . . . Carolina Crown (right, John Matter) continues to dominate in Indiana, giving the audience a fantastic show tonight. “Beneath the Surface” is proving to be the perfect vehicle for the horn line. From the opening statement until the last chord of the show, that brass section is proving to be shooting for the top brass award again at DCI Finals in August. The percussion is one of the top units going into the 4th of July weekend. Crown takes the title of their show and digs deep beneath the surface of the layers of music, not just the layers of the translucent uniforms and props, but going beneath the surface of many facets of life. To understand the geometric designs and numbers on the props and what they portray, one must dig deep to grasp complex things. I love the quote repeated during the show, “Detail of the pattern is movement.” Gabriel’s Oboe from “The Mission” is so beautifully done as the ballad. Blue Stars (right, John Matter) keep getting stronger with every show. That horn line is spitting out some powerful notes. The drill is complex and very fast moving. The guard is very well-trained and portrays the story of their show, “Call of the Wild,” so vividly. Audiences get a feel of the show from the very beginning when the dog sleds move about the field setting up the show. The metal mountain on side 2 gives a perfect depiction of the wild north, as do the pines trees made of silver metal. I look for this show to just keep climbing. Mike Schaefer, from Evansville, IN, sat in front of me this evening and stated that this is one show he looks forward to seeing again. It definitely kept his interest. Carolina Crown stays on top of competition in Midwest by Ron Baysinger, Drum Corps World staff (Bnmb@aol.com)The Crossmen (left, John Matter) enter the field donned in costumes that fit the myth of “Valkyrie,” as the maidens slain the warriors of their choice in Valhalla. It’s hard to imagine that the music of Led Zeppelin would work for this, but it sure does. As they move the circular discs around the field and perform on them, the rotations adds much to the visual of the moment. The brass is much stronger and clearer than my previous viewing, adding excitement to the show. The audience responded at the end with a resounding standing ovation. “Neon Underground” is such a beautifully-designed show for Spirit of Atlanta (below, John Matter) . The black leather-type skirts the entire corps wears in the opener makes such a dynamic visual statement. The horn line and percussion then change to all-white costumes while the guard dons some neon colors to bring out the title of the show. The end has the corps in colorful body suits that complement the style of music being played, Color Wheel by Arch Echo. Their score is starting to reflect the improvements. Blake Patton and the rest of the visual staff need to be complemented on such a wonderful package. “I Am Joan” is starting to really take shape for the Phantom Regiment (top of next page, John Matter) . The wonderful full, rich sound of which we always recognize as Phantom, is there. The guard has become much more expressive and the percussion is playing some difficult runs. The Carmina Burana thread keeps appearing throughout, tying in the different sections of the production. As the corps changes from the traditional black uniform with helmets to the more period-type costume, the music just builds and builds, thrilling all the fans in the stands. I wouldn’t count Phantom out just yet. It seems to me they are just starting to gel. A program titled “When Hell Freezes Over” makes the audience sit up and take notice to the Colts (middle right, John Matter) from the very beginning, actually before the first note. The huge discs positioned in various areas are covered with a guard member draped in a black hooded robe that encompasses the entire prop. As they are removed, a fiery prop is revealed. The horn line is out to turn some heads with a terrific sound. The guard is front and center much of the time and they warrant the praise of the audience with their dynamic performance. As the huge blue banner passes over each prop toward the end, they props turn blue to represent hell freezing over. From start to finish this corps portrays their theme so well. They are definitely fighting for the top 12 in finals. I’m not sure what the Madison Scouts (bottom, Tery LeFebvere) are not doing to warrant the low scores, but I saw a glimmer of hope in their performance tonight. The military-type khaki uniform are so fitting and it is exemplifying the title of the show, “Majestic,” the historic theater in Madison. The straight line entrance from the end zone to the performance area is so classic Madison. The drill is being marched with precision, the sound is clear and solid, and the percussion is strong. I hear the guard is young, but they execute their routines and the guys looks like they are having fun. That’s what counts. I’m anxious to see what the next few weeks have in store. David Adams, an alumnus of Madison, was sitting beside me and thinks they are on the right track and will continue to improve as the season progresses. Each year, this show is the culmination of Music for All’s Summer Symposium, with Carolina Crown the resident corps. The students in the marching band track get to watch them rehearse and to learn part of the opener of Crown’s show. These students started the evening playing The Star Spangled Banner, conducted and arranged by Richard Saucedo, a great way to start the night. n n nOften terms such as “new school” and “old school” enter discussions of drum corps. “Old school” could also be used in reference to the American Legion origins of drum corps, but there is little comparison between the marching styles of the two eras. Pre-DCI, the drill designs emphasized bilateral symmetry -- each half of a formation being a mirror image of the other half. DCI opened the door to more flowing designs in the field drills. For the purposes of this article, I intend to focus on the DCI years only. Regarding DCI, there is no clear marker or date that serves as a demarcation line between “old school” and “new school.” Nor is there a single show that defines before and after time periods. Whether or not the term “new school” is used when discussing modern shows, the conversation seems to center on the rise of pageantry on the field. Elements of pageantry include the growth of corps memberships, the expansion of the color guard’s role within the show design, amplification, voice, gymnastics and the inclusion of non- valve instruments and synthesizers. Prior to the addition of the just mentioned descriptions, old school could be defined as popular or known music played with jazz styling and with an emphasis on brass and percussion. (The is THE official definition. Accept no others.) Currently, the Bluecoats have an enormously popular show. They are playing recognizable music -- The Beatles -- in jazz arrangements that are also recognizable, i.e., “old school.” The pageantry, too, is there, a nod to “new school.” Their show is fully understandable. Another recent example of “old school” is the Blue Stars’ 2018 show, “Carpenters.” Here again, the soft rock styling of The Carpenters was familiar to audiences and the personal story of Karen Carpenter was also well-known. The result was an enormous fan favorite that season. On the other hand, “new school” repertoire for many shows includes music that may be known only to college music majors seeking advanced degrees and made more unrecognizable by the arrangements. Compare The Beatles’ and the Carpenters’ music to a show, hypothetically, based on an ancient Vedantic myth. (I don’t believe anyone is doing that type of show at this moment.) Which show, music and concept is most likely to be the more relatable to an audience? Should audiences be challenged regarding their music tastes or should shows be designed as a “sales” issue as in the punch line to an old sales joke: if the customer wants a blue suit, turn on the blue light. Therefore, a difference between “new school” and “old school” is the music itself. “Old school” does not mean gone and forgotten. As in the examples above, “old school” and “new school” are present in current shows. “New school” tries to push all of the accoutrements added to drum corps over DCI’s history to their furthest interpretation possible. “Old school” would say, let the music be the central focus and dial back on everything else. None of this is to suggest that there is a huge cultural divide in drum corps presentations. “New school” and “old school” exist side by side, but with decreasing separation. The difference, though, serves as an interesting departure point for viewing drum corps. n n n “New school” and “Old school” explained by Henry Kaynes, Drum Corps World staff (hkaynes@msn.com)Vista, CA June 28 (This page, top to bottom, left to right): Incognito (Russell Tanakaya); Pacific Crest (Tanakaya); Gold (Tanakaya); Golden Empire (Tanakaya); Mandarins (Jim Claytor); Watchmen (Tanakaya); (next page): Vessel (Tanakaya); The Cavaliers (Claytor); Santa Clara Vanguard (Tanakaya); Blue Knights (Tanakaya); Troopers (Claytor); Impulse (Tanakaya); Genesis (Tanakaya). These photos were not necessarily taken in Vista, CA.“Show of Shows” another perfect night for drum corps by Florence Callahan June 29, 2019 -- Rockford, IL . . . Boylan Field at the Catholic High School on the western edge of the Phantom Regiment’s hometown is a great venue for this annual presentation of corps. The line-up used to be strickly Midwest corps during the heyday of Drum Corps Midwest, but it transitioned to a DCI tour event about 16 years ago and consistently draws a strong and Phantom Regiment-supportive crowd. The only “fault” of the stadium is that the concert side faces the setting sun and this night had particularly brutal heat. To being the evening’s festivities, the Colts Cadets (right, John Matter ) represented the only entry in the Open Class. It never ceases to amaze me that the young people of Dubuque, IA, not only present a recognizable musical book, but they perform the often challenging charts and drill designs with a high level of competence. This is one of the rare examples of a “feeder corps” that is locally-based (along with Blue Devils B and the Vanguard Cadets), providing well-trained members for the city’s World Class corps, the Colts. And another significant point is that it’s doubtful any United States community that boasts a drum and bugle corps has more awareness by its citizens that this Mississippi River group and their picturesque location. The Madison Scouts (right, Tery LeFebvere) came out a week ago and made a positive first impression with fans at their own show in Middleton, WI. The program has upbeat material, songs that are memorable and a wonderful new look that, unlike many other corps, is reminiscent of their past uniforms and, to a degree, preserves the identity unfortunately missing from many of the costume-clad participants in this activity. The powerful opening has brought the past sound of the brass section back to the forefront and the balance of the repertoire includes a Spanish-style tune, a segment of something from many years ago that has been updated (Young Person’s Guide) and a fantastic presentation in Barry Manilow’s One Voice that is evolving into a crowd-favorite as well as a melody that fans will retain and probably be humming as they leave the stadium. I think this production has great potential to help the corps move up in the rankings by season’s end.The Scouts were sandwiched between the two Dubuque corps and the obviously strong Colts (right, John Matter) came on next in the line-up They have taken on a very dark look and theme this year -- “When Hell Freezes Over” -- and present one of the most powerful brass sections of the year, amplified by a series of high-stationed microphones spread across the front sideline. The use of seven circular stages outfitted with four-stair platforms gives the show some dimension upward and are used effectively through the show with flame drapes that match the upper parts of the corps costume, then turning into blue coverings representing the “freeze” portion of the themed program. This is one of the strongest corps the Colts have produced and is quite a departure from last year’s more emotional show. It’s quite unusual to have out-of-the-area corps on the schedule this early in the season and one of the benefits of this change by DCI is an opportunity to see Spirit of Atlanta (left, John Matter) during the early-season series of competitions. Their leftside pit, stage and backdrop offered one of the more effective uses of props that helped with dramatic costume changes and showcasing of soloists and sections of the corps. There are basically three different looks, starting with the black hooded and full-length coverings of the brass section while the color guard appeared in white bodysuits that had a variety of “neon” colors that fit the “Neon Underground” storyline. Halfway through the playing sections donned a white look that sort of resembled dresses, transitioning to the finaly look of a black bodysuit with splashes of additional colors. This is one of the most enjoyable presentations the Atlanta corps has offered in a number of years, at least for me. Crossmen (right, John Matter) have taken their “Valkerie” theme and produced it to the max, with the look, the music, the unusual headgear and the aggressive approach to pulling off their storyline. This is another corps that normally doesn’t venture into the Midwest often and it was great seeing their 2019 program for a comparison as the season progresses to the Next >