In The News: Drum Corps Go Techno, Part 2

Drum Corps International’s foray into electronics is mostly not a disaster, based on the incredible performances by five World Class corps Saturday night at Drum Beauty in Stillwater.

Four of the elite drum and bugle corps — Phantom Regiment of Rockford, Ill., the Cavaliers (pictured) of Rosemont, Ill., the Madison Scouts of Madison, Wis., and the Blue Stars of LaCrosse, Wis. — just used an amplified front-sideline percussion ensemble (xylophones, marimbas, timpani, etc.), with some adding tastefully played electronic keyboards and sound effects. Only one corps, Spirit of Jacksonville, Ala., went all-out techno, with a loud bass guitar, keyboards, vocals and everything overmiked. Spirit’s show was meant to mimic a rock concert, using the music of Kansas, but it sounded like a front ensemble with drum corps accompaniment.

Read the rest of the article here.