DeanInChicago

The drill was rewritten at the very end of the encore! A different Blue Devil shot out of the final mirror to end the show.

Emotionally, this FINALS set a new record for me. I teared up 4 times Saturday night. 1. Madison's "Rhapsody in Blue" 2. The beautiful tunnel exit by Phantom Regiment. 3. The end of Cadet's Toy Souldier, when Little Geoffrey pulls into a marching uniform. 4. The mellophone fall at the end of Crown's show. "The Brady Bunch" no longer airs on Friday night prime time. We no longer call the 1-800 number Sunday morning to get the Finals scores. Embrace change. Welcome it with abandon.

Board Corps affiliated directors Tom Spatero (Boston) Greg Orwall (Colts) Howard Weinstein (Blue Stars) Mark Arnold (Blue Knights) Fred Morrison(Crossmen) Brian Hickman(Glassmen) Unaffiliated Mark Stasa Steve Auditore One vacant Board seat is scheduled to be filled at either Sept or Janual meeting - - Thank you Garfield for this line-up - -

Thursday afternoon and evening weather was hot, muggy, and sticky, so the Quarterfinals roof did not open. Friday and Saturday saw more of the same oppresive heat. I landed a front row seat on the 20 yard line - near the south endzone - and thought the sound was ok. But from this perspective, the instrumentation immediately ahead on the field was definitely more pronounced. And I actually liked hearing specific brass this way. Snare drum rat-a-tats continue to richochet.

Calgon, take me away.

My friends Tony and Teresa hit the movies at the Galaxy 14 north of Castleton in Indy. Here are some of their comments: "First off, the pen we carried all the way from the parking lot to the theatre, did not work when we got inside. This recap is therefore from memory. "I was nervous that we would have difficulty finding a seat because our taco salad dinner ran long and we did not leave the house until 6:32 for a 6:30 show. The cineplex was so busy that there was no ticket taker and since Teresa had purchased our tickets on Monday, we walked in without our tickets being torn in half. "As it turns out there was no cause for concern. The theatre had 4 other fans in place when we walked in and found our seats in the dark. Unfortunately our late arrival meant we only got to see half of Troopers' show. "Teresa was giddy with excitement because of Madison's show. "Finally they're back." I have to say, I got a little teary during the show. Madison has long been a favorite of mine, and it was hard to be a supporter in recent years. Teresa gave a whoop and a fist pump at the end of their show before she realized that's apparently not kosher in the cineplex. It is worth noting that the theatre was dead silent the entire 5 hours we were there with the exception of Teresa and I making comments throughout the evening. While they've gone back to their roots, one tradition they did not revisit was blasting... ahhh. I question the uniform choice, but I think it's pretty smart to go with short sleeves for the hot weather. We enjoyed hearing their traditional tunes but are glad they were updated. "I'm turning over the computer for Cavies. Teresa, here, ready to splooie my Cavie love. "Okay, so I admit this year's show is weird, but it's also entertaining and has amazing, seamless drill (a Cavie trademark). Tony and I agree the guard's trench coats are menacing, the smiley masks creepy. A testament to the effort this show requires thanks to the rapid-fire, simultaneous marching and playing (take a clue, BD): a corps member interviewed after the performance was literally dripping sweat. Even after all the hype I've heard about "this is my rifle," I still enjoyed that section of the show. And as Dean knows, my fondness for Charlie Chaplin made "Smile" a sentimental favorite. "I don't know if Cavies can overtake BD, even if the Green Machine continues to rev up its performances. I do know that I always love the physicality of Cavalier shows. Back to Tony . . . "2010 Trends according to White House judges: 1) harlequin face paint on guard 2) mohawks or big, ratty hair pulled back from the face on guard 3) layers of "half pants" on guard 4) purple 5) standing on/launching off percussion instruments 6) decreased vocalization, but increased keyboard/synthesizer "Looking forward to finals. We're cheering for the boy bands : ) T & T

Why am I tearing up? Just read the dci.org small paragraph: "As the age-outs from all participating corps made their way onto the field to be recognized for their accomplishments, the Star Alumni formed a circle around them, serenading the Class of 2010 with “When you Wish Upon a Star.” Wish I could have been there.

There once was a row with no seats The fans had to stand on their feets When Phantom appeared The row disappeared The light ended all the drum beats

There once was a tchotchke named Bones He spread his red cape before tones This trinket is heaven Alas, the G7 Will buy every one with cash loans.

To keep Finals expenses down, I have a $1 seat on the megabus from Chicago. There are 7 daily routes. After Saturday's show, I'll take the first megabus back to Chicago, also for $1. So, the bus serves as my transient hotel. I'll repeat the $1 each-way trip in November for BOA Finals. Generally, megabus has one seat per bus for $1, then the remaining Chicago-Indy seats run $10 $15 or $29. My elderly parents live in Greenwood -- immediately south of Indy -- so I am a big fan of megabus, taking it once each month. While working at Show Biz Pizza during high school in the kitchen, you could not possibly make a good tasting pizza, but the singing bears were fun. After hours, we would take the Always Available sign off the menu board and hang it around Mitzy Bear's neck. We had a lot of birthday parties. "Today is your birthday" Uggh. Now that rotten song is zipping through my head. One evening in a bear costume, I accidently knocked one kid in the head with the fiberglass snout. Dad and I worked at the track for several years, during Time Trials and Race Day. My favorite gate to work at was Gate 9A, as the marching band busses entered here. If I was staying at a hotel in Indy, I would definitely stay at any downtown location, and not bother with a car, as everything is walkable. If you need to get somewhere, there is frequent Indygo bus service on the Washington #8 to the airport, and the #39 to the state fairgrounds, or the #31 to the Greenwood Park Mall or to mom and dads. Shout out to Herb and Evelyn! Indygo day passes are $4, and one-way trips are $1.75. No change provided. And no roughhousing on the bus.

Lot of love for Allentown. Since the J Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown was missing funnel cakes, ice cream, and one of its 3 large concession stands was closed this past weekend, the orderly single-file line at the snow cone stand was colossal. But there was snow cone fulfillment: For Friday, it was a Root Beer Snow Cone, then on Saturday, a Pineapple Snow Cone. It's actually a Hawaiian Ice stand, but you know how the dialect shifts between soda and pop language here. I only can handle the $3.50 mediums, because the towering mountains of colored ice on the large $5.50 versions would make you giddier than handling a fistful of unredeemed Skee-ball tickets. Top Ten Most Memorable Moments in Allentown 1. Drum. Corps. Outdoors. 2. The reaction from a talkative fan behind me during Friday's National Anthem, when the lone Trooper's trumpeter bobbled a few notes. The fan's one-word commentary, "Loser." 3. On Friday night, after the first two shows, I asked an usher to please not let people pass him by during the shows, and he replied "but security said we could let people slide in during the first two programs." 4. It was great to see all the World Class corps, spread out over two nights. There's plenty of time to rest and site-see between the two events. 5. Phantom Regiment's foreshadowing of a Lucas Oil tunnel entrance and exit. 6. The green John Deere tractor zipping from one endzone to the other -- OK, it was further back on the jogging track -- DURING the Troopers show. (It turned out to be a quiet off-field medical emergency.) 7. The Bridgemen Alumni starting their exhibition "on a dissonant G7 chord" stated loudly over the public address system. 8. Saturday morning yard sales on route 145. At one sale, the man and wife were asking $15 for an old Allentown Economy Pretzel Company tin. But at another sale, a widower was asking 25 cents for the same item. I see that TSA attached one of those pesky 'searched' tags on the American Tourister. 9. Turnpike standstills on Friday afternoon. But this year, it was only a 50-minute delay on 476 North just before the Quakertown exit. 10. Now and then, you heard a judge's comment from the press box. During Crown's ballad, one judge remarked, "Exceptional." See you in Indy. I spent $1 each way for the megabus from Chicago.

The best part about Soaring Sounds are the fans who sit near Scott and Ann. Monday night local shows rule!

Props to a well-used prop. Though the 2009 Boston Crusaders apple has been sold at a silent auction covered in autographs, it was an ideal single prop used effectively in the program. Cavaliers soared onto ladders in 2005, in their tribute to Chicago. A black fabric mask covered the entire Santa Clara Vanguard at the conclusion of their late 1980's Phantom of the Opera championship at Arrowhead. Blue Stars' 2010 tribute to Houdini briefly includes an imaginative use of ice cream parlor chairs. When a prop can enhance a show, or further the story line, it is welcomed. More so, when an element of the show becomes a prop, then kudos to the design team. A few years ago, the Troopers panned for gold - but with their contras. That was neat-o.

On of the hardest things to write drill-wise is both a good opening and a great closer. Phantom Regiment delivers.

On Saturday, July 17, the Jumbotron in the Minnesota TCF Bank Stadium was making a constant whirring noise - similar to a window air conditioning unit. It was a distracting presence. The large electronic screen is continuously cooled by obtrusive noise. Though the Jumbotron had interesting Dan Potter interviews between corps and carried a few ads for Indianapolis, the constant noise cast a shadow over the product on the field. I would rather listen and fully hear the music. Do you want the big TV turned off next time DCI visits Minneapolis?

Is mellophonist Nat Pratt performing the Brian's Song solo?