DeanInChicago

Great day and evening in Lisle! As the clouds above were thick, there was no usual blinding sunset. A lone trumpeter played the banner, though there was no American flag at the stadium. The trumpeter had a unique delivery, gently pointing his bell to all sides of the grandstand, swaying back and forth. Beer sales were brisk. Before the show, Teresa, Tony, me, and terrier Bonnie headed to the Bavarian Lodge, but the outdoor dining was closed. We headed instead to a delicious bbq joint which welcomed the dog. Great food: pulled pork, cole slaw, corn salad, baked beans, freshly squeezed lemonade. Then we killed time by playing the card game Flinch. After the show, we nightcapped at Legends: loaded tater tots, quesadillas, and pretzel bites. I’m taking the 11:38pm train back to Chicago.

Aha! The Blue Stars backfield lifeguard stand is actually a water tower.

7:30 Star-Spangled Banner 7:40 Colt Cadets 7:55 Blue Stars 8:10 Madison Scouts 8:25 Intermission 8:40 Colts 8:55 Phantom Regiment 9:10 The Cavaliers 9:25 Encore - The Cavaliers

Tonight in Lisle, three seats from the aisle, with college pals Teresa and Tony. A Cavaliers’ home show, the Cavalcade of Brass has been held in past years in Naperville or Michigan City. The show has been held in Lisle for several recent years. It’s hands down my favorite show transportation-wise. For a $7 round trip ticket, one can take the Metra train from Union Station Chicago to Lisle. Then it is a healthy 30-minute walk to the stadium. Since Tony and Teresa are in town, they’re meet me at 1:37pm at the Naperville station - the stop after Lisle. The train arrives hourly on Saturdays. Looking forward to a great day. All aboard!

Hey again, Someone posted section 140 row 17 within the past hour. That’s a GREAT location. Check out DCP on Facebook.

On the DCP Facebook page, there have been several great seats for Indy being sold. Sections 140, 239 were sections someone was offering yesterday.

The Midwest Combine continues its tour Friday, August 6 in DeKalb IL. Originally to play in Rockford, the Show of Shows will be presented instead at Northern Illinois University. It’s a gloriously HUGE grand stand with no track. Not a bad seat in the house. Phantom Regiment has the encore.

Thursday - 21 corps Friday - 21 corps Saturday - 22 corps The bonus corps on Saturday is the Columbus Saints.

Listing the corps in different orders each night is just a playful webmaster having fun with us before the actual schedule is posted.

Visit the 3 dates, one at a time, in the ticket purchase window, then select DETAILS. I have no idea if this is the show order for each night, but it may be. No exact times are posted. Only TBA next to each corps.

DCI has posted the POSSIBLE performance order for the 3-day celebration event. A different order each day.

Blue Stars have announced to parents and others that there is no retreat on Saturday night.

All sandwiches at concessions are now half price: brats, hot dogs, pulled pork, and brats.

As the show has sold out the home side, the backfield is open! Five bucks General Admission plus a $5.95 service fee. I’m on the 50 front row visitor’s side for the first half, on my back, relaxing on a hard steel bench. i will head to real seat in homestand after intermission.

Let’s get this started.

Oy vey. I am terrible with song titles. May I blame the late night at Taco Bell? La Vie in Rose, is what the song is. Thank you Brian, oldbandguy, cage, and others.

‘Twas a lovely evening in La Crosse. Beautiful weather, fantastic venue with rolling hills in background, and an engaged audience. Parked on State Street then walked to the stadium a few blocks away thru a few warmup percussion blocks. Stayed far away and kept moving. Concessions served only a few items: large cookies 2 for a dollar. Candy bars. Soda. Water. Many helpful yellow-shirt volunteers. Hit the souvies: bought tour shirts of Cavaliers and Madison. Grabbed a discounted Call of the Wild shirt from the Blue Stars. On the field, LOVED the subtle first flags used by Madison. I always read TOO much into the look of what’s on a corps flags! But it was very clever having the abstract M on the silks. When the flag is held one way, the M is readable. But spin that pole, and suddenly the M becomes a W. Just as Madison is now coed, ONE flag represents EVERYONE. Designwise, the circular stage in the Cavaliers show is likely a nod to the Rosemont water tower. I did not care for the Blue Stars tarp. At least 8 staff taped the rectangle subway map to the turf ahead of the show. But the music was lush and had me boppin in the stands. The post show encore of In the Heights music and Autumn Leaves (edit: should be La Vie en Rose) was wonderful. In the Heights is not a current Broadway show. Sure, there is the film. The stage version closed several years ago, yet it played in the same theatre where Hamilton plays - the Richard Rodgers. The Colts sounded GREAT, but not a fan of the color scheme. Some of my favorite miked soloists of the night. Favorite show was Phantom Regiment. Thank you for the goosebumps. Nightcap at Taco Bell.

I liked several moments: 1. The traditional top-of-event fanfare - the Tom Blair Television Anthem - always gets the heart racing. 2. The Blue Knights rehearsal had the sincere remark that their program will try to capture that moment when you first saw your first drum corps show. 3. After each of the 5 full-length shows, an analysis of caption placements for the program was shared.

I never marched in a drum corps. But I’ve headed to a few shows every summer since the late 70s. (none in 2020) I read DCP for the audience’s take on past shows and reactions to the current season.

I love reruns. I’ve reserved a seat at AMC River East, near Navy Pier, Chicago. Someone already bought a seat ahead of me, so at least there will be 2 of us in the theatre.

Both the Cubs and White Sox are selling ONE homestand at a time. Cubs season ticket holders are offered first dibs for a few days, then lottery winners get next pick for a few days, then the general public may purchase whatever tickets remain. As always, it is easier to find a ticket to the White Sox on the Southside. When the season got underway, both teams were able to sell up to 25 percent capacity. A few days ago, the capacity increased to 60 percent possible capacity at both ballparks. This season, I've been to 3 Cubs games (Brewers, Dodgers, and Pirates), and two Sox games (Indians and Twins). Seats are sold in groups of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. Seats that are not for sale are zip tied shut, That's a LOT of zip ties! Masks are no longer required at Wrigley if one has been vaccinated. It's the honor system. I am not up to date on the recommendations at Sox Park, even though I have a ticket for the Thursday, May 27 White Sox-Orioles game. It may likely be a rainout and rescheduled. Both ballparks have been playing recordings of the National Anthem instead of having LIVE performances.

Brian, thanks for the ideas. For the July 30 DCI trip, it’s a quick change of busses at the bus/train station, plus I’ve always enjoyed Milwaukee on past visits. I miss the former Circus Parades and Pabst Brewery Tours, yet I’ve recently enjoyed the Liberace tribute show at the cabaret theatre, free city bus rides on St Patty’s Day, movies at the Oriental, and visiting the oversized barber shoppe with its Milwaukee Bucks floor. I have a dollar-each-way Megabus day trip planned for July 17, Chicago to Milwaukee. But also looking toward to what is hopefully a July 30 Midwest Combine show in LaCrosse.

As I’ve never been to LaCrosse, I’ve gone ahead and purchased round trip tickets on Greyhound, Chicago to LaCrosse for July 30. There’s a change of busses in Milwaukee. I’d then bus back from LaCrosse to Chicago early afternoon on July 31. A decent fare: $52 round trip. I’ve also made motel reservations for LaCrosse for the night of July 30. An affordable $65. Though a definite date, schedule, and venue have not been announced, at least I’ll welcome new memories that weekend.

Terri, I am guessing that it’s difficult to know the capacity limits in July and August for the different venues this far out. Both the Cubs and White Sox are selling single seats just one homestand at a time. Both stadiums have social distancing between seats. The capacity variables can change between each homestand. The Cubs sold out both their first and upcoming second homestands - with 25 percent capacity. Fans were scattered everywhere at a Cubs-Brewers game: I was the only person in my row of 15. The White Sox could allow 25 percent, but are only selling at 22 percent of their capacity. My single seat for Wednesday vs Cleveland is also far away from other fans. This past Saturday’s finals for the Indiana HS color guards only allowed 2 parents per performer. Does anyone know the current capacity limits at Lucas? If DCI opened ticket sales now for Indy, all the great seats would be gobbled up quickly, I estimate. But what happens if an early buyer of a lousy seat later sees that the capacity has increased and misses out on a better seat? I think this is why DCI is waiting.

100 days (give or take a month - my math is lousy) and we will be reading the reviews from LaCrosse!