quietcity

Bring back the Chrome Wall!

Another reason: The Stones and other old-man bands are non-renewable resources. When Jagger checks out, the Stones will instantly cease to be. And the community that gathers at each concert will cease along with it. Ask any Dead Head what it was like when Jerry Garcia died, and you will get the idea.

Truth be told, I am a bit torn over SCV's selection of Scheherazade. On the plus side, the work is a perfect match for SCV's style. Scheherazade is a luscious piece of music, and if you have never heard the original in it's entirety, you owe it to yourself to do so right now (preferably with a high resolution recording, using good headphones or stereo gear). Rimsky-Korsakov is a superlative orchestrator, up there with Ottorino Respighi. Scheherazade is ear-candy from beginning to end, and spell-binding throughout. But, programmatically, Scheherazade is a completely safe and predictable choice. It is a symphonic war-horse, performed over and over by orchestras great and small. It is used for commercials and figure skating competitions and quinceañeras and high school proms. SCV is pushing no artistic boundaries with this choice. They are playing to the audience, and perhaps thumbing their nose at the wild-eyed avant-gardians like BD and Crown. Someone in the forums mentioned that it would be nice if SCV took the term "Vanguard" more seriously. I agree, though in truth, SCV's history has rarely reflected the cutting edge of programming innovation. Their 1999 show was a striking exception, and that show happens to be one of my favorite drum corps shows ever. I keep waiting for them to return to this route, but I think SCV's main concern at this point is to return to the top three. I sure hope they do, so next year they can play that Brian Eno / Fela Kuti show they keep promising....

I would love to hear an analysis of how the football fans reacted to the Blue Devils! Seriously, does anyone know?

Ha, la petite mort. The way Scheherazade brandished his sword made me think the Sultan had been, well, beheaded.

If it is indeed true that the crowds are less fervid these days, I can guess that one big reason is that the crowds are less local. Drum corps used to be an intensely local activity, drawing members and followers from the same city or parish or neighborhood. Drum corps shows would feature several corps from the same city or state, many being in intense rivalries with each other. Now, drum corps participation is much more diffuse. The big corps draw their members from all around the country, even the world. As well, the major rivalries in drum corps are no longer regional, but national. So the result is a crowd with less emotional investment than BITD. Sic transit, baby. Oh, and as for the Lucas Oil place, I find it an intimidating and unpleasant place to watch drum corps. So many distractions and comforts, such awful acoustics, such a boxed-in, dark feel. Hard to get excited in there. Give me Whitewater any friggin day.

Best year for multiple takes on the same music is 1979. The following corps played Chuck Mangione's"Children of Sanchez": Cavaliers, North Star, Blue Stars, Cadets, Bengal Lancers, Bleu Raeders and the Eye-Openers. The first three here were in finals. North Star was my favorite version, mostly because of their monster soprano soloist.