KVG_DC

The bass drummer that got tossed during finals for being caught with weed. But comes running on at the last minute as they take the field.

I dunno that I saw outright 'not cheering for them' but a mixture of 'hometown homerism' and 'unfamiliarity with their show' could be read that way. I remember shows in Indiana we went to when we were kids, the midwest corps had their fans and alumni that would cheer louder for their homerisms, but recognized the performance levels and cheered for those moments from the West corps too. This like mid 80s to early 90s. I recall Tommy getting a somewhat tepid response in 1990 in Ft. Wayne. But the general buzz was more "the Blue Devils came and we didn't get jazz?" sort of disappointment than any hostility about being the Blue Devils Annapolis has been my go to as of late and BD hasn't done that show when I've gone. It's a Cadets show and crowd for the most part historically. SCV got lots of praise in 2016 with Force of Nature. This year Mandarins sort of caught them all off guard. I don't think a lot of the crowd were 'flo watchers' and had no idea what was coming. So there wasn't much buzz taking the field. But by "Take me to Church" there were people grooving in the stands with them. And the spinners got an "oh my god...this is insane...i can't belive they're doing this" reaction around me and nods of appreciation as to what they were seeing. But nothing like when Cadets came on of course and they were roaring and buzzing for their own.

While not "winning drums and not making finals" situations by far, last season had several lines punching above where their corps were placing. Cavies most notably. But Troopers too. Colts line early in the season was scoring real well too. The carryover from indoor and 'follow the instructor' effect seems to be part of this as well.

Saw this at Ft. Wayne when they had a "flat run" for the opener (from La Strada on, it was great though). But it was clean as heck. There were staff from other corps that were sitting up there and when the last note sounded, one just said, "16." the other said "clean by July 8." This was the show where Tilt caught fire. Bloo didn't have the real ending on yet and there were still multiple jump runners (and the main jumper that was kept for the end actually overshot the catch group a bit and they barely blunted the head hitting the field...it was a bit scary). They had the Ft. Wayne crowd eating out of their hand though. It was clear though who was winning that show. Bloo was one point back and that was all the closer anyone got all season. This was also the show where BAC changed the opening drill for Animal Farm and I heard one of the judges behind me on his tape raving about the way they did the column shift now. "That's so much more effective!" Music City was open class and this was their season debut. They had us sitting upright and paying attention. The BD volunteer next to me was "whoa...that's open class?"

Some of us tenor saxes would get so bored laying the chords in we'd double the bass parts with the low brass using the old 'foot in the bell' strategy to make the low B-flat be a low A

I'd still take BD over that field.

Ahhhhhh intro music to every boys basketball game for four years of pep band. no thanks. I graduated in 1988 and you’ve just reignited that earworm.

Season 2 Real band moms of Indianapolis and have a confrontation between Avon moms and Carmel moms

I hope you got a "Granddad...you're doing it all wrong" look with that.

Our best band mom story from high school: My senior year, after we got back from ISSMA state finals at dark-thirty, the band director awoke the next morning to find his house TP'd. He. was. ######. There was group of guys he suspected, called into his office, read them the riot act, etc. even though he didn't have proof. And it was largely thought that, "Yeah if anyone was gonna do it..." among the band and parents in general. I mean they were a collection of low brass and drummers....so.... Long story short, it was heated between them and him for a number of weeks, with like threats of going to the principal, the principal saying 'lay off them there's no proof' etc. Rumors FLYING around the band which were all idle speculation and the guys earnestly pleading innocence even though they (and the rest of us) were rather mirthful about the fact someone got the band directors house and on the night after Finals at that. We get all the way to the Band Banquet in late November (about a month after ISSMA finals). There's a recognition ceremony for just about everything. It's a nice event. The Band moms come up to do their awards for students and such and call these boys to the front. The band director is glowering still about them while the rest of us begin to pick up on "ummm...something is happening." They're up there and the band moms lay into the director DEMANDING he apologize to them in front of the whole band because he doesn't have proof. He's caught off guard by the public confrontation of it, it was sort of out of character for them to be that public about it. Some of us students start cluing in seeing some of the band moms start to crack grins....we're "NOooooooo waaaaaay." Then the band moms pull out toilet paper rolls and toss them at the band director.....yup. THEY did the TP job. Pandemonium in the banquet hall for a solid 10 minutes. Finally they get everyone settled down. The band director is torn between angry at the moms and apologetic to the boys and laughing at being had. His wife is still falling out of her chair laughing at it. Next morning he apologized to them again to the Concert band (seniors and juniors mostly) and while he took it in stride it was clear he expected his house to be off limits for such shenanigans still.

Oh wow. Crown: "We got Mackey writing original stuff specifically for our show themes" Bloo: "Hold my beer" I'm loving this trend of partnerships and creative collaboration. [holds breath for what BD might announce]

I super enjoyed Cowboy Bebop. But yeah JoJo's I just couldn't latch onto. I've latched onto a lot of bonkers anime but that one just... didn't.

That was the best of all possible responses.

Bloo introduced me to Vienna Teng, Andy Akhido, Tyondai Braxton, The Books, Bang on a Can All Stars (Michael Gordon's Gene Takes a Drink from 2015), and Anna Meredith. I knew of Bon Iver but Bloo showed me how incredible his music could be. I would throw money at a "Bloo plays the Bon Iver songbook" collection.

Oh the Blue Devils doing Tommy in 1990 was good too. Blue Devils were all about the jazz idiom then so it was a real departure and surprise for many, but i dug it.

"Musical Reform Schools" 💀 But yeah.

Speaking of Jose/beFore John 5....if you've not seen the full original source of that do. There is SO MUCH MORE that can be done with that peice too. 4:05 is the apex of percussionists finding something and the first question is "what would it sound like if I drummed on this?"

Given what Bloo did with Jose / beFore John 5 in 2016 and Bump last year. I can see it adapting well. And not just for Bloo.

Oh 2000 too. SCV 2000. I've shared this story before but my grandmother died Jan 1, 2000 and for a LOT of reasons, I was unable to truly grieve for a long time. SCV put Adagio for Strings out there Thursday night after a long hot day in the stands watching all the corps and that rifle toss from midfield to the end zone at the most dramatic moment is when I finally was able to 'feel feelings' more fully again. That night I was having the strains Barber float through my head. I woke up the next morning for my walk before eating and getting around to head in for Semifinals and I swear I'm hearing Adagio for Strings....but nah, it's still just in my head. As I complete my walk back at the end of the cul de sac in my apartment complex where there's a middle school. HOLY CRAP...there's SCV rehearsing the ballad still. I WAS hearing that. I sat by the fence at the back line and just listen and sobbed. Then went in and got lunch and ready to go on in for Semis. Boston 2000 as well. Anyone who saw Red on finals night can tell you how special that show and performance was.

I forget which year in the 80s I think. Troop was doing Shenandoah and god it was gorgeous. Edit: it was the 1990 show with the Centennial to the state of Wyoming show. I loved that show. Saw them at Ft. Wayne.

SCV 2016 at Annapolis. The bird calls and stuff were just so much more effective in person for Force of Nature. and it was when the vanguard yell as the corps did a snap about spin was catching on.

Bloo 2014 at Ft. Wayne. This was the show Tilt caught fire. They had us eating out of their hand. BD at that show too. They had a rough opener (for BD) but the ballad sucked the air out of your lungs with the silences and reentries. Bloo got within a point of BD at that show and it was as close as anyone got all season

Jersey Surf 2023. Seems like a fair few skip Surf at the Annapolis show cause they’re not a “big name.” I’d seen their show on Flo already and “oh fun”. But seeing just HOW MUCH fun they had performing that in their faces live was super neat.

That's a weird but awesome flex.

Kinetic Noise (2015) is another show that doesn't get enough mentions in retrospect for me. That, more than the 'pitch bend' of 2014 was where Bloo's team started really exploring what they could do with the sonic landscape that has become their signature. The pitch bend was a gimmick, but 2015 was when they were making a whole palette to paint from. What they did with Mr. Maps and the percussion is still so fun to listen to.