Bill_VA

Up next before intermission is 7th Regiment from New London, CT with their performance called Macabre. Sounds evil! Stay tuned!

With a show designed around Gershwin music, Racine certainly has my attention. The corps looks very nice with their medium blue tunics over white pants with their distinctive silver helmets and short orange plume. DM is using a baton. It starts with a walking warmup of Summertime a very sultry performance backfield, thern the announcement and the corps continues with Summertime to a loud bold ending. Nice front ensemble moment to the introduction of An American in Paris. Nicely done! The corps does a few change ups with a mixture of Gerwin numbers with a quick intro of Strike Up the Band. Clever writing. The color guard in all yellow is a cool visual statement. The corps next performance another number from Porgy and Bess called I Loves You, Porgy. This was a nicely designed ballad and shows off a brass line that is improving every season. Percussion has jooined the color guard on flags but I think it would be more effective if they were not so different. Iteresting moment with the corps performance of I got Rhythm, with a very cool Tuba soloist, a jazzy set drummer in the front ensemble. This is accompanied with the keyboards performing a highly expressive jazz rendition of Rhythm. Some nice brass statements are noted as the corps launches back into a more sultry performance of An American in Paris. Much to enjoy in this overall production. Percussion was first rate and exprssive through the whole show. Color guard are fes, but they also made a strong effort to bring in a strong performance. Brass has touches of brillance at times and if they can lock into their whole performance it will be something to behold. Fun show! Crowd loved it!

Next up is the Racine Scouts - Racine, WI with their show titled - Fascinating Rhythms - The Music of George Gershwin! Stay tuned!

Les Stentors look great out there in their blue uniforms and black pants. Good size corps. color guard is outfitted in yellow and black which complements the corps colors nicely. The corps opens their program with Grace Kelly featuring a duet of trumpets who did a very nice job. Cool visual with color guard on red/white/yellow silks. Comme au Premier Jour was up next. Interesting percussion featurette in the number with the percussion performing great expression. Color guard is a standout doing a good job with choreography and equipment. Brass is loud and ends the number well. Pit opens Rock et Belles Oreilles Medley this is a very nice brass ballad - the corps ensemble performance is much more in sync in this number. Expressive and works well with this young corps talent. Very cool effect when the color guard switches to large white silks. Started strong and bold, ended soft and elegant. Some real swing and tempo change with a percussion opening of Til the Day I Die, audience got into the swing of the number. The bass drums performance with laying the drums down and playing as an ensemble from drum to drum was a lot of fun. Percussion feature has the whole line swing and performing with style. The brass sang and boogied on thefield before the ensemble comes together and closes this fun number with panache. The software melody of When I Rise was almost a restbit showing off a stronger ensemble performance by the brass. Ending the show was a very expressive performance of La Revolution that had the corps showing more style and stronger performance. Strong ending, nice overall show. The design and demand well suited this corps capabilities.

COming in live from Bealton, VA - first up is Spirit of Newark. quiet opening of Mr. Roboto working the 12 brass - Cool tune. Some park and play moments with the 8-member color guard on the fron with silks of black and red. Strong ending with percussion pushing forward to front line. For the size and talent, Spirit has a lot of heart. Opening with a melophone solo to Haven't We Been Here Before and it is a nice ballad for this very young corps. Color guard on blue and white swich flags doing an admirable job. Next up was a percussion feature of Heavy Metal Poisoning. Many attempts at some visual drill impacts were attempted. Percussion was reasonably expressive. Color guard program is incomplete at this point. The corps performed Don't Let It End right after the percussion feature and ending the program with a reprise of Mr. Roboto. Summary, young corps with much heart and they work hard. Crowd was very attentive and gave the corps a good applause. Next up is Les Stentors - Sherbrooke, QU with their program called "A New Day"

It is a real scortcher this afternoon with temperatures well into the 100 degree mark. At 5:00pm the temperature was reading at 105 degrees. I stopped by the Jersey Surf practice facility and it was revealed that they corps will be marching with brand new uniforms. The new uniforms were deigned by Michael Cesario but with some minor changes that were member inspired. They are a dark blue with white trim. The styling is close to what a Naval Officer may wear with large silver buttons. They will also be marching with new shakos with a large 14" white plume. It shoould make the members look nearly 10' tall out there and I for one am looking forward their unveiling along with the highly Americana program. 7:00pm is kickoff with six Open Class corps (7th Reginment, Raiders, Les Stentors, Spirit of Newark, Legends, and Racine Scouts). And Jersey Surf as the lone World Class corps. Tomorrow, several of these corps will be appearing in a parade honoring the Boy Scouts of America who's National Jamboree starts this week. Quick review will be here later along with the scores.

I am so saddened to hear of Mike's passing. I just saw the news on a web site. I had no idea that he was ill at all. I have known Mike "Cozy" Baker for many years and he was a man that was immensely likeable. He was so knowledgeable of Drum Corps and seemed to know almost everyone important in the DC idiom. He was an outstanding and unique writer of the activity. His flair and style was his watermark. I will miss the man that I called friend for so many years. My heart is heavy with the loss. I know the Drum Corps community has lost one of its best! Rest in Peace Cozy!

Fran; Who was the "Voice" tonight? I am coming online late in the weekend. I figured you would be in Rochester.

How would this magazine differ from what Drum Corps World already provides now that it is sharing space with Drum Corps Planet? This is not meant to distract from your plans. But would like to see more of your project plan on what the magazine will cover (content wise). How often will it be published? Starting initially as online, how will online work with the eventual print magazine? Just curious!

Oh I totally disagree. He actually said this was one of the most talented bunch of kids he had. He was making a comment about the show design and the way it morphed into what it became. Remember he said there are things we wished he "didn't" change, and things he wished he could have changed sooner. If there is anything wrong with the program, he is taking the blame for it, not the kids. I am sure he has said the same thing to the corps.

All; My in-depth article for Lewisburg, PA DCA Show (July 19, 2008) was posted on the main DCP main page today. I hope you enjoy it!

That is what happens when you do a report at the early morning hours . I should have spent a little more time editing the page before sending. I should have my more comprehensive review out by tomorrow . I have some nice quotes from a few people in attendance and I have an extended interview with two members of the Preston Scout House Alumni Band color guard so look for it .

Thank you for this information, I could not find it on the web and I want it in my full review. Please accept DCW's Management & Staff condolences to the Dube family and to the great Cabs organization on your loss. "Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal."

Small clarification to my review. The Cavalcade of Champions was started in 1949 and was sponsored by the Keystoners D&B Corps, Preston Scout House's first performance was in 1956 which was the 8th Annual Cavalcade of Champions. Scout House performed nine times at the Calvacade show with their last performance in 1966. Just wanted to be accurate.

Sorry about the duplication, I wanted to add something before it went out and I thought I grabbed it in time.

This is a quick review since I am writing a more formal review for DCW that will be posted to DCP. Here it goes: Very nice field here at Bucknell University as this was the 6th Annual Cavalcade of Champions here in Lewisburg, PA. Here is how the evening went: A combined HS band performed the opening ceremonies of the National Anthem and a tribute to the military. Very well performed and it got the crowd into the activity (BTW, the crowd was near capacity). Next up was the Commandant's Own Marine D&B Corps. They put on a very nice show and the crowd was very receptive. Their book for Malaquena is very interesting and the sopranos were hot. First up in the competition was Reading Buccaneers who set the stage for the rest to follow getting the newest highest score of 86.263 (0 penalties) and Josh Decker took home high Drum Major honors. The corps was more smooth in their presentation than when I saw them in Manassas. Percussion was hot and very expressive. Brass was outstanding as always and they are improving week after week. Color guard had a strong evening and once they fill in all of the work (missing some minor transition pieces) this corps will continue to reign supreme. Empire Statesmen took the stage next with their tribute show and it was very entertaining. The crowd liked their wide open performance and the tribute to their past DCA Championship shows. I thought the brass had a good evening but the passages get a little long at times as they transition from different season of shows. Percussion was also very expressive and dynamic but a little more dirt was in evidence. Color guard was very cool but they too suffered from needing more cleaning to get all of the tricks to work. I am not in love with the guard uniforms (just my opinin), I think they hid more then accentuate. Over all the program has many bright moments and if they can get the work together should move up in the rankings. Tonight EMpire was third behind Cabs with a 82.063 (0 penalties). The Caballeros were on third tonight and they truly impressed the crowd this evening. Lewisburg loves their Caballeros. Tonight the show was outstanding in total with a lot of little breakdowns in brass and percussion. Color guard seemed a bit off tonight so I am wondering if a lot of new stuff was added recently. Cabs to top Honor Guard tonight and second in the competition with an 83.15 (0 penalties)-- note, the Cabs suffered a loss last week at the death of a member who died on Sunday due to an accident. I was unable to get her name but I am sure it will show up in DCP soon. Rounding out the competition was the Bushwackers with their original music to their intriguing Gypsy show. They had a good night overall but their color guard had an outstanding evening. They number around 32 members and they are very talented with a strong book. Brass also has a strong book that they are trying to make work on the field with less than ideal member numbers but the program has some real teeth and could surprise a few corps. Percussion was very expressive and they worked it well, not bowled over by everything (yet) but it does make one sit up and enjoy the ride. Bush finished fourth wity a 78.338 (0 penalties). After the competition was a exhibition of Preston Scout House Alumni Band who by the way performed at the very first Calvacade show in 1956 and for many years afterwards. The crowd ate them up with their very nicely performed musical program (my other article will spend more time on them along with two interviews of some members). They are a fun bunch of people and the show was warmly received. Last was the Caballeros Allumni Corps and they had the joint hoping from the moment Jim Russo enter the field. The one somber note was when the corps performed Taps for the young lady who died last week prior to the corps warm-up. From that moment on it was all guns ablazing and with Jimmy adding his lovable little routines on the podium (he still has a way of energyzing the crowd). Brass and percussion were on their game. Color guard was good overall but some elements are not 100 percent on their game (just yet). It was a full corps retreat this evening (weather was hot during the day but passable in the evening). Reading performed an encore after everyone left the field. Good times were had by all in attendance.

This is a quick review since I am writing a more formal review for DCW that will be posted to DCP. Here it goes: Very nice field here at Bucknell University as this was the 6th Annual Cavalcade of Champions here in Lewisburg, PA. Here is how the evening went: A combined HS band performed the opening ceremonies of the National Anthem and a tribute to the military. Very well performed and it got the crowd into the activity (BTW, the crowd was near capacity). Next up was the Commandant's Own Marine D&B Corps. They put on a very nice show and the crowd was very receptive. Their book for Malaquena is very interesting and the sopranos were hot. First up in the competition was Reading Bucs who set the stage for the rest to follow getting the newest highest score of 86.263 (0 penalties) and Josh Decker took home high Drum Major honors. The corps was more smooth in their presentation than when I saw them in Manassas. Percussion was hot and very expressive. Brass was outstanding as always and they are improving week after week. Color guard had a strong evening and once they fill in all of the work (missing some minor transition pieces) this corps will continue to reign supreme. Empire took the stage next with their tribute show and it was very entertaining. The crowd liked their wide open performance and the tribute to their past DCA Championship shows. I thought the brass had a good evening but the passages get a little long at times as they transition from different season of shows. Percussion was also very expressive and dynamic but a little more dirt was in evidence. Color guard was very cool but they too suffered from needing more cleaning to get all of the tricks to work. I am not in love with the guard uniforms (just my opinin), I think they hid more then accentuate. Over all the program has many bright moments and if they can get the work together should move up in the rankings. Tonight EMpire was third behind Cabs with a 82.063. Cabs were on third tonight and they truly impressed the crowd this evening. Lewisburg loves their Caballeros. Tonight the show was outstanding in total with a lot of little breakdowns in brass and percussion. Color guard seemed a bit off tonight so I am wondering if a lot of new stuff was added recently. Cabs to top Honor Guard tonight and second in the competition with an 83.15 -- note, the Cabs suffered a loss last week at the death of a member who died on Sunday due to an accident. I was unable to get her name but I am sure it will show up in DCP soon. Rounding out the competition was the Buschwackers with their original music to their intriguing Gypsy show. They had a good night overall but their color guard had an outstanding evening. They number around 32 members and they are very talented with a strong book. Brass also has a strong book that they are trying to make work on the field with less than ideal member numbers but the program has some real teeth and could surprise a few corps. Percussion was very expressive and they worked it well, not bowled over by everything (yet) but it does make one sit up and enjoy the ride. After the competition was a exhibition of Preston Scout House Alumni Band who by the way performed at the very first Calvacade show in 1956 and for many years afterwards. The crowd ate them up with their very nicely performed musical program (my other article will spend more time on them along with two interviews of some members). They are a fun bunch of people and the show was warmly received. Last was the Caballeros Allumni Corps and they had the joint hoping from the moment Jim Russo enter the field. The one somber note was when the corps performed Taps for the young lady who died last week prior to the corps warm-up. From that moment on it was all guns ablazing and with Jimmy adding his lovable little routines on the podium (he still has a way of energyzing the crowd). Brass and percussion were on their game. Color guard was good overall but some elements are not 100 percent on their game (just yet). It was a full corps retreat this evening (weather was hot during the day but passable in the evening). Reading performed an encore after everyone left the field. Good times were had by all in attendance.

Glad to finally see Steve get recognized. GO STEVE! GO Drum corps World!

Where the heck is everyone in the stands, way too many empty seats!

Madison - 81.850 - Interesting!

Decent job for Blue Stars - Xmen - 81.600 - Very cool! I am watching this on my Laptop using a wireless LAN connection with some Bose headsets eating Chinese Food! Life can be so sweet sometimes!

What the heck is On Q?

Madison is doing a really nice job! I loved the emotion they generated in that number before the ballad.

I wish I was in the Theater, when I arrived they were sold out and with the number of people who got turned away they could have opened a second theater. Ended up seeing the Harry Potter movie.

Something new from DCA for "new" shows or with shows that have a slate of corps that are just coming into the season (gives an incentive to a show sponsor). Less cost for the show sponsor, corps get a more overall view of how they would rank with the pack with more broader critque so the corps can work on big areas of their show.