fecontra Posted June 24, 2007 Share Posted June 24, 2007 (edited) This was the first event of my three week live Drum Corps 2007 Extravaganza and my summer B) is off to a great start! The weather was spectacular ( except if you were a flag tosser- a steady high breeze was coming off the bay ), temp in the 70's, not a cloud in the sky! A good size enthusiastic crowd in a small stadium, the sideline was about 10 yards away from the front row. This show features alumni, junior and all age corps in a non-competitive exhibition format. Many of the alumni corps featured a color presentation, and dedicated these to the cause of the men and women of our country in harms way ( no rah rah, just a show of support for courageous brothers and sisters ). First up ( right on schedule ) were the Emerald Grenadears alumni corps ( GO GIRLS ), and they sure did. The small hornline really put out from an arc formation, and they have this Amazon snareline that a lot of corps would love to have, they were really laying down some stuff! This fine group of ladies really acquitted themselves well. Next up were the all-age Sunrisers: They are very small with a dedicated and talented group of musicians and guard, every year it seems I find myself hoping that next year they will have the numbers to really get back to where they were. Sorry I don't mean to offend, I really wish you folks a bright future, but kudos for giving it your all. Up next, and in your face, were THE New York Skyliners Alumni, and the show level took a huge step up here! They enter the field with their famous streetbeat, and you have to hear the effect of fourteen snares playing to believe it's true. These drummers should be on a registered historic landmark list ( with the NY Skyline ), they are just unreal! The corps plays from a standstill formation ( one guy even arrives early with a cane ), but I'll take it anytime! It could have been 1966 or 1972 ( songs in this year's book ), and if you heard John Urspruch nail the closer in 1972, you can hear it again in 2007 ( I believe it was a slim downed Urspruch last night?) Skyliner's concluded with an encore of " Elk's Parade, and the horn ensemble had the stand's going wild, and the mellophone soloist had the ghost of Pepe Notaro smiling for sure! :mmm: Park City Pride was next, they march at times, and park and bark with some great guardwork going on for a great effect. Excellent drums, great horns, and effective guard ( including the ladies who switch between cymbals and rifles ). A really large corps that really entertains and pays tribute to the corps of Connecticut ( a reprise of the PAL Cadets "You'll never walk alone in the future- PLEASE! ) Bias alert: For one shining moment in December 1966, I wore the Gold & Black until reality ( college and money ) set in. The Blessed Sacrament alumnni corps was on next, standstill formation but who cares: they reprised my all-time favorite " Procession of Bacchus", and to this day I still know every contrabass note from National Emblem. Powerful horns, alltime killer highbrass with stupendous solo work, and I can never get enough of the dynamic interplay of the Dick Burn's charts, which I believe to never have received it's due. Great Performance! " Free Again " puts the stands into riot conditions to this day! Incredibly, intermission arrived 10 minutes early! The Cabelleros Alumni restarted ( mild understatement! ) the program, and if you have a chance to see them, it's worth the price of admission by itself. In this day of robotic Drum Majors, Jimmy Russo is a hoot! He set up shop on an abuttment between a garbage can and an old video camera on a tripod in the stands. Some folks had no clue who he was, even an elderly woman trying to pass gave him a pat on the head! The famous Russo war cry of " This One's for You " was in your face to everybody in the stands! The outrageous drumline shows what ingenuity can achieve in a rudimental environment without pit presence. No offense to the other HOF soloists, but Frank Ponzo stole the evening: articulation, volume, range and tone between shouting to the crowd, I have never heard a better performance than this. The rest of the corps - yikes! It's a true time machine ( maybe better?). ^OO^ CHA CHA FLAMENCO Forever! Cabellero's all age corps was next, a tough place to be. A nice program, high drill demand and a world class drumline, unfortunately the hornline will hold the corps back from title contention ( IMHO ) . Note to guard uniform designer - give the guys a break ( Manlaw #1 ) A seemingly young corps with a promising future ahead, but a very talented corps. Next up were the defending champion Reading Bucanneer's, who marched without a guard so it is hard to gauge the whole show. The Buc's are DCI style, even to having a 64 person hornline, and a full percussion section ( 9S -5Q - 5B - 6 cymb- large pit ) and a DCI type drill. They start out with the " New Era " chant, but to me the book is a rehash of the corp's recent programs that won with different but similar pieces. It's very early in the year, and they have a ton of dirt to clean, IMHO if Bushwacker's or Statesman are on their game the threepeat is not a slamdunk, although likely. I would love to see some solowork to go with the obvious Gino Cipriani moments the horns feature. Up next to last were the Jersey Surf ( apparently the Bridgemen's adopted siblings! ) One of the most balanced hornlines of the night, good tone and volume control with excellent effect. Rock solid drums and the guard had a rough night ( understandable with the wind ), although one head scratcher was the stools some carried around yet used sparingly? This is the most polished edition of Surf I have ever seen. Last up and provoking a near riot ( entered with a police escort ala 1976 ) were the host Bridgemen, and they are really the real deal. They pay tribute to 27th with a similar rendition of "Danny Boy", and In the Stone was the real highlight for me. The crowd went berserk and the Surf's hornline joined ranks for a lightsout performance of " Battle Hymn"! A perfect start for myself and even my wife was into it, she loves the smaller venue! One note to the host corps to improve the show, give Fran Haring a call: the lack of a Masters of Ceremony in favor of a PA guy was rough a few times: The fellow ( doing yeoman work ) was reading the writeup for the All Age Cabellero's while introducing the Alumni Corps: he was four rows behind me so I knocked on his window and got a thankful oops! from him. Jersey Surf was standing ( and laying on the ground immobile ) for five minutes until a savvy gent yelled out " Jersey Surf- you may take the field in exhibition"! They didn't move, but it clued the PA guy to say " The Jersey Surf are next ", and the DM started the show finally! Nonetheless I'll happily be back next year, a great show in a great place sponsored by A GREAT CORPS Edited June 24, 2007 by fecontra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Priester Posted June 24, 2007 Share Posted June 24, 2007 Just to let you know, Fran Haring and his wife were indeed there, in the crowd, although Fran was in plain clothes and very incognito. Sort of a 'busman's holiday' for him. It gave him a chance to just sit back and relax and enjoy the entire show and also to wander here and there and talk with a bunch of folks. He seemed to really enjoy just being one of the crowd for the night. Good to chat with you Fran! See you in Clifton? Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancerlady Posted June 24, 2007 Share Posted June 24, 2007 I'm jealous, I wish I could've been on the field with Bridgemen performing Danny Boy! I think it's awesome that they are doing this in their show! Thanks Bridgemen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BennyBassDrum Posted June 24, 2007 Share Posted June 24, 2007 (edited) I wish to GOD I could have been there, but it didnt work this year(had a neck operation a few months back). Good to hear that the crew from Bayonne is doing so well(and so early in the year). All I can say is GREAT JOB GUYS-BEEN HEARING NOTHING BUT GOOD FROM ALL WHO SAW IT. O cy- COME OCTOLBER I WANT MY DAM& DRUM BACK!!!!!!!!!! lOVE TO yA ALL..............bENNY Edited June 24, 2007 by BennyBassDrum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fran Haring Posted June 24, 2007 Share Posted June 24, 2007 Just to let you know, Fran Haring and his wife were indeed there, in the crowd, although Fran was in plain clothes and very incognito. Sort of a 'busman's holiday' for him. It gave him a chance to just sit back and relax and enjoy the entire show and also to wander here and there and talk with a bunch of folks.He seemed to really enjoy just being one of the crowd for the night. Good to chat with you Fran! See you in Clifton? Ray Good to see you, too, Ray..... I'm glad we both found the men's room with the shorter line..... LOL Yep, we'll be there in Clifton. As far as the Bayonne emcee goes.......it's Pat Forker's job, and he deserves the gig, being a lifelong Bridgemen guy! I kinda felt for him last night.... it's always a tough gig when the PA system is subpar, as it is at the Bayonne stadium.... I've been there, done that, and it ain't easy. I look forward to hearing Pat's voice again at the show next year! Yes, it's VERY nice to have a "night off" from time to time!!!!!! Fran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LegalEagle50 Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 This was the first event of my three week live Drum Corps 2007 Extravaganza and my summer B) is off to a great start! The weather was spectacular (except if you were a flag tosser - a steady high breeze was coming off the bay ), temp in the 70's, not a cloud in the sky! my bruises thank you for recognizing that fact. Nonetheless I'll happily be back next year, a great show in a great place sponsoredby A GREAT CORPS thank you for the great review. i'm glad you loved the show. it was a magical evening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BridgemenGuard Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 my bruises thank you for recognizing that fact. thank you for the great review. i'm glad you loved the show. it was a magical evening. You have those to, eh? Mine are now covered up by the terrible sunburn. I think that is one for the "why do we do this" thread! I second what Liz said.....it was a magical evening! Go "Dirty Dozen"!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUFreak Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 Hey Everyone, If you are interested in receiving email updates from the Jersey Surf as they travel this summer, register for the email list. http://www.jerseysurf.org/tour/index.html See you on the road! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeGrownB'men Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 You have those to, eh? Mine are now covered up by the terrible sunburn. I think that is one for the "why do we do this" thread! I second what Liz said.....it was a magical evening! Go "Dirty Dozen"!!! Erin, that "Dirty Dozen" was pretty clean. You girls should be very proud of yourselves. Keep up the great work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fran Haring Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 I thought it was really cool when the one color guard person in the old St. Andrew's Bridgemen guard uniform made an appearance.... very nice touch!!!!! Fran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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