So Cal Classic
Rants Stadium at Gahr High School
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Cerritos, CA
I don't know why I don't know the difference between Cerritos College and Gahr High School. I used to spend a lot of time in Cerritos in my young adulthood, but for some reason, I got their locations confused in my head, so when I went looking for Gahr according to Google Maps, and found it, I was, like, "That's not what it looks like." That's because you imagined a picture of CC in your head, Silly Sherry. Well, anyway, I didn't enter the gate to the parking lot like I was supposed to because I was looking for another one, and ended up getting back on the freeway and going around the block again. Silliness. I was really early anyway, as the gates had not yet opened by the time I arrived. I picked up my tickets at will call, and went back to my car to move it closer to the stadium. Then I called Jen to tell her where to park so that she wouldn't have to do the same thing.
Jen arrived with her daughter Rebecca and Rebecca's friend, Leyla. They are both about to become freshmen in high school, and will be joining the marching band. Their future band director is currently the corps director for the Boston Crusaders, so Jen thought it would be a good experience for them to watch a show, and be able to relate to their director. Jen used to march in high school, and was their band's drum major. We ate lumpia (!) and I had a chicken skewer while I waited for the watermelon aguas frescas to be done. I waited longer than I needed to, because I thought that they had only made the strawberry, but that's OK because we were in the shade. One of the DCI guys (Bro knows his name, but I forgot it) told us to go over and sit in the stands, but we were enjoying our shade under a canopy, so we waited a while.
The seats were General Admission, and we were in the Premium section, so we were able to acquire seats about 10 rows down from the top, on the left 45-yard line.
The Jim Ott Brass Ensemble gave a standstill performance of "Georgia", "Our Father/Naval Hymn", and "Legend of the One-Eyed Sailor".
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| Bill Ott Brass Ensemble |
They were then joined by the Freelancers Alumni Corps and they played the Star-Spangled Banner. Well, it's about time, folks! We didn't have a flag, but I've recently learned that if the flag is not present, the correct etiquette is to face east. We were already facing that way, so that worked out just fine.
Hi, Mr. Turner!
INCOGNITO
Oh, the CG got their dresses, and they're fancy! Also, the corps has gold scarf-ish things on their uniforms that seem to get in their way when it's breezy. Still some intonation issues, but better, especially during the Romeo & Juliet pieces.
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| Carmens |
I asked Jen if Rebecca knew about the field judges. Rebecca mused what it would be like if ice skating judges skated on the ice during competitions. I said that the first slice on the neck from a camel spin would stop that right away. Yeah, I'm demented.
BLUE DEVILS C
Repertoire: "Surfin' BDC" - School's Out (For Summer) by A. Cooper; Surfin' USA by B. Wilson; Wipe Out by B. Berryhill,; Fun, Fun, Fun by B. Wilson
Jen: "The drum major looks like he's 9."
Sher: "He probably is."
They have a lot more CG members than they did last year, but none of them are boys. I miss that little boy from last year. I love the pink flag poles. I was sitting next to a CG staff member, and she kept telling her companion about every step out of place and all of the things that went wrong. Yes, she did cheer for certain things, too. Great sound and fun show, BDC! Yay -- an outgoing cadence!
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| BD - C with pink flag poles |
WATCHMEN
DM's salute includes three fingers over the heart, like a "W". Still some intonation issues, especially in the first piece. Jen concurs that their hair is fake because the blond girl's hair (not the purple bangs) doesn't match her ponytail. They have more marimbas than they have CG.
<Intermission>
The Freelancers Alumni Corps entertained the crowd during intermission, playing selections such as the Beibl "Ave Maria" and Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue". I got a hot dog. I would have bought nuts from the Impulse booth, but I didn't bring enough money, and I couldn't find my companions.
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| Freelancers Alumni Corps |
CITY SOUND
Their stage is painted now, in Mardi Gras colors. The DM threw down his gauntlets one at a time during the show. It's ON! Very much improved music! There was a napkin on the field and I got distracted. They threw beads into the stands as they passed by. I WANT ONE! Rebecca yelled the same thing. Jen felt like she was with 4-year-olds.
GOLDEN EMPIRE
I don't remember this narration, but it's loud. I do like the sound at the show's beginning of the winding clock or whatever it is, while the corps moves with each tick. Please fix your lines.
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| Beautiful Horizon Flags |
IMPULSE
Repertoire: "Dusk to Dawn" -- Music of Ludwig van Beethoven: Fifth Symphony; Moonlight Sonata; Ode to Joy from the 9th Symphony
Their show DID have a name! Much better today, Impulse! Jen really digs the huge yellow flag with the exclamation point that they usually have on their golf cart.
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| Our hosts - I like those flags |
GOLD
CG finally has their uniforms. Jen says that the corps looks like turtles. I told her about last year's show. She asked if it involved turtles. Uh, no. Their bendy sticks now have floaties on them for fighting in the swimming pool. Maybe that's where the turtles are. Nice arrow formation as the corps leans in a ripple and the point of the arrow is toward a solo CG who does a high toss (I can't remember if it was a saber or a rifle). Great guard work, especially the unison in their triangle.
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| They should be in a pool |
SANTA CLARA VANGUARD CADETS
Repertoire: "The Road Not Taken" -- Kaval Sviri (Traditional Eastern European folk music); Meetings Along the Edge by P. Glass; Forbidden Friendship from How to Train Your Dragon by J. Powell; Test Drive from How to Train Your Dragon by J. Powell; Symphony # 5 by L. van Beethoven; I'll Stand By You by C. Hynde
Beautiful show! Their show opens with the corps making a path, reminiscent of the "A" corps' "Pathways" show. I love those metallic flags, especially the last green ones, and the way they reveal them with a big blast. I could do without the narration, but at least it's the source material and it's not paragraphs at a time. Gorgeous horn sound, and the drums kicked butt. I saw a couple of drops by the guard, but it wasn't ugly. The cymbals make their V at the end of the show. I thought that one of the drummers was going to lose his Aussie feather because it was drooping, but he didn't. I really dig the drums with the dirt path and the strip of green on the bottom to represent their show title.
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| Pretty SCVC Drums |
BLUE DEVILS B
Repertoire: "NOIR [nuvo]" -- Scene 1: Opening Credits - Young and Beautiful by L. Del Rey;
Brute Force by M. Rozsa; Scene 2: A Dark and Stormy Night - Theme from The Usual Suspects by J. Ottman; Scene 3: The Firefight - Children’s Hour of Dreams by C. Mingus; Asphalt Cocktail by J. Mackey; Scene 4: Flashback - Film Noir/Pursuit by Danny Elfman;
Scene 5: Finale - Reprise of Theme from The Usual Suspects by J. Ottman; Children’s Hour of Dreams by C. Mingus; and Young and Beautiful by L. Del Rey
I saw the many tall props at the back stands earlier in the evening and knew immediately that these belonged to BDB, and I didn't even know the theme of their show. They are street lamps. Wow, with that sound, BDB! The show is so very Blue Devils organization, with the props all over the place and moving them around, the hula hoops, the kickass brass and the kickass drums. I like the black drum heads. I also like that their theme is similar to the "A" corps' Fellini show. Those flags with the silhouette are very cool. Is it a law that every noir show has to include narration? Imagine Spirit's show from a few years ago, and you'll know the narration. I felt it was unnecessary. Also, it was loud.
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| BD B - check out those silhouette flags |
Encore
Impulse played portions of their show. I was irritated that the color guard was not paying attention, then Jen saw them get in trouble and they watched the corps.
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| Leaders |
Scores
Open Class:
9) 45.65 Incognito
8) 47.15 Blue Devils C
7) 50.05 Watchmen
6) 50.45 City Sound
5) 57.95 Impulse
4) 58.30 Golden Empire
3) 62.40 Gold
2) 67.25 Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets
1) 68.60 Blue Devils B
Jen informed the girls that these were Open Class corps, and there are others that are already on tour. Rebecca was quite impressed that there were more corps out there that were better than these. I hope that hey get to see some World Class corps next year. (They couldn't this year due to a scheduling conflict). Impulse was going to have their Age-Out ceremony after the show, but it was taking a long time for them to get that together, so I left. I would have said hi and introduced myself to Ryan, but when I finally got up my nerve to do so, I didn't see him. I did, though, go back to buy toffee peanuts from the Impulse booth. :) I did see Cerritos College on the way home, because it was just a couple of blocks past the freeway, and I laughed at my crazy self as I drove through an old neighborhood where I used to hang out.
That was the last competition in Southern California, so I'll just be watching the DCI Fan Network live webcasts until Indianapolis. Until them, drum corps fans, please send good thoughts to all of the corps traveling around the country, that they travel safe and have good weather for their shows.
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