Spectators of a Cutouts Victory

DCI Finals

Saturday, August 12, 2023

Lucas Oil Stadium

Indianapolis, IN

My friend Amy picked us up in the morning, and we went to breakfast at Black Leaf Vegan.  I had a BEC Bagel and it was very good.  I also enjoyed my Dragonfruit Berry Smoothie.  This was Amy's first time to meet V, and since she works at a science museum, and V is in the STEM field, they started to make plans about a future outreach at the museum.  I totally forgot to tell Bro to get Amy a ticket for this year's DCI shows, but she will probably join us at Semifinals next year.  Bro, don't let me forget to remind you!  Or something like that.  The cafe is on the ground floor of a hotel or apartment building, so we were able to sit there for quite a while as we enjoyed our conversation.  The only trouble about that is that Amy lost track of time and ended up getting a parking ticket.  She had just missed the time by just a few minutes.  Sorry, Amy! 

Vegan Bacon Egg and Cheese Bagel

Amy dropped us off in front of our hotel, and I saw that the comic book store across the street was open, and was able to find something I'd been looking to buy.  It's a little bit big, though, so Bro offered to pack it in his luggage and bring it home for me.  I might have found it on Amazon, but I do try to support small business when I can.  When we got back to the hotel, I finally got pics of Bro with the NASCAR race sign.

We can see the Spirit from our elevator lobby

We had a little bit of time to eat, so we thought we would go to Tastings for an hour, but they were closed for a private party.  So this was our first year since we discovered it that we didn't go to Tastings.  No Vanguard, No Tastings, our traditions have been obliterated, and we were not happy at all.  We remembered that we liked Nada (the restaurant, not the translation), and we were able to get a table there.  We told our server that we were kind of in a rush after she said for the third time that she'd be with us in a moment.  I had the trio of tacos, and she said that I could get the side that V was going to order separately as part of my dish since all I wanted were the tacos.  I also ordered a sangria blanco.  It was all tasty.

I was able to bring my camera in with no problem, thank you Lucas Oil!  We were there a bit early, so V took a nap in a comfy seat at the club area while Bro and I stared at our phones.  We all got something for us to eat later on when we would be hungry, because the lines are crazy long on Finals Day.  That wouldn't be such a bad thing if the intermissions weren't so short.  I FINALLY found the place where they had veggie burgers, but I didn't want that today.   It's kind of hidden in a hallway of the 300 level.

Our seats were in Section 343, Row 1, Seats 15-17.  We have a desk!  We were seated in the Carolina Crown seats this time, I think.  Or was it Boston?  I don't know.  I was wearing a Vanguard shirt.  And hoodie.  I should have brought my blanket on this trip, too, because it was chilly in those seats.  Also, my thighs kept getting stuck to the not-cushy seats, so I kind of had to peel them off every time I stood up, which was after every corps.  

It's Cold Up Here, but we have a desk!

The IN-pact band performed "Hooked on a Feeling" and "This is Me" from The Greatest Showman, with Al Chez playing along.  

That's a lot of kids!

The Commandant's Own US Marine Drum and Bugle Corps performed their show, ending with "Stars and Stripes Forever".  They also played the Star-spangled Banner before marching off the field to their theme song.  Semper Fi, Marines!

The judges for the evening were announced, and they showed their names on the big board.  I don't remember that happening before, but maybe I just wasn't paying attention in prior years.  

BLUE KNIGHTS

There was a guy walking around with a broken rifle before the show, and he was breaking it even more by pounding it on the ground.  Did that always happen?  I didn't notice that rotating spiral before.  They sounded kinda quiet from up in our seats.

BLUE STARS

We're already looking at the Troopers sun and it's not even this show.  Wait.  Are the straws actually supposed to be licorice?  Doesn't absinthe taste like that?  She's very starry.  Is she supposed to be Kylie Minougue when she was doing that Tinkerbell / Fairy thing?  (I just looked her up:  yes!)  When she was the green fairy in "Moulin Rouge"!   Because absinthe, right?  It's two week after finals and I think I"ve finally figured out this show.  I was going to ask my friends about this when I got home, but since I'm writing the blog before I see them: 

"The traditional absinthe service:  The serve is simple: place the spoon over a filled glass of absinthe with the sugar cube on it and sit it underneath one of the taps on the fountain. Slowly drip water over the sugar until it has dissolved."  Thank you, Google!  I want them to bring a spoon to retreat so they could just slide down it the whole time.

TROOPERS

Hmmm...why didn't the drum major get lifted up at the end?  Weird.  (We found out later that the mechanism wasn't working).  I love when they march and go down on a knee.  Very cool looking.  I'm going to miss that sun.

COLTS

I love the double flags with all of the pastel colors.  They're very pretty and effective for the visuals.

CAVALIERS

I love seeing the different props from their past shows in the four corners (also a name of a past show).  I like that show.  So many classic Cavaliers moves!

Green Machine Flag

Big Baseballs

The Step Over

PHANTOM REGIMENT

The thing about Phregiment is that they really know how to do a ballad with emotion.  That's why I heart them.

<Intermission>

Tom Blair of DCI DVD production fame is retiring after this broadcast.  He received the first-ever Legacy Impact Award.  I miss you already, Tom.  I also miss getting new DVDs every year.  Stupid streaming.

Dan Acheson and Tom Blair

V's challenge for intermission was to see if she could get Sherry a silk (flag) from the Academy merchandise booth in order to cover her legs.  Challenge ACCEPTED and she killed it!  Ooh, it's pink/blue and pretty!  Thank you so much, V!!!  My legs were warmer for most of the rest of the show, except when the air conditioner was blowing hard and it was like it was flying in the air.  We thought they would be five dollars.  Close:  it cost $25.00.  Oops.  We also think that the one she got for me is from this year's show, because it has stars on it.

MANDARINS

The last flags now has "SIN MAN" written on them!  Awesome job, Mandarins!  

CADETS

"Together, we rise".  Oh, those curved bars are like the bottom of the world that Atlas holds up!  I get it.

Atlas

BOSTON CRUSADERS

Yay!!!!  The whale won today!!!  That guard is soooo good!

The Whale is Spartacus!

CAROLINA CROWN

I think that opening formation is a fleur-de-lis, like, pointed toward the center of the field.  No?

Fleur de Lis?

On FIRE!

BLUECOATS

I like that last pink/orange flag.  I ddin't know those flower stages turned around!  Cool.

BLUE DEVILS

Yes, BD, get it!!!  That was the first corps that was loud for me today.  No, I wasn't wearing my EAR-asers at all.  

Steve Rondinaro did a presentation for DCI CEO Dan Acheson, who retired after tonight's festivities.  His granddaughters walked onto the field and played around.  They're so cute!  Today was designated Dan Acheson Day in Indianapolis.  For the first time ever, in dedication of giving an experience of a lifetime, DCI honored him with the Lifetime Achievement in Leadership Award.  Dan is a former Madison Scout, so Steve surprised him with the Madison corps brass playing to Dan from the stands their corps song, "You'll Never Walk Alone", with the rest of the corps walking down the steps to honor him.  I'm crying again.  It was quite lovely.  Best wishes to you, Dan!  Thank you for all of the positive things you've done for this activity we love so much.

You'll Never Walk Alone, Dan

 "He now has his own Founder's Trophy." 

"The Commandant's Own is ready for retreat!"  

First up was the presentation of awards to the drum majors of Open Class medalists Gold and Spartans.  (Southwind had already left Indianapolis.)

Troopers brought their heavy lasso with them, and Boston Crusaders brought whale balloons.  There were no other props, so my dream of seeing BStars sliding all night did not come to fruition.   There were also no instruments on the field, which Bro presumed was to prevent the nonsense from last year when the kids wouldn't get off the field and played their contras and bass drums until what seemed like forever.  This is why we can't have nice things!  The Cadets wore their traditional uniforms, and everything seemed right with the world again.  

TROOP!

Cavaliers

Boston Guard  (White Whale!)

Cadets

Mandarins

Panorama View

Scores

12) 86.375 -- Blue Knights

Jim Jones Leadership Award:  Drum Major from Phantom Regiment!  That's my girl!!!!!

11) 88.625 -- Blue Stars

10) 89.475 -- Troopers

George Zingali Color Guard Award:  Blue Devils 

    Yay!  My friend from the airport and her daughter must be ecstatic!  BD has not won this award in 9 years, which kind of blows my mind because they're always so good.

9)  90.265 -- Colts

     This is the highest score Colts has ever achieved!  Awesome!

John Brazale Visual Award:  Blue Devils

8) 92.125 -- Cavaliers

Jim Ott Brass Award:  Carolina Crown

    Our section went crazy, so I guess we WERE sitting with them.  

7) 92.988 -- Phantom Regiment

6) 93.775 -- Mandarins

    This is Mandarins highest placement in World Class.  Very well deserved!

Fred Sanford Percussion Award:  Cavaliers

    See, you DON'T have to be in the top 5 to win percussion!  They were incredible.

5) 94.313 -- Cadets

4) 96.925 -- Boston Crusaders

Don Angelica General Effect Award:  Blue Devils

And then everybody held their breath, because the next two placements had been crazy all week.

3) 97.663 -- Carolina Crown

2) 97.738 -- Bluecoats

1) 98.975 -- Blue Devils

Yes, BD!!!  I'm so glad that the year I rooted for them, they won!  

Dan Potter announced the corps names one by one after a while as an instruction for them to leave the field.  Not everyone listened right away, but they finally did.  

ENCORE:  BLUE DEVILS

They did their percussion warmup, which is now called the "Tom Float".  Bro made me have tears in my eyes when he told me that.  The electronic warmup was just a lot of fun as they rocked out until the rest of the corps was ready to perform their show one last time.

Rockin' warm up

Tom Float Warm Up

They allowed the alternates join them all on the field for the end of the show when they all run to the front of the field.  Nice!  What a great moment for all of them.

There will be much Go Pro footage

With Alternate Brass Members

Such a happy color guard!

Congratulations on your Three-Peat, BD.  You have deserved the gold medal for the 21st time, and we applaud you loudly!

We walked back to the hotel and finished packing up our stuff.  Bro and V left early the next morning, and I left a couple of hours later.  My lyft driver was quiet, which was nice, because I didn't feel like talking.  It was just too early.  I guess the security line has added security measures in the floor, because they made us walk through the whole serpentine line even when there weren't even 5 of us in line.  Interesting.  Contrary to my travels to Indy, I didn't talk to anyone on the way home.  I was too sleepy. 

Until next year, Indianapolis!

Spinnerman Comes into View

 DCI Semifinals

Friday, August 11, 2023

Lucas Oil Stadium

Indianapolis, IN

When we checked in the other night, the woman at the front desk had suggested a couple of restaurants that were open.  Actually, one of them was a coffee shop that she said was recommended by the Jonas Brothers.  We tried to Google it and couldn't find it, so maybe I heard her wrong, but she isn't really good at making suggestions.  I mean, she's the one that offered, or I would have just looked on Yelp.  So we didn't go to either place.  There really isn't much around here that suited all of us, not even Wild Eggs (which we all saw on our walk in the rain and mentioned to each other as if the others hadn't said it before).  So we ate breakfast at the hotel.  I ate from the buffet, as did Bro.  V got a Belgian waffle with the Hilton logo on it.  I dropped a grape and told the server because I didn't want anyone to be caught off guard, and she told us a funny story about slipping on a grape at this restaurant.  I'm glad I warned her!  I wanted to take some photos in the lobby because there was a Brickyard NASCAR race this weekend, too.

When is the last time you saw
 random tires in your hotel lobby?

V had a virtual meeting to attend, so Bro and I rested until she was ready to go.  But wait!  V is about to be on TV!  She's kinda famous.   

When we got to the stadium, I wanted to get a photo of Peyton Manning's statue.  I thought it was new, but apparently, it's been there since 2017.

Peyton's was the first jersey retired
by the Indianapolis Colts.

I tried to get through the gate with my 2022 semifinals ticket because I'm dumb.  I bought the Troopers shirt that I wanted, and while I was in line, V texted me that there was a dinosaur with a trumpet heading my way.  

I shall play you a tune
 and then I shall eat you.

We had seen shirts at the Phregiment booth with dinosaurs on them, and I didn't understand.  This guy did not help with my understanding, either, but he's sure cute!  Apparently, the story is that when Phregiment posted photos of their show earlier this season, they didn't want to show their props, so they replaced them with dinosaurs in their picture.  Then people started thinking that there were dinosaurs in the show and since it was the anniversary of Jurassic Park, the show was about that, but that was wrong, too.  Although they did release a youth size version of the shirt on the anniversary of the movie.  It's just one of those inside jokes now that has evolved into something else.  As we know, "Life finds a way."  

Our seats were in section 141, row 5, seats 1-3, on the left 30-yard line.  I liked that Bro put me on the aisle so that I would have less obstruction for my pictures.  I was just annoyed that some folks were not following the rules of only going to /leaving from their seats between shows.  Because we were up close, we got to see the faces of the performers, and V would start to cry whenever she saw them cry.  I tried to get video of all of the drum majors saluting as my own little challenge this year.  I hope to edit them together someday for an Instagram reel, and will post it here sometime next week, since there will be enough photos to take this page forever to load anyway.  :)

The Star-Spangled Banner was performed on solo trumpet, but I didn't get the guy's name.  Good job, guy!  

Bro started to eat his hamburger and realized that he had two bun tops.  I told him he was eating V's food.  

EAR-asers in my ears, I'm good to go!

Corps marked with * advance to Finals.

SEATTLE CASCADES -- 73.925

I'm not crying, V is crying.  OK, I'm crying, because the corps is!  I said that when they wear blue, it makes sense because of water cascading.  It didn't make sense to me that their main color was green.  Bro educated me and told me that their name was based on the green Cascades Mountain Range near Seattle. He had tried to get my attention yesterday to take a picture of their mountain range formation, but that didn't work.  Their drum major was very energetic, and I tried to get a shot of him jumping up and down as he conducted, but that didn't happen either.  I've been watching so many dog videos that I thought that the shako with the plume on the ground was a dog watching drum corps.  It's not a dog, Sher.

Trumpet Soloist

The "dog" is to the lower left of the date.

COLUMBIANS -- 74.600

That guy in the pit is VERY expressive.  I love him.  I tried not to watch him the whole time because that's creepy, but it was really difficult for me.  Very nice solo as well as the dance right next to them.  

Emote!

F.E.A.R.

JERSEY SURF -- 75.488

I love watching them have so much fun!  Now I understand their uniform: it's like the Bridgemen uniform, but in black!  That drum major changed his clothes right in front of us, while facing the audience.  I guess he didn't want to do that for the corps?

Don't forget your hat!

True Colors

SOUTHWIND -- 77.450

I told V to show them how to toss the construction beams.  I like that iconic last shot.  

We made that.

GENESIS -- 78.775

I like the shout-out from PhoenixGPT to Competition Director Tony Di Carlo.  Her drum corps joke for the day:

"What is the difference between Top 12 and Bottom 12?"  

"It doesn't matter.  Blue Devils will probably win anyway."

Hahahahaha.  It's funny because it's true.  :)

That position that they do with their hands: is it their Phoenix logo?  I didn't get a picture of it to show y'all, though.  I yelled with them: "We. Are. GENESIS!!!!" 

Lit-up Marimbas

GOLD -- 79.913

None of us ever noticed the thumbprint on their uniforms before.  The thumbprint does make sense.  V thinks the new puppetmaster was the other one's appprentice.  Also makes sense.  

Brass Ensemble

Apprentice and Master

New Puppetmaster - not the former apprentice

Creepy Creeps

SPARTANS -- 81.275

Oh, fish!!  That's not a hot dog.  It's a raft.  Oh, the clock ticking at the end while the entire corps falls asleep:  that's the melting watches!  Clever.

Flying Fish

Not a hot dog

Very talented guitar duo

Melted Corps

<Intermission>

Me, at the top of the stairs of our section:  "My thighs hurt."

V, from behind me:   "You should close them at specific parts of the show."

Me:  "What?  I said, 'My THIGHS hurt.'"

V:  "Oh, I thought you said EYES!"

Me: "I was, like, 'that's something my mother would say: CLOSE YOUR THIGHS!'"

Much laughter ensued.

V and I went to get smoothies.  Bro didn't get one because they didn't have a mango flavor.  I got peach.  It was yummy.  We walked around a little bit so that she could see the uniforms that the different uniform companies had on display.  Our favorite was the Troopers uniform.

There's that tribute to Tom Float that
almost made me cry when I saw it the previous day.

ACADEMY -- 82.500
Fantastic final run, Academy!  Soloist got those high notes really well and everything.

One of these guys is Brennan.

MUSIC CITY -- 82.875

I love that last song.  Great horn feature, too.  I don't know why the petals have to turn black, though.  Why did it die?  

Munchkin Thorns

Roses and Thorns

MADISON -- 82.988

They are wearing tattoo sleeves (with fleur de lis) and fake black jeans.  Oh, those are speakers on the ball, and they take their scarves out from the speakers.  The bass drums are speakers, too.  Kick ass, Madison!  That was fun.

SPIRIT -- 83.625

The drum major winked during his salute.  I tried to get a picture of him jumping at the end, but missed it.  I love when the DMs get emotional.  The electronics went out and the color guard continued doing their show, just with silence except for the captain counting out the beats.  So cool!  They never did get their electronics to turn back on, and it was still a good show. 

That's a lot of benches

Playing a silvery star chime thing

Spirit Percussion

PACIFIC CREST -- 85.050

I like how the flags are the same design throughout, with a just a change in color.  Awesome job, PC!  Get it, Guard!  They were sooo good today.   Thanks for making me enjoy the show!  Congrats on a great season.

Blue Flag

Trombones

Red Flags

CROSSMEN -- 86.138

That pit was having a good time!  V likes how they can do so much of a show with just two props.  Me, too.

Flag Toss

BLUE KNIGHTS -- 87.088*

I like all of the lavender.  They use things hanging on the obelisk for percussion, like pots.

Percussion Pots

Gong Banging

TROOPERS -- 88.725*

Bro asked if the guy with the harmonica was the same guy as the one in the old school uniform yesterday.  I didn't think so.  He definitely wasn't today.  I love the way they elevate them to reach out to the sun.  I love everything about the show, even when I'm sleepy.  

Lifting Contraption

Harmonica Soloist

View of Duo and Sun

Fancy Footwork

TROOP!!!

BLUE STARS -- 88.550*

Spoons + Cubes + Straws.  V did not fall asleep during this show.  Progress!  I almost fell asleep, though.  They can toss at the top of the slide and catch at the bottom.  Very cool. 

Spooned

Didn't realize that I captured this moment.

<Intermission>

We watched the Old Guard perform in their traditional George Washington uniforms.  I miss traditional uniforms.

V and I left our seats, and as we got to the top of the steps, I said to V: "My thighs hurt."

V: "You should close them during select shows."

S: "What?  I said my THIGHS hurt."

V: "Oh, I thought you said EYES!"

S: "That sounds like something my mother would say to me. 'CLOSE YOUR THIGHS!'"

Much laughter ensued.

We decided to get smoothies.  Bro only wanted one if they had a mango flavor, but they didn't, so we walked around and I showed V the different uniforms on display at the uniform company booths.  Our favorite was the Troopers, so we somehow took a selfie with it while not spilling our smoothies all over the place.

Selfie Smoothie!

COLTS -- 90.038*

That's an energetic show.  They totally deserved that first 90 in corps history yesterday.  I like the guard work when they work as a team with the throwing / catching.

Playing with phone cords

Big Double Flags

CAVALIERS -- 92.038*

Ah, all 4 corners had elements from different Cavaliers shows, like masks (from when they did "Smile"), rope (from the Ascent show), Frames (from Frameworks), and balls (the Chicago show).  That pit is incredible during the last piece.  WOW.  Percussion is so good all around.

Mirror, Mirror

Gear on Flag for Green Machine

Tip the Hat

PHANTOM REGIMENT -- 93.163*

V thinks the tarp is dinosaur bones, like the ribs.  She hates their hats, though.  I think I have a girl crush on that drum major.  I tried not to watch her conduct the whole time.  

Dan Potter afterward:  "I think I speak for everyone who's watching this year: Phantom's Back, Baby!"  

Oh, yes!  I haven't truly enjoyed a Phregiment show in a long time, and I love this one.

Phregiment Brass

Arch

Flag on Top

My Girl Crush

MANDARINS -- 93.350*

This show!  There's so much love for it.

Dan Potter said that like everyone else, he wanted to know what it would be like to spin in one of those props.  So they let him!  And they had video!  It was so awesome.  He interviewed the main Sinnerman, Jason Huber, after that, and he said it felt like he was in there for 20 minutes, but Jason said that it was about 45 seconds of spinning.  Jason also informed us all that "No one's gotten sick yet.  We're all trained professionals here."  Dan called him "Sinnerman Spinnerman" and I think he just designed the next shirt that I want.

Robed

Whip It

Drums

Brass

Repent!

Spinnerman

CADETS -- 93.613*

Those horns are so good!  There isn't really much to take pictures of because they're not very exciting props, though.  Also, they move FAST.

Show Start

So this guy tried to go to his seat in our row at this point.  He didn't know his seat number, just knew that someone in our row was seating in his seats, but nobody would admit to sitting in the wrong seat.  I stood up so that he could get to his place, and he thought that I was going to get out.  I said that no, this was my actual seat, and I was just letting him in.  He said that his wife had the seat numbers, but she wasn't with him.  So, text her, maybe?  Maybe if you had come earlier to watch the show, other people would not be in your seats right now and you wouldn't have anyone to kick out of your seats.  Also, we're at the LAST FOUR CORPS out of 25 today.  I have no sympathy for you because you're late and your seats are in a very popular section for people going in / out of the rows for certain corps, which irritates me, but I know that's what happens and I try to deal with my irritation.  The guy sat down in an empty seat of the front row because Boston was about to start.  

BOSTON CRUSADERS -- 96.738*

Uh oh.  Electronics issues.  They might get a timing penalty, which is so not good for tonight (they did not).  He used his rifle as a telescope.  The color guard is soooo good!  Oh, there he is harpooning the whale.  I think that V and I were staring at the big silks at that point last night, which is why we missed it.  Neither of us were happy about the whale's death, but I do see what Bro is saying about the "I AM SPARTACUS!" moment.

Rifle Toss Behind Brass

He looks so happy!

Atop the boat

White Whale Leaping

Harpooned

Poor White Whale

Special Presentation:  World Class Corps Director of the Year

Congratulations to the Mandarins' J. W. Koester!!!

JW Koester in signed Sinnerman hat
with DCI CEO Dan Acheson

The guy's wife finally came down to the seats.  They sat down and told the others to leave.  Then she left again.  For reals.  Da fuq?!

BLUECOATS -- 96.988*

I only like the part with the butterflies.  Bro and V said that I need to listen to the source music for that piece.  They had me listen to it later on, and it's really cool.  It's the same artist that composed music that they used in last year's show: Anna Meredith.  They played that for me, too, and I remember that it was during the part that the corps is a car.  Too much "chapel, chapel".  Bro told us that the electronics went out for the last couple of minutes, which is why it sounded weird.  What is going on with the electronics today?  Maybe they should just play without any from now on.  I know I ask for too much.

I don't understand these creepy ladies

Butterflies

CAROLINA CROWN -- 96.950*

So ... he loses the girl, but gets the crown, but gets injured in battle, but he lives.  Later that night, Bro and V informed me that this was the story of "Camelot".  I'm kind of an idiot.  I saw the sword.  I saw the round table.  I saw Guinevere and Lancelot.  I saw the crown.  I cut and paste and edited the show info on my blog.  But it did not dawn on me that this was Camelot the entire time I watched it.  I'm chalking it up to: Sherry was sleepy and not paying attention.  Such good music, and the color guard was on fire tonight!

Arthur and Guin

Brass in front of 
one of the pieces of the round table

BLUE DEVILS -- 98.275*

Nice way to test the electronics with the electric guitar!  He got us in the mood.  The guy behind us, whom had been explaining a bunch of stuff to his seat partner all night, said that he can't explain this one to him except that it was like a rock concert, it's so loud.  He's not wrong.  

Dance Break

Duet

Color Guard

Color Guard 2

End Flags

End with Judge

Exhibition Performance

The Spartans performed their show again, this time wearing their medals.  OMG, those huge long-ass mallets!  We hadn't noticed them before.  The performers are so happy and cute!

Gold Medal Winners

Open Class Champions Trophy

Electric Bass and Long-ass Mallets

Scholarship winners were announced, as well as the Volunteer of the Year: Yvonne Moss from Blue Devils.

In Memoriam

Tributes were done for Tom Float and Stephanie Lynde.  Tom Float is familiar to me because he was the leader / founder of the Trash Can Trio at Disneyland.  I think that he was also in Magic Kingdom Korps.  I loved watching him perform, and I thank him for all of the smiles he put on my face through his drumming.

DCI Hall of Fame Inductees

Gino Cipriani - Boston Crusaders Brass Instructor and Caption Head

Dave Glyde - Blue Devils Music Director, Composer, and Arranger

TROOPERS LEGACY CORPS

Tonight's corps was made up of not just Troopers, but other volunteers as well.  Also, a dog.  Yes, an actual dog, not a shako with a plume.   What is with those huge-ass cymbals?!!?!? They played their iconic songs, like "Midway", "Ghost Riders in the Sky", and the theme from "The Magnificent Seven".  They did their signature Sunburst formation during the Mag 7 piece.  It was really cool.  They also performed their corps song with the present Troopers members: "Battle Hymn of the Republic".  

Troopers Take the Field

Color Guard

Current Troopers watching Legacy Corps

Dude with Hugigant Cymbals

Hat Formation

Sunburst

Battle Hymn

Representatives from each of the corps from Drum Corps Associates were present to celebrate DCI's acquisition / merger with them.

Then they had the Age-Out Ceremony.  Oh, it's like the Olympics with a representative holding a sign with their corps name!  Some of them were silly as they exchanged their signs.  Thank you for your dedication to drum corps, y'all!

Hey! That's the wrong sign.

I was tired and didn't want to wait for scores to be announced, so we walked home and got them from the website instead.

Next up:  FINALS