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!