Leslie Speakers Rule

 DCI Finals

Saturday, August 8, 2026

Lucas Oil Stadium

Indianapolis, IN

Most everyone slept in for most of the morning.  We actually didn't even leave our hotel rooms until they decided to have lunch at Sushi Boss.  V told me it was 1.5 blocks away, but that kind of depended on which exit we took from the hotel, so it could have been more like 2.5 blocks away.  I was only concerned because I didn't feel like wearing my walking shoes yet, and preferred to wear my flip flops.  So we walked however many blocks to the restaurant.  

Sushi Boss means that you're the boss.  At least I think so, because you could choose your own ingredients for their rolls or bowls.  So I chose a roll with salmon, mango, cucumber, avocado, and tempura crunch with teriyaki sauce.  Later I thought maybe I should have ordered ponzu sauce instead, but whatever.  It was tasty, except my sushi rice had something left to be desired.  It was kinda dry.  I loved their Strawberry Dragonfruit drink, though, and got a refill for drinking later.  

Bro, V, and the niece went antiquing to the same mall we went to last time, while the nephew and I just chilled out in the hotel.  When they returned, there wasn't much turn around time, so Bro and I walked to the stadium ahead of the others.  Today's food for me:  Chicken Caesar Salad.  I thought of getting the foot-long corn dog, but I had hot dogs the last two days and I needed something more healthy.  

IN-Pact Band

They played "Soda Pop" from K-Pop Demon Hunters and Black Sabbath's "Crazy Train" with Al Chez.

Congratulations to Gold for winning Drumline Battle this morning!

US Marine Corps "The Commandant's Own"

I like the snare fetaure during "When Johnny Comes Marching Home".

Star-Spangled Banner

Marine Corps Hymn as they marched off the field.

I was concerned that people were sitting in the area where they usually sit, which is in the stands on our right side.  Then I realized they would probably just sit on the left side.  I actually wanted them to go to the right side and kick all those people out of their seats.  

Poor Brandt has to do the damn spiel.  Bro:  "I came back too early."  He was hoping he'd miss the spiel.

BLUE KNIGHTS

We made bets on the gender reveal.  Bro and V were betting on blue.  I'm voting for twins - because then we'll have two clouds.

I like when they use their sleeves to look like flags.

Oh, NO!!!  The cloud light didn't work at all.  Sadness.  

TROOPERS

Darn!  It's not naked corps.  There were more people without shirts today, though.  I think someone is secretly stealing their shirts little by little.

Bro:  "It IS hot outside."

V:  "They're very dirty, too."

S:  "Maybe they're still hanging their laundry."

Ugh, the talking.  I know I don't understand what's going on in this show, but the talking doesn't help.

SPIRIT OF ATLANTA

Aw, they had a "Help Us, Crossmen" cardboard sign.  Nice shoutout to their sister corps to have them still appear at finals in their own way.  

V likes the colors in this show, but I don't like them on the field because I don't think they show up enough.  

COLTS

Oh, no!  They didn't unfurl the flag so it just sat there folding into itself instead of waving proudly in the air conditioning.  Love that high piercing trumpet!

CAVALIERS

Caught the Diamond Cutter maneuver today, as well as Spin Cycle, which I now understand why they have the shirts for this show.  I didn't get to see the gear formation from Machine, but V did point out the corners yesterday. Now I need to watch some videos of this show to see all of the maneuvers.  Nobody tosses a flag to their fellow color guard members like the Cavaliers.  Nobody.  I love that.

Hey, look!  RUFIO!

PHANTOM REGIMENT

GOOOO, CALEB!!!!!  Bro finally reminded me in time so I yelled twice for the kid whose Dad I talked to at the Columbus Saints booth and told him I would cheer for him.  I forgot the other two nights until Bro reminded me too late.  I like when the pointy things turn in toward the middle at the end.  V and I had never seent he ending where the guy is being carried to the front.    

<Intermission>

BLUE STARS

V:  "They're good clappers!"  

When they make their star formation at the end, they hold up a frame with artwork of a blue star.  I finally got a photo of the person in the Escher prop.

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD

Wow, that's LOUD!  They really got into that Reckless thing today.  Great show, SCV!

Google Photos made this animation
of my photos

BOSTON CRUSADERS

Wait, they got the drumline to dance with the color guard?  And hold flags?  I haven't seen the pushups thing before.  I like when they're in pairs and leaning on each other.

CAROLINA CROWN

Whoo, that brass.  Just gorgeous!  Their "Ave Maria" has been getting well-deserved standing ovations each night.  V also can't get excited about their jump ropes after seeing SCV.

BLUE DEVILS

Bro: "It's funny how many people like them when they're in second."

Have I told you how much I like their ... rifles?  I'm not just about the pants, people.  

BLUECOATS

There are a lot of people behind us.  I guess they gave up on leaving that area as a pathway.  Love the rifle tosses at the beginning.   I need to get video of them swaying to "God Only Knows" when they win this thing.  

Drum Majors for the Open Class Medalists were honored:

Bronze medal: Gold

Silver medal: The Battalion

Gold medal:  Blue Devils B

Drum Majors for the All Age Corps Medalists were honored:

Bronze medal:  Atlanta CV

Silver medal:  Hawthorne Caballeros

Gold medal:  Reading Buccaneers

The corps started to enter the stadium, and those on the right side marched down the wrong yard line, so they had to fix about 4 corps' positions so that they could all fit on the field.  Spirit formed the Crossmen "X", Phregiment did their chevron, Crown brought one of their doors, Troopers only had one half-naked person, and the Cavaliers wore their traditional uniforms.  V asked Bro to tell the kids the reason that they didn't bring in their instruments, especially the drums.  Ah, memories of Finals Past.  

See how SCV's guard has 20 yards,
but the corps does not?

OH MY GOD.  Rita Moreno is here!!!  We're in the same huge building!  AAAHHHH!!!  Rita Moreno joined a DCI Broadcast many years ago when they used to air on PBS.  Steve Rondinaro connected with her again, and here she is, looking fabulous and having lots of energy!

The kids in the audience got the wave going all the way down the stadium...except for the Marines.  Oh, hey!  The Marines are back and sitting on our left side, playing what we call "A World of Cheeses", as well as other marches as the corps enter the stadium.  :)

The crowd is getting restless: we've done the wave.  The kids section did the Norwegian Row, and now they're acting like they're on a rollercoaster.  

Brandt finally declared "Let the finals begin!" and it was so.

The montage of Finals Week is always fun to watch and try to name all the corps we recognize and cheer for our favorite clips.

Scores and Caption Awards

Fan Favorite Award:  Phantom Regiment

12) 86.175 -- Blue Knights

Jim Jones Leadership Award -- Megan Conlin of Santa Clara Vanguard

Congrats, Megan!

11) 86.950 -- Troopers

10) 88.588 -- Spirit of Atlanta

George Zingali Color Guard Award -- Bluecoats

9) 90.125 -- Colts

John Brazale Visual Performance Award -- Bluecoats

8) 92.175 -- Cavaliers

Jim Ott Brass Award -- Carolina Crown

7) 92.600 -- Phantom Regiment 

6) 94.138 -- Blue Stars

Fred Sanford Percussion Award -- Bluecoats

5) 95.025 -- Santa Clara Vanguard

4) 95.675 -- Boston Crusaders 

Don Angelica General Effect Award -- Bluecoats

3) 97.038 -- Carolina Crown

2) 97.500 -- Blue Devils

1) 99.100 -- Bluecoats

Then lots of hugging and photos and goodbyes happened before corps finally left the field.

SCV Group Hug

Encore

Bluecoats ran their show again, but this time with GoPros.

Drum Warmup

Fan in a Doppler Dress

Please excuse the very excited person at the end of this video.  I was doing so well at our angle until then.   I recommend you watch in landscape full screen.

Congratulations to the Bluecoats for an amazing undefeated season, and one of the highest scores ever!  I'm glad I got to see them in person so many times because they came to California this season.

As we were leaving the venue, a guy was holding the exit door open for a bunch of people and the woman he was with was annoyed that he was taking so long doing so.  I thanked him and told her she would appreciate it someday.  I don't think she heard me, but it's true.  

Brady was hungry when we got back because he didn't eat dinner.  They ordered Wing Stop and surprisingly, there were no issues like the night before with Steak 'n' Shake.  

Next up:  Travel Home

SUTA 70 at Semis

DCI Semifinals

Friday, August 7, 2026

Lucas Oil Stadium

Indianapolis, IN

 

We walked to Jack's Donuts this morning to pick up something to eat for breakfast.  I had not finished blogging from the night before, so I finished that up while everyone else rested before Bro, V, the niece, and I walked to Lucas Oil Stadium for Semifinals.  

Ready for Phregiment Day with our matching shirts!

Walking to the Stadium

The niece's bag got special searched because of her crochet needles.  I asked her later if she could crochet me a lap blanket because I was using my jacket to cover the seat to prevent my legs from sticking to it and ripping up my skin when I stood up.  V and the niece hadn't seen the drum corps museum yet, so they perused it while I talked to the gal running the booth that day.

Miniature Marine Corps Drum Corps

Bro wanted to get his lunch so he went ahead while I waited for the others just to tell them I was going to get water and go to my seat.  The lady at concessions was trying to get me to buy other stuff because nobody was in line, but I just wanted water.  Bro and I got to our seats in time for introductions.  Dan did the whole spiel and it still felt too long, even with his great voice.   They had already done the Star-Spangled Banner during the All-Age competition in the morning, so off we go to the first corps!

Corps with the top 12 scores advance to Finals, and are marked with *.

RIVER CITY RHYTHM -- 73.9

We figured out that the cathedral windows rotate by hand by someone in back of them.  

S:  "The magic is gone."

Their final formation is a cathedral.

Close-up of the cathedral windows

MEMPHIS BLUES -- 75.425*

They have treble clef flags.  Oh, those cream flags have music staffs on them!  I just love the simplicity of this show.  Oh.  The flugelhorn actually performs in a duet with the euphonium (?).  My bad.  I thought it was a solo.  Sorry!

GENESIS -- 76.675

There, there, Red Ball.  I will keep you still with my body and drum.  I do really like their bass drum feature, but I forgot to take a picture of it.

GOLD -- 77.975

The duet was NOT better today, and I am exactly the same distance from the field as I was yesterday.  I like the colors in this show.

SEATTLE CASCADES -- 78.563

They had sound issues so we couldn't hear the violinist some of the time.  We should have known that they would be destroying stuff when the cymbal player tossed his plate way up high.  DESTRUCTION.  Congrats, Cascades, on such a fun season with this show!

BATTALION -- 79.225

I love how the niece understood the meaning of this show at first viewing, and V and I couldn't even remember what happens in it.  "Fire flags??"  Oh, yeah, they were burned at the stake.  

SPARTANS -- 80.788

Oh, those red ball sacks are giant juggling balls!  I heard the creepy clown laughter this time.  Is it weird that it kind of made me giggle?

<Intermmission>

I wandered around the concessions down the hall and found the For the Fan Hot Dog with Korean pulled pork and cole slaw, so I ordered that and ate at a table for the rest of the intermission and for the BD-B show.  I could still watch it on the TV, but I didn't.  So they really are my Hot Dog Corps this year.  Mostly because I knew I'd see them again later when they play their encore.  MAYBE.

BLUE DEVILS B -- 81.375

Ate my hot dog.  See above.

THE ACADEMY -- 82.525

V wants one of the shiny blue flags.  Me, too.  Maybe we can buy a set and put on our own show.  The niece can choreograph.

Beautifully done, Academy!  Congratulations on entertaining us all season.  I loved this show.

Steve Rondinaro (Rondo) interviewed Isaac, who played the tenor drums from behind the screen.  Fun stuff, Isaac!

Building the tent

MUSIC CITY -- 83.400

I like that snake charmer music at the end of the show.  I also like when they move their bodies like snakes.  Fun show!  Too fangy to call it "cute", though.

The nephew has joined us!

CROSSMEN -- 83.425

Bones held up his cape for a good part of their first song.  It's Arm Day!  Way to swing that trombone solo!  V bought a fake LP from their booth because it's A Side / B Side.

Bones overlooking his corps

MADISON SCOUTS -- 86.250

The ballad was beautiful today!  Solos were very nice.  Spinny spins at the end were fun to watch.  Madison is back to entertain the crowds!

BLUE KNIGHTS -- 86.750*

I like the mixing of "On A Clear Day" with the other songs.  It's so pretty.  Rondo talked to the flautist and thanked her for addding "a layer of lovely" to this activity.  Awww, what a sweet talker that guy is!  

It's a Girl!

PACIFIC CREST -- 86.663

Whoo, I was nervous for them again.  Great job, color guard!  Pit does such a great job in the ballad, so pretty.  I've come to really appreciate the elements that are moth-y, like the uniform capes and the way they flit about.

Later, we heard the scores and I was so sad for PC getting jumped by BK.  The race for finals night was such a tight one in this bunch, and this was their best shot.  Someday you'll make it to Finals, PC.  A lot of people are rooting for you!  

TROOPERS -- 87.95*

V:  "There are a lot more naked people today."

S: "I'll only be impressed if there was a female."

V:  "There is!"

Tomorrow:  NAKED CORPS

Trooper guy has his saber today, leading the charge.

Rondo interviewed Atticus, the "figurehead general":  "Did you get part of your touring fee back when they gave you your uniform and you didn't have a top?"  Rondo is funny.

SPIRIT OF ATLANTA -- 88.763*

Oh, so maybe they don't actually all sit down like they're inside an airplane.   I like all the deltas in the show.

<Intermission>

COLTS -- 90.350*

V is fixated on the height of their hats.  I don't think the Star-Spangled Banner really mixes well with other songs.  Maybe it's just the arrangements?  V is fixated on the height of their hats.  When I saw them on the big screen, I agreed that they were vey tall.  I'm OK with the hat sitting low on their heads, though.  I think we're just used to seeing their faces now, but old school marching band hats didn't really allow for that.  Oh, those are fieworks on their flags.  I didn't get it until I saw my pictures.  I'm still meh about this show.

CAVALIERS -- 91.850*

OK, upon close-up look from my photos, they are not wearing the actual shirts you can get at the souvenir booth, but the main symbol of each one, like "Four Corners" or "Spin Cycle", etc. So each sectioin wears a different symbol. That's a pretty cool homage to their past championship shows.  Rufio rode too fast for me to catch him with my camera.  Yesterday, V kept waiting for them to do vampire stuff.  Today she focused on them being the Lost Boys from Peter Pan, and I think it made more sense to her.

PHANTOM REGIMENT -- 93.012*

Why you gotta make swings and not ride them?  So dumb.  I wonder if they started to use them earlier in the season, and then they were told that they were too dangerous and there would be actual blood on the field.  At least the rest of the show is good.  

I got all excited thinking that Vanguard was next, because I forgot that Blue Stars jumped Phregiment at Prelims.  

BLUE STARS -- 93.338*

Lady in our row has a kid in the corps, and brought her friend, who was sitting next to me.  GO, STU!  I forgot to cheer for Caleb in Phregiment again.  AUGH!  I also forgot to take a picture of the people in the Escher box again.  

Changing screens

 

Now time for our selfie with Vanguard!

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD

The ladies next to me had not seen this show before.

Corps mom:  "They don't have any props."

Mom's friend:  'Do they get points taken off for that?"

Corps mom:  "No, old school drum corps people don't like the theatrical."

This is when I decided not to talk to them.  I mean, it's not like they were trying to talk to me anyway.  At least they liked my corps, and when they saw the jump rope while playing horns portion, one said, "That is quite impressive, I must say."

Ooh, look at those drums throwing down! 

 

Dan Potter interviewed trumpet section leader Bridget Thomas and she said her chain got stuck on her horn right before needing to jump rope, so she had to really hurry to get it unstuck.  Looks like I caught that moment on video.

BOSTON CRUSADERS -- 95.588*

Bro:  "Why do I have my glasses on for this show?"  

I wonder if it's less blurry when he takes them off.

Oh, there ARE three people hiding behind each of those small screens.  When Bro told us about it, I thought they were too small for that.  I like the final moments where they're all up front for the curtain call.

Lifting Humans 1

Lifting Humans 2

Lifting Humans 3

Lifting Humans Playing Bass Drums

CAROLINA CROWN -- 96.800*

V: "If more horns would come out of those doors, it would be amazing!"

S: "Especially because they're on the ground now."

Don't tell a contra player that they can't triple-tongue fast notes.  At least not one from Crown.  Because wow.

BLUE DEVILS -- 96.975*

Pants.  I really like those pink drums.

Dan interviewed Drum Major Mandy and asked about the corps' focus this week.  She said that they just want to entertain for the good of the org and to give the audience the best they could do.  I think it's weird that she said "org", but OK.

BLUECOATS -- 98.563*

Ohmygosh, how are they getting BETTER?!?  Awesome show, Bloo.  I love all of the hip swaying.  The spinny spins at the end are my favorite moment of the show.

Mind you, that thing is moving down the field
while she does this.

Open Class Champion Encore

BLUE DEVILS B

They're wearing their Go Pros!  V told me that they lay down on the tables and spin, and I finally saw that.  I made sure Bro saw the broom this time.  Unfortunately, we could still hear all of the movie quotes during the encore.  Aw, they're so happy!  Congratulations, BDB!

Closing Time

Awards Presentation

Open Class Fan Favorite:  Les Stentors

Most Improved Open Class Corps:  Boise Jazz

Jim Jones Leadership Award:  Drum Major from Eclipse

In Memoriam DCI Hall of Fame included SCV's and BD's Pete Emmons.

DCI Hall of Fame 2026 

Jim Casella -- Percussion arranger for SCV and Cavaliers

April Gilligan-Martinez -- Color Guarad caption head for Cadets, Blue Knights, and SCV

Erik Johnson -- Percussion arranger/composer for Cavaliers

Sandi Rennick -- Percussion arranger/composer for Carolina Crown, Phregiment, and SCV, having a hand in 9 Fred Sanford Percussion trophies

Patrick Seidling -- Corps Director for Southwind, Phregiment, and Blue Devils

PHANTOM REGIMENT 70TH ANNIVERSARY ALUMNI CORPS

The niece and I had our Phregiment sword earrings on, V and I were wearing our Phregiment shirts: we were ready for this show!

Aaaaahhhh!  Will Pitts, drum major for 2008's Spartacus show, entered the field in that year's uniform, acting like he did way back then.  I about lost my mind.  He summoned his corps , and they entered from all 4 tunnels, about 560 in all.  WOW.

They performed excerpts from various shows:

• Spartacus
• A Defiant Heart: The Music of Dmitri Shostakovich
• Tragedy and Triumph (Tchaikovsky)
• New World Symphony

Hi, Will!

I just wanted to show you this awesome cape.

Phregiment Enters the Field

Spartacus

A Defiant Heart

Drum Feature from Nutcracker Suite

Khachaturian - beginning

Khachaturian - end

New World

They sang their corps song "We Are the Phantom Regiment" a cappella, to the tune of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home", and they were joined by the current Phregiment corps.

We Are the Phantom Regiment

They ended with their corps song, "Elsa's Processional to the Cathedral" (from Lohengrin), by Richard Wagner.

SUTA!!!!!!!

Here is the playlist of all my videos from the presentation.

What an awesome display that was!  

We did not stay for the Age-Out Ceremony.

The nephew wanted food so we mobile ordered from Steak 'n' Shake.  It took a really long time because so many people went there after the show and there was a bit of a debacle, but I liked my burger.  Thanks for getting it for me!

Next up:  FINALS