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The One Talking About DCI 2024 Premieres
254 Plays11 months ago
Join our hosting panel as they talk about the Premieres of your favorite Drum Corps. Get an Inside and behind the scenes look at the marching arts. Our hosts bring you their stories, plus news, guests, and so much more!
Special Guests
Jeremy from Drum Corps Today - @drumcorpstoday
Meet our Hosts
Jackie Brown - @spintronixguard
Stephen McCarrick - @stephenmccarick
Cindy Barry - @leandermomma
Nicole Younger - @o2bnpjs & @thecookoutcg
Trevor Bailey - @t_pain151
Trish O’Shea - @trishdish1002
Beth Beccone - @bether7189
Chris Rutt - @wildhornbrass1
Cynthia Bernard - @cynthiabern
Ashlee Amos - @famousamossss_
Theo Harrison - @harrisontheo07
Stephanie Click - @stephanieclick
Whitney Stone - @dancerwhit
Justin Surface - @J_dex07
Ashley Tran - @itsashleytran
Jack Goudreau - @goudreau_
Bill Woodward - @remoking100
Emily Nee - @tch.makes.art
Ricardo Robinson-Shinall - @ricardorrobinson
Austin Hall - @Austin_hall10
Jose Montes - @joeymontes57
Bobbey Biddle - @bobbeyboy107
Music provided by leydamusic.com (http://leydamusic.com) Follow him @josh.leyda
Avatars provided by @tch.makes.art
Featuring
Lexi Duda - Host for On A Water Break In Rhinestones - The Stories of the Twirlers @lexi_duda
Thank you also to @guardcloset
#marchingband #colorguard #dci #podcast #onaw
aterbreak #wgi #drumline
Recommended
Transcript
DCI Premieres & Uniform Insights
00:00:01
Speaker
Hey everyone, we are back for another week of exciting rehearsals. This week we are talking DCI premieres with many of our hosts, and we also find out what made Austin say, That Drum Corps is better than they were at the start of last season. That Drum Corps is better than they were at San Antonio last year right now. And why Cindy said, See this is where you experts come into play because I'm still trying to get past the uniforms. Call this and more so get out on the field and we will see you back on the sidelines for this week's rehearsal of On A Water Break. Eight off the Met and go.
Introduction to Season 2 Episode
00:00:40
Speaker
Welcome to On A Water Break. The podcast where we talk everything marching arts. Everyone bring it in. It's time for a water break.
00:00:55
Speaker
Welcome to another episode of season two of on a water break the podcast where we talk about everything you and your friends are talking about at rehearsal on a water break I'm steve mccarrick and we are in for an exciting rehearsal this week. We are talking dci premiere and We all just got finished watching the bluecoats performance. I'm sure we're going to get into that in just a minute here But before we get into that, let's see who's on the sidelines this week. We've got cindy hello Hello, I haven't talked to you in such
Cindy's Active Retirement & Drum Corps Passion
00:01:26
Speaker
a long time. I feel like I'm so happy to finally be back on a call with you. Yeah, it has been a while. Yeah, what have you been up to?
00:01:34
Speaker
Oh, just crazy summer stuff. you know When you retire, they say that you're going to be as busy as you were in retirement as you ever were before. and I don't think that is more true than ever. It gives me more time to travel, more time to do band stuff, more time to watch the drum corps. I'm so jealous. yeah know I've been stuck away in the office just watching everything I can find online, but that sounds like a whole lot of fun. I'm excited to hear more about it in a minute here.
Blue Devils' Uniforms & Summer Plans
00:02:02
Speaker
We've got Stephanie with us. Hello. Hey, good to talk to you. Good to see you as well. I imagine you've been ah pretty active out with drum course stuff going on this year. Why don't you a tell us a little bit about what you've been up to?
00:02:19
Speaker
I, yes. So I started off, I left, um and gosh, it seems like forever ago, but um about a second week of spring training for the Blue Devils went to Wyoming where they do their spring training site and I am the co-lead on their core uniforms this year. So got every member fitted and got all those alterations done. I was there for I think 10 days and then came back for a week and then this past Friday flew to Indianapolis and did the Muncie show and the Lyell show with um c Colts and Cavaliers. So I'm back home and leave again on July 5th which is Friday and do another 10 days with the Blue Devils before they
00:03:09
Speaker
I go from um July 5th all the way through Denver, and then I'm home for three days, and then it's Houston, San Antonio, all that. so ah Busy summer, but I'm excited to get back out on the road again. and I think so far, I may have seen almost everybody live, except my house. Wow. I'm getting close. I'm getting close. That is amazing. I'm so jealous. That's crazy. I actually really love like so much about the Blue Devils show this year. And like I'm from the East Coast. I was like born and raised to not love the Blue Devils. Yeah. But I swear this year I just really love it. I want to ah yeah spoil it all for for my opinions for later, but I can't wait to talk more about that. All right.
00:03:55
Speaker
Awesome. Well, we'll get back
Jeremy on Drum Corps Season & Shows
00:03:57
Speaker
to it for sure. um We've also got Trish with us. Hi, everyone. How are you doing? I am doing great and I have been talking to you a little bit. We've been back yeah on our pods a little bit. Yeah. That's how I know that you've probably seen a lot of this all age stuff that's been going on, right? I did. I did. I was on the show on Saturday. Yeah, that was Connecticut, right? Everybody's been asking me my opinions that I told them I was saving it for the pod. Oh, that's saw that's great. I love that. um I feel like I've heard there's been some real shake ups in the ah DCI i all age a little bit. um Real exciting stuff going on this year. um So we'll get to that for sure in a moment here after we catch up with Jeremy from Drum Corps today, the most appropriate guy to have on the call here, man, I'm very happier with us. How are you doing, Jeremy?
00:04:55
Speaker
Hey, I'm doing pretty good, and it's just awesome to be back. It feels like it's been forever, but it's only been like a month or something. Time goes by so quickly. Yeah, nah. It's just always swirling right back around. I feel like I just got done with WGI. This season seems like it's going so quick. I don't know if it's because I'm used to DCA being so much longer. But this feels like it's just like whirling by already. um But we've also, I think we might have with us now on the sideline, Austin. Do we have Austin here? Yes, we can. I'm so happy, man. How have you been doing?
00:05:33
Speaker
Yeah, I feel you. I've been a little bit in that same bag, but I'm starting to get the itch again. I was watching a lot this week. So. ah Yeah, we've got a lot of a lot of folks in here have seen a lot of drum corps, actually. So I'm really excited to hear everyone's opinions. What were you ah thinking as we were getting into
Phantom Regiment's Mind-Exploring Show
00:05:52
Speaker
the season here? I know, Jeremy, you've probably seen a lot of the show announcements come around. What were you ah kind of excited for getting into the year? I'm gonna be honest, looking at so many different shows that were released this year, so many of them just seem so exciting. And then the season starts and it's like, so, like, so handful of shows you expect to be super exciting are, handful, you're like, wow, this came out of nowhere. I mean, at first, I'm gonna be honest, I wasn't sure about Phantom's show when they announced them, like, this seems interesting, okay. And then I saw them do their premiere, there's Community Day in Rockford, and I'm like, sold, I think this might be my favorite show this summer.
00:06:30
Speaker
Like it's an animal show is so cool. I totally agree. ah And like I don't even know freely why like I'm a little bit more out the loop. Do you ah remember their show title because I missed it. So their show this year is called mind and why and the whole idea is they're going through like the human mind and exploring all those different aspects of our mind. I guess. Mm hmm. Well, it was I remember thinking as I was going through the show, I was like, I have no clue really what the show is about here, but I'm I'm loving every second of this because this is just like awesome drum corps that they're doing. Like oh now that I know kind of more about the show, I see how it kind of pieces together. The first time I saw it, I was just thinking like the music was super cool. um I love kind of those big metal props. It kind of reminds me a bit of like Bluecoats 2015 type of thing. Super cool show.
00:07:27
Speaker
Yeah, there's a few different things that those props whether it be that I think it was a vanguard show people were talking about. But yeah when I first saw them, there wasn't a moment where I was thinking, okay, what's like the whole time I was just sitting on the edge of my seat, what's coming next? Oh, wow, this is an incredible big moment. Oh, wow, their fingers are moving. So like, it's it's something is happening every single moment of the show. And it's so exciting to watch. Yeah, it's a super cool show. um Definitely want to talk more about that one maybe a little later on, but ah Cindy, ah you've been seeing some shows. What kind of have you gotten to see everyone or what groups have you been seeing up until this point?
Admiration for Corps Talent & Challenges with Vanguard
00:08:07
Speaker
I got to see everyone except Madison Scouts. I wasn't fortunate enough to see them yet.
00:08:14
Speaker
But, um, and I saw some of the open class and, uh, was really kind of blown away with the blue devils big, uh, core, like they really, I was like, okay, I can see, um, how blue devils does so well when they've got these farm teams, can we call them that? Like, uh, the minor leagues for baseball. Well, blue devils has farm teams and I'm like, okay. I see now where this talent's coming from. I think the big group could compete with just about ah some of the <unk> had all of them, really. I was impressed, but um not just them. The troopers I'm in love with. ah Phantom Regiment, like you said, I can't wait to talk about Phantom Regiment. Can't wait to talk about blue coats, red coats, yellow coats, whatever coats they're wearing this year. I'm i'm here for it. so I enjoyed all of them.
00:09:09
Speaker
Yeah, no, definitely. I mean, I'm sure Cindy could even talk to, you're talking about Blue Devils b being really good. It's probably, it's, it's like a structural thing over there. They just do drum core really well. Um, but Stephanie, you've been around Blue Devils a lot and I'm sure you see like how they operate. No surprise at all that BDB gets to be as good as they are. That's true. It is. And everything with BDPA, which is the, I guess the encompassing um group. So it's the, ah starts with the C core, the B core, the A core. They have a special needs card. They have a performing BD, entertainment group is what I'm trying to say. They also have a wins group.
00:09:50
Speaker
um And then the two indoor drum lines, but everything there is just built around member experience. And so I think Cindy's right. It is kind of like having farm teams, but because those members have such great experiences in the B core and C core, you know, their goal is often to make the A core. Their goal is not to go somewhere else. So they do get that. um incredible training from the young age and then, you know, come on up through the ranks. So and is it an advantage? Maybe probably. I think so. Yeah, it's good, though, because I mean, they're training them at like the exact type of shows they want to do. And it looks like a lot of fun just to be in a B.D. show. Honestly, like that's all I could think the whole time as I was watching the B.D. show is like that just looks so fun. Mm hmm.
Blue Devils' Member Experience Focus
00:10:40
Speaker
That's true. And it's really, it's cool to see when they're all together. So when I go out this weekend, I'll be at Stanford, is one of the shows and where the A-core, B-core, and C-core are all together. And it's really cool to see them cheering each other on. um So it it's a great family environment they've built there for sure. Stephanie, can I please come back along in your suitcase? You're hired. Yes. I've got a song machine. That's all you need. OK. You're hired.
00:11:10
Speaker
Yeah, I'm going to also be ah shipping myself in a UPS overnight box if I can get there myself. But Trish, I understand you've been seeing All Age probably a lot more than most of us have being up here in the ah East Coast.
All Age Corps Expectations & Artistic Risks
00:11:28
Speaker
Is there anything you maybe felt before you got to see it um at the show this weekend? What were your initial thoughts on All Age? Yeah. um I kind of my initial thoughts were that I kind of thought that the all age course jumping from DCA into the DCI spectrum. um I kind of thought we get to see a little bit more risk taking a little bit edgier type shows a little bit more like we're on the stage where right people do take risks and people do you know,
00:12:08
Speaker
but them get really artistic and put themselves out there and try some really esoteric type things. And that's kind of what I was expecting to see. But before we really get into detail on all that, because I know we will in a minute, I will tell you that the coolest thing ever, and it must have been the coolest thing ever for those members, was to hear performing their 2024 program, whatever. Drum Corps International is proud to present the Redding Buccaneers or the Hotel Caballeros. To hear that, that was like the first time they said it. It was a little awkward, but it was like, that is cool. That is really cool that now there are the Drum Corps International.
00:12:51
Speaker
Yeah, it's pretty crazy. I know that like it was a big thing around here. There's a lot more people that came out for these cores like Bucks, Cabs, Bushwhackers, groups like that, specifically because now it's going to be a part of this like bigger picture, which seems like it's going pretty good for DCA, like altogether. I would say so. I would say so. I think it's off to a really good start. I agree. It seems like things are going pretty well over there. um Something I've been like real excited about personally, i mean being a drummer, I've just been wanting to see what Vanguard's going to be up to this year. like
Vanguard's Pure Drum Corps Approach
00:13:29
Speaker
Is Vanguard going to come back and and really be like the same drum powerhouse that it's always been, or is it going to have to rebuild now? and
00:13:40
Speaker
Man, it's tough to tell like through videos that I see online, but the show is just like super cool. It's so great to have like Paul Rennick's voice back in the percussion community again. It really is. It's like, for the longest time, I feel like I'm not in the minority at all by saying that like I was hoping someone else would win drums. I would almost be like, ugh, Vanguard again, kind of. But like just one season without like that voice out there, it was so like refreshing to see a group do it the way that they do it. So like i'm so I'm really enjoying seeing that out there again. How'd you guys like Vanguard show?
00:14:20
Speaker
and yeah was thinking Yeah i was thinking the same thing when i saw them that first night at first i'm like i'm i'm not sure i hope they're as good as they were and they took the year off and then just watching them it's like did did they even take a season off there they're cooking on every level the show is great the designs great the performers are just blowing it out of the park. Yeah, I totally agree. Something I thought was cool about the show is like how kind of there really aren't a whole lot of props. Like in that way, like the show, I need to watch it again to like really feel like I understand it a lot better. But I really appreciated the way they're just doing drum corps out there, you know, like it's not really.
00:15:01
Speaker
That's what the whole concept is. They're vagabonds, and you're just traveling with what you got, what you can carry, what you got on your back, what you can carry, pick it up, and then you move on to that location. And ironically, the one prop that it seems they're using, each member wears a bag on their back that's holding the guard equipment. it it's At the simplest level, they took the concept of a prop and just broke it down as little as they could. Yeah. And I really liked it because then it's like the drum core behind it really shined through. Like it was really great. Just music, really great. vi It was just like super pure drum core in a way. You know what I'm saying?
00:15:40
Speaker
See this is where you experts come into play because I'm still trying to get past the uniforms and not looking typical vanguardish and the lack of props like when I'm watching them and this could be a flow marching thing but I'm having a hard time distinguishing the colors and I'm hoping when I get in the Alamo Dome That and I'm seeing it live that's going that's going to be different because right now I'm struggling a little bit with the red and the blue and it's like it's really dark on my screen and and it's not flashing like I wanted to you know I'm used to Vanguard being big and bold and bright. and
00:16:19
Speaker
And so I'm struggling a little bit. I love their music, but also the guard. I'm not seeing a lot of guard equipment. So I don't know if it's because it's all in their backpacks or I just need to see it a few more times. And like i'm I'm kind of ah and not an expert at this kind of thing. So it's interesting to hear y'all and what you're saying. Yeah, I think it's like ah Well, it's definitely going to look better when it's in a real stadium with like the real lighting on like a good field. So I'd be excited to see it there. But more than anything, like seeing it in person is how it's going to really probably shine through the best. It's definitely I feel like you were about to say something here right before I cut you off. What were you about to say?
00:17:03
Speaker
and was I was to say I like the Vanguard show more every time I watch it, but I love that they're not using props because I think that sets a standard for maybe some of our high school marching bands nationwide that feel like they have to cover the field with props. And so, um, I think this is a good testament to sometimes you just play well and you just look good and you know, you get those visual scores up. So I, I hope that this works for them. Cause I think it'll set a new standard, um, for everybody nationwide. I agree. I do. I like
Stephanie on Prop Standards & Performance
00:17:38
Speaker
it for that. That was like kind of why I was saying like, I think it's super cool that the drum core shines through when you don't have all these other like props on the field that you're trying to make a production out of.
00:17:48
Speaker
really makes the performers be the focus of it all. So a lot of these other groups are doing similar stuff. We're going to talk about more of that in a minute here. ah But after that, we got to pop to a quick commercial break. We'll be back in a moment.
00:18:12
Speaker
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00:18:45
Speaker
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00:19:26
Speaker
All right, we are back and we are going to talk more drum corps coast to coast here. So I want to start on the west coast. We've got a couple great shows going on out here. We already talked a little bit about a few of them. ah Stephanie, why don't you get us started and talk a little bit about what you see out in California? Alright, so um I'll start with what I know the best, and that is but a Blue Devils. They're doing a show called The Romantics this year. it um It is probably one of my favorite Blue Devils shows that they have done.
00:20:00
Speaker
um I didn't think that they could beat 22 or 23 in my book. um This 24 ballad is my most favorite Blue Devils ballad of all time. um It's a different look for them. ah They have these long capes, they're black velvet. The capes are so cool. Oh yeah, they're so cool. kind of just gives a different look and feel. um And if you'll notice there's, I'm not sure exactly how many, six or seven maybe of these ah props that are on the field, they all open a different way. um Everything is very
00:20:34
Speaker
um it's just very intelligent the way that it's the way that it's used but they play a lot of notes and they play a lot of music and they move a lot. um So that's one thing that I noticed that I'm seeing maybe not quite as much in the Midwest ah um is and and then I think that's a West Coast thing it always has been a West Coast thing. um But um so people that think Maybe, you know, they'd like to see someone different than the Blue Devils on top. um I'm not saying that they're going to be on top. I'm just saying that it's a really, really fantastic show and it translates beautifully live. I don't think you get all the nuances on flow. I kind of saw that with some Midwest course this weekend as well, but ah live, it's something else.
00:21:25
Speaker
Yeah, I thought the whole show just was like eye candy between like different colored uniforms, all the like intricacies of props that they had out there and like the ah way that they move. Like everything about the show was so entertaining and so like interwoven the whole time that I was watching it too. like yes got lovely out entertainment One thing I love about the Blue Devils is you always know who they are. like They're not drastically changing their appearance every year. Yes, they have a different look, but there is always something about their costume, uniform, whatever you want to call it that is specific to Blue Devils, and I love that. I love that that's a characteristic. No, we're not wearing old-style uniforms like we used to, like the Boomers want. Yes, I'm a boomer, but I have come to appreciate.
00:22:19
Speaker
the new the new age. and But I do appreciate that the Blue Devils, you just know it's them. Of course, they sound like the Blue Devils. You could have your eyes closed and know it's them. But I love that they're looked still. There's always just that uniqueness that tells you, oh, that's the Blue Devils. That's right. That's right. I agree. I'm 100% when they when they play that first note, you know exactly who it is so that that there is a um Not a um sameness is probably not the right word But I agree 100% when they are standing in that end zone, you know exactly who they are You know, they play the first note, you know exactly who they are um And so there's a familiarity I think with the audience which is something else that that is I think it's a good thing I don't think you have to change every year. You don't have to reinvent yourself when you're doing things well and your identity is is stable. I think that you can you can just and do those things that you do well and then just make them a little bit better every year.
00:23:20
Speaker
Yeah, it's interesting. That's like such an opposite perspective from what like I've been bred to believe growing up in like the heart of the cadets area of the East Coast. We're just like bred to be be BD haters. But like I feel like it just after a while as I've gotten older, I just watched the shows and they're so artistic and well thought out and just like they are always excellent above all else and like this year more than anything i totally agree said more than the last couple years even the last couple years were like really good shows this be the years like it's a really good be the year also i feel like on the east coast we're kind of thrown in the towel a little i mean let's face it we're like we're gonna win we're gonna win i mean i don't know the sheriff they're gonna win you know there's we'll talk about it when we get more towards the midwest in the east but um you know i kind of feel like we're decent since i was now it's like
00:24:14
Speaker
They're going to win. And maybe maybe this will be the year that things will shake up a little bit. But I think that little East Coast edge that we have, Stephen, comes from like them being so great all these years that we're kind of like, what can we expect? We're just like bred to be pessimistic over here. Just kind of thief in our DNA of being East Coast people. While there's other groups on the West Coast too that are out there doing crazy stuff, we did talk about Vanguard already a little bit, but ah Jeremy, what else is going on out there in the West Coast?
00:24:50
Speaker
so you know A core that I was super excited that had a great show last year that's once again coming out absolutely swinging is the Mandarin's. Their show this year, I'll be honest, it's French and i'm um I can't speak French, but it's all Mardi Gras themed. They've got a lot of things like New Orleans themed and concepts like that pretty much throughout the show. They've got different parts where some members put on a mask like a Mardi Gras mask and they do all these different Different combinations of that sort of Mardi Gras style that gold green and purple color pattern and they use it in a few different ways throughout the show
00:25:25
Speaker
Yeah, I thought that show was super exciting and like mandarins have been getting really good at making like just real good GE shows over the last couple of years. Like they're that up and comer with the, uh, that super exciting show design. I thought it was super cool the way that like the set changes immediately. Like at the top of the show, when like the drum core is revealed and stuff like that, they kind of get out of that outside and to inside the club. I thought it was super cool. Oh, yeah. march so that kar I'm sorry. Even though so much translated. Well, the walls fell down and there they were. And I was like, I was not expecting that. And that was just oh, yeah. Sorry. That was awesome. And they're so loud. The mandarins like they could put some air through those horns. They are so loud. And I know that's not points. that The crowd goes wild. Hey, that's a Trevor. That was an opening statement.
00:26:21
Speaker
and is tre she's on blast app over there yeah I mean, I know he's going to be super busy this summer, but I mean, if we could get him to pop on with us and get some insight scoop, that would be really cool. I'm sure we'll get him at some point. I'll make it happen. um Oh, yeah. I mean, with the Mandarin, I actually I actually googled the title of their show because I'm like, what does this even mean?
Mandarins' Mardi Gras Themed Show
00:26:45
Speaker
So the actual title of their show, I'm going to butcher this, but I'm going to say it anyway. It's called ah Vous Carre, I think. yeah It's actually an alcoholic beverage created in New Orleans. It's a cocktail with rye whiskey, cognac, sweet vermouth, benedictine. and
00:27:07
Speaker
They showed bitters and it originated in the Walter Bergeron. It originated with Walter Bergeron, a bartender in the carousel bar in the hotel. Oh God, I'm going to push her this to Hotel Montelillon in New Orleans. So that's kind of what it's all based around. I think it's kind of based around kind of speakeasy-ish, but that specific cocktail. I don't know. Okay, cause for a second, I thought we were gonna say last year, blue stars taught us about absence this year, the mandarins are teaching us about southern drinks, which turned an interesting twist. I mean, if the shoe fits. Well,
00:27:45
Speaker
Well, I'm excited to see some more of that, but we got some more regions of the country that we got to talk about. Why don't we slide over to the Midwest, which has got some fierce competition for these spots. I'm sure we all want to talk about the blue coats. But Jeremy, what other ah ah what other action do we see out of the Midwest this year? So I know I mentioned it before, but I'm going to be super biased and mention it again. Phantom Regiment is just absolutely smoking this year. I mean, I know since what was it, 2019 on, they've just, something changed in the organization and they they flipped a switch and
00:28:20
Speaker
They brought back some old older, JD Shaw used to write for them back in the day. He's back. They brought a whole bunch of old people who used to write for them back in the day. And they're like, let's reinvent Phantom Regiment with this modern age. Let's still keep the core of what is Phantom Regiment. And they've done an absolutely incredible job, at least in my opinion. Yeah, they're so like symphonic. like Their sound is just like so like big and resonant, I feel like. I love the whole opening statement, the whole moonlight sonata, because it takes you back to you know the classical stuff that they probably once upon a time played it um before they've been in that genre.
00:28:59
Speaker
But it also sounds like it's kind of a derivative of the in in citizens' version of Moonlight Sonata. I don't know if you guys have ever heard that. My winter guard did it in 2023. And yes, I can mention it because I did have the sync rights. But um But um it kind of if you've ever listened to that, it kind of has all that like all those powerful effects behind it. And then when I first heard it, I was like, this sounds like the Hidden Citizens version. But they do list it as Beethoven. So um maybe they just came up with that on their own. But it all that edging is in the beginning and taking that classical piece and making it a little bit. It's so cool. I really, really like that.
00:29:41
Speaker
I don't remember exactly which piece they had mentioned, but during the FanCon, when they announced their whole show and everything, I want to say that they had said that what specific version of ah Moonlight Sonata it was. like it's It's technically still Beethoven, but it's the specific rendition that you were talking about. By the Hidden Citizens, check it out. And again, I have to say this.
00:30:03
Speaker
That's just an everyday fan. I loved that i don't know if y'all noticed the part where they're all hidden and stuck in these boxes at the beginning. It's chaos. Obviously, the show is about your chaotic mind and and how it comes full circle and all that blah, blah, blah. But I love that yeah It's chaotic at the beginning and the guard is pouring out of out of these cages. But then, I guess it's halfway through and the entire brass section is trapped in the cage and you see all the, I guess, maybe the trumpets, euphoniums, I'm not sure. But you see all these bells of their instruments coming out of this this cage, out of these little boxes. and and it's just The visual this year with Phantom is just as cool as everything else they have going on. It's just an exciting show.
00:30:53
Speaker
Yeah, I really like when groups have like a distinct style. Like we were kind of talking about that with BD earlier. And I feel like fandom definitely has that going on as well, where it's like they have their own thing, their own color palette and their own like way of doing drum core. And they're just getting better at it every single summer. I really, really like it this year. Um, but let's talk about the blue coats this year. I think it was called changes everything, right?
00:31:22
Speaker
It is. that's the That's the show title. It's... I'm i'm not... i yeah words. It's interesting. I've seen a lot of talk about it. Is it? and Does it have anything to do with the cadets? Like, I just want to throw that out there. Because a lot of people were saying when they did the announcement, the color palette with the show announcement, the colors they're going with, the red as like the red coats, as a lot of people are calling them, as their like base palette for this show. and the whole change. it it's I mean, it's going to happen and really sucky things like the cadets folding happens, but the only thing you can keep doing is- That's really interesting. I hadn't heard that, but that's really interesting because there are several people on the Blue Coat staff, Greg Legola, Jim Moore, John Manikoff, that were involved in the cadets back in the day. They all came from you know came from the cadets.
00:32:13
Speaker
So, um, that, you know, they could really just be paying homage to who's the core. I'm trying to think of who it was, but I just saw it on social media today. Is it a Midwest court? I can't remember, but he's doing the holy name brass face, the base drum configuration, the base drum pose. Yeah. I was trying to do the HP post, Phantom regiment and the blue coats are both doing it. yeah okay i imagine that There's someone on the blue coats from HB. Honestly, your theory makes a lot of sense, Jeremy, because there's a lot of people from cadets in blue coats, you know? And how cool is that? That all of these groups are finding these little teeny tiny ways to pay tribute to and just kind of keep them up. How cool is that? That's really cool.
00:33:01
Speaker
Yeah, and I mean, whether you like the cadets or hate them, they are such an integral part to the history of drum corps. I mean, the activity wouldn't be the same without them. You can't disagree with that. But I was really looking forward to tonight's show in Cincinnati um to watch it on flow because I texted one of my friends. I said, this is a really good guard battle tonight between blue coats, crown and Boston. That's a really good guard battle. And going into this, going back to the blue coats and going into this, I kind of thought that the blue coats were going to be like a front runner for the guard title this year based on
00:33:39
Speaker
um they were I thought they were really underrated last year. I think Beatty definitely deserved to win guard, but I thought blue coats were really underrated, number one. Number two, that whole staff and some of the members just came off winning WGI World Class with Fusion. and I just thought, I was like, you know what? this could this you know that's that's two That's two things going for them right now. This could be it. And I was actually looking through my phone as soon as the scores were announced to see who won guard, and it was Boston. And we'll get to Boston when we talk about the East, but it's going to be a battle this year. It really is. And I think the Bluecoats guard is going to pick up right where they left off, not only last summer, but this past winter. And I think they're going to, I think givenre it they're going to, they're going to attempt for it. They are.
00:34:24
Speaker
I mean, it was just one tenth. It was a 15.8 to 15.7. And they crowned right behind it at a 15.5. And Phantom no slouch at a 15.2. They were all right there within one point. Oh my gosh. And keep in mind, this is but not Boston. This is Bluecoats, literally their first competitive show of the season. I mean, they did their preview show on Flow a few days ago. But this is their first competitive show. And they're already scoring a 78. Wow.
00:34:55
Speaker
but Yeah, I've really liked the show, too, for being like ah conceptual, but really like easy to understand. like They have one giant red prop in the middle, and the uniforms don't make tons of sense yet, at least to me at that point in the show. And then as they change and break apart the prop and kind of break down the idea of like change or whatever, um then I feel like the smaller shreds of the uniform kind of match the smaller shreds of the prop. It all like kind of makes this full picture to me that I thought made sense.
00:35:27
Speaker
And Trisha, actually, I'm not like a color guard person, but I did really like like when they used those ah really, really thinner flags near the end of, I think, the ballad in the backfield. They had a lot of different like ripples that were going throughout it, too. And I thought, yeah. Gorgeous. Gorgeous moment. Even as someone that's not into, like well, it's not that I'm not into color guard, but I'm a drummer. I'm not always watching what's going on out there. And vice versa. vice versa. yeah my But that that was super cool. That was cool. They have that one really cool silent flag feature too right up in the front. They got to tighten it up a little bit more. But again, like Jeremy said, this was their first competitive show tonight. But that's going to be a really nice moment too.
00:36:12
Speaker
It really is. One thing I noticed with Bluecoats that I haven't heard anybody say, and obviously this is our first competitive show and they had their premiere on Flow on Saturday night. I tuned in for that one as well. i am such a I'm a fan through and through. I really am. I always have been and I have several you know students that I know that are marching this year, but I don't think they play a lot. i and I noticed that again tonight. I noticed it Saturday. And then tonight it was blazingly obvious to me. So im I am not throwing stones. I'm not. ah But I know there's always some Instagram that goes through and they um put together the amount of time that a group plays as an ensemble. And I am so looking forward to that.
00:36:59
Speaker
But that was the one thing that I did notice about Bluecoats tonight is I just didn't feel like they played a whole lot or played a whole lot as an ah ensemble. They do a lot of choreography. They do and they do it so well. They do it well. but They do it so well. Yeah, their ballad definitely was interesting in that way. like The ballad did not really have like, it was a lot more solo oriented at a lot of the time, I felt like. It was definitely like a changed way of doing drum corps for sure, which is probably their point, but different strokes for different folks with that sort of of design. That's right. And we just got changes everything also from Paramount this winter. So um the universe of WGI and DCI is trying to tell us that change is obviously coming. We're getting it from these great groups.
00:37:51
Speaker
Well, I think that there is certainly change coming over on the East Coast. We've already seen quite a good bit of change occur on the East Coast over here. Trish, why don't we talk a little bit more about some of that all-age activity up in Connecticut last weekend? Okay. Well, um, first of all, the show was at Shelton High School in Shelton, Connecticut. Um, it was an all age and open-class PCI open the-class show and it was super windy. Oh my gosh. It was so windy. Um, but they all got through it. Um, I got an open class. I got to see the Spartans.
00:38:29
Speaker
and their show is very, very cool. It's called Utopia. We had their guard caption head on at the end of WGI season, Addison Catherley, um, talking about what their show was going to be that it's basically like the burning man festival. And because of the wind, they couldn't use their props. And every time, you know, their props turn around, it's a different like art installation or something like that. So they couldn't do it because of the wind, but they're, they're Yeah i was not kidding with that 50 person guard and they're i mean they're they're blue levels being is definitely ahead of them score wise but um their show wasn't done spartan show wasn't done and what they had i thought was really really cool i think it's going to be a really it's going to be one to watch as we go on and even seventh regiment
00:39:18
Speaker
Um, was really small last year when I saw them and I saw them really late in August, right before DCI actually. And this year they came out like with a much bigger guard. Um, I think core wise, it was similar, maybe slightly bigger, but the guard was a lot bigger. Excuse me. And they they were really good as well. Um, as far as the all age stuff goes, um, I was kind of surprised that um like Let's take a core like the Reading Buccaneers. okay The Reading Buccaneers, the last couple of years in DCA, first of all, they've won several titles.
00:39:56
Speaker
um and like Last year, their show was called Can't Stop, Won't Stop. and It was really edgy and the flag said, Can't Stop, Won't Stop on it. It was big scaffolding. ah Props they got up and down on and they really look like they were taking risks and really trying to you know Be really, you know, like, okay, let's try something edgy. Let's try something a little bit different um And I was really surprised to see going into it. They won the show but going into it I was like, alright, here's your chance to go off because I You know they're gonna be out you know in at DC eyes with the blue codes and all these cores that really you know go out there and do these really esoteric different shows really out there that kind of make you scratch your head and think um and they their show was titled hat trick so I was like hi this is gonna be cool as well and it was so the opposite it was so elegant and
00:40:54
Speaker
shiny and bright. And ah it was very, very good. But I was like, here was their chance with the Can't Stop, Won't Stop. Even two years ago, they did a show called Altered Ego, where the front of the car the front of the band, the core band, core uniform, was their traditional Redding Buccaneer top. And on the back, it was totally different. So every time they turned around, they had an Altered Ego. It was so different. It was so out there. It was so cool. andd This year, they're very, very, very good, but they just went in a totally different direction. like they were like Their flags were shiny and their costumes were shiny and everything was white and bright. and I was just like, it was cool and it was really nice to see, but I thought, here's your chance like the blue coats to go off and be edgy and great you know and you went like the elegant, room which was surprising.
00:41:48
Speaker
that really good. Maybe they are a little bit afraid that they're going to take in risks with all of those world-class cores. Maybe they're afraid you know it's not going to match up, but um they were very impressive. They're always very good. But I was just a little bit shocked by that. then um The surprise of the night was one of my old teams, the Bushwackers, knocked off the whole third cabinet of heroes, which is pretty exciting. They were really excited. Bushwacker's show is, I think it's called The Ride. and It's like a travel show. They have suitcases. They're traveling. um and Here's another thing I wanted to say. I remember being on this podcast exactly one year ago when I went to that Shelton show. and I was like,
00:42:37
Speaker
We didn't see a single guard costume we didn't see a finish show we didn't see anything and i remember being on this podcast saying how's this gonna play out in the year when they're in dci when the season is three weeks shorter. You don't have that time this year to wait on your costumes or don't finish your show or you know whatever. I was completely right. Totally not the case. Everybody was in costume. Everybody's show was done. Everything was done. I mean, so you could really tell that there was a definite, different approach going into this. um The whole Hotel Cavaleros were really unique as well. they um Their show was called Different Strings. And instead of the last couple of years, they've had big, giant props. I think they either
00:43:25
Speaker
bought or use them from amp ah like last year and the year before this year. None of that in the background unless they're coming but none of that in the background. They had like cellos. shallo they like made like cellos as their props all over the field. It was very, again, elegant, classy, like not edgy at all. And it was just, it was really, really great. It was really, really great to see the hurricane, the Connecticut hurricanes too. um they went They actually did go a little bit edgier. Their shows about you show's like a Western. It's like an old Western movie. with like And their soundscape was all about like this storyline about this Western. And at one point, it's like, I'm not going to kill you. I'm going to make you i'm goingnna make you let you live and pay for what you did. And you know you have to kind of follow the storyline. But they were in costume, which they weren't last year. Their show was done. Everything was so definitely taking a different approach.
00:44:24
Speaker
And what was interesting was, um I was asking a friend of mine, I have a really good friend who's on the administrative staff at Spartans, and I said, well, how's it being scored? like what Are they using their own sheets? And they're not. Everybody in DCI world class, open class, all ages, all on so being scored on the same sheets, but there are, there's concessions apparently maybe I'm still trying to get more information on that. Hopefully I'll have that for you guys next time. But um supposedly there's concessions being made like
00:45:02
Speaker
The ready Buccaneers are not scoring close to the Blue Devils in reality, you know what I mean? So it's like they're kind of, it's, I don't know if it's on a different scale, but it is the same sheet. It is the same criteria. So it's going to be really interesting to see how it plays out, but very, very impressive and very different opening night for all age, for sure. Yeah, it's super interesting because like my ah my girlfriend teaches at the Bushwackers, which is like a weekend-only drum corps, and everyone was concerned. like Are they going to be able to get this done in time? So much of the DCA grind takes place in August. so
00:45:38
Speaker
and really like i'm sure it's the same thing everywhere but at bush at least like they've just been like ramming down the path of just like getting good just like asking more of the students yeah students just rising to the occasion and that's like what seems like the whole course doing like your yeah comparison to the shell and show that i should such to go i got the i should leave out the sun risers They actually came back to the field this year after taking two, not one, but two years off. So that was really, really nice to see. Yeah, so that was cool. But um very great night. That's awesome. I'll be in Clifton July 13th to follow up to see where this goes. And all good.
00:46:20
Speaker
Awesome. I can't wait to hear about it. um But we still, while we're on the East Coast, we got some heavy hitters to talk about over here. Why don't we start with Boston? Let's talk a little bit about Glitch, which I think was like a super cool show. Totally the way it kicks off reminds me of Bluecoats 2015, which to me is like one of the highest compliments I can give. It's like one of my favorite shows ever. But what do you guys think about a Glitch? It's growing on me. It's definitely growing on me. The first time I watched it on Flow, I was like, hmm, I'm not sure. I'm not sure, but it's definitely growing on me. It's it's it it's pretty cool. um it's just It's a different look. Would you guys agree it's a different look for some crusaders for sure?
00:47:08
Speaker
um Yeah. One thing I'm fascinated by is how they take those hula hoops and do so many crazy things. I mean, the guard, ah even the corps members, they're doing a lot. I couldn't take my eyes off the hula hoops. Yeah, they are. And when you see it live, they're big. I think on slow it kind of makes it look like like it's a hula hoop, like you used with NPE when you were a little. They're they're big. They were taller than I was when you see them on the sideline. That to me makes it even more impressive because the larger the hoop, probably the harder it is to deal with, I would assume.
00:47:44
Speaker
um And they had about the whole show pretty much. I mean, they did a lot of things with that. and And that and the colors. I wasn't sure about the colors when they when they revealed them. But when I watched it on the field, it really does work on the field. It really does. And I can't wait to see the hats, the lights pop on on the on there. You know what I'm trying to say? Yeah. and I've seen them twice live now and i I don't know if they didn't use them, the LEDs, or if I couldn't see it because they weren't at night either time. So maybe they didn't use them, ah but i'm I'm excited to see them at night because I think that'll add a whole different element that I haven't.
00:48:31
Speaker
but I haven't been able to experience so far. They certainly aren't translating on flow if if they are using them. But the other thing with Boston is um their percussion. Colin McNutt has done just a fantastic job with their um with their percussion again this year. I think that's um Definitely a highlight as well and they use them really really well and in the all black I think it just makes them pop off even more like somebody was really smart when they designed yeah for the drumline to go into all black.
00:49:04
Speaker
Yeah, that would feel so cool. Percussion should always be that dark, I don't know, that representation of the toughness. Right. That's just percussion in my mind. And you're right, it was brilliant design choices. Mm-hmm, it really was. Yeah, that battery is always incredible. They play like the most notes per minute that I can think like anyone in the ah activity probably does. Just takes like crazy, crazy chops to be in that ah snare line, especially, but yeah quad line to the whole entire percussion section over there is is super cracked.
00:49:39
Speaker
um The other East Coast group out here shaking up things. We got Carolina Crown with their show Promethean, which um being a Crown alum, I really liked that show a lot. I feel like it's a, Crown always has a way of doing like really fundamental drum core at a really, really, really high level. And I just like love watching them hit like a super clean form and be just super loud, very high quality. And I'm pretty sure you could even go back, check the logs. I think I remember talking last year about their percussion section and saying that like I think that this is going to grow into something that's really nice. And I think like already we see this year like Crown's percussion section like really stepping forward in this like new scheme that they put together.
00:50:29
Speaker
um It's cool to see a voice that we're so familiar with and indoor as percussionists, like with Broken City, start to really like come to life outside in this like context of such really high quality music. um That's me having Oprah crown as an alum. I'm crown fan number one over here, and I didn't think that they were gonna be able to top last year for me, but I could definitely see this one. I'm coming real, real, real close to that in my book. um I was blown away the first time I watched it on flow. Tonight I thought that the guard was a little droppy, but um ah that'll be fixed. But um say i the first time I saw it, I think it was Saturday, Sunday, I don't even remember what day. I was blown away, blown away. It's going to be one of my favorite shows for sure.
00:51:22
Speaker
you know One thing I've noticed about the show is how they... It kind of reminds me of how Avon incorporates their guard in such a way that they are actually part of the ensemble, whereas they're not in the back. they're not and They just work them in like they're featured, but they're part of... I don't really know how to explain it the way I ah saw it, but it just really struck me ah from the beginning where they're coming down off of that huge drop. and But they're integrated into the core, the almost the entire show. Really well. It's something I'm not seeing a lot from Drumcorn, and I know Avon does that extremely well as they should with Avon Guard. But i just like that just really occurred to me like Crown is doing the same thing. I don't know if that has anything to do with who's running the show over there or what, but kudos kudos to Crown.
00:52:18
Speaker
yeah Yeah, I definitely think they took a step forward in their total package show design this year in comparison to the recent years. um They've just I mean, their performers, even even I think their reformers are so much better in the early season. than they have been in the past, which is like phenomenal. they're um theyre It looks like their training is just getting better and better and better each year, which I mean, it's already it's already been at a high level for years and years and years, but this just feels like a different crown group in the best way possible to me. I don't know about you guys, but ah just it's something something about them this year feels
00:53:01
Speaker
a little different in the best way possible. And I'm like super about it. Their show pet they're packaged from, from start to finish is just really, really well put together the use of the props, the use of the colors that they have. I wasn't, I wasn't a huge fan of the color scheme at the very beginning when I saw them put it out on um social media and then I saw it hit the field. I'm like, okay, yeah, I'm i'm totally, totally about this. Oh, no, the costumes are gorgeous. The guard costume and gorgeous. awesome gorgeous And I love just like it's a very single type of idea, but like Prometheus and representing fire through the color guard just looks so good throughout the whole show. Like that integrated hit that you're talking about in the beginning of the show, Cindy, when like the color guard is, I think they're doing a flag feature and it's like spread throughout the entire core just looks so like full. But what were you going to say, Jeremy? My bad.
00:53:58
Speaker
I, it was interesting because I actually had the opportunity to see them at Cavalcade the other day and I was in the lots with warmups going from group to group. And one thing, I mean, this kind of goes for everyone that the the pictures you see of uniforms on social media and actually seeing the uniforms in real life, they look totally like two totally different things. I mean, like, Boston's uniforms, they look like one thing online in person. They are so unbelievably bright. Like, people are saying they look like highlighters. No, they're they're brighter than highlighters. Like, they light up. And with Crown's uniform, like, in pictures, they look super dull, but that's because you can't see the detail in the design of, like, their almost, it's almost steel armor, like, from Greek times, armor, like Prometheus would have had.
00:54:43
Speaker
And it it just fits in with the show so well and so much of the nuance you just can't see on social media. Yeah, I totally agree. I feel like a lot of like that's crown uniforms a lot of years because there's a lot of things going on in there where sometimes I remember back in like 2018, we had a uniform reveal and people were like, and They weren't too sure about it, but then like you see it in real life and it's like very detailed and there's a lot of stuff going on and a lot of textures. and it just You really can't like take any show for real until you've seen it in real life. That's what it's being designed for. But let's pop back. I got to go check out a couple more of these shows here because we've got a couple more that we need to talk about after this short break. We'll be right back.
00:55:42
Speaker
Hey everyone, it's Jeremy, and here are your announcements coming from the box. Don't miss all of our bonus content, including On a Water Break in Rhinestones with your host, Lexi Duda, exploring the world of the Twirlers. Don't miss parades and drum majors at Step Off with your host, Jack Goudreau, and Get Lost in Translation with your host, Cynthia Bernard, exploring all the words that confuse all of us in the marching arts all across the world. and go behind the lens with marching arts photographers all across the country with your host, Chris Marr. Plenty more bonus content from On A Water Break, so listen anywhere you get your podcasts. If you want to be on On A Water Break as a guest or you know somebody that would make a great guest for On A Water Break, email us at onawaterbreakpodcastatgmail.com or find us on social media.
00:56:40
Speaker
OK, field staff, take it away. Let's reset.
00:56:57
Speaker
And we are back. We got even more drum corps that we need to talk about. Cindy, I know you've been itching to talk about the troopers. Why don't you tell us a little bit about their show this year? Well, their show is called Dance with the Devil and evidently it is sort of a playoff of what they did last year. It's like part two a little bit. ah They've lassoed the sun and now they're looking to dance with the devil and hopefully they're not going to give away their soul in the process. um Unfortunately, they are not playing. The devil went down to Georgia. They're not playing that. but
00:57:39
Speaker
That's okay. They got a lot of other great stuff. They're doing the other side hyperlink house of the rising sun Don't let me be misunderstood and way to the world and they just look phenomenal this year You can tell that they are dialed in I am so excited for the guard. You can really see ah their new staff ah changes there have have paid off and I am just the whole package is there. ah Trooper has just been on the cusp of greatness the last few years and I am just oh so anxious.
00:58:14
Speaker
To see this one live it just it sounds so good and I just can't wait I don't know what it is about a cowboy show But they can keep doing these cowboy shows and I'll be here for it every year Yeah, that's that like core identity that we keep talking about like ah all throughout the show I like it when a group has something that they come back to that I want to keep seeing um absolutely Apparently, I think Cynthia has been over at a troopers as well. So maybe we'll get to hear a little bit more about ah the tour this summer from Cynthia sometime soon. um Why don't we take a little chat though, speaking of folks around us that have been on tour, we've got Ricardo over at Academy. ah Have you guys gotten a chance to see Academy ah yet? No, but our good friend Nicole is there too. She is. Nicole was there, um Ricardo, and then I'll get the chance to see them on Friday night. So I'm really, really excited.
00:59:13
Speaker
Yeah, I was just looking up for a video of them earlier today, and there wasn't one that I could find yet on YouTube, and I was so bummed, but I can't wait to check. I'm wanting to say that last night was their first live performance, and was their first show, was maybe last night. Ah, okay. Yeah, it looks like Jeremy just dropped in the chat. Maybe we just had the ah guard toss turn around. um But I'm excited to see them as soon as we can here. I'm sure we're going to get some videos shared around in our chat as soon as they ah are going around on the internet. ah We've also got Crossman. ah We were just doing an alumni interview with Crossman. What did you guys think of their show? I haven't seen it yet. I haven't heard anything about them at all, really.
00:59:57
Speaker
Another campus about 45 minutes away from where I live up here in Northwest Arkansas. They're over in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. and I got to go last year and see their the night that they do the preview. I didn't get to go this year, but I caught it on video and I have to say I'm seeing a more predominant, ah better crossman this year than I saw at this time last year. And ah last the show last year didn't really grab me, I don't know. um But this year, it really, they're looking great. And I think that we're going to be talking about them more this year than and we did last year.
01:00:39
Speaker
Yeah, I got to see their video. They did a like a live stream on their YouTube channel. And going yeah before the season started, I was thinking, you know, something we haven't seen a whole lot. We haven't seen a lot of jazz recently. And they decided to go, you know what? We're doing like all jazz. Not everything is jazz, but their show is so so jazzy. They're going, hey, we just got knocked out of finals and we don't like that. We are going to come back and fix that. And I'm so excited to see between them, Blue Knights, Pacific Crest, that competition. Madison looks like they're coming out of nowhere a little bit this year. It's going to be so exciting to watch those right at the CUSP cores. Yeah, speaking of Pacific Crest, I think Austin, you were you've been kind of paying a little bit of attention to what's been going on there, right? Yeah, I kind of checked them out a little bit. They had, I checked, I watched both the Walnut shows.
01:01:31
Speaker
It's a little weird, they don't have the Rose Bowl. They didn't have the Rose Bowl this year, which I'm very sad about. I loved that show when I performed there the one time I did. um They kind of put SoCal into two shows. They did a student edition. So they did like a lot of group sales for all the high schools in the area the first night. And then the second night was just kind of like general admission. So for those of you who are kind of wondering what that was, that's kind of what it, that's kind of what was going on with it. I was like, I was also really confused. I was like, what do you mean there's two shows in Walmart back to back and have everyone's at the same place. And then it made sense. Um, but Pacific Crest, um, the training going on over there is actually really, really good. I like what the, I like what the students are. I like what the students are doing a lot. Um, you can tell that they're a super young group, but a lot of those like lower tier world-class drum quarters are always like that. For those, for, um, for all intents and purposes, that's what, that's just what it is. A lot of that they, a lot of kids will go to.
01:02:31
Speaker
your music cities, your Pacific Crest, like even troopers, when I was marching there, they'll go there and then they'll jump and then they'll want to go audition at Bluecoats and Crown and um Blue Devils and all that stuff. But um the the educational staff is doing a really, really good job over there of training the kids up really, really well. And I'm really liking what I'm seeing from the performers on the field. I think this i think the show has a lot of room to grow. And there's a couple there's a couple of weird things within within the design elements, but i think though I think those kinks can get worked out pretty well. um I'm just kind of excited to see where they're going to go with everything coming up soon. Yeah, I'm excited to see ah as those performers get better too, the show is really going to rise in quality. That's kind of how it goes with those younger world class cores especially.
01:03:20
Speaker
um big one that we've ah not talked about yet, Cavaliers. Stephanie, I think you've got a good bit to talk about the Cavaliers, don't you? I do. I saw the Cavaliers live this weekend. See lots of videos, obviously, at my house for my son. um I think the Cavaliers, I think they had gone back kind of an iconic look for them. It's called Beyond the armor, behind the armor. Beneath the armor. Beneath the armor. Beneath the armor. I'm so sorry. Oh my god. Above the... Below...
01:03:57
Speaker
Is that an adverb is that any or a proposition anywhere a mouse can go? and so mean um it is it is really It's another one of those that we've talked about, you've got to see it in person. First of all, and the props are one side, they really do look like armor. And then they turn and they have some faces on them. But the armor side does not translate on float. I think it's some beautiful props. Beautiful. And then the color guard I think really took a huge step up this year. I think they were significantly better than they were at this time last year. and I was telling someone last week, I really feel like they
01:04:40
Speaker
and started off exactly where they left off last year for finals they came in and they just started at that point instead of taking some steps back and then having to build which is typical um and then their percussion of course was our um was our and percussion champion last year with the Cavaliers um and it just I mean they've got the entire staff is back um the same writers and it really is it's really fantastic. um There's some really interesting things that if you really listen for them again it doesn't translate to flow just the way their microphones are placed and the way these moments happen you don't hear them um when you're watching on tv but when you're actually in the audience and you get some of these really cool metal tones.
01:05:31
Speaker
that are of course talking about the armor and you hear these metallic tones that come out of the front ensemble that are just really cool. So it's it's another one that I would say definitely it's a catch-in-person one for sure. Hey Stephanie, what are those faces on some of the props? um there is When they turn around the faces, there there are some vocals that I noticed for the first time on Saturday. I don't know that I heard them on ah Friday. that are
01:06:02
Speaker
our that kind of reflect to that um about seeing and eyes and watching. So it makes it's another one of those that makes sense, but I think those are some additions that have come in that now kind of help bind everything together. So I hope you'll catch it live. I think it's it's a good it's a good little piece. Percussion is, like I said, it's on fire this year again. Yeah, that percussion staff is crazy good. I got taught by a lot of them. I wish that they could have taught me in drum corps because they were some of the best instructors that I've ever had. um Yeah, they really are.
01:06:39
Speaker
And Stephanie, I think great time to actually plug something else that you've been working on with us a little bit. You've been putting together a series following your family throughout the summer, haven't you? Yes, that's right. So and my husband, we haven't talked about the Colts yet, my husband's program coordinator at the Colts. And I have my son that plays marimba at Cavaliers, and my daughter in the Garden. at BD. And so every time I go out, I um just record a little bit of behind the scenes. and One because people um just want to know what it's like to be on the road. But the other purpose in that for me is that um when I have students at the school where I teach that their kids want to do drum corps, the parents only see what they can see on YouTube. They have no idea what goes on behind the scenes.
01:07:26
Speaker
and They don't know that your kid's going to eat on a food truck or what a food truck looks like or what a weekend show looks like. um So it was kind of twofold. It's almost like a digital scrapbook for my kids and for for my family to look back years from now. ah But the other part is hopefully that it will will help parents feel more comfortable letting their their kids participate in DCI and see that it really is a safe environment now. um And that we've just there are some great opportunities for these students that are are just something that you won't get anywhere else. That is so cool. Where could we ah go to check out the series? So it's on my YouTube channel. It's youtube dot.com slash Stephanie Click.
01:08:16
Speaker
Awesome. Definitely go check that out. I'm going to go check it out for sure. The behind the scenes look at stuff is really cool. That's why I was so excited to talk to you about the year. This is our third season. We started in 22, so you can go back and just check it out, especially if you have a student that wants to march. Have them take a look in their parents. Absolutely. And you mentioned that, uh, your husband is, uh, what is his responsibility over colts again? Yeah. Wow. That's um amazing. So you've, you're exactly the right person to talk to about the culture of this year. I'm sure.
01:08:54
Speaker
I can. I can. I've been hearing it playing in my living room since September. and So the Colts is doing a show this year called On Fields. Don has been with them, since twenty nineteen I think I think this is year five or six for him. um But it's called On Fields and so and it's about all the different fields of your life. So um it starts off with field day because we all have field day when we were when we were young. So you'll see a lot of of um like playing baseball and animation things that would happen in elementary school field day. ah You'll see a battlefield.
01:09:30
Speaker
um As our people go off to war, there's a battlefield. um You'll see a harvest field, and something that is very Midwest. Of course, they're from Dubuque, so that's how it plays in to to where they're from and who they are. um And then in the end, fields of joy, where we all want to end up, we all want to end up with joy. So it it's a great progression through um some Pat Metheny music. So if you're a percussion person, um and we all love Pat Metheny, here's some Pat Metheny in there.
01:10:03
Speaker
Um, but that staff and design team have been together now for, I think this is season four that they're going on. So I think that's why we see the Colts kind of climbing up the ladders, um, slowly, but surely, um, is because that team has been together now. And, um, they're no longer, uh, we talked about this with Pat Crest a second ago, that Colts used to be a place where you would go and you would have a really great experience and then you would go march somewhere else. And I think now it's becoming a destination core where kids are coming in, they're starting there, but they're also ending there. And that's a great place to be for them. And it ah is allowing them, you know, the horn lines becoming better, the percussion is better, the color guard is better, ah because they're keeping those members for longer than, than typically, like I said, they're starting there and they're ending there, which is great. Yeah, it's cool. That's what we've been seeing happening with the mandarins lately, I feel like yeah too.
01:11:02
Speaker
where the experience has been so good that people don't want to use it as a stepping stone anymore. They just want to be there. And it's crazy to see like how much the group can grow once you have that kind of like returning vet membership. Yeah. Makes a huge difference. Absolutely does. One thing I liked about the cult show is, well, i not the show, but the way they have the one white side to their uniform and then they have the dark side. And it's so interesting how they're using that. It cannot be easy when it comes to visual analysis and you got to keep that so clean. But it's so interesting to watch them play with those two colors. And that was something I noticed right away. I thought, well, that's a, that's a
01:11:47
Speaker
Brave thing to do and it's it is paying off. It's cool. And I have a funny story about that. I it's actually on that my YouTube video and I think the last one that we did is the president of the board is the head of their sewing team at c Colts and um They call it the, the red team thread team is the name of their sewing crew, but they actually, um, she Kathy is her name made shirts that are one side is that red and one side is the white and they wear them in ensemble because they were afraid that some, like something would happen and it would just look odd. So now mark those shirts on and when you're running a set, a drill set, or you're putting in a, you know, you're producing those moments.
01:12:31
Speaker
um If something odd is going to happen, you know from right then, you don't have to wait until they have the uniform on. That's smart. Really cool. That is so smart. But the Resident Troopers alumni here definitely thinks the Colts are the underrated drum corps of the season. and the the um like i have nothing but I have nothing but respect for those guys, even though the Colts and the Troopers have been kind of like really, really competing. It's a friendly battle. It really is. and yeah Honestly, that visual staff over there, they're doing phenomenal work. They are a top, they are absolutely a top three visual staff in the entire activity. And I don't think they get enough credit for what they're doing right now. have been nothing but in insanely clean for the past couple of years, ever since, ever since they came back from COVID. And I'm just like, holy, like, they're just so undeniable every year. And I don't think they, I don't think the cults are getting enough credit for what they're doing. Hopefully it's starting to kind of, um,
01:13:30
Speaker
kind of manifest in the um scoring that's coming up in June. Yeah, I agree. I feel that way about Colts and Troopers. I think sometimes people are afraid to write down the number that probably should be written down. And so you know my best wishes for both of those groups because they really are making huge st striket huge strides. and And I'm glad people are starting to recognize that for both of those groups.
01:13:58
Speaker
Yeah, I hope we get to see as these, as time goes on and these groups become more and more undeniable that they start to just squish that ah gap even closer and closer. And if someday we just have, you know, all the top 12 is crunched up in that top score bracket, that would just mean we're watching 12 fantastic shows, which I would love to see. um We've got, I think maybe one more core here that we haven't really spoken much about. We'd have a fantastic insider, but she is off at the Blue Stars Alumni Weekend. I think Jackie can't be with us because she's with the blue stars. But ah what do you guys thought about blue star show?
01:14:38
Speaker
Well, first of all, from a guard perspective, you can give me Michael Shapiro twirls all day long, all day long. um But, you know, i I like their show. I like their show, the whole planets thing. I think it's it's really cool, I think. You know, I think it, you know, it's going to go through a lot of, you know, it has a lot of room to grow and we'll see where they take it. But, you know, like I said, Michael Shapiro, I got you. Yeah, it'll, it'll definitely be interesting to see where they're looking later on in the season. The show is not quite like solidified yet, but listening to the horn line warming up at Cavalcade,
01:15:20
Speaker
Blue Star's Brass is something different. The the sounds that that horn line puts out, it's just on it's incredible. it's It's hard to compare them to other... like they The sound that they're putting out and that just the absolute volume that they're putting out is not what you'd expect for where they tend to rank score-wise. That's interesting. Yeah, I'm going to have to check them out like around ah Allentown because they'll probably be like blasting my ears off by that point. but Oh, yeah. Why don't we go around the ah table here and we talk about just our last thoughts here on the star of the season. Um, maybe things you're excited for as we get onto the rest of tour, but Jeremy, you want to get us started.
01:16:03
Speaker
You know, going into the season before shows started and everything, I was pretty excited. a lot of There were a handful of shows that I was pretty excited about, but I was a little unsure about a bunch. After seeing most of the shows at this point, there's just so much talent this season, so much great show design. It's like everyone went to the drawing board and said, okay, last year was solid, we need to go up to an 11 this year and just try to top everything we've done in the past few years. And I just can't wait to see what changes happen. Because at this point, the shows are for the most part done, but we're gonna see probably half the show, at least designs change, whether it be visuals, whether it be drill, whether it be, they read write the entire ballad the day before a show, and then you just put on a new ballad for the show. I mean, it happens sometimes.
01:16:50
Speaker
Oh yeah, these shows are going to be wildly different by the time we see them at finals, but wildly better, better for the most part. Maybe something cool will get taken out. We'll lose a little beady snare lick or something, but for the most part, everything's going to just be a ah marble sculpture getting polished off until we get there. um Austin, what are your thoughts? um I mean, I know we're not doing gush and goes but honestly I was very I was very reluctant with a lot of the With a lot of the show themes at the very beginning when I saw the announcements. I was like, I don't know about that I don't know about that. I'm not sure we'll see what happens and just I mean just like Jeremy said they really it's everything seems elevated but the one thing that's
01:17:35
Speaker
than most elevated from last year this year is the performance of the students.
Significant Improvements in Drum Corps
01:17:40
Speaker
And from top to bottom, it just seems better and better and better. Like if you go watch the Colts, the Bluecoats, the Devils, pretty much anyone, like you can just watch and listen and be like, that drum core is better than they were at the start of last season. That drum core is better than and they were and and at San Antonio last year right now. And you can just say that about almost every single group that that you've seen. And that's just kind of the one thing that I've been most excited about um watching shows all weekend. It's just been so refreshing because you can just tell that the education is coming through and whatever these drum corps are doing on the educational side is working. Yeah. And it's
San Antonio Event Excitement & Venue Appreciation
01:18:25
Speaker
true. It's like, uh,
01:18:26
Speaker
whether it's BD or you know Vanguard or Crown, getting better themselves, or it's you know some of the other groups like ah like c Colts and Troopers that maybe people have used to be able to make those dream cores someday. If every step along the way, the groups are getting better, you're just getting better and better students like all the way up the ranks through all the different cores. I think like we totally see that every single year now, every year.
01:18:55
Speaker
Cindy, what do you
Unique Identities & New Competition Dynamics
01:18:56
Speaker
ah what are you thinking? What are you looking forward to? Well, I'm going to be in San Antonio Live and I'm looking forward to air conditioning and seeing the cores indoors. I've made the mistake the last few years of doing Broken Arrow and it was so insanely hot that did yeah it wasn't enjoyable. I know I'll lose some of that nighttime magic by watching it indoors. But I am so anxious and like you guys have said ah Everybody has stepped it up this year and like we were talking about every core has their own identity But what I've noticed this year is even though every core has their own identity I feel like each one of them is trying something new and different if that makes sense like when I'm watching the show I'm like, yeah, I recognize that who that is, but I That's something I haven't seen them do before I just feel like each of the the top course are doing something unique this year and even though they're recognizable it's still really cool to see them even going above and beyond what we saw last year and and so I really feel like it's a tight race this year I really do.
01:20:07
Speaker
Yeah, I think it's cool
Return to Pre-COVID Form & Season Excitement
01:20:08
Speaker
how you were saying that like, even though many of these scores have like a recognizable style, you can still see them like kind of continuing to carve out like their niche and like yeah how they can do their thing cooler, even though they're not like getting far away from like what makes them special. Definitely. That's like an overarching theme of the episode. I feel like, um, Stephanie, what are, what are your thoughts looking towards the rest of summer? um i'm I'm just excited. I think everybody has just brought their A game this year, um which I think we we've kind of alluded to this entire podcast. We are seeing the best that everybody has to offer, which I think is um just a true representation that this is the first year that we are back to normal, drunk war from COVID.
01:20:56
Speaker
Um, so I think we have had, we've got the right players at the right places. And I think and nobody is running away with this title this year, which makes for a really fun season of drum course. So, um, I'm just excited that everybody is on their A game. And then I think we
Anticipation for Lesser-Covered Corps
01:21:13
Speaker
can finally say that we have officially passed, pushed past that COVID bubble bubble. Yeah, I think you're definitely right. I think like comparing back to shows that groups are doing in 2019, it seems like the cores are operating at a higher level in every way at this point. It's like the shows are more complex, the members are doing more, the things are being executed just as well as they ever have been. You know, we're we're we're back for sure. Yes. Trish, while you wrap it up, what are you looking forward to?
01:21:48
Speaker
Um, I think what I'm looking forward to is hearing more from those course. We really haven't heard much from yet. Like where, where's the, where are the blue nights? Where are our hometown course here in New Jersey, Jersey surf and Raiders haven't heard much from them at all. Um, all these, you know, some of these courts that we just haven't heard anything about yet. I'm excited to see what they're up to and see how they fit into this whole mix. Yeah, absolutely. I'm excited to hear from them. And as we get into the further part of the summer, I didn't talk a whole lot about drums tonight, but I'm excited for the real rubber to meet the road. And we'll
Focus on Drum Lines & Community Engagement
01:22:25
Speaker
start to see who these best drum lines are. I'm going to have to get some drum people on at some point do at least one good one about the drums. But thank you all for a great rehearsal this week. Thank you to our hosts, Stephanie, Trish, Cindy, Austin, and Jeremy from Drum Corps today. ah Jeremy, where could we find you on social media?
01:22:47
Speaker
Yeah. So you can find me on Instagram, uh, at drum core today. And we've gotten all those links with the link tree on that web, on that Instagram page. Awesome. Yes, so go check them out. Give Jeremy a follow. Always has great up-to-date ah drum corps content as we go through the season. And ah give us a follow as well. We've got our YouTube channel now. It's got many interviews coming out in video ah ah video editions. Go subscribe. Don't want to miss those. And before you close out your podcast listening app,
01:23:18
Speaker
Please subscribe to On A Water Break, write us a review, share it with a friend, follow us on social media at On A Water Break, and we will see you at the next rehearsal on A Water Break.
01:23:33
Speaker
The On A Water Break podcast was produced by Jeremy Williams and The intro and outro music was produced by Josh Lida. To learn more, visit lidamusic.com. And until next time, thanks for tuning in.