2007 Season ends on a "high note"

Seems like I just started, and it's over. I know this because corps are hosting open houses (good news) and DCI announced its major event schedule for 2008 (good news!), and Annapolis isn't on the list (boo).

I celebrated the end of the season at the USSBA National Championship two weeks ago - Friday night, or "small band" night. I missed the first Group 1 (sorry, Central) and had to leave before the last half of Group 2, but I enjoyed all the bands in between!

Sayreville War Memorial game me a great welcome with a great sound, and Cumberland Regional brought back orange and white memories of my, er, younger days. Unfortunately, USSBA can't stop planes - well, helicopters - trains and automobiles, and so the were drowned out from time to time. Timber Creek projected well for their size and added a not of nice kinetic movement. North Carroll wrapped up the set.

Criticisms are difficult, my impression was that Southern Garrett had a great concept (pirates) and props get away from them. The show just didn't have a popular feel to it. Haddon-Heights was ambitious but not clean.

Gateway brought the 60s and 70s to life, followed by a band I commented on when I first started this blog: Deptford Township HS and their "In the Spring" show. Well, the Group 1 champion stepped it up, and being in the wonderful M&T Bank Stadium venue gave me a new perspective on the hats, set on the ground in the shape of a cross. I knew what to expect, but still anticipated it! The Iwo Jima and yellow ribbon was quite moving!

My favorite in group 1 did not place in the top 3 and they were challenged by trains and helicopters again. Fluvanna County's show, "Simplicity" was just that, but more! Sure, they did "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star / Alphabet Song", demonstrated a marching block, and literally counted - and formed - numbers 1 to 10 (I think), they executed well and in an entertaining fashion. For 20 musicians, 10 percussionists (about evenly split between pit and battery), and 12 guard members, they were engaging and worth the price of admission. (The photo is from their website and their 2006 national championship award!)

My favorite Group 2 band didn't place high, either. Honestly, I scratched my head over Collingswood's Japanese themed show, found the Middletown (MD) band doing a nice job but overreaching all the same, and liked the "fire and ice" visuals of West Windsor-Plainsboro South, the band I put at the top of my chart was John F. Kennedy HS. No, they weren't a top scoring band, but they were a very confident band. Why? Well, start with what words fall short of doing - describing this, um, unique and fun band! A blend of traditional corps and traditional HBCU styles, with some high stepping and jammin' squeezed in for the show! A blended identity but not one where they were looking for who they were. I would pay to see these guys again! They also brought back memories!

What does this all mean? Well - creativity, knowing who you are, and playing confidently make a difference!

I wish I didn't have to leave (had to fly off to Texas the next morning) - I'd have loved to seen more of the night and the next day (a post on one of those bands that performed on Saturday will be done soon) - but at least I left with a good feeling!

Kudos to USSBA for a fantastic show, by the way - a great venue, nice seats, lots of vendors, and the big screen to boot! I hope you grow the show here in Maryland!

I "LUV" Band!

I've got a few posts I've got to get to - a review of the USSBA National Championship for one (a Dad and son field trip) and thoughts on a band on a mission - but until I get those ideas together ...

A few posts ago I wrote about the book American Band. If you still have not purchased this book (Christmas gift, anyone?), Southwest Airlines excerpted a chapter the book as its cover story in the November issue of "Spirit", its inflight magazine.

Hey, Southwest - I LUV you! (And the fact that your HQ is in my Heart-Q of Dallas has nothing to do with it!)

By the way, if you need another thing to read to tie you over until the summer drum corps season, check out Halftime Magazine, with a great issue this time out covering events around the country. I tip my hat to Christine Ngeo Katzman, CEO and Publisher, for daring to leave warm southern California to promote her magazine at the USSBA event in Baltimore! (I took a picture of her all bundled up, but the camera is cheap, so I borrowed this from her website!)

Oh, and by the way, Congratulations to the 4 Texas bands making the Bands of America Grand National Championship Finals, including champion L.D. Bell HS Blue Raider Band of Hurst-near-Fort-Worth-but-Dallas-will-claim-you-now, Texas!

Livin' the Dream

Some guys have all the luck ... check out this article in the Chicago Tribune. If I had a second life avatar this may be it.

TOB G3 ACC 2007

Saturday was Severna Park’s final show of the season at the Tournament of Bands Group 3 Atlantic Coast Championships. I was very proud of the band and their last performance of The Phantom of the Opera. The little additions since I last saw them made a difference, I think ... the staging with the tarp looked great! Of course, I love music of the night ...!

It’s a cool thing to see your kid march – I like watching bands but I found myself watching him. Such as it is! It's a good thing I watched, though; the Jolesch photographer didn’t get him a single time. And I think as much as TOB announced this as their new home, the stadium isn’t right. No concert side restrooms. Astroturf so old it had a sheen. I don't know if this facility is right for this type of event - the students deserve better.

I didn’t stay for the Top 10, but I enjoyed everyone else! Concord (DE) had an Irish theme, but no leprechauns with a 7’ drum major! (OK, maybe not that tall, but tall!) Middletown (DE) did a nice job with Ron Nelson’s magical Sonoran Desert Holiday. South Hagerstown (MD) was pleasing to watch with well known Russian-themed music taking us from revolution to revolution. Elkins (WV) had a Wicked show featuring music from the Broadway hit! I loved the bubbles to start out - they went all over the stadium - but the blow up emerald city and golden Oz was distracting. Bloomsburg (PA) gave us the first robust sound of the evening with a show concept of flight. Lower Dauphin (PA) storm-themed show was a bit confusing to the announcer, but I loved it with use of the huge, angled, window panes. They show was well designed, marched and played and is one I would pay to see again! They became my top ranked show of the night at this point.

JM Bennett (MD) did Humanity and they seemed a bit off from previous viewings. Pennsauken (NJ) titled their show Evolution, but my title for this was “New Spring”. The music was well integrated and the guard was very impressive! Shikellamy (PA) – I love that uniform, especially the hat. Thanks for getting us in a New York State of Mind. Camp Hill (PA) became my new #1 of the night with a great jazz sound and marching program. Parkland (PA) brought the set of five to a pleasant close.

After the break was the last set of five I stayed for. And I’m glad I did! Egg Harbor Township’s (NJ) Canon in D was very well conceived and then performed to the first level of "wow!" The arrangement fit the theme of Deconstruction and Reconstruction. The electric bass was perfectly balanced with the band – making up for a lack of low brass – and the woodwind sound was solid. I’d pay to hear this again, but the excellent marching would make it worth seeing, too. My top band of the night!

Calvert Hall (MD) sent Postcards from New York City, accompanied with a rich sound and a great sax soloist. Urbana (MD) took the concept of the heart – usually reserved for love themes – and make it aggressive. I loved the attitude of adrenaline and heart attack! Old Bridge (NJ) took us on a different scenic tour of NYC, this one via the subway, connecting themes of the city (Harlem Nocturne, Take the A Train, and a hint of others) in the great ride. Mifflinburg (PA) sent me on my way with some favorite selections of one of my all time favorite composers, Leonard Bernstein.

Scores aren’t posted yet – we’ll see what the judges thought!

Band Dads

Want to watch some creativity between shows? Study the pit crews. This fast moving ensemble has to be just as coordinated as the student marchers. Get the props and front ensemble equipment on the field. Then get it off. Fold it up so it fits on a truck or a trailer. Make sure it can withstand the beating it will take – not to mention wind, heat, sun and snow.

NASCAR pit crews – I love what they can do in 14 seconds. But they aren’t the only ones! So here is a nod to the Severna Park HS Pit Crew - TOB Group 3 Chapter IX award winners!

Okay, okay ... yes, I know! Yes, Band Moms are on the pit crew ... and in the set up crew ... and ... and ...

Music & Competition

This weekend is the TOB Chapters, the qualifying events for the Atlantic Coast Championships. We Americans are a competitive lot. Some believe that competition should not be a part of the arts, including marching band programs.

Look, competition is part of life, and that includes the arts. If you don’t believe me, think about the world famous Van Cliburn piano competition, or even the competition that values things the “finer things” of life every day at the Sotheby’s auction house.

Do all bands have to compete? No. Several bands I enjoyed this year right here in Anne Arundel County do not compete: Annapolis HS (with a great rock tribute titled Styx & Stones), South River HS (a big band with a big sound featuring the movie music of John Williams) and North County HS (reminding me of Texas high school “drill teams” with their pom pon girls). And throughout this year I have seen several bands that, well, were competitive, but not as enjoyable as the three noted above.

As this blog progresses I’m sure I’ll share my thoughts about competition. But for now, I wish the competitors their best performances (you make your own luck) and thank those who perform for the sheer pleasure of performance.