What a Blast!

Last night I went up to New Jersey to catch Blast! along with my son's band. And a Blast! it was!

This was his first live viewing of Blast!, although I reminded my son that he did get to see this show in its earliest incarnation, "An Evening of Brass Theatre", when the show came to North Carolina on July 4, 1994. Of course, he wasn't even 2 years old ...

Blast! is a theater event, and so it is helpful to remember that although the cast and interpretation changes, much like any other Broadway show, the storyline remains essentially unchanged. This cast seems to be less mature than previous, or at least less experienced. I am eager to see the what happens over the next five weeks before they come to Baltimore. However, accustomed as we may be to seeing a different show every year in band and drum corps, or a different Cirque du Soleil event, Blast! has tinkered very little with the script.

The "Bolero" opener and the "Malaguena" closer are perfect ways to ease in to the show and to end with a splash, particular a splash of red! (Although others may associate this music with the Madison Scouts, I always go back to my favorite show of the Boston Crusaders, 2000's Red.) There was colorful (a blast of color!) interplay with the guard/visual ensemble, particularly in the second act, which brought them out more.

"Appalachian Spring" is a classic, and creatively presented with the guard-as-musicians. But the kids really loved "Battery Battle", a percussive talent war! I will say that one of the - drummers? - put a new meaning to playing by ear, and their mistakes/drops were well covered to the point you wondered, "Was that a real mistake, or a fake mistake?"

The use of blacklight for the percussion and guard really highlighted the precision and skill in using the "equipment". This is so very hard to convey on the football field stage.

If I had a criticism, it was the way that "Medea" - a violent piece of music if there every was one - is not being interpreted terribly differently from its 1993 introduction on the football field. What was innovative then seems rather plain now. Also, at times, the percussion in it's "Marimba Spiritual" seemed to be ripping from "Stomp". Perhaps my familiarity and wanting to see something different is what drives this feeling; the audience's familiarity with "Stomp" did not leave them feeling the same way, however. (I told the band's percussion instructor I thought it was too long; he said it wasn't long enough!)

What really stood out, and I hope the kids take from this, is the thrill of performance, not just playing the notes, or doing the spins. It is that chasm between playing the music you know and performing the music you feel that few players see, much less jump.

A quick comment on the venue. Billed as the Commerce Bank Arts Center, it is really a high school auditorium. On steroids. Wonderful acoustics, plush and plentiful seating with a nice sight line! We band parents were completely amazed and wondered what the return on investment is. I think this was public money well spent.

Oh, and one last thing - there are a lot of drum corps people have helped make Blast! what it is. But to me there is always one guy with the original vision, the guy who put his money where his idea was, hired great people, and got out of the way. Because he never forgot this was for the kids, because he is the easiest guy to sit next to in the stands, because he is passionate about his passions (whether drum corps or Blast!, the town of Bloomington or a catamaran, his family or "his kids") ... Bill Cook ... thank you!