Things on my mind. George Drapeau's Weblog

Okay, I can't help myself. The DCI (Drum Corps International) Finals competition begins in just under two hours and I gotta talk to somebody about it, so I'm telling you.

First, the CBS Evening News did a story on the drum corps activity: follow the link then scroll down to the sixth video story on the left side of the page; the video is entitled "Super Bowl of Marching Band" (yes, that's cheesy). It's a fairly short piece, but should give you a little taste of the physical demands made of the people who participate.

Next, some videos taken by the drum corps from Concord, CA. Here's a page of videos; the one to watch is called "SCV Drumline Warm-ups". The Santa Clara Vanguard's percussion section was best in the nation last year; here's an idea of how they play in the parking lot before they go on the field for competition. Note: you'll need a Quicktime viewer to watch these videos.

Finally, if you're crazy enough to pay to watch this season's performances before they've available on DVD later this year, go to the DCI Season Pass web site to listen to the audio of your favorite corps. The Cavaliers are worth a listen, as are the Madison Scouts and Blue Devils. I'd love to say that the Vanguard is a top pick, but unfortunately I can't say that this year. Well, better luck next year.

By the way, on September 6, ESPN 2 ("The Deuce") will be showing highlights of tonight's competition. The broadcast will be two hours long and will likely show excerpts of most of the top twelve corps and the complete shows of the top few. Usually PBS does this broadcast, but DCI is improving its marketing partnerships and getting better coverage and spread. This is a good thing.