July 2, 2026 – Along the Mill Brook
I just returned from Boston, where it was sweltering at 104 degrees when I left. On Wednesday night, the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps performed their 2026 program “Blurred Lines” for the first time this season in Lynn, MA. My 2026 season technically began on day 2 of Spring training in Castleton, but this marked the first full show in front of an audience.
Though this was not an official DCI competition, it featured three DCI corps and two championships. The World Champion DCI World Class Corps, the Boston Crusaders; the DCI Open Class Champion, Spartans from Nashua, NH, just up the interstate; and the DCI Open Class 7th Regiment from New London, CT.
To warm us up and warm our hearts, we enjoyed three selections each in a standstill performance by The Crusaders Senior Corps and the North Star Alumni Corps. Did I mention that the temperature was in the 90’s?
The full percussion battery of the 7th Regiment, renowned for its drum-battle victories, outnumbered the horn players, but the winds held their own throughout the abbreviated performance, given the early season. Their show “In Spring” will blossom as the season progresses. The Spartans, who are officially a DCI World Class Corps as of this season, have earned nine first-place titles in Open Class over the past several years. Not to be confused with Phantom Regiment Spartacus, but emerging to wage competition in the World Class, the Spartans performed a shortened version of their program, “On the World Stage.” I look forward to seeing this enjoyable, entertaining program again at NightBEAT in Winston-Salem, NC; Lawrence, MA; Allentown, PA; and Indy.
Following the Spartans, we paused as the sun set behind the trees and the stadium lights came on to supplement. Alas, 21st-century stadium lighting does not complement the colors of DCI, and my photos show it. The thin blue cast of the power-saving LEDs at the Manning Bowl did not give us a good look at the uniforms and flags that would please our eyes.
Not that the next corps had much color to showcase. The Boston Crusaders Bugle Corps took the field in a two-toned, light-and-dark uniform with patterned lines of gray, light-years away from the full-spectrum uniforms of “Glitch.” I presume that colorful elements are planned to evolve with the show as it matures to support the theme.
Executive Director Chris Holland provided great MCing and an informative introduction to the BAC 2026 program “Blurred Lines.” My early visits to Spring Training last month gave me some clues, but the concept had not quite become clear.
Having seen the full run, such as it is now, I understand more about the intent of the uniforms, the high degree of choreography, and the integration among the various sections of the members. This is a very fast-paced, energetic program that builds on “Zoom” – 2021, “Clitch” – 2024, and the Championship program “Boom” – 2025. The high degree of music and movement has ratcheted up a notch. This is a sonic and visual feast for the ears and eyes that will leave you completely satisfied. The caliber of the performing members is matched to the difficulty, and as this program cleans up, it will once again astonish you.
This first outing was a family affair, with all hands, board members, and die-hard BAC fans on deck to support the two Championship corps as they embark on tour next week. My friend Mary from Wakefield joined me, along with her neighbor’s daughter, a bass player for Wakefield HS marching band drum line, a top marching band in the Boston area. My guess is that she will be wearing the Crusaders’ Gino cap that I gave to her during her summer rehearsals.
This morning, before heading home, I took a quick drive into the city of Boston for breakfast with my granddaughter at the Cannonball Cafe on Dorchester Avenue. What a joy to see young people congregating in the urban core without the need for an automobile. The Silver Bullet, my trusty and storied Volvo, dutifully performed above, below, and beyond Boston. It will once again carry me all the way to Indianapolis next month. However, the next stop on my DCI tour is California. I have tickets to the Rose Bowl, but I also plan to check out the shows in Santa Clarita and Walnut, CA beforehand. All three of these shows will feature the great California corps and the Bluecoats from Canton, OH. The western DCI vibe is alive and well and not to be missed. I will keep you posted.
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