August 3, 2026 – Somewhere in the heartland of Pennsylvania
I am at a town recreation park almost one-third of the way between Downingtown, Pennsylvania, and Akron, Ohio. The icon for it popped up on my GPS screen, so I took the exit to come here for a break from the long and winding road. I left off with you in Allentown, on the way to Downingtown, PA, for the DCI Big Sound in Motion show yesterday. Well, Mother Nature had a different idea. The rain started two corps in, and we got the word that it was going to be a washout. Plan B was to take over the patio area under the cabana at the hotel for some post-non-show merriment. Dozens of drum corps stories later (some repeats), we ascended the stairs for adult lights out. Getting an early start on the drive was my plan, putting me here for my first break around two hours in toward Akron for a drum corps show tonight.
Tonight is the best outdoor show of the season, and the last. Innovation in Brass is the home show of the Bluecoats. As the corps make their way toward Indy, many of them stop in the Canton area to give one more outdoor performance. This is the venue where the well-polished programs can be seen and heard at the highest level. And I will be at my highest level as a fan. Having had the privilege of seeing them progress throughout the summer, I will really enjoy how proficient they have become.
Now, I am sitting at a ubiquitous outdoor table just outside the Student Center here at the University of Akron. After seven hours of motoring across Pennsylvania and into Ohio, I have arrived for Innovation in Brass. A few minutes ago, I was stroking a different keyboard, a Boston grand piano inside the Student Center. I was also able to grab enough power for the devices to get me through the evening, I hope. Universities make for great oases along the road to Indy.
After about 20 minutes of piano time, I heard the beat of drums as the first corps were arriving and spreading out across this beautiful open grassed campus. Seattle Cascades drum battery just arrived and is setting up next to me. The cacophony of snares, basses, and toms echoes across the campus, bouncing off of every hard surface of the modern buildings. There is no smell of buses and trucks. I have not heard a horn. It’s time to walk around this beautiful campus, listen to some warm-ups, and find my friends. The best show on the planet is soon to begin. I’ll try to meet up with you on the far side.
August 4, 2026 – Zoar, Ohio
It’s 8:00 AM. I am at that ubiquitous restaurant that is immediately recognizable across the landscape where trillions are soon to be sold. Bathroom, breakfast, power, and WIFI are the fare most needed. Too crowded at the inn, I decided to head out of town after the show and head to Zoar, Ohio, an historic village just south of Canton. My great-grandfather and his brother were canawlers from Durhamville, NY on the Erie Canal. I digress. I visited Zoar a few years back and found the Canal Lands Park, a perfect place to stay in the Casa del Volvo. The cool temperature and dark sky made for a perfect night’s sleep. I was also spent from the long drive from Downingtown and an excessive amount of stimulation from several of the finest drum corps performances of the year. Now let me see if I can recall some of the highlights.
Starting off the show were Genesis and Seattle Cascades. The Texas corps, Genesis, pushed the limits of abstract and their abilities in the fresh Midwestern air. They will show us their artistic and musical virtuosity two more times at Indy on Thursday and Friday. A viral video short of the Cascades from Oregon popped up on my screen the other day, featuring a small ensemble of trumpet, trombone, and sousaphone bringing the heat at the closer. This teen-spirited corps is surely having fun with their raucous show “Against the Grain.”
The next performance came from Music City with “Venomorphosis.” Once again, these talented young performers shed their former selves to reveal themselves anew. I can imagine that is what their families will think of them when they return from the summer drum corps tour. Next, The Academy brought the students for a final performance in the sun. They will have at least two more circus classes this week, “In the Center of the Ring” in Lucas Oil Stadium.
The caped corps from Texas, Crossmen, performed “A-Side/B-Side,” shedding traditional capes and hats in the process. I did not see Bones lurking around tonight, but you can bet that the creepy spirit will be at Indy. Congratulations to this long-successful drum corps that has been serving America’s youth for over five decades. I have dedicated this year’s tour to Tim O’Donnell, a friend who marched contra bass in the 90’s and recently passed. He would most certainly appreciate their continued success.
Intermission came and went in a flash. Just enough time to stretch my legs, interact with a few fans out on the veranda, and make a hydration adjustment. What followed was nothing short of phenomenal. My how these kids have gotten good at what they do. This most certainly includes Pacific Crest as they continue to refine the sublime. Their climbing scores tell that story too. This show is on my playlist. I am pushing with them for a place on Saturday night at Indy.
The one corps that might prevent that is the Madison Scouts, who performed next. Get a grip on the joystick, “MadiSpin” is out of control! The multi-gender Scouts are also pushing hard to define their future, with the talented feet still celebrating the past, with classic Madison style. Friday night will be the make-or-break night.
Colts came in from the past and departed into the future. Their depiction of “The American Experiment” takes us from the early patriotic ethos of red, white, and blue to the 21st-century patriotic ethos of multi-colors, textures, and non-linear lives. I feel assured that I have three more times to view this show from my seat in section 400 in Lucas Oil Stadium.
Santa Clara Vanguard painted the town red again. These kids have been covorting all across America “With Reckless Abandon.” I know, as I have seen them in six locations in four states so far. As I predicted in California, these kids have not just learned the ropes; they have mastered them. Devoid of props, this corps relies on sheer marching and performing skills to portray the theme, and they do it with a collective, gang-like intensity.
I am still shaken from the performance in Allentown by the Carolina Crown. My wanting eyes and ears were perked to see “The Doors of Perception” again. Though I am not quite sure what the connection is between the music of The Doors and Ave Maria, the scrumptious ballad. But it is a strong contender for best ballad of the millennium so far, IMHO. This drum corps is staking out a place again in the medals territory.
The Boston Crusaders, the reigning DCI Champion, have endured a summer of rainouts. This was my experience beginning this Spring in Castleton. This has not dampened the spirit of this strong corps that pushes and pushes, especially when they are behind. Yes, they are behind in the scores, but they are at the top in talent and ability of members and instructors. At this level of competition, the slightest things can make a difference. Show design and concept can have a big impact on General Effect. Uniform design, color selections, props, and other design features have an impact. But most importantly, the other contenders for medals have not been idle.
Interjecting some personal here. My tour this year has had several themes supported by the show themes of the drum corps that I follow. First, and most importantly, the concept that I get by with a little help from my friends. If it were not for the numerous people that I have befriended since getting immersed in this activity, I would not have gotten by these past ten years. You know who you are. Thank you!
Pushing for a spot in the top three also includes the Blue Devils. They are never idle. They followed up with another strong performance of “Zei.” This show took flight in California and has been soaring ever since. Continuous tweaking and cleaning have pushed the proficiency level higher and higher, reminding us of the corps that had dominated Saturday night in Indy for so many finals. It dawned on me that the Blue Devils like to come on last because the sun is not out, and they can fly higher. The final chord progression of Stravinsky’s Firebird tells that story well of a return to medal territory.
But wait, God Only Knows is a strong contender for my ballad award. And the Bluecoats are milking the richness and tone of the chord progressions to the max. Even though they are depicting the force of gravity, their scores have gone in the other direction, not falling. So far, no other drum corps has approached them by less than a point. These kids have so much fun performing in their pajamas every night. As the engineers pumped the Leslie effect at the closer to wash over the crowd, there was a collective gasp of shock and awe like nothing I have experienced before. The GE category is where the Bluecoats live and breathe.
Alas, that will be the final outdoor show of the season for the World Class Corps. We have a two-day gap before the Preliminary Finals this week on Thursday. My tentative plan is to attend the Open Class finals tonight in Dayton before heading to Indy. I will try to connect with the other who are switching out the rental car again in Cleveland. I will most certainly keep you posted from under the shade somewhere here in the Midwest. Today the terrain changes to flat through western Ohio into Indiana. It is time to eschew the interstates and hit the Dollar Store routes. Peace out for now.
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