July 14, 2025 – Along the Mill Brook
“Boom!” is taking the country by storm. After an arduous tour in California, concluding the 6-show circuit on Saturday, the Boston Crusaders headed to the proving grounds of Arizona and are now on their way to the crucible of Texas. This is a record of nine straight wins, and so far, undefeated in 2025. I was along for part of that ride, which included three shows: one in Sacramento, Stanford, and the Rose Bowl. To say that their show is leaving an impact wherever it is performed would not only be a pun, but an understated one. That was clearly evidenced by the response of the sell-out crowd at the Rose Bowl on Saturday night.
Having rested well at an undisclosed location in San Diego for the week, I returned to the epicenter of entertainment on Saturday for the Rose Bowl show. I took the train to Los Angeles and rented a car, and immediately drove to Pasadena High School to catch a rehearsal (or as fast as the California Freeway traffic would allow). While I rested all week, the drum corps world toiled away every morning, noon, and night to move the needle ever so gradually up the score chart with each successive show. BAC continued that upward climb, posting the highest scores across the activity since the Bluecoats posted their first score. BTW – Where are the Bluecoats? What kind of magic are they up to? Something rhythmic and electronic, most likely. They will surely show up for the Denton, Texas, show to match their music, marching, and electronic skills with BAC on Wednesday. I will be hosting another watch party here at the Russell Ranch. I will try to find some love for Flo.
It was great to see everyone in a golden state, including the staff, volunteers, and some alumni who were just as excited as I was to be there. Cautious confidence was mixed with being on the verge of exhaustion from the rigors of traveling such a distance and enduring the hot sun of California, among the older staff and volunteers. The members were already far from the look at spring training and eating it up. Having said that, I was confident that they were in their groove, being that this is not their first rodeo. Texas will be a snap. When I asked Gino if I could do anything for him or his staff, he answered, “Just stand up in the stands and yell for us.” And that I did. A trip to the food trailer was an opportunity to see Rob de Bruin, with wife Natasja, and daughter Xavienna from the Netherlands, who vacation with the corps. Some vacation, working their tails off, and living on a bus. Likewise, for Al, Cheryl, Donna, Kate, and so many hundreds of others across the country, doing the same for their kids.
Pasadena is the sweet spot of California. I stayed at the Hilton Inn right in downtown. My urban adventures include good, long walks. This day, I decided to walk from the Hilton to the Rose Bowl, exactly two miles one way. Not deterred, I strapped on my Ortho Feet urban walking shoes and set out around 4:30 PM. Being a hot afternoon, I enjoyed the welcome shade of the tree-lined streets, and lo and behold, the Rocco Tavern on Green Street appeared about midway. Not one to pass up a good opportunity for hydration, I stopped in for a large beverage from La Guanita. Refreshed and ready to trod on, I followed Siri’s instructions along the pedestrian-friendly route over two freeways, through nice neighborhoods, finally descending into the Rose Bowl. My black BAC tour t-shirt was drenched, but the cool breeze and shade at the stadium evaporated me slowly, keeping me cool.
My seat neighbors and I had a great time up high and in the center. Next to me were BAC parents who have three students in the corps: Allie in the guard, drum major Maddie, and mellophone player Owen. Above me were the parents of the bass five in the drum line of Pacific Crest. Drum corps equals love and family. The Rose Bowl is another favorite DCI venue, this being my second viewing here. My first planes, trains, and automobiles for the California DCI tour was three years ago. I was the guest of the Tanakaya family. Russell is a photographer and writer for Drum Corps World. He, his wife, brother, and sister are part of the Pacific Crest Drum Corps family, too.
What a venue for the PC home show. A world-class DCI corps striving for a championship night, they are top-class when it comes to the kids’ experience. The 2025 program “It’Sin Our Nature” has all of the elements of a championship night show. The musical repertoire is well-crafted, featuring Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony. This composer is a favorite among drum corps arrangers. The beautiful and technical marching costumes looked awesome under the Rose Bowl lights. This stadium gets high scores from me for the rich warm lighting, unlike most modern stadiums that have the cool blue, thin LED cast.
I could carry on about each of the fine shows that continue to evolve and get cleaner and more powerful. Changes and tweaks continue as they forge their shows into shape and jockey for position in the rankings. Of course, no one can count out the two California contenders for medals. Santa Clara Vanguard is firmly back in the hunt after their successful comeback year last year. You’ve got to love everything about the show. It has it all, including the interesting sound effects from the pit. And it is getting better and pushing upward. Blue Devils are holding their stride and looking down the long hall to the finish line, drafting just behind the Boston Crusaders. As Chris from BAC said to me at rehearsal, “There’s a lot of season left.”
The never-say-die corps, BAC is hot as hell. Though I love all of the corps, I have been wearing my Waldo, the split-tailed lion hat that I purchased at the suvie tent in Sacramento, with pride. Since touring with them during their turnaround year in 2017, I have become a major fan and friend of the corps. Not always my favorite show of the year, due to some really awesome ones too numerous to mention, this year it has it all for me. Most importantly, my enjoyment is enhanced by the reaction of those around me in the stands. “Boom” has become the crowd favorite because it is fun, well-crafted, with regular blips on the EKG chart that excite and amaze the fans, no matter what t-shirt they wear.
Peeling away a little bit more of the onion on this show, I would like to share what I have learned. The baton twirlers who evoke marching parades in the 50s are from Japan. The recorded chanting underlying the ballad is of children counting backward to ten in Japanese. My favorite shows are the ones that make a social statement. Fun, lively, poignant, and powerful, the repertoire is arguably the most diverse. When talking with a newbie parent in the stands in Sacramento, she remarked, “The marching musicians seem to always be involved.” Her drift was of the plethora of intricate drills, interacting with the color guard for tosses, catches, contortions, and tumbling, as well as playing the very complex book. Twenty-first-century marching is a fast-paced combination of steps and movements, all choreographed and executed with atomic precision. Concentric radiations offer the sublime symmetry that morphs into sinuosity. A company front that straight lines and then bends into swishes that extend across the field. What a treat to have baritone instructor Jarret join me in my spare seat during the BAC performance and to experience the chain reaction in the stands with oohs and aahs as the show progresses toward the climax. With that final pun, I will move on. My next live drum corps show will be NightBEAT in Winston-Salem on July 28th.
How lucky am I to have had another slice of drum corps, West Coast style? The biggest takeaway was the welcome that I felt, no matter where I was. From Ron, a leader in the Mandarins organization that I met after the Sacramento show, to Donna, BD’s angel who treated us so well in Stanford, I am so grateful to you. As well as the moms, dads, my tour mates, and fellow fans around me each night. My mission to continue to foster East Coast/West Coast relations has been achieved. Additionally, I might add is the opportunity to immerse myself in the diversity that defines America. California is an anchor of democracy in the West.
For now, I am happy to be home for a couple of weeks to keep up the momentum on the Number Nine Schoolhouse project. Waves of thunderstorms roll across the east. The air is rich with moisture, and the foliage is green as can be. This is a contrast to the brown, dry, and dusty California from which I came. Flash flooding is a common occurrence in hilly terrain due to spotty but heavy downpours, increasing as the climate changes. Dodging thunderstorms while on tour is a constant. The Mill Brook is under pressure.
For the good news: we have agreed on terms for purchasing the historic two-room schoolhouse along the Mill Brook at a bargain sale of 50% of the appraised value. Once we have worked out the details and signed the agreement, we will begin our outreach and fundraising efforts. The Number Nine Music School is yet to be born. I will keep you posted. (insert smily face here)