Occasional Musings by Kevin Russell
August 10, 2025 – Lucas Oil Stadium Midnight BOOM! The drum corps world is rocked by the impact left by the Boston Crusaders tonight in Lucas Oil Stadium. I’m sitting in my seat at Row 13, 50-yard line. I just witnessed the most exciting event since I started following Drum Corps International (DCI) competitions back in 2012. The Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps … Continue Reading →
August 8, 2025 – Indianapolis, Indiana 4:00 PM I just returned to the hotel from a visit to Decatur Central High School, the location of the Boston Crusaders’ rehearsal site while in Indianapolis. The temperature is in the 90s again. This did not deter the hardened members, or the staff from putting in a solid two hour block. The mood was positive. Coming off … Continue Reading →
August 5, 2025 – Delphos, Ohio 1:00 PM Chuck and I are at a McDonald’s somewhere in Western Ohio. He is on a call with a client, and I am finally catching up you on our tour of DCI shows. Big Sound in Motion was another successful show for the Boston Crusaders. Joined by Carolina Crown and Colts, and an impressive line-up of All-age … Continue Reading →
August 3, 2025 – Downingtown, Pennsylvania I am sitting at the bar at Victory Brewing Company with my drum corps tourmates from California, John and Marcia, and Chuck, who has been my fellow traveler in the rental since leaving the Boston area back on Friday morning. It seems like quite a while ago, given the miles traveled so far, the people that we have … Continue Reading →
August 2, 2025 – Cedar Creek Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania I’m sitting here in Cedar Creek Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania under the shade of a spreading oak tree. This is a quiet spot in the park far away from the activity near J. Birney Crum Stadium. That was the site of sound in motion at the East Coast Classic, a Drum Corps International competition featuring … Continue Reading →
July 31, 2025 – Along the Mill Brook 9:00 AM The forecast is grim. Heavy rain is expected in the Boston area all day and into the evening. This does not portend well for the match-up between the Boston Crusaders and the Bluecoats at the show in Lawrence, Massachusetts, tonight. These two corps are neck and neck in the rankings and 1:1 so far … Continue Reading →
July 28, 2025 – Charlotte, North Carolina 9:00 AM I am once again in the loving arms of the South, and with my younger adopted brother Tim and his family, just outside of Charlotte, NC. Yesterday, I took the direct flight from the Queen City of the North to the Queen City of the South. Before that, I made a trip to the Volvo … Continue Reading →
July 20, 2025 – Along the Mill Brook I’m standing here at my kitchen counter with large awning windows overlooking the Mill Brook with a breakfast beer in hand, a custom blend of Focal Banger and Luscious from the Alchemist in Stowe, VT. I am crying. Last night, the Boston Crusaders set a new record with the highest score ever performed by a DCI … Continue Reading →
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 … Continue Reading →
My hiatus from my DCI tour is just about to end. The five-day pause was very refreshing and needed to restore me for the long journey ahead to several more shows. Taking the efficient and affordable Southwest Airlines from San Francisco to San Diego after DCI West was the right thing to do. Staying with high school buddies who migrated here fifty years ago … Continue Reading →