This was the kick-off weekend for the Small Drum Corps Association (SDCA).  With their first two shows (Menomonee, MI and Fond du Lac, WI), the expectations were not real high, but the results exceeded those expectaions...expecially in Menomonee

The host corps in Menomonee, the Northernaires, did an outstanding job of promotion, and all reports indicate that more than 500 fans watched Minnesota's "Minne Brass" garner46% of the popular vote to 44% for the Royal Airs...giving MBI the first-ever gold medal in the SDCA.  I was not in attendance,., so I can only report what 3 different people told me.

I made the drive to Fond du Lac on Sunday, March 22, and this show was a bit of a mess as the host corps, Twilight Knights, did not show up and were not to be reached despite many attempts. Though listed as a Fond du Lac corps, Twilight Knights are housed in Florida, and for some reason, did not make it to the great north for either show this weekend.  They could not be reached by phone, so we are all praying that nothing serious happened with them.

 I arrived at the show and was immediately drafted into the role of announcer and Master of Ceremonies because the host corps had no one ready to do that job....and I loved it!

Here is how it worked:  corps came into the arena, did their shows, and the crowd was asked to use their cell phones to report their favorite corps of the day.  The results were immediate.  However, since there were only about 50 people in the stands...and maybe 20 cell-phone users who could judge, the results are not to be taken seriously....just not enough voters to make the final tally legitimate.

None-the less, the show was entertaining and fun.

Blue Saints, from Sudbury, Ontario, Canada opened the show with about 10 brass and 6 percussion.  They marched a complete field show, but they were very young and inexperienced. Their "Cirque de Soliel" show was entertaining and the kids held their own, although they had a myriad problems with intonation, tempo and individual showmanship.

The Northernaires from Menomonee, MI were next to take the arena...and they wowed the crowd.  Doing a full field show, they took off the line with the Caballero "rumps" which gave me the chills and brought the small crowd to its feet. They really showed us what 15 well-balanced brass players can do.

The Big Blue was next, playing Ken Norman's arrangements of some great Crawford charts:  Chicago, Watermelon Man, I'll Walk with God.  The were very good...and it was fun seeing three brass players pick up bass drums for the drum solo.  They were a class act, even though they had a limited "field show"...17 horns and 4 percussion.

Following a 15-minute intermission, Minnesota Brass took the floor and showed the crowd just why they were #2 at 2008 DCA...these cats can flat-out play..almost at a Blast-like level.  Their music from "Batman, the Dark Knight" left the crowd calling for more. If this group is the MBI foundation, they could surprise a lot of people in Rochester...as they did in 2008..and what a joy listening to Roger Grupp screech those solos again.

While the corps assembled for the mass playing of Norman's arrangement of "Climb Every Mountain" (which was drop-dead gorgeous..Ken wrote great Baritone parts), the crowd texted their choices and picked the Northernaires as their favs and placed Minne Brass in the silver-medal slot. RA took third today.

This was a fun day...and the venue is outstanding...bringing drum corps back to the small towns that enjoyed shows during the 1960's.  Ferrara and Williams are to be commended for this courageous attempt to create a new, and risky venue for drum corps fans.

 I believe that SDCA will be successful in the near future....it is a great alternative to DCA and DCI shows which are generally unavailable to the fans in the smaller midwest towns....once the member-corps realize that the venue is legit, they will prepare more polished and more enteraining shows.  But, even now, SDCA is providing a great "musical bang for the buck."

Since I was drafted into the announcer's role, I was unable to take photos...but Jim White and Will Koenig will be sending me some...and I will post them, both on the RA website and on the SDCA website.

The next two shows are tentatively scheduled for New Lenox, IL on  May 1 and Batavia, IL on May 2nd.  Keep checking the SDCA website for information..and come out and support this effort.

Slainte'