After a long absence, the DCA tour returned to Lynn, Mass. at Manning Field, the site of Mission Drums and the World Open in days gone by. The huge crowd that was on hand was treated to an excellent show and a finale that they will remember for a long time
The Hawthorne Caballeros ended their long victory drought by winning tonight's show and are red hot at this point of the DCA season. The Caballeros have added many visual additions and tonight they made the statement that they are ready to go after the Reading Buccaneers. The color guard has greatly improved and captured high honors tonight along with a horn line that is getting better each week
Tonight's runner ups, the Empire Statesmen and their "Las Vegas show" definitely will entertain the fans as their music is comprised mostly of Frank Sinatra tunes, a touch of Cirque du Soleil, and magic tricks that leaving you wondering how they did that.
Queen Elizabeth would be proud and highly entertained with the Connecticut Hurricanes British theme show in 2012. The Hurcs are very well balanced in all sections of the corps and the percussion feature will surely grab your attention. The percussion section was rewarded with high honors this evening.
Windsor Regiment is improving each week and have added three stained glass window panels on the field to reflect the shows cathedral theme 'Angels in the Architecture". The ballad number features the color guard using mini harps as props with large white double butterfly silks that fill the field. Definitely a corps on the rise.
The Sunrisers are presenting the classic music of "Carmen" this season and have much energy and aggressiveness in their performance. The group is certainly growing!
The Rockland Defenders presented a fine opening show exhibition as they performed many memorable drum corps selections. Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends as the six time World Open Champions, the Bayonne Bridgemen took the field. Large panels with pictures from years gone by are placed around the field and presented a show that only they can do. The "William Tell Overture" encore brought the house down and the fans to their feet. Paying tribute to the 27th Lancers, the Bridgemen joined forces with former members of the 27th Lancers with a mass playing of "Danny Boy". With over one hundred horns combined, this was definitely a drum corps moment.
Famed trumpet soloist, Ritchie Price played our National Anthem and is was good to see him playing again after his lengthy illness. The fans deserve a huge amount of thanks as they were well into this event and gave much support to all the corps while announcer Paul Cain along with his "you may enter the field" call along with the fans is to be credited. An Olympic retreat was held before the scores were announced as the victorious Hawthorne Caballeros performed a victory concert. A huge thanks to all corps and especially George Iacono and his committee for bringing this event back to Lynn!
Bill Flaker DCA PR Team
