THROW IT DOWN - AT DCI SHOW IN ALLENTOWN

THROW IT DOWN DIRECTOR - JOHN MAHER WILL BE AT THE DCI SHOW IN ALLENTOWN - FRIDAY, JULY 31ST.

Stop by and say hello and let us know what you think about Throw It Down.
Ask for a poster.

THROW IT DOWN DVD'S will be on sale at the Bluecoats Booth.


Should be a great competition. Can't wait to see the corps that have been out west. My nephew ia a huge Cavalier fan.

THROW IT DOWN - MARCHING.COM SPOTLIGHT

Marching.com Spotlight from Ken Martinson - CHECK OUT MARCHING.COM

http://www.marching.com/spotlight/throw-it-down-bluecoats-documentary/

Throw It Down captures intensity of drum corps
Professional filmmaker delivers outside perspective Throw It Down, an 88-minute documentary from director John E. Maher, offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the reality of marching in a top-ranked drum and bugle corps.

Read the full story on Marching.com


http://www.marching.com/spotlight/throw-it-down-bluecoats-documentary/

THROW IT DOWN - THEFILMYAP.COM REVIEW

This is a review from Caine Gardner of thefilmyap.com - CHECK IT OUT

LINK TO REVIEW: http://www.thefilmyap.com/?p=1593

Throw it Down Jul 15th, 2009 By Caine Gardner

If you think a film about marching drum corps can’t be anything special, prepare to be mesmerized. Throw it Down is a documentary by John Maher that follows the Blue Coats drum corps of Canton, Ohio from its first auditions to its final performance in 2006.
“We are not a band, we are drum corps – hands down, no ifs ands or butts about it,” drum major Joe Bertman declares in the early moments of the film. To think that the intensity associated with the drum corps is any less that on a football sideline, one would be severely mistaken
This isn’t picking up an instrument, walking in a straight line and playing a simple tune. It’s precision at its finest. Through a series of turns, steps and rotations, 135 individuals must transform themselves into a single entity in order to compete at the finals.
To achieve the level of success the Blue Coats aspire to, the corps spends 12 hours a day training over the summer months and when it all begins to take shape, it’s amazing. What once a jangled mass of humanity turns into a finely tuned beat machine. But their tribulations don’t stop there.
The road was the most surreal aspect of the film for me. A bus seat serves as the member’s home away from home for three-and-a-half months and their hotel suite is the floor of a gym at the host school. Each member has one suitcase, a sleeping bag and possibly an air mattress and that’s it.
The film also reveals that drum corps and marching bands go beyond the performers on the field. There are legions of family and friends behind the scenes that ensure the only thing on the players minds is performing.
The corps storms into the finals looking to improve on their fifth-place finish from a year ago. Will months of preparation push them over the top or will the months of pressure cause them to crack at the most inopportune time?
Throw it Down is a rare film in the sense that it actually needs to be longer. Viewers will become consumed with the culture of the corps and the camaraderie and bonds that are formed throughout the picture. At 88 minutes, the flick races to its conclusion and leaves us begging for more.
A truly wonderful film.
4 Yaps

THROW IT DOWN - OXFORD FILM FESTIVAL

OHIO FILM FESTIVAL UPDATE (PLEASE NOTE CHANGES)

PLEASE JOIN US FOR TWO SHOWINGS OF THROW IT DOWN AT THE OXFORD, OHIO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

AT THE ESQUIRE THEATRE - 320 LUDLOW AVE, CINCINNATI

#1 SUNDAY, JULY 26TH AT 4:15 PM - ESQUIRE THEATRE
#2 TUESDAY, JULY 28TH AT 9 PM – ESQUIRE THEATRE

DCI.ORG - THROW IT DOWN ARTICLE

Thank you to Laura Danielson and the folks at DCI for the online article on THROW IT DOWN.

HERE IS THE LINK:

http://www.dci.org/news/view.cfm?news_id=c3032b0b-a1c4-41cc-85ec-91daae1ff241

THROW IT DOWN AT DCI SHOW MANCHESTER, NH

THROW IT DOWN - TRAVELLED NORTH TO THE MANCHESTER, NH (MOOOOCHACHOS) DCI SHOW THIS PAST SUNDAY. 5:30 Start - Got a little sunburn from the metal stands. Fine performances from a wide range of Canadian & US Corps. Capital Regiment and Citations were very close at the top.

Moooochachos played a little Santana "Oye Como Va" singing included - no extra charge. Capital Reg color guard had a beautiful dance routine. 7th Regiment from New London continues to improve. I would love for some of these smaller corps to be able to attract more members. ST Kevin's Alumni Corps started out the show - "Don't ya know". Nice time. Small but well run show.

DCA SHOW IN WAYNE, NEW JERSEY

STRONG DCA SHOW IN WAYNE, NEW JERSEY HOSTED BY HAWTHORNE CABALLEROS. Reading Buccaneers come out on top. The rain held off until just after the final corps then poured. Stadium was packed and show was smooth and very professionaly run. The Buccaneer performance was clean and strong. All the competing corps were very competitive. The Hurricane's from Seymour, Ct had a great sound and finished second. The show serves somewhat as a reunion for corps alumni, with many going back to the 40's. The alumni corps - Cabs, Park City Pride, NYC Skyliners put on highly entertaining show with recognizable music. Love the Skyliner's snare line and the power of the Cabs corps. Cab Alumni drum major Jimmy Russo is always a crowd pleaser. Looks like things are going to build to a very exciting final in Rochester.

THROW IT DOWN AT DC SHOW IN WAYNE NEWTON, NJ

THROW IT DOWN WILL BE AT THE DCA SHOW THIS EVENING (RAIN WILLING) IN WAYNE, NEW JERSEY. THIS IS OUR FIRST DCA SHOW AND WE ARE PUMPED. WE WILL HAVE DVD'S, POSTERS AND T-SHIRTS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT THE DCA BOOTH.
STOP BY AND SAY HELLO AND MEET THE DIRECTOR - JOHN MAHER.

THANKS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.

WE SHOULD HAVE PICTURES AND INFO ON THE SHOW - SOON.

THROW IT DOWN AT JACKSON, NJ DCI SHOW

DCI SHOW - JACKSON, NJ

SRO CROWD












NOTES ON JACKSON, NJ DCI SHOW
LINEUP:
RAIDERS
TEAL SOUND
JERSEY SURF
CROSSMEN (Marching into stadium)
CRUSADERS
CROWN
CADETS

Went deep into Jersey on Monday expecting a small crowd at a small High School Field. Wrong ...
The Jackson Liberty High School facility is huge and the football stadium was overflowing, (SRO) with fans. The show was grrreat. The Raiders and Surf, (great uniforms), continue to improve and the Teal Sound had a skillful pit drummer and entertaining show although the velvet ropes caused a little trouble. I love the Crossmen's capes and their show is always underrated. The Crossmen's color guard is still waiting on uni's but were very sharp and precise. A lot of the Corps are starting their performace as soon as they step onto the field, in one way or another. Personally, I like this and think this is very entertaining, since I have the crazy idea that the performance should start the second the Corps marches through the gate and ends when they march out. Crusaders drill is very unique and fun while the Crown has the most pleasant sound I've heard this year. They carry themselves like a championship contender. As always, the Cadets are right there. Great setting, Great crowd, Great show. Oh yeah, it did not rain.

DRUM CORPS SHOW - BRISTOL, R.I.

DCI Show – Bristol Rhode Island

We took a trip up to the DCI show in Bristol Rhode Island the other day.

Arriving early we saw the flags whipping in the wind while the PA Speakers played John Philip Sousa. About an hour before the show the lightning kicked up and the rain poured down. Like many other fans, I took refuge under the stands where we received an extra few gallons of rain funneled from the seats above. Everybody was soaked and happy.

Paul, the MC for the show was very likable as he introduced the show.
It was amazing to see that all the corps were able to hold their footing in the wet grass. I think this is a real testament to their marching skills.

Later in the evening as a band of mist gathered up by the stadium lights, the Carolina Crown put on an amazing performance. Their green plumes stood out as they marched and played with precision. Because their routine required some contact with the ground, their uniforms were quite muddy as they left the field.

The capacity crowd was quite lively even with the rain and everyone was treated to a fireworks show as they left the stadium.

We had a pizza feast on the way home. All in all a nice night of drum corps.

THROW IT DOWN AT BRISTOL, RHODY TONIGHT

The THROW IT DOWN Director, John Maher will be at the BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND Drum Corps Show Tonight, Friday, July 3rd. We will blog with impressions of the show.

DRUM CORPS SHOW

The Throw It Down staff, ok two of us, were at the Bridgemen Drum Corps show in Bayonne, New Jersey on June 13th. Because of the rain the show was almost exclusively concert style. The music selection was very eclectic. It was great to hear the excellence of all the corps up close and personal, (the Drum Majors were right in the stands and often interacted with the crowd). The overall atmosphere was very warm and friendly and made for a great evening. Congratulations to those responsible. Thank you to Steve Vickers of Drum Corps World for sharing his vast drum corps knowledge and to John Yurkin of the Bridgemen for his hospitality.
A great evening of drum corps. Highly recommended for improved mental health.