Report: BYBA Brass Explosion

Here is a show report from Brass Explosion 2004, thought it would be nice with the build up to Finals. I have written this purely from a spectators view point and that no offence is intended to anyone! I was there all day and watched all the bands/corps and had a top quality view high up, just left of the 50 yard line.

By Tammy Longman

At this point I should apologise if I make any mistakes, missed something, or just simply identified your repertoire incorrectly, I certainly cant recall every piece of music! I have to say that the day for me was one of personal favourites and I thoroughly enjoyed myself, albeit chilled to the bone, it was well worth the 340 mile round trip! Make sure you pack your blankets for this coming weekend!
So here goes...

Division 4
Chase D&B Corps â?? First up for the day were Chase, resplendent in their bright yellow uniforms. With their repertoire of popular rock favourites I wasn't disappointed when they played two of mine, Guns n'Roses Sweet Child of Mine with a fab contra solo and Bon Jovi's Livin on a Prayer (reminded me of my Karaoke debut at Pontins this year! )

Beeches â?? Big in number and bright blue uniforms Beeches entered the arena. It struck me how young they all looked, but I was treated to a tidy show with a nice sound. There were competent soloists throughout and amongst other old classics I was treated to yet another personal fave Caravan! 3 favourites in 2 bands, could the day get any better!!!

Phantom Knights â?? Another young corps, sporting one of my favourite uniforms! Playing music from the popular artist Pink, this band had been given something that they can identify with and clearly enjoy performing. I was treated to some good drill moments particularly the line rotations in the percussion feature. And the party really got started in the closer where it was rounded off with big flags running through the corps by the guard dressed in their appropriately coloured pink uniforms.

East Kilbride BB â?? Our friends all the way from Scotland were true to form, as their show burst into life with the fanfare from 20th Century Fox, closely followed by a good rendition of 007 the drill reflecting a '7'. A tidy drill show incorporating confident pass throughs. They saved the best until last though with a great up beat version of ROCKY!!!, that the band obviously love playing... yet another personal favourite!

Revolution Showcorps â?? Opening with a Spanish feel Revolution meant business from the off. Barbara Ann started out with a rarely heard contra solo (well done!) and the corps looked to the audience to help them along encouraging clapping along with the rhythm. With another fave in Mccarthur Park, this corps put their heart and soul into their performance.

Gainsborough GB â?? A new face to BYBA and their first show to a BYBA crowd. After a nervous start this band soon got into the swing of things and the audience were treated to a mixture of modern and old favourites. A montage of nursery rhymes, Yellow Submarine with some great back sticking from the drummers and the Tide is High with some great bell lyre solos. Showing a multitude of talent with swapping between different instruments I hope this band decide to entertain us again after the welcoming crowd reaction, who were clearly entertained.

Halifax BB & GB â?? With some great moments Halifax entertained us with Robin Hood Prince of thieves, and some great use of bell tones in Icecastles. A well controlled and competent performance, left me thinking that I was grateful not having to pick a winner in this division today!

Division 3
Hessle High School â?? With the mood building and a dramatic opening unfolding with the use of coloured 'hankies' from the brass, the audience were treated to a show of Disney tunes. Baloo and Mowgli made an appearance for the Jungle Book pieces and a bee appeared for flight of the bumble bee played by a lightning fingered pit section! The saxophone feature for the Cats music was well highlighted by the use of masks rounded off by a big flag finale.

Equinox â?? A very positive, enthusiastic, start let me know straight away that this corps wanted the audience to stand up and listen. With a very fast moving theme from Robin Hood to an emotional I dreamed a dream with a great soprano solo, this corps meant business!

City of York Scouts â?? A confident dynamically controlled start took us into California Dreaming. With a jazzy feel at times York treated us to a great rounded sound. The pit feature showed off some good drill moments. A great interpretation of River Deep Mountain High showed good use of the brass voicesâ?¦ and you've got it yet another personal fave having played it 'back in the day' myself.

Polesworth Pioneers â?? Treating us to Miss Saigon, Polesworths show was full of visual embellishments that enhanced and interpreted the music well. The kit drummer held the percussion together often playing difficult rhythms. Some good emotional solo work from one of the sopranos and a great bass brass duet.

Silhouettes â?? This show oozed fun through out, a strong opening with Die Another Day and good musical interpretation in the theme from Austin Powers. A fast, high energy Everybody needs Somebody from the Blues Brothers and a jazzy rendition of Live and Let Die. Unusually this show ended with a ballad, Wind Beneath my wings played by a great soprano soloist with sympathetic backing from the rest of the hornline.

Atherstone Scouts â?? Last up in Division 3, the award for the loudest supporters goes to Atherstone! Spurred on by the energy from the stand Atherstone invited the audience to 'Look towards the skies' where the band formed in a space ship shape built up the tension and treated the audience to a Close Encounter. With a light sabre re-enactment from the guard in Star Wars, saxophone spins in War of the Worlds Atherstone had the crowd believing they were on another planet! After a spin on the dance floor to the Time Warp the show rounded off nicely with Star Trek.

Division 2
Trinity School Showband â?? With the roaring fanfare of Earth Wind and Fire's In the Stone (yes you've guessed it another fave!), Trinity took to the field. Penny Lane had a great pit intro and the band treated the crowd to a great foot tapping jazzy feel, the brass ensemble feature at the front of the field was cool. Some great solo work in Against all Odds from a baritone and then a strong back field soprano solo in Copacabana finished off the show nicely.

Pacemakers â?? Making half the crowd jump out of their seats Pacemakers succeeded in having the loudest start of the day. Playing New World Symphony and a 'Mars' style percussion piece, Pacemakers clearly like performing this show. Again Pacemakers were furnished with competent soloists on Soprano and Flugel (?).

Donisthorpe Scouts â?? With a cool jazzy feel throughout, Donisthorpe entertained with yet more personal faves, Mr Bo Jangles featuring an excellent brass trio and Moondance featuring great baritone and soprano solos. The percussion feature was interpreted well by the brass drill on the field.


Distant Thunder â?? Bringing Phantom of the Opera alive, Thunder roared onto the field taking no prisoners from the off! A strong opening statement hitting the visual high point spot on! Some great visual embellishments throughout the show with a feast of cool soprano moves including a spin and ripple down the line. With a classy interpretation of the theme, the Phantom finally appeared something that has been waited for all season! Some great up tempo moments contrasted by an emotional quiet ending, Thunder meant business today and the crowd were left in no doubt about it!

Stafford Lancers â?? With the biggest crowd reaction of the day, Lancers bought their Russian theme onto the field. The striking guard presence emphasised the theme with themed silks and role play. The excellent quartet in the second piece came over well as did the strong baritone line in Troika. Troika was further emphasised by the 'pods' of musicians moving around the field as different voices of the hornline were introduced. A good musical and controlled performance all round.

Midsomer Norton - A good confident start from Norton, saw a well performed dynamically controlled musical performance. The pit was set up on the field and an array of talent was showed off by the percussionists who hurriedly got on with their job, to great effect. A very exposed show for the numbers on the field often marching to at least 6 pace intervals, Norton treated the audience to amongst others Love For Sale (yes another fave!) and Malaguena.


Division 1
Forgemen D&B Corps â?? A strong opening start with silent drill from the percussion was no warning for what was coming! Forgemen commanded a great presence on the field, with frantic drill moves and vocal chants. A small but extremely talented guard performed well, especially in the ballad were the solos were enhanced by the drama created. A fantastic climax at the end it was clear everyone had performed flat out!

Northern Star D&B Corps â?? With fast tempo drill and vocal chants to start the mellophones hit the stand with some great runs. It was barely noticeable that this corps had no marching percussion, with the pit producing a melodic and complementary sound throughout. Another dramatic ballad enhanced by the guard with their silks shaded lilac through to dark purple took us to First Circle (my last fave of the day!) A great musical interpretation of the piece was emphasised by great body movements. Again I was left being grateful that I did not have to decide a winner in this division!


Overall I thought it was a great day of entertainment and I want to congratulate all that was there. Its been another great season and this Saturday will see the end of the chapter for 2004. I have purposely not mentioned points and placings, however I congratulate everyone for their relative successes this year. I hope you've enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed my day at Brass Explosion and this season as a whole!