Corps Showcase: Blue Devils

THE BLUE DEVILS

Not Duke. Right name, wrong side of the country.

The Blue Devils grew out of a disbanded VFW drum and bugle corps in Concord, California, and since 1957 has grown to be one of the most successful corps since the founding of Drum Corps International in 1972.

Explain the name: The 'blue' element was a holdover from the old VFW post, and 'devil' was a reference to the nearby Mt. Diablo in Concord.

Symbol: That one right there, which is a combination of 'B' and 'd' (which looks like a music note). This is actually the all-encompassing symbol that describes the BD Performing Arts, which fields the Blue Devils as well as a "B" and "C" corps, two winterguards and other ensembles.

Stripes, everywhere

Corps Style: The Blue Devils are known for their high intensity shows but relaxed attitude. This swagger comes from members who made it through a highly competitive audition process, in which very few who have never marched drum corps before are selected. Historically, the corps has been very partial to jazz, and has devoted entire shows to different genres. Within the last few years, the Blue Devils have become edgier and more avant garde in their shows, flirting with asymmetry in visual design and atonal music. The corps usually sets the standard in marching technique for DCI and boasts a color guard that has even received perfect scores in their caption.

Uniform: Black, white, and as you might have guessed, blue, are the corps' colors. The uniforms are usually black pants with a blue tunic, black shako, and in the past decade a long black skirt that wraps around one of the legs. Black and silver sequins also adorn the bottom of the tunic, and the pants have occasionally had a single, vertical white stripe. An older style of uniform from the 80's looked similar to an unbuttoned zoot suit that fit their California vibe.

Corps Traditions: The Blue Devils seem to have less of a focus on corps-exclusive traditions, but do have some important ones.

-Hackfest: At some point during spring training during free time, the veteran members form the year before will get together and attempt to play through the music from the previous year. Hilarity ensues for the members.
-Space Chords: The triple forte end to the lot warm-up for the hornline. Fans gather in the lot to hear some of the most colored chords in a drum corps warm-up mixed with atonality and a resolution. Does it need to be said that there are screaming trumpets?
-Winning: No, but seriously, they have won World Class an unprecedented 14 times. They are the New York Yankees of DCI, and they haven't placed less than 4th in what seems like forever. Members wear their championship rings on their gloves for finals, as if they are all saying "Deal with it."

Deal with it.