What A Night!!
July 15, 2006

Ahhh Wildwood: visions of the boardwalk, buffets, babes, beefcake and of course The Bridgemen. It's been 34 years (June 1972) since we left a permanent mark on the city by the sea. 1972 was our first State Championship, but certainly not our last. In those days, that was a big thing. There was Blue Rock, Sac, Garfield, Muchachos, Saints, Bon Bons and many other corps that always seemed to get in our way, but not in June of '72. Now, we're ready to make another statement, if we can get the sand and salt air off our minds.

It was quite evident that the Margaritaville atmosphere permeated most of our noggins as we began our Saturday practice. Our astute leader spotted this lethargy immediately and brought us down to earth with a rousing, “Get your heads on straight!” pep talk. He pushed the right buttons at the right time. We were now focused on the task at hand and proceeded to practice with the intensity that has become synonomous with the 2006 version of the legendary corps from Bayonne. The weather held up and we were blessed with cloud cover which made our 4+ hour rehearsal very bearable and successful. We're ready for the show.

As we gather and start to don our eye-catching coats around 9:00 PM, the Jersey Surf is getting ready to perform. The Surf passes our ranks and immediately the B'men populus begins to applaud and encourage our young friends from South Jersey. The intensity on their faces was apparent, but you could see by their eyes they are touched by the rousing welcome and support from their “old” pals from Bayonne. They were ready and we'll be next. Are we ready?

We approach the field after a crowd-pleasing Surf performance and we're greeted by some very flattering words from the contest MC. Words are nice, but the proof is in the performance. The “look” is there, the Bridgemen are ready to perform. We take the field and our 3rd performance of the year brought the crowd to their feet and smiles on their faces. This is what an entertaining Drum Corps does: they give you goose bumps and make you happy. Mission accomplished? Hold your horses, not quite. Let's get the Surf out here and collaborate on a “blow your doors off“ version of Battle Hymn. As the young talented Drum Majors of the Surf take over, they expertly lead 120+ horns through a incredible, once in a lifetime runthrough of Battle Hymn Of The Republic. AWESOME!

WHAT A NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT A YEAR !!!!!!!!!!! WHAT A CORPS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Next: August 5, 2006, Allentown, Pennsylvania. Another town very familiar with the Bridgemen magic. Are we up to the task? I'll tell you what, “Don't bet against us!”

- John Richard, Drum Major



Wildwood Weekend Was A Lovefest With the Audience!!
July 15, 2006

We were invited to participate in the Jersey Surf home show on their turf. After the respect they showed us at Bridgemen's Tournament of Stars show, we were eager to show their home crowd a good time! The Jersey Surf performed just before us in our home show (June 10, 2006) and then parked themselves in formation and uniforms (to the side) while we performed. The comraderie they displayed to us that night endeared them to many of us. It doesn't hurt that a few of our members (Kristin and Beth) have kids in one of the last strong junior corps in New Jersey.

Many Bridgemen members congregated at the Apollo hotel in Wildwood Friday night, July 14th, ready for an active weekend of partying, rehearsal, a rippin' performance ... and a little more partying.

Trap set player Sean's stories of wild behavior and funny goings on could not be substantiated. “Ummm, I don't know nuttin' about that,“ said a few veterans.

Nonetheless, we gathered at our practice field on Saturday and were hyped up by Executive Director George Lavelle to push this show forward and realize our potential as Bridgemen performers. We had already given strong performances in Bayonne, NJ and Bridgeport, CT. It was time to turn things up a notch and take this to the next level!

We used our practice time wisely and made progress in playing our instruments well or performing with guard equipment well, then putting that together with drill. It's amazing the level of talented performers who have joined in on “Banana Power!”

After Executive Director George Lavelle motivated us to try harder, it was soon evident that things were coming together. We moved beyond concentrating on our drill spots, music, and tempo. We began performing more emotionally, musically, and expressively. Each time we yelled “HYPE!” in rehearsal, it was with greater intensity, symbolizing our devotion to yellow & black.

We were blessed with a nice field to practice on (about 150 feet from the show site) and good weather that day. The forecast called for temperatures in the 90s and an unforgiving sun. Instead, with cloud cover, we were able to make progress without getting beat down by the weather.

Fans and curious onlookers stayed to watch our rehearsals, mostly on the other side of the chain link fence. Their enthusiastic smiles and applause gave us a taste of what was to come. Rehearsal came and went quickly; almost too quickly. Then it was time to cool down and prepare for the next leg of the journey: our performance at night.

After our dinner break and an opportune shower, we assembled back by the equipment truck to retrieve our familar zoot suits, a hallmark image of the corps since 1976. We grabbed our coats (either yellow or black) and made our way over to sectional warmups. We worked ourselves up as we neared closer to showtime. After the prolonged wait, we were asked to make our way back to the equipment truck. Then waited some more! Well, it gave us an opportunity to applaud the Jersey Surf as they marched past; they've dedicated their summer to perform in the junior corps activity. God bless them!

Soon we were geared up again and made our way into the stadium to watch the closing moments of Jersey Surf's show from behind. Their beautiful melodies and lush chords demonstrated why they're an up-and-coming corps. Their confidence and enthusiasm added to the warm atmosphere as we waited with our fellow Bridgemen in line.

Though the stands were small, the crowd was lively. One hornline member commented, “I like it better this way. It's a small, intimate setting. It'll let us show them impact like they've never heard!”

Finally we were given the go ahead to make our way onto the field and we claimed it as our own. We came onto the field via the back gate, from the opposite side this time (Side 1), and made our way over to center field, strutting along doing our knock. We set up our opening formation and awaited the opening command to begin.

As we stood on the starting line, the crowd let us know how well they remembered us and couldn't WAIT to see what we had in store for them. They yelled “Glad to have you back Bridgemen!“ and “We've waited years for your return!” and more things to set the festive mood. Well, that kind of appreciation doesn't go unnoticed by The Bridgemen and we were suddenly MORE fired up to entertain!

Drum Majors Jim Jordan and John Richard soon got the show underway with the opening drum phrase that led to a wall of sound from our immense hornline! The small crowd of spectators voiced their immediate awe and began a lovefest with us that made for a great night. We gave the Wildwood audience a show they'll never forget! The dramatic strains of Pagliacci soon melted away into the uplifting and lively Land of Make Believe. The crowd's response at song's end was outrageous!

My Favorite Things allowed us to travel down a different road musically as we let the night air fill with the dramatic yet jazzy mood that this chart delivers. Melodies passed back and forth between the various voices and built to a pulsing drive at the end that had us all revved up, performer and spectator alike. We changed moods again with Summer of '42, a piece about romance and loss. It allows us to demonstrate that this Alumni Corps can play lush passages and demonstrate our range of dynamics and musicality. The comedic talent of our drum majors livened up Bananas as we gave the crowd a good chuckle and showed our mischievous side.

Of course it was In The Stone they most likely left the stadium whistling. Who couldn't love this song, this celebration of life? It may be the funky chart that's most associated with our glory days. We left no one disappointed as we performed the classic that had some in the crowd clapping along with us.

The next thing we knew, we were in the opening notes of our St. Andrew's anthem, The William Tell Overture, then building it to an intense volume level that had the crowd screaming. We left no doubt in the crowd's minds that we're the consumate entertainers!

After we finished our show, the show's commentator deadpanned, “Well now that the ocean has been pushed back 50 feet, we'd like to thank The Bridgemen for joining us this evening!” The Jersey Surf's hornline came out and joined our ranks for an emotional and LOUD performance of Battle Hymn of the Republic, a song important to the new era of the Bridgemen. A song we played in the Memorial Day Parade of 2005, celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Bridgemen.

It was a memorable end to our antics on the field and set the mood for the celebration to come afterwards. We laughed and enjoyed each other's company late into the night, thankful that we're a part of something special. Only two shows left to go this season!



A Message From a Member of the Jersey Surf!!
July 15, 2006

Hey Folks,

I received this email below from Bob Jacobs. It was sent to him by one of his corps members. I thought everyone involved should see this and what effect we caused and enjoyment we created for the kids at Surf.

I am very proud of this drum corps because when Surf went by us and you all cheered, it made me realize, you all get what this is about. And what you showed me by doing that, not once but again when they went by us to perform, was what A CLASSY DRUM CORPS we have here!!!!!! This is what drum corps is supposed to be about and that we are not above anybody and we treat everybody with the proper respect they deserve!!!!

This is really a big thing we did here Saturday!!! And hopefully as we go forward, we are able to do it again and again with our little brothers & sisters from the Surf!!!!!!

Thanks for showing your class and to having another great weekend being Bridgemen!!!

Hype!!!
- George



I didn't know much about the Bridgemen until our first show together in Bayonne. The staff gave us an abbreviated background but made sure to get across to us that this corps meant a lot to a lot of people. After that camp, a few of us from Maryland got a better understanding of the New Jersey tradition in the Winslow parking lot with Gabe. Being a nostalgic person myself, it was not suprising that my heart strings were immediately plucked by the story of the Bridgemen and the legacy they left behind.

When we got to see them that night at the Bayonne show, I was blown away by not only the volume produced by this group of yellow-clad people, but the unabashed love and passion for their craft. It became crystal clear to me that night that this was an organization that left a gaping hole in the drum corps universe the day it had to walk away.

So when I heard we were doing an encore with them at our home show, I was a little more than excited. At rehearsal, all the guys and gals patted our backs and welcomed us into their ranks. They asked where we were from, how long we had marched, how we liked the heat and so on. We started to play and I couldn't even hear myself think ... which for once, was a good thing.

That night at the show, we marched past them only to be cheered on with a chorus of “Good luck!” and “YEAH Surf!” I thought to myself, “Can these guys come to every show?” As we watched from the sidelines, they put on their outrageous show of gags and unbelievable power and it was hard to believe we'd soon be standing next to them. The time came and we ran out on the field and found the faces we had become familiar with at rehearsal. We played “Battle Hymn” and melted the faces of every one in the audience, but the whole time, all I could think of was how important this was to every one standing around me and sitting in the make-shift stands. I thought about all the things that were so important to me, all the things that have deep-rooted meaning for Marylanders or Baltimoreans. It was indescribable to be a part of something that meant so much to so many people and to have a sense of what they have been feeling for decades.

I wanted to hug them all and shake their hands after the show and tell them how much it meant for me as an outsider to be a part of their greatness for a night. I know a lot of us Surf kids felt the same way.

Hopefully some day I'll hear some one say “Hey, remember in '06 when the Jersey Surf performed with the Bayonne Bridgemen?” and I'll say ... “Yeah, I think that rings a bell.”

- Amy W.


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