Get ready for Fall with new Warm-ups!

Back-to-school means fall training for the 2016 marching season will be kicking into full gear and we’ve started thinking about all the essentials that music athletes need to feel great from the library to the field. Whether you’re happy to be back or counting down the days to Fall Break, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite styles for the whole team. Check them out below!

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Stay Warm with Fleece

Without a doubt, the Campus Microfleece Jacket from Team 365 is our favorite new jacket.

If you have to be out in cold temperatures and chilly winds, you want something can keep you warm without feeling stuffy or overheated. This fluffy fleece jacket is excellent at insulating body heat, keeping you protected from the temperature outside your jacket.

Add embellishment to any of our in stock warmups!

The Campus Microfleece Jacket is made from super soft 5.9 oz., 100% polyester microfleece with an anti-pill finish, comes in 16 vibrant team colors, and is available in a wide range of sizes: Men's (CH7254) XS-4XL, Ladies' (CH7255) XS-3XL, and Youth (CH7256) S-XL.

And at just $21.95 each (plus a little more for embroidery) it won't break the bank!

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Made for Performance 

adidas is known for their sports gear - that same research and technology is built-in to these warmups! The Climalite Utility Jacket is built with athletes in mind. Made from moisture wicking fabric, the patented Climalite fabric pulls sweat away from the body to promote cooling and lets you stay dryer longer during performances. Climalite Utility Pants are also available.

Full back, left chest, sleeves or yolk, add embroidery almost anywhere!!

The adidas Climalite Utility Jacket is made from 100% polyester tricot with the three stripe taping only available from adidas. This warm-up is available in 6 in stock colors and is available in Adult (CH7270) sizes S-3XL and Women's (CH7270W) sizes XS-2XL.

These warmups will keep you warm but are also comfortable and flexible enough to actually march or dance in.

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All Weather Protection

With its all-weather protection, and comfortable classic fit, the Collision jacket from Holloway is a Band Shoppe Best Seller!

If you're looking for function on and off the field, the Collision jacket is a perfect choice. The lightweight heather grey jersey lining adds a layer of comfort and warmth, and the outer Micron poly shell is wind and water resistant. Add in the Sable Pant, you can be sure that you're protected from head to toe!

Send us your logo or have our designers create your next embroidery!

The Collision Jacket's 100% polyester shell is lightweight, wind/water-resistant, and quiet for comfortable movement. It comes in 9 team colors and features a standard unisex fit Adult (CH7189) sizes S-3XL and Youth (CH7198Y) sizes S-XL, so there's no guesswork!

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Lightweight Brushed Tricot and fleeces, to all weather options, and warm up accessories like headbands, beanies, and gloves - no matter what style you choose Band Shoppe has an option for you. Check out our full selection of warm-ups and accessories at bandshoppe.com!

Post DCI Wrap Up

2016 DCI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS RECAP

Thursday, August 11 began an incredible weekend of drum and bugle corps competition as all of the top DCI teams met in Indianapolis to face-off for the 2016 title. The prelim round gave a taste of what to expect as the competition was fierce this year. All 37 corps in attendance stepped up their game with outstanding music and elegant pageantry making 2016 the most entertaining but difficult year to score yet.

All top 12 corps on field at Lucas Oil Stadium at Drum Corps International World Championships August 11-13, 2016.

PRELIMS

The Blue Coats, from Canton, OH scored the highest in corps history in the prelim round with a score of 97.225 and would continue to dominate throughout the rest of the competition. The 2014 and 2015 champion Blue Devils from Concord, CA trailed by 0.625 points with a score of 96.600 – the largest gap between the two corps this season. But the Blue Devils did take first place in the visual caption.

Rounding out the top 25, Carolina Crown (3rd, 96.263) was second in the visual caption over the Bluecoats and second in music over the Blue Devils. Santa Clara Vanguard (4th, 94.300), the Cadets (5th, 93.475), and the Cavaliers (6th, 93.213) finished in the top 6. Blue Knights (7th, 90.925), Phantom Regiment (8th, 90.600) and Blue Stars (9th, 89.975) finished closely together, all divided by less than a point.

Looking to make finals for the first time, The Academy (11th, 87.150) kept themselves in the running, with a 1.462-point lead over the Madison Scouts (12th, 85.688). With their show, “Quixotic,” The Boston Crusaders came out with a strong performance to put them in position for a strong semifinal round (13^th, 84.900). Troopers (14th, 83.438) were next followed by the open class champion Blue Devil B (15^th, 82.650).

Completing the top 25 who advanced to the semifinal round were Colts (16th, 82.575), Mandarins (17^th, 81.000), Oregon Crusaders (18^th, 79.900), Pacific Crest (19th, 78.775), Vanguard Cadets (20th, 78.688), Spirit of Atlanta (21st, 77.500), and Seattle Cascades (22^nd, 76.388). Legends (23rd, 75.975), Genesis (24th, 73.300) and Spartans (25th, 73.125) led the next pack of Open Class corps that all advanced to Semifinals on Friday.

SEMIFINALS

As the rain began to fall in Indy, the tension began to heat up inside Lucas Oil Stadium. All of the groups were on-par as the competition intensified. After the initial round, it appeared that the World Champion Blue Devils were in danger of being dethroned as the Blue Coats (1st, 97.263) scored ahead of the Blue Devils (2nd, 96.988) in the semifinal round. Carolina Crown (3rd, 96.925), and Santa Clara Vanguard (4th, 94.888) stayed steady in their positions while the “Green Machine” Cavaliers (5th, 93.775) and Cadets (6th, 93.225) swapped positions from prelims. Blue Knights (7th, 91.625), Phantom Regiment (8th, 89.763) and Blue Stars (9th, 89.475) finished in identical placements from prelims. The Crossmen (10th, 87.650) had a strong performance marking their third-straight final appearance. And making it to the World Class finals for the first time were The Academy (11th, 87.225) from Tempe, AZ.

Going into Semifinals, the Boston Crusaders (12th, 85.525) were in serious danger of missing finals for the first time in 17 years. But with a wink in their eye and a pep in their step, they performed their best show of the season. Called the comeback of the decade, the biggest upset of the night came when the Crusaders jumped into the last Finals-night spot at the expense of the Madison Scouts (13th, 85.263). Madison held a 0.788-point lead on Boston after the Prelims and fell out of the top-12 for the first time since 2009 and just the fourth time since 1973. 

A wink from Boston Crusaders trumpet player R.J. Thompson during their Semifinals performance on August 12.

RELATED: READ MORE ABOUT R.J. THOMPSON ON OUR BAND SHOPPE BLOG

FINALS

While the monsoon continued outside of Lucas Oil Stadium, over 22,000 fans of drum corps descended on Indianapolis as the excitement of finals built. The atmosphere was charged and the crowd was primed for a spectacular evening of entertainment.

All of the corps who reached the final round gave everything they had on the field for their final performances. As the Blue Devils have dominated the past 6 of the last 10 years, the Blue Coats pushed ahead and brought home their very first DCI World Championship title with the Blue Devils receiving 2nd place. The Blue Coats are only the 10th corps to have their name affixed to the Founders Trophy in the 44 years of DCI’s existence.

Carolina Crown not only received 3rd place with its score of 97.088, they took home the George Zingali Award for Best Color Guard, the John Brazale Best Visual Performance Award, and the Jim Ott Best Brass Performance Award.

The season ended on a high note for the Boston Crusaders. According to drum major Mark Hambleton, 2016 has been “one giant rollercoaster ride” for the corps that ended with a 12th-place finish and a score of 84.800. “Our corps is one of great resilience over the years,” Hambleton said. “We have a tradition of never dying, even when the odds are all against us. Even when everyone else around us told us we couldn’t do it, we knew we could, and obviously, perseverance led us to where we are today.”

A shot of the DCI Founders Trophy with the World Class Champion Blue Coats in the background.

And as the dust settles from Drum Corps International World Championships in Indianapolis, all of us at Band Shoppe would like to give a HUGE congratulations to all of the talented music athletes and dancers who took the field on August 11th through August 13th for the 44th annual DCI World Championships! You all looked and sounded fantastic, all of your hard work was evident in the extraordinary shows presented over the course of those three days. 

Band Shoppe also would like to thank all of the volunteers and support staff who devote their time and energy to make DCI World Championships happen. Your hard work is what makes this all happen! 

Thank you for a wonderful season! We look forward to next year and Drum Corps International’s historic 45^th anniversary.

Meet the Crusaders / Tony Madore

In celebration of the 2016 DCI Drum Corps Season, Band Shoppe and The Boston Crusaders are pleased to present Meet the Crusaders. This is part 8 of a 12 part series with Q & A with a few of the amazing people that make up this Corps of Giants!
Want more? read past Q & A's.

Tony Madore - 2016 Boston Crusaders Trumpet Section Leader

photo courtesy of the Boston Crusaders

Q: What is your full name, how old are and how many years have you been with the Boston Crusaders?

Tony Madore, 19 years old, this is my 4th year with Boston

Q: Where are you from?

East Lyme, Connecticut

Q: Where do you go to school?

University of Connecticut

Q: What do you what to study or what is your current major?

Landscape Architecture

Q: What is your role with the Boston Crusaders?

I am the Trumpet Section Leader

Q: What was your inspiration to become a Boston Crusader? 

My older Brother Max inspired me to become a Boston Crusader. This organization played a large role in helping my brother grow into who he is today. Thanks to Max and BAC I have learned so much about myself and have grown as a person more than I could have ever imagined.

 What does being a Crusader mean to you? 

To me, being a Boston Crusader means being the best version of myself every day, but also not letting anything stand in my way of my goals.

Q: What advice would you give to future Crusaders? 

Get to know as many Alumni as you can, their "back when I marched" stories are awesome! Especially because you'll tell a young member your own stories some day.

Q: Who inspires you? 

My Grandfather, Anthony Machado, who has taught me that no matter what life throws at you, staying level-headed and keeping your faith will see you through. He's taught me that the impossible can be achieved even when the odds seem against you. His peaceful way of life inspires me to approach each day with a clear mind. And to top it all off he's my best friend.

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B O N U S   Q U E S T I O N S !

What is your favorite kind of cookie?

Oreos, they are dangerously delicious

Who is your favorite Disney villain?

Scar from the lion king

What is the one, single food that you would love to have right now?

My Grandma's chocolate chip cookies that she only makes at Christmas time

What do you think cats dream about?

They probably dream about finally catching the mysterious red dot.

Meet the Crusaders / Meghan Dyer

In celebration of the 2016 DCI Drum Corps Season, Band Shoppe and The Boston Crusaders are pleased to present Meet the Crusaders. This is part 6 of a 12 part series with Q & A with a few of the amazing people that make up this Corps of Giants!
Want more? read past Q & A's.

Meghan Dyer - 2016 Boston Crusaders Flag Line

photo courtesy of the Boston Crusaders

Q: What is your full name, how old are and how many years have you been with the Boston Crusaders?

My name is Meghan Dyer, I am 18 years old, and this is my first year with the corps.

Q: Where are you from?

I'm from Lake Orion, Michigan

Q: Where do you go to school?

I will be attending Central Michigan University beginning this fall.

Q: What do you what to study or what is your current major?

My major is secondary education with a major in English and a minor in history.

Q: What is your role with the Boston Crusaders?

I am a member of the flag line in the color guard.

Q: What was your inspiration to become a Boston Crusader? 

I’ve wanted to be a Boston Crusader since I first saw them perform in 2011; Les Mis is one of my favorite musicals, and I loved Revolution. I was set on Boston, however, when they did RISE in 2013. I thought the show was so beautiful and the color guard was amazing. Crusader Cam also really influenced my choice; everyone seemed so fun and happy to be a member of the corps, and it made me want to be around such a positive atmosphere.

Q: What does being a Crusader mean to you? 

To me, being a Boston Crusader means always striving to be better than you were the day before and always motivating yourself to reach your full potential. It means being a member of a loving and supportive family and feeling at home when you're hundreds of miles away from it.

Q: What advice would you give to future Crusaders? 

Come to auditions with an open mind and a willingness to try new things and work hard. Having a solid work ethic and flexibility in your abilities, as well as a positive attitude, will get your far in the activity.

Q: Who inspires you? 

The entire staff inspires me! They are SO amazing at what they do and are fantastic teachers and facilitators of growth.

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B O N U S   Q U E S T I O N S !

hat is your favorite kind of cookie?

Peanut butter cookies are the bomb!

You’re a new addition to the crayon box. What color would you be and why?

I would be highlighter green because my energy level is always at a ten.

If you could sing one song on American Idol, what would it be?

Total Eclipse of the Heart! (I'll need a partner that isn't tone deaf like me to balance me out)

If you were a scented marker, what would you smell like?

Cotton candy

Who is your favorite Disney villain?

Gaston

What’s your secret hidden talent?

I can count to ten (poorly) in Japanese!

What is the one, single food that you would love to have right now?

Oatmeal Creme Pies! (I have some in my bus box!)

What’s your spirit animal & why?

I wanted to say a sea turtle but three people just told me it's an otter so I guess I was otterly wrong.

What do you think cats dream about?

I think cats probably dream about quantum physics and catnip.

Meet the Crusaders / RJ Thompson

In celebration of the 2016 DCI Drum Corps Season, Band Shoppe and The Boston Crusaders are pleased to present Meet the Crusaders. This is part 5 of a 12 part series with Q & A with a few of the amazing people that make up this Corps of Giants!
Want more? read past Q & A's.

RJ Thompson - 2016 Boston Crusaders Trumpet Player

photo courtesy of the Boston Crusaders

Q: Whats your name, age, and years how many years have you been with the corps?

I am RJ Thompson, I'm 17 and this is my first year with the Boston Crusaders

Q: Where are you from?

I am from Richmond, Texas.

Q: Where do you go to school?

I go to Kempner High School. I am hoping to go to school at Northwestern, for trumpet performance.

Q: What is your role with the Boston Crusaders?

I am a trumpet player.

Q: What was your inspiration to become a Boston Crusader? 

I grew up with drum corps, and knew some of the history, and seeing all of these seemingly random people come together and make this amazing, family-like organization and create something simply beautiful, while having so many hard times in the past made me realize that this is the place I should be.

Q: What does being a Crusader mean to you? 

Being a crusader is giving your all at anything put in your way. Seeing the corps’ history and seeing all of the rough times, and then seeing how those Giants pushed through to create something bigger than just to give all of us the opportunity shows me what it takes to be a giant, a Boston crusader.

Q: What advice would you give to future Crusaders? 

My advice to a future crusader is to just give yourself to the activity. No one here is going to make you uncomfortable, and no one supports you as much as the corps does, on and off the field.

Q: Who inspires you? 

Steve Brown, the Boston Crusaders Brass Consultant, inspires me.

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B O N U S   Q U E S T I O N S !

Q: What's your favorite kind of cookie?

My favorite kind of cookie is for sure a dark German chocolate dough, with dark chocolate chips, and a gooey chocolate center.

Q: Who is your favorite Disney villain?

My favorite Disney villain is with out a doubt Maleficent. She put someone to sleep, and literally nothing could wake her up. NOTHING. Pretty intense if you ask me...

Meet the Crusaders / Kaylyn Torres

In celebration of the 2016 DCI Drum Corps Season, Band Shoppe and The Boston Crusaders are pleased to present Meet the Crusaders. This is part 4 of a 12 part series with Q & A with a few of the amazing people that make up this Corps of Giants!
Want more? read past Q & A's.

Kaylyn Torres - 2016 Boston Crusaders Sabre Line Member

photo courtesy of the Boston Crusaders

Q: What is your full name?

Kaylyn Ena Torres

Q: Where are you from?

Originally from Manchester, New Hampshire but I live in Orlando.

Q: Where do you go to school?

I attended University High School, Orlando, in college I want to major in computer science/technology

Q: What is your role with the Boston Crusaders?

I am on the sabre line in the color guard

Q: What was your inspiration to become a Boston Crusader? 

A combination of being from the Boston area and having a lot of very inspirational people in my life March here made me feel a personal connection to the corps from the start. Watching Boston's shows have always given me a feeling no other corps could ever give.

Q: What does being a Crusader mean to you? 

Since I've been here everybody had been nothing but welcoming and extremely supportive. Being a crusader to me means coming together to do something so big and so beautiful that none of the individuals here could do on their own. But also doing it with fire in our eyes and with everything we have.

Q: What advice would you give to future Crusaders? 

Advice to a future Boston Crusader would definitely be to make it count. Always do your best and through all of the hard days don't allow yourself to forget why you came and why you love what you do.

Q: Who inspires you? 

Everybody else's hard work inspires me, my staff inspires me, and my family inspires me

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B O N U S   Q U E S T I O N S !

Q: What's your favorite kind of cookie?

My favorite kind of cookie is Macadamia nut.

Q: If you were a scented marker, what would you smell like?

I'd smell like strawberries

Q: Who is your favorite Disney villain?

Gaston from Beauty and the Beast

Q:  What’s your secret hidden talent?

I can cross one eye and keep the other one straight. (:

Q: What is the one, single food that you would love to have right now?

MAC AND CHEESE!

Q: What do you think cats dream about?

Cats dream about being tigers and have nightmares about fur balls

Band Shoppe's DCI Bingo Card

Are you planning to attend DCI World Championships this week? If so, check out our DCI Bingo Card!

As you watch the performances you can be on the lookout for these specific things, challenge your friends who can spot all of them first! Make it more difficult by using a group only ONCE on your card!

We hope DCI Bingo will keep you more engaged in the talent, creativity and musicality of each performance.
Enjoy the show!