John says the 2008 “An Evening in December” will be like none other that came before this one.
Every year he says that, but based on what he’s shared so far, wow, he’s not kidding.
Without spoiling any surprises, just realize that this year you may surprised by the following changes:

• Artistically, throw out everything you have come to expect. Whether you’re a first-time audience member, or a veteran of any of the last 15 productions, just when you think you know what’s coming, be ready for a surprise. Unexpected staging, unexpected plot directions, unexpected shifts in focus will lead to unexpected results for the audience.
• Musically, be prepared for radical surprises in its flow, format, and feel. That means veteran showgoers, who think they can predict the opening number, closing number, and everything between, will be kept guessing to the end.
• Visually, from set design to costumes, nothing that the audience has seen from past productions will be rehashed in this year’s show. Just when you think you know what you’ll see next, the visual will change.

I can tell you this: the previous year’s ten performances spread over two weeks have given way to a new schedule for 2008, just seven performances over one week.

So, if you have someone special in mind to take to the 2008 production of “An Evening in December,” don’t miss out when tickets go on sale in the fall!
And, after the show, let me know if you indeed experienced moments of puzzlement!

Second.Wind

Sunday, I witnessed the tight horn licks, straight up and funky rhythm section and spot-on vocals of “Second Wind” the new surge of energy in its 2008 rebirth of the ’70s Sacramento horn bands Sparrow, Slippery When Wet, and East Wind Band.
The period of mental and physical exhaustion was purely my own, AFTER the concert.

The venue: the Sacramento Buddhist Bazaar, 2008, where thousands came for teriyaki and culture and walked away saturated with funk and soul.
The music: arrangements from James Brown, Tower of Power, Average White Band, Sly, Santana, and others way too greasy and funky to list (and it’s way too bad that I didn’t bring a video camera or audio recording.)

For now, you’ll just have to live with photos.

Related Links

• myspace.com/secondwindjams
• FunkyFlea’s Second.Wind

Lisa and I uploaded a hundred or so of our photos in a Picasa web album. If you’re looking for a photo from an actual show, you’re out of luck; we were on stage almost all of the time. And, we dare not shoot anything on stage, for fear of causing a flash that might distract the audience or jeopardize the safety of a dancer (even though someone in one of the audiences actually fired off several flashes during a show).

But you’ll get a good feel for what goes on during dress rehearsals, backstage during a show, in the “First N-O-E-L” minivan, and at cast parties.

I’ve been a DCI fanatic since I saw a video of the Santa Clara Vanguard in ‘73. I’ve witnessed some great live performances and was one of the lucky ones in the stands at DCI World Championships in Birmingham ‘80 and Pasadena ‘07. Milt, my bro, marched in Freelancers and is one hecka lower brass horn instructor with the World Champion Mandarins. Name a song and he and his best friend Bret can identify the corps that included it in their repertoires. Milt named his first-born, Madison!

So, what are the top ten ways experiencing AEID is like experiencing DCI?

1. drum line
2. hundreds of pieces of percussion equipment and props (rain sticks, gourds, and amazing stick work) in “Sing We Now”
3. John Williams’ “Cadillac of the Skies” in our repertoire, performed by Cadets ‘02 and ‘01, the Academy ‘02, Freelancers ‘89, and others
4. plenty of fluids and chow “backstage” to feed the cast and crew
5. audience applause accompanied by disbelief in what they just saw
6. you can FEEL the sound
7. the buzz on the street from those who witnessed the show to those who didn’t
8. guaranteed family-friendly content in this day of “wardrobe malfunctions and risque dancing”
9. our final curtain call elicits thunderous applause and a standing “O”
10. when the last show ends, there will be tears, hugs, and goodbyes from the members, many who won’t see each other until next year’s performances

(Bret and Milt, thanks for inviting me to enjoy the DCI experience in Southern California this past summer. Using GPS and the Internet to find Cavaliers’ finals run-through practice field, almost rear-ending a car after finals (“Shields UP!”), midnight munchies, BD’s “blow-my-face-off” victory concert, “Eureka!” during SCV’s show, debating the controversy over Cadet’s prelim disappearance, sleeping bags in airports …all great memories. I shot the photo of Madison right after their Friday show, just outside the Rose Bowl.~geewhiz)

John’s message to the cast last night during our final dress rehearsal is succinct, clever, memorable.

Fun! - Now that we know the show, have fun. Our performance level will go up accordingly.
Attitude of Service - Be humble, it’s not about who is the star or who has the solo or who is standing center stage. It’s about focusing on serving God and serving the audience.
Committment to Excellence – Now we must give 100% effort every night, because God deserves our very best. Because when Jesus died for us on that cross, God was giving us His very best.
Energy - Some of the audience is coming in to the show bearing problems at home or work, fighting traffic and parking, standing in lines, a stranger in a strange place. We must help them forget all that and do it with an incredible energy that leaps off that stage.
Smile – If you’re having fun, tell your face. Smile at an audience member, especially the one that looks like they really need it.

Put those all together and all five are expressed in our F.A.C.E.S.
Come to think of it, these are good words of instruction for living a Christian life.