Season 6 started off today with a total of 71 drumlines clashing head-to-head throughout four different competitions. Today, I was at the “4th Annual Midwest Drumline Showcase” hosted by Overture (who, oddly enough, was at a different show today). Kick-off day was a lot of fun, but I did have a few problems with the show. Firstly, the Music Ensemble judge was very loud in his criticisms and compliments. When the Mercury finished their first movement, he leaped up in the air and yelled “Holy s***, that was a great release guys!!!” and then he proceeded to post it on Twitter. Secondly, why was the venue in the middle of a busy freeway interchange? During The Drumming Dummers’ show, a semi unapologetically flattened their bass 3 player and two of their snare drummers. Fortunately, I was carrying a bicycle pump with me and was able to pump air back into them. Thirdly, my group didn’t win. Fourthly, the vendors were serving road kill. The same semi that pummeled The Drumming Dummers’ musicians squashed three squirrels, a skunk, four raccoons, three blind mice, and an octopus. Later, some people around me were complaining about the funny-tasting hamburgers. This incident almost made me consider thinking about contemplating becoming a vegetarian.

Caption awards are determined from every division, and not separately like before.

Best Music:

1 St. Paul Drummer Boyz: 25.45
2 Knights Drumline: 25.245
3 Mercury: 25.03
4 SouthBeat: 24.225
5 The Tullahoma Drum Machine: 24.15

Best Visual:

1 St. Paul Drummer Boyz: 12.61
2 SouthBeat: 12.17
3 Knights Drumline: 12.075
4 The Drumming Dummers: 11.735
5 Thunder: 11.665

Best General Effect:

1 St. Paul Drummer Boyz: 25.92
2 SouthBeat: 25.515
3 Knights Drumline: 25.445
4 Mercury: 25.13
5 The Tullahoma Drum Machine: 24.98

TOP 24 Drumlines as of January 30, 2011

1 St. Paul drummer boyz 63.98 (I)
2 Knights Drumline 62.765 (I)
3 rhythm hex 61.91 (I)
3 SouthBeat 61.91 (I)
5 Darklaw Sound 61.595 (I)
6 Mercury 61.275 (I)
7 One Day 61.06 (II)
8 DaBetas 60.25 (II)
9 Drums of Unspecified Identity 60.095 (II)
10 The Tullahoma Drum Machine 59.945 (I)
11 The Drumming Dummers 59.7 (I)
12 JonZ 59.235 (I)
13 Synechdoche Mystique 59.1 (II)
14 SoW Sound Power 58.955 (I)
15 winterwire drumline 58.855 (II)
16 Thunder 58.845 (I)
17 Crimson 58.215 (II)
18 Pulse 57.98 (I)
19 White Falcons 57.535 (II)
20 Double Time 57.505 (I)
21 Drummer's Delight 57.235 (I)
22 Diddle Gok Gok 57.23 (I)
23 Tidewater Rally 57.015 (II)
24 Night Area High School Indoor Percussion 56.62 (I)

Seriously, what was up with that heartless semi-truck driver?