[August 04, 2011] Going to the fair Tweet Aug 04, 2011 (Kokomo Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- When the Kokomo High School Marching Wildkats moved to the track show circuit in 2010, Director Eric Thornbury found he had more freedom to design a show that would not only impress the judges, but would also be enjoyed by the home football game crowds. "We want to support the community, and not be about this esoteric show that nobody gets," Thornbury said. Friday, the band will be among 45 competing in the Indiana State Fair Band Day, in the state fair grandstand. The Tipton High School band is also competing in the contest. Preliminary competition begins at 9 a.m., and Tipton's band will be first on the field. Kokomo has the fourth performance slot, at 9:30 a.m. The top 16 will move on to the evening competition, which starts at 8 p.m. The show will also be Thornbury's last event with the band, as he has accepted a job with the Noblesville school system. He said he's glad his last show with Kokomo has been a crowd pleaser at competition, but he's sad he won't see the home football crowd's reaction. "It's bittersweet. I said 'I want to sneak into the first home football game and sit in the bleachers with sunglasses on,'" he said. Tipton Blue Devils Director Rodney "Top" Fletcher said his band's show is based on the four basic elements of life -- air, water, earth and fire -- using a concert piece the band members liked, called "The Elements." Props include four big murals depicting the elements and an announcer. Fletcher said the show is "very cerebral," and is a departure from the usual rock-and-roll shows Tipton has been known for in recent years. "Kokomo's doing that this year, so we'll go the other way," he joked. He said the music is difficult, but "the kids are playing it well and we enjoy it." He said the Blue Devils have just missed getting into the top 16 to make the night show the last few years, but he thinks this may be the year they reach that goal. "I think this is probably the best unit I've had since I've been here," Fletcher said. "We'll just wait and see." His goal is to give the students a well-rounded band experience, with concert, marching, pep and jazz bands, and not put too much emphasis on one of those programs over another. The Blue Devils compete at the state fair and then will play at home football games and represent Tipton at parades, he said. They will also march in the Indiana State School Music Association festival, which gives gold, silver and bronze awards based on a standard, rather than place awards for competing against other bands. Kokomo's show, called "The Grid," features music from the movie "Tron" and the Styx hit "Mr. Roboto." Thornbury said instead of the band's uniform shirts, they are wearing silver shirts, and they've replaced the plumes on their hats with three CDs on a wire that stick out of each one. "The CDs catch the light. We had no idea how cool it would look," Thornbury said. They also use a drum machine and synthesizer, and lots of robotic movements. A popular part of the show has been the addition of break dancers, Thornbury said. He saw the school's dance crew meeting after school one day, and noticed they did some robotic moves. "I thought, 'We have to incorporate these robot dancers into our show. These guys are phenomenal. They've stolen the show," Thornbury said. He said the judges and the crowds at the competitions have "gone crazy nuts" over their show. At the Wayne County track show contest, Kokomo placed fifth and won the best music award. The band was eighth of 20 at Muncie Southside and then placed third at Winchester. Thornbury said that was the band's first top three finish since moving from the Indiana State School Music Association to the track show circuit. Thornbury said the band placed ninth of 49 bands at its first state fair competition in 2010. He hopes to be among the top 16 to make the evening show, and maybe to beat last year's finish. "We plan on making the night show. That's an accomplishment in itself," Thornbury said. "We're still pretty new to the activity. There are the same groups that have always done well. You have to do really well to break into that group." He's glad to have had a successful final show with the Wildkats. "Every once in a while, you get one of those shows that comes together really well and is well-received. This is one of those shows. I couldn't have had a better show and a better band to end my 15 years at Kokomo with than this group." --Danielle Rush is the Kokomo Tribune education reporter. She can be reached at 765-454-8585 or [email protected]. To see more of the Kokomo Tribune or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.kokomotribune.com/. Copyright (c) 2011, Kokomo Tribune, Ind. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]