MANKATO — Those brave enough to leave their air-conditioned homes Tuesday night may have heard drum beats and horn blasts sounding from the Minnesota State University area.
These tunes, spilling from Blakeslee Stadium, came from the Kiwanis Thunder of Drums, a Mankato summer tradition that’s gone on for over three decades.
Thunder of Drums is a premier drum and bugle corps competition, where teams made up of percussion, brass and color guard give field-based marching performances. Each one is themed and features a number of songs to build the whole routine.
This year, eight groups ranging in ages and experience levels took to the field. From the Anoka-based River City Rhythm to Genesis from Austin, Texas, this year’s lineup included groups from across the country.
Each routine, though just around 12 minutes, is the product of months of preparation, practice and perseverance. Every flag twirl and horn toot was choreographed and rehearsed, creating a mosaic of moving musical bodies on the field.
Participants in the pre-show band clinic, led by MSU’s Maverick Machine and the Cavaliers, kicked off the night with a brief performance and the national anthem. The groups then performed one by one, sporting wildly different music selections and costumes.
Despite the heat, the stands were packed. The St. Peter Govenaires had friends and family in the audience, but out-of-state supporters also made the trip.
Linda Ferris came from St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, to support her son, who plays for the Cavaliers. She caught their show in La Crosse, but she said seeing it more than once is a must.
“The first time watching, I spend the whole show looking for my son,” Ferris said. “You have to see it multiple times to take it all in.”
In addition to drum corps being a fun activity to watch, she said it’s played a big role in her son’s life.
“It lit a fire in our son that we haven’t seen before,” Ferris said.
Whether seated against the railing or in the nosebleeds, viewers were fortunate to be up close to the performers, feeling their high-energy performances with ease.
The reason for this is Blakeslee Stadium itself, according to Matthew Sanders, corps director of the St. Peter-based Govenaires. Having been both a marching member of the Govenaires and on the leadership team, Sanders observed that the steep seating and lack of a track between the field and audience contribute to a unique performing experience.
“You’re so close to the audience that you can really feel every ounce of energy that the audience returns as they enjoy the programs,” Sanders said.
It was Colts member AJ Evans’ first time at the Thunder of Drums, but he had heard about Blakeslee Stadium in advance and was excited about the proximity to the audience that it affords.
The Colts were one of the five world-class corps competing at the event. They spend the summer touring around the country to perform, eventually culminating at the world championships in Indiana.
To Evans, drum corps is as much about music as it is about personal growth.
“I love how much I’m able to push myself and the standard I’m able to push myself to,” Evans said. “I don’t do it in any other part of my life.”
The sun beat down on the stadium, but luckily, the Mankato 77 Lancers were prepared.
The local high school music and marching program sold soda concessions to relieve parched attendees and fundraise for their marching band trip to the Super Regional Championship this fall in Indianapolis.
Most of the corps also sold merchandise with their logos, ranging from t-shirts and flannel pajama pants to six-foot flags.
In all, the evening offered a special opportunity to appreciate all that goes into a drum and bugle corps routine.
“It’s so much fun, and a lot of fun to watch,” Ferris said.