Notes from the Canadian trail ... Lady Gaga, chuckwagon races and more

This trip with the Mankato Area 77 Lancers Marching Band has been a hoot. It's been filled with laughter, tears, thrill rides and majestic views that have downright emotional.

I've jotted down some thoughts in case you're interested:

Dance/Talent Show

One of the best parts of the trip has been seeing these kids just be kids. Usually, I only really see them at parades or when they're preparing for the season during Spat Camp. At that point, they're all business; they're learning music, learning their marching drill – you know, parade stuff.

But on tour it's different. You see them carrying towels and tooth brushes down the hall. You see what kind of pillow or pajamas they like, you learn their habits. You learn what the different cliques are, or who likes to hang out with who.

And when the music comes on, you're reminded that, while these kids are unique in their love for an activity that doesn't take place on a field or court or rink – although many of them do those things, as well – underneath the complex facade, they're still just kids.

It's a heckuva sight to see 70 kids on stage singing “Call Me Maybe,” or “Party Rock Anthem,” or, gasp, “I Like Big Butts.” (Hey, say what you want about that song, it's still outstandinly memorable and delightfully unnerving to the prudish.)

The night after the dance came the talent show. This is when things got really fun.

Lancers is, if nothing else, a tight group. And they're exceedingly accepting of everyone. Over the course of an hour or so, there were human beat boxes, young thespians, mockeries of themselves as marching band kids. And then, there was Shelby Coulter.

Ever heard that Lade Gaga song “Bad Romance?” Well, you haven't heard it until you've heard Shelby sing it.

With an iPod earbud in one ear and iPod in her back pocket, Shelby sagn the entire song, complete with cat scratch motions, high notes, dance moves … It was the kind of scene you watch and say, “I wish I had that kind of on-stage confidence.” It was also the kind of scene the people watching probably won't forget for a long time.

So, the next time you see Shelby Coulter, ask her to do that “Bad Romance” routine for you.

Reveille

Reveille is something typically done in the military. It's a wake up call, so to speak. In Lancers, when they're on tour, every day starts early, and every day starts with reveille.

The kids take pride in doing it, and they take turns. When it's their turn, they wake up earlier than the rest of the band and sneak out into the hallway. Very quietly they get their instruments ready. Like mice they tiptoe into position. Then, on the count of three, they play. LOUDLY. Sometimes it's the drumline (that'll get you going in a hurry. Believe me.) Sometimes it's trumpets. Even the high-pitched piccolos get their turn.

On Sunday morning it was the drumline section that did reveille. Instead of banging on frums, however, they'd all acquired party favors. They also pulled the amplifier out to help them get a LOT more volume. The result was perhaps the most beautifully obnoxious reveille yet. I'm just glad I was already awake when them came through. The following morning came the clarinets, who all blew high-pitched notes to mimic the sound of an alarm clock. 

Tractor Show concert

I can't imagine a more incongruous image from the season so far than the mini-show the band played Sunday night in a giant tractor-pull tent.

This was an old-school competitive tractor-pull event complete with old tractors, steel bleachers, cowboy hats everywhere. They put-putted the tractors onto the dirt tractor-pull floor and parked them. And after a 15-minute introduction of the guys on the tractor-pull board, it was finally time to bring in the Lancers.

They marched in and got into formation. And when they did, it was an interesting sight -- 81 Lancers standing in what looked like a rodeo ring, surrounded by old tractors, playing a jazz tune.

When a chaperone walked into the crowd to secure a spot for drum major Hannah Oberle, the folks were more than willing to help, jockeying for position, and trying to be the one who cleared the spot that Hannah would use.

The kids ran through a handful of songs, marched out to thunderous applause and prepared to spend the rest of their day at the carnival.

Chuckwagon races

I thought this was a joke. I thought it was going to be a collection of practical dudes running by with antique covered wagons, the kind you've probably seen on “Little House on the Prairie.”

Boy was I wrong.

This stuff is for real, a serious rodeo event, and there's lots of money on the line. Four horses pull a chuckwagon that has two riders on board, then two “outriders” follow behind. They scramble through a figure 8 before busting out for a run around the horse track. First one back to the figure 8 wins.

Crazy. But kinda neat. I didn't stay long, though. There was a carnival to explore.

Calgary Stampede Carnival

One of the other chaperones described it as “the State Fair on steroids.” I'd describe it more as “the State Fair on acid.” This place is ridiculously difficult to navigate. And while the State Fair may have more people overall, the Calgary Stampede packs them in like sardines (sardines in Stetsons, that is.)

Everyone here wears a cowboy hat. Most of them smoke. Usually at the same time. In the Stampede Gift Shop, there was something for everyone … provided you had plenty of cash (Canadian or American, makes no difference.) Want a sweatshirt with the sharp Calgary Stampede logo? Great! That'll be $130. Like those cowboy boots with the Stampede logo? $199. That leather briefcase, the one that looks faded and old westy? $319. And that jacket, the one with the leather sleeves and wool vest, the one that looks like a letterman's jacket but with the nice stampede logo instead of your “W” for west or “E” for East or “L” for Loyola? $550. Outrageous. I opted for the $20 T-shirts.

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If I get a minute later today, I'll update you on the whitewater rafting, and the stunning view at Lake Louise.