Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

Marching band heat safety, Fusion Winter Guard’s pause after winning the 2026 WGI Independent World Championship, and the future of regional DCI Open Class drum corps lead this week’s On A Water Break.

Joey Montes III is joined by Nicole Younger, Ricardo Robinson-Shinall, Jeremy Denzer and Haley Harrington to discuss Fusion’s decision to pause beginning with the 2027 season, Boise Gems’ inaugural Open Class campaign, mandatory Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature monitoring for Texas marching bands, the Pepsi National Battle of the Bands moving to AT&T Stadium, marching arts performers at the 2026 MLB All-Star Game and the legacy of Bands of America founder Larry McCormick.

In this episode:
• Fusion Winter Guard pauses after winning WGI Independent World
• Boise Gems completes its first DCI Open Class affiliate season
• The case for smaller corps and shorter regional tours
• Texas mandates WBGT heat monitoring for marching band activities
• HBCU marching bands head to AT&T Stadium in 2027
• Remembering Bands of America founder Larry McCormick
• Ricardo’s 60 Second Tech Block: performance is more than a smile
• Respecting color guard equipment and putting flags on the pole correctly
• Building shows around the performers you actually teach
• Making room for rest, recovery and life outside rehearsal

Featuring:
Joey Montes III — @marchingbymontes
Nicole Younger — @o2bnpjs
Ricardo Robinson-Shinall — @ricardorrobinson
Jeremy Denzer — @jeremydenzer
Haley Harrington — @h_harrington14

Presented by Guard Closet
Your one-stop shop for color guard, marching band and the marching arts.
GuardCloset.com | @guardcloset

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A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.

• 00:00 Welcome and panel introductions
• 05:53 Previous episode recap
• 07:04 HBCU bands and the 2027 National Battle of the Bands
• 12:23 Texas mandates WBGT monitoring for marching bands
• 21:54 Boise Gems’ first DCI Open Class season
• 24:12 The case for smaller corps and regional tours
• 28:44 Marching arts performers at the MLB All-Star Game
• 31:52 Remembering Bands of America founder Larry McCormick
• 35:08 Fusion Winter Guard pauses after winning WGI
• 40:04 60 Second Tech Block
• 43:19 Performance is more than a smile
• 49:46 Water We Doing?!
• 50:14 Stop carrying rifles by the strap
• 53:09 Design for the performers you actually have
• 58:15 Respect your color guard equipment
• 01:00:07 Please stop mounting flags upside down
• 01:02:01 Removing stains from white uniforms
• 01:06:40 Make time for yourself
• 01:08:45 Gush & Go
• 01:15:06 Closing rehearsal