Tattoo Tonight! (04-25-13)

Nope, not that kind of tattoo. The musical kind.  After trying, and being unable to figure out a way to get to Canada by early June to attend the International Tattoo being held there, we were astounded to learn that there was one being held this weekend, in Norfolk Virginia, a mere hour from where we are staying.  So, what is this kind of Tattoo?

The name is derived from an 18th century term  "Doe den tap toe", or just "tap toe".  Literally translated, it means “close the tap.”  The British encountered, and adopted this term while stationed in Belgium. The Corp drummers, or pipe and drummers, would signal, with music, for the tavern owners to close the tap, and stop serving soldiers drinks, so they would head home and get a decent night’s sleep.
Nowadays, its an extravaganza of military music.

We bought tickets for Thursday night, figuring it would be less crowded than the weekend shows.  We arrived in time for “hullabaloo” which takes place for the two hours before the show.  Hullabaloo is outside, and features food and drink, as well as many musical groups. We heard bagpipers, fife and drum corps. and military jazz bands from all over the world. Hullabaloo was great because the music was free to the public, and it was up close and  personal.

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New Orleans Military jazz band

Colonial Williamsburg

Fife and Drum Corp

Scottish Pipe Band

Virginia is home to a large military population, and I took this picture when this group of guys pulled up in their jeep.  I didn’t think much of it until 15 minutes later when they pulled in front of the stage…

  

Within two minutes they had completely taken apart the jeep, and put it back together again.  Then they drove off. They are the “Jiffy Lube” team.

The Hullabaloo was awesome, but the show inside was even better. Precision marching, singing, dancing, and of course band music were all part of the show.  One French group came out singing, moved on to playing musical instruments, and ended up dancing. Strange, but cool.

 



The United States was represented by the Air Force, the Marines, the Navy and the Army. International performers included groups from England, Australia, Norway, France, Canada and Scotland.
These are some of the videos I took of the Tattoo itself: