By Liz Beavers
lbeavers@newstribune.info
managing editor

SHORT GAP — The Frankfort Falcon Marching Band will be debuting a “Thriller” of a show on Friday, Sept. 4, at their first home football game.
Describing their new show as a “mixture of rock classics,” band director John Leonard, now in his second year at the helm of the Falcon Band, explained that he had actually thought about doing a show of Michael Jackson classics ... long before the icon's untimely death on June 25.
“Thriller” was the only one he could find with an arrangement suitable for a high school band, however, so he mixed the MTV classic with several other rock favorites, including “Through the Fire and Flames,”  by English power metal band DragonForce; “Alive & Amplified,” by American garage band The Mooney Suzuki; and “Nights in White Satin,” by The Moody Blues.
“I think the crowd should be very pleased with the show,” Leonard said, noting that the players and guard members have been working hard to pull the eclectic show together.
Following the long summer of rehearsals, the band will launch a busy football and competition season with halftime appearances for three straight Friday home games.
Their first competition is scheduled on Saturday, Sept. 19, at Preston High School, and the following Saturday at Greencastle. Only one competition is currently scheduled for October, at Baldwin High School on Saturday, Oct. 10.
Homecoming is scheduled for Oct. 2 and the next home game is not until Nov. 6.
Field commander this year is Isabelle Shepherd.