"Milady smiled, and d-Artagnan felt that he would go to (Heck, I can't say that here!) and back for that smile." ~ Alexandre Dumas, "The Three Musketeers"

...The cornucopia of corps music in 2008 will resound with grandiose splendor, running the easel paints, looking like a cross between a Monet oil and an oily-skinned Queen LP cover. Promise me Carolina Crown will flare nostrils again, that Bluecoats will continue to narrate a winner, that Academy will educate with GE, that the Glassmen will "gypsify" us again, that 7th Regiment will march in Indy...Empire Statesmen will do it Mr. B's way, Gulf Coast Sound will rock us like champions, Music City Legend will continue to pin our ears back, the Rochester Crusaders will do it again with class, and Rochester will resonate under clear skies July 5 and Labor Day weekend.

Like a low-echelon glitterati, I'm dashing around proclaiming to one and all what a fine season aught eight is going to beacon. Dan Acheson et al. at DCInternational are busy with plans to move desks and desktops next door to Bands of 'Merica in the being constructed as you peruse Lucas Oil Arena in Indianapolis. President Gil Silva and staff at DCAssociates are blessed to have the talents of Tom Peashey returning as the marketing guru once he gleans the Seattle sushi 'twixt his teeth. Gary Matczak, Rod Keppel, Tom McDonald, John Moran, Susan "VIP Pass" VanEssendelft, Frank Ponzo, Doug Mellenthine and entourage are puffing their chests about the growth of Mini-Corps Associates with the upcoming Harrisburg, PA, "Serenade in Brass" and MCA Invitational just 'round the corner on April 12. Les Diplomates fan$ are screaming "Merci!" for more Quebec tunes as numerous alumni corps are doing just fine, gracias. I look forward to more quill pen wisdom from Frank "Ironlips" Dorritie.

"...keeping her at bay with the tip of his sword." ~ Alexandre Dumas, the bedside manner of Milady and d'Artagnan, "The Three Musketeers"

Smack my buckle! All-age Corpsdom is alive and surfing on the Left Coast. The Renegades are percolating with a gene splice of Ken Kesey on Gothic steroids and a Pam Keesey compilation of "Daughters of Darkness" vampire wenches. SoCal Dream is cruising with their regal "Queen" theme with music that will make one throb with the urge to line dance limp-wristing a hankie. Sam Signorelli will challenge us with En Garde, a Musketeerish new entry. The Kingsmen are expanding into other arenas, all-age, and aspire for 2009 in DCInternational as well as the alumni unit.

Corpsdom is alive and Coppertoning in sunny Florida. The Sun Devils All-Age DCA Drum & Bugle Corps posted: Positions still available in Brass; 1-3 spots open in Percussion; Guard will rehearse on Sunday Only; Front Ensemble will rehearse starting in April.

The Executive Director/Co-Program Coordinator is John Hoekstra. Staff includes: Brass Arranger/Co-Program Coordinator: Mark Cole; Brass Caption Head: Keith Hall; Percussion Caption Head: Doug Beard; and Color Guard: Abraham Jarrell. Sign up online, www.SunDevilsCorps.org .

Florida Brass is an alternative in the peninsula state. While Florida Brass is not competitive, they have been busy lately doing parades.

Director Tom Slade states, "The Cincinnati Tradition is almost set and we are checking in with alumni to see if we can fill those spots. The drill will be written for 30 brass; we now have 28. We need 2 soprano spots! We need 2 tenor drum spots, the rest of the drum line if full. The color guard is also full at 12. If anybody is interested, please let me know," www.cincinnatitradition.org .

Chops play loud in foamy rooms

Leave it to Chops, Inc., to come up with a recording studio for rehearsals. Mathew Kilanowski posted, "Our new facility (is) in the old Grain Belt warehouse! There has been nothing but excitement since we've taken over the former recording studio, giving us well over 2,000 square feet comprised of three large, soundproof rooms to rock in. It just might be enough excitement to make a woman go into labor early!"

The North American Brass and Percussion Championships were held Feb. 23, at the Garfield VFW, Joisey. Individual & Ensemble competitions are thriving once more!

The Bridgemen held their I&E competition and were expecting "some of the finest Mini-Corps around." The host, the Bayonne Bridgemen, performed in exhibition.

Erie Thunderbirds aspire for a superb year according to Gary Matczak, biz manager. Matczak states, "We have openings in all sections, but this year we have plans to further expand our pit ensemble, which is somewhat rare for the exhibition style drum corps of today."

Empire celebrates Saigon rainy, patriotic sunny, and monsoon mood eras

The Empire Statesmen are proudly celebrating 25 years their way, Mr. B's way. Whether one is from the muddy white pants from 1987 or spiffy black slacks, Empire beckons all alumni to roll the tanks back to the barn, www.empirestatesmen.org .

Sam Signorelli responded to posts comparing the 1987 DCA monsoon championships with the 2006 DCA arctic after-hurricane monsoon championships. Signorelli, an '87 Empire vet, recalled, "Yes and no (Which monsoon was worse?)...Depends on what element of the event you look at. In both cases, the rain was pretty heavy, although '06 was heavier, MUCH MUCH colder, and windier."However, the field was better in '06 (vanishing lines aside, although we had when SoCal Dream went on...about the only benefit to being first at the gate)...in '87 the field was a mud hole...and don't forget, we wore white pants, or at least they were white for a bit!"

Signorelli summed up, "If I was to decide which one I'd march again though, with the same conditions, it'd be '87. I can handle a poor field MUCH better than performing in an arctic monsoon!"

Carl Ruocco is a legend in drum corps, a member of multiple halls of fame. Ruocco took the time to send me a kind pat on the back. Gee, thanks, Mr. Ruocco. I needed that!

Some of us have been bollixed up this off-season, frustrated with few shows, toboganning to indoor concerts and chomping at the drumstick for the tour to begin. Like a "Sound of Music" list of fave things, fan$ are checking off their must-sees vs. no-see-ems. Let's hope that some staff will cease and desist in designs snobbily Xeroxed from a Babylonian stack of Campbell Soup cans.

Induct Moe Knox into the halls of fame. Guard civil liberties in "free" countries. Send your news freely. Subscribe to DCWorld, www.drumcorpsworld.com .