Suncoast '84

[MelloMatt]

As a young viewer who wasn't even alive when this show was performed, I would like to know how controversial this show was. I was watching it last night on Fannetwork and it seems to delve into (what now is considered) VK territory (the Satisfaction bit) and at points it seems rather irreverent. I would like to know from anyone who was involved at this time how much resistance they got from the crowds they faced.

[rayfallon]

As a young viewer who wasn't even alive when this show was performed, I would like to know how controversial this show was. I was watching it last night on Fannetwork and it seems to delve into (what now is considered) VK territory (the Satisfaction bit) and at points it seems rather irreverent. I would like to know from anyone who was involved at this time how much resistance they got from the crowds they faced.

I was on the road that year working with the Bridgemen's brass line. I get in trouble with '84 Suncoast as I'm the only one in the world that didn't like the show. It's complicated.

Crowds liked it. Judges liked it early in the year, quite a bit.

Part of what I didn't like was what you described - the VK feeling.

For me, as a Viet Nam vet, the problem wasn't doing an anti-war show, specifically an anti Viet Nam show - it was how difficult it is to do a show like that without trivializing the war and the anti-war movement.

Suncoast, for me, looked like a bunch of kids with signs hopping around the field having fun, hence the VK look.

I didn't think that musically or visually they ever captured the depth of feeling that permeated my generation, including those of us that served over there. They made it a cartoon.

I'm really not criticizing. Anti-war shows, like Crossmen's "Protest" show last year are wicked difficult to pull off.

Who teaches a college kid what it feels like, or felt like during those events.

When Crossmen played "We Shall Overcome" last year I cried - in part for what our generation and our country went through trying to heal the wounds of 300 years of oppression, but think about it... how does a drum corps portray the pain of 300 years of oppression and the attempt at healing in a 10 minute field show?

For me Suncoast came up short - musically, visually, spiritually. In a way there's no way they could have made it work, at least for some of us, but the crowds loved them, and judges liked them a lot.

So don't take the reaction of a 32 year old Viet Nam vet who was flying over North Viet Nam the night the cease fire went into effect (at 21 years of age). I was too tired to get it in 1984. 10 years just wasn't enough.

I hope that gives some color. If not, just write it off.

People loved them. They played really well. They gave it as good a shot as you could give it.

How do you put one of the most divisive periods in the country's 200 year (at the time) history on a football field for 10 minutes and hope to make sense of it. For me, it was an attempt but came up short.

For others? I don't know...

[MelloMatt]

I was on the road that year working with the Bridgemen's brass line. I get in trouble with '84 Suncoast as I'm the only one in the world that didn't like the show. It's complicated.

Crowds liked it. Judges liked it early in the year, quite a bit.

Part of what I didn't like was what you described - the VK feeling.

For me, as a Viet Nam vet, the problem wasn't doing an anti-war show, specifically an anti Viet Nam show - it was how difficult it is to do a show like that without trivializing the war and the anti-war movement.

Suncoast, for me, looked like a bunch of kids with signs hopping around the field having fun, hence the VK look.

I didn't think that musically or visually they ever captured the depth of feeling that permeated my generation, including those of us that served over there. They made it a cartoon.

I'm really not criticizing. Anti-war shows, like Crossmen's "Protest" show last year are wicked difficult to pull off.

Who teaches a college kid what it feels like, or felt like during those events.

When Crossmen played "We Shall Overcome" last year I cried - in part for what our generation and our country went through trying to heal the wounds of 300 years of oppression, but think about it... how does a drum corps portray the pain of 300 years of oppression and the attempt at healing in a 10 minute field show?

For me Suncoast came up short - musically, visually, spiritually. In a way there's no way they could have made it work, at least for some of us, but the crowds loved them, and judges liked them a lot.

So don't take the reaction of a 32 year old Viet Nam vet who was flying over North Viet Nam the night the cease fire went into effect (at 21 years of age). I was too tired to get it in 1984. 10 years just wasn't enough.

I hope that gives some color. If not, just write it off.

People loved them. They played really well. They gave it as good a shot as you could give it.

How do you put one of the most divisive periods in the country's 200 year (at the time) history on a football field for 10 minutes and hope to make sense of it. For me, it was an attempt but came up short.

For others? I don't know...

Personally, the only part of the show I really cared for while viewing was the Requiem. I felt that it really wasn't an extremely respectful treatment of the event (I have an uncle who served in Viet Nam, and according to my dad, it changed him forever) and when I watched it I was really let down that they did that, as opposed to making the whole show having the respectful feel that the Requiem had.

On a side note, thank you for the wonderful response. It is probably the best reaction to a topic of this nature I have seen on DCP, and it is rather thorough, which is a pleasant surprise especially when I hang around in the World Class forums (who doesnt love the knee jerk reaction to topics there?).

[Northern Thunder]

The members of the '84 Suncoast Sound each wore memorial bracelets containing the names of U.S. armed forces personnel who died in action.

I know that several of those members were still wearing the bracelets some 25 years later (and perhaps they are still wearing them now, 30 later.)

The impact it had on the marching members may very well be the strongest effect that show had.

[MelloMatt]

The members of the '84 Suncoast Sound each wore memorial bracelets containing the names of U.S. armed forces personnel who died in action.

I know that several of those members were still wearing the bracelets some 25 years later (and perhaps they are still wearing them now, 30 later.)

The impact it had on the marching members may very well be the strongest effect that show had.

I did recall hearing that somewhere. I thought it was rather cool.

[Kamarag]

Ray did a nice job of summing up the problems with the show, and I can absolutely understand where he's coming from. There were some people who hated the show...I recall one 'letter to the editor' of Drum Corps World (might have been DC News...my memory is failing me) that really ripped the show hard. There was a ton of controversy at the time...ironically, less than there was going into the start of the season in 1985 (how dare they play an all-original program!)...

Ray's also right that no matter how good the design, and how great the intentions...it's nigh impossible for a group of high school and college kids (who wouldn't know real adversity if it landed on their heads) to accurately and effectively portray the feelings and vibe of the era. It's the reason why most protest-themed shows, including Crossmen, are ultimately doomed to failure. I don't think 1984 Suncoast Sound was a failure, but it wasn't a perfect show by any means either.

But no one can deny that musical ensemble was pretty darned good.

[MelloMatt]

Ray did a nice job of summing up the problems with the show, and I can absolutely understand where he's coming from. There were some people who hated the show...I recall one 'letter to the editor' of Drum Corps World (might have been DC News...my memory is failing me) that really ripped the show hard. There was a ton of controversy at the time...ironically, less than there was going into the start of the season in 1985 (how dare they play an all-original program!)...

Ray's also right that no matter how good the design, and how great the intentions...it's nigh impossible for a group of high school and college kids (who wouldn't know real adversity if it landed on their heads) to accurately and effectively portray the feelings and vibe of the era. It's the reason why most protest-themed shows, including Crossmen, are ultimately doomed to failure. I don't think 1984 Suncoast Sound was a failure, but it wasn't a perfect show by any means either.

But no one can deny that musical ensemble was pretty darned good.

When did you march Suncoast again? (I'm sure you marched with my band director, he was there forever)

[Kamarag]

I started in 85.

[MelloMatt]

Ah alright. So you marched with Bob Barfield as well.

[Kamarag]

Ah alright. So you marched with Bob Barfield as well.

Absolutely. Great guy.