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Fran would approve of Art Van Damme, I'll bet. Still, as Pepe would say, "Did ya ever win da Dream?" I never met an instrument I didn't like, but I really don't want to meet all of them on the field. For me, the real musical challenge in Drum Corps has always been to create great sounds with brass and percussion.

He's nuts.

See that right there? Those are called gonads. I don't mind the sardonic approach and I agree with the point. But I've also learned to be accepting to the possibility that I might like new things.

I already got one.

I'm shocked you feel that way.

no preachy things - its just choral / tonal stuff

Hey I thought you were toning it down. I get to have, and state, an opinion. Lots of times. Like everyone else. And you can disagree without making it personal. You can also ignore me if you find me too much of a bother.

Maybe they can say preachy things. You know, like every other year they put on the mic. That's right. This is what I said.

As a trombone player early on in my musical career, I'm glad that when I joined the Buccaneers I had to learn to play a valved instrument. Without that mandate I probably wouldn't have enjoyed the musical diversity I have now with the amount of instruments I feel comfortable playing. Now this does open up opportunities for players like me who never played a valved instrument before, but I personally am glad I was forced to learn something new.

Hard to be anything but skeptical about this. Cadets have a pretty poor track record when it comes to including voice, not to mention sound mixing in general. Why is Hop obsessed with the "special guest star"? Singer in 2006, baton twirler in 2004, violinist and Adonis last year, narrator in 2014... they seem to struggle to integrate these elements in a pleasing way, but he seems to keep going to that well. So much for not generating too much off-season controversy. At least people are talking, I guess?

Boy if Cadets are hanging around tenth place next summer, this forum is gonna be some entertaining reading.

Predicting the top 12 is hard. So I'll try and just do the top 3 for 2017. In no particular order: Bluecoats Blue Devils Carolina Crown Cavaliers Santa Clara Vanguard Yup. Those will be the top 3.

Instead of a linear prediction, I will offer a prediction of a different sort: where corps stand -- in my view -- at this moment. All of this will change, of course, as staff changes materialize, and as productions begin to be announced. (Expect more corps to not announce; a la The Bluecoats this year; preferring to, in the vernacular, "leave it on the field" from the first night to championships.) ALL EYES ON / Expectation Saturation -- The Bluecoats -- The Cadets -- Boston Crusaders (with early staffing announced) -- The Academy -- Madison Scouts SHOW ME / Positioned for Success -- Santa Clara Vanguard -- The Cavaliers -- Blue Devils -- Carolina Crown -- Blue Knights ME TOO / Please Surprise, Delight us All -- Phantom Regiment -- Blue Stars -- The Troopers -- Colts / Potential to Shock and Awe -- Every. Other. Corps. MY BIGGEST PREDICTION FOR 2017: perhaps the most exhilarating season in a decade, now that the lid is off the creative box!

I attended Spring Fanfare April 24, 1971 (same day as today lol) and recently scanned the entire program (not just the cover;) The evening consisted of: The Midlanders The Midlanders film "U.S. Open 1970" The Toronto Optimists Drum and Bugle Corps Trooper's film "The Troopers are Coming" The De La Salle Drum and Bugle Corps When I joined Scarborough Firefighters fall of 1968, I was made aware of the rivalry with Midlanders. Midlanders and Firefighters were 2 Junior B corps that were close competitively. One would win, then the other would win. They flip-flopped for years. Midlanders had a great year in 1970 until September when Firefighters won Junior B Nationals. We were happy. I know. I was there and it's in my scrapbook. In later years, I met a number of Midlanders when they moved from London to Toronto, some went to De La Salle and 2 marched with Anaheim Kingsmen. I checked Midlanders website. They have a 1975 video but no 1970 video. I would like to hear 1970 again too. Firefighters and Midlanders were at many of the same contests in 1970 except U.S. Open. Corpsreps.com says Midlanders were first in Lynn MA August 22, 1970. Was the U.S. Open held in Lynn that year? I always thought it was in Marion Ohio? Cheers.