Leaderboard

When I was drum major of Windsor Guardsmen, I got a kiss from Miss Canada.

With a cone of silence, and rumors flying everywhere, its just impossible to tell whats real and which is witch.

Guess you never competed in or watched a track meet. And by all means, never watch a ballet.

In no particular order: 1980 Spirit of Atlanta. I'll bet Jim Ott heard that one in Finals 2008 Carolina Crown 1975 Madison Scouts 1973 Argonne Rebels 1990 Star of Indiana 1978 Madison Scouts 2004 Santa Clara Vanguard 1974 Muchachos 1983 Garfield Cadets 1989 Phantom Regiment

Fran you look so cute in this photo ,LOL

I saw Cal Ripken Jr. at a Baltimore- area Panera. Oops..... you mean on the road with drum corps...LOL

Not sure if this counts as a opening hit, but when i think of openers, 2014 BD and that 40 trumpet fanfare is the first thing i think of. Then the low brass comes in...........gorgeous. Hearing it live was an absolute honor.

I think Star of Indiana 1990-1993 changed the creative process forever.

Now we have three threads of the same thing!!!! lol

okay...I would not do well with this...I used to play a lot of tennis and was playing varsity in HS...but never liked playing at the net...so I'd probably get killed...

As have the 2 overage members SCV marched with in 89 to qualify for finals

I personally like the uniforms with parts that can be added and removed to fit the show theme like Academy, Crossmen, and Blue Stars. But here's hoping that Phantom's uniform is cool this year. I thought it was a bit "lack-luster." I wish they went back to something like the 2003-2007 (and '08 i guess) design with the sash that goes over the shoulder and hangs down over the back.

You have to play it dressed like this...

It's not an issue NOW. Throw out a few more stinkers like last season consecutively and watch what happens. Remember the Cavaliers when they had their mass exodus of leadership. How long did it take them to become top tier competitive again? The Cadets cannot afford that.

I haven't heard anyone mention it yet, but when I think of underrated shows, I think of: Crossmen 1990 Great music, excellent soloists, and an exciting drill that matched the music so well. They perfected the "art of the pass-through", as one form crossed through another just at the end of a musical phrase, generating a great effect.

That's interesting; when Johnson appeared at a political convention in 2000, there was some controversy, from both sides of the political spectrum, as I recall, about someone so crass and vulgar (although not in his convention speech) being allowed to speak on behalf of a political party. Nice job finding a further drum corps connection to the story!

Not nice to kiss and tell. But that is pretty cool!

Very well done but greatly helped by the camera angle

so no new rules and we get recaps back? I'm cool with that do they only present new rules every other year now?

someone will correct me but didn't Bluecoats use one in 2006 or was it a talking drum? one of their best shows ever !!!!

That was one with Mr. Washington. Not sure what the delay is there.

I really enjoyed The Academy's take on Right of Spring in 2012, really quirky take on the source and it's meaning. Got into a little of the sacrificial stuff BD would a year later. Ballad ending was really nice too.

The Academy has had some great huge opening statements in recent memory. 2016 is probably their best one, first time I heard it my speakers were turned up WAY too loud and it actually made me jump in my chair. 2011s Bach opening really built into an absolutely fantastic musical explosion. Percussion writing on top of it made it really nice. LOVE that whole show. Tons of in your face drum corps.

Maybe even clean and well-dressed!!! :)

To have shows that appeal to judges you have to retain the talent who can achieve it. To keep throwing out hackneyed themes and visual fiascos, the Cadets are making it more difficult to recruit championship caliber performers thus relegating the corps to the lower competitive tiers. Plus, the corps around them are appealing to younger people not necessarily legacy fans and alumni. Shows need to be a spectacle now.

whatever is the choice, I hope it is WAY less spandex and gymnastics uniforms for the horn and drumlines

JHM t h e m a n t h e m y t h t h e l e g e n d

Personally can't wait to wear Southwind's new uniform. 2015 and '16 was an awesome design imo, but I think this new uniform will fit the show theme well! I also can't wait to see it in person hopefully soon!

After what is being petitioned of late in Sacramento, you will no longer have a problem. California will be given back to Russia and Mexico to beat the secession. j/k

We have something similar here with Rudy's BBQ. Good stuff.

I'm personally hoping for Academy to stay with their uniform with the change of a vest and such. I love their uniform.

When in 1986 the Cadets were chosen to give the exhibitions for Operation Sail, the re-dedication of the Statue of Liberty, and be nationally televised in the presence of President and Mrs. Reagan, Lee Iacocca and hundreds of major players of US politics and business, getting to Governor's Island and Liberty Island in New York harbor was a feat in itself. The Verrazano Narrows Bridge between Staten Island and Bay Ridge in Brooklyn was shut down on both levels due to security concerns except for the Cadets caravan of buses. Having such a large structure to ourselves was eerily amazing given that the bridge is usually bumper to bumper in the daily commuting hassle of NYC. And Port Authority and MTABA waived the tolls. (Iacocca's family started Yocco's in Allentown, PA.) Once arriving on the Red Hook warehouse docks in Brooklyn, quite appropriate for this season when the Cadets first played On the Waterfront, every thing and every one had to be inspected by the FBI and then loaded (and unloaded) on a very small ferry for the islands. Problem was that the soloist did not know how to swim, had never been on a boat before, and had to clutch the center pillar while friends and admin re-assured the soloist until touching land. This was a total of four trips with the soloist's anxiety only building given the wake of air craft carriers, destroyers, and luxury liners passing the President in review. The soloist was not the only corps member who did not (yet) know how to swim. Later in the season when the corps members found one or two swimming pools (not always with permission) the first doggy-paddle lessons were given to the landlubbers. The experience did inspire one Cadet who went onto to become a Merchant Marine skipper plying NYC waters often; he occasionally posts on DCP. PS. Interesting side note to the re-dedication ceremony. The First Lady was supposed to break a champagne bottle against the Statue of Liberty at which 50 doves were to be released, one for each state. She did that facing the corps, the birds flew (we swore they were NYC pigeons) but immediately roosted upon the ledges above the uniformed corps, dripping upon them the entire exhibition. Despite several launderings later, some of those souvenirs never washed out. Ever.

They sounded pretty neat to me too....oh....never mind.

Boston 12. My favorite show from Boston and my favorite show of 2012 and it has quite a long buildup, but once you get there, dang do they blow.

Two things: - Last I heard, Pioneer is still in world class. - Pepe Notaro is in the DCI hall of fame, specifically for his contributions to the non-world-class portion of the DCI movement.

Join Watchmen as we embark on an immersive journey across vast seas, epic battles, and ancient paths to greatness on our way to meet our viking brethren on Odin’s Journey... to Valhalla. Original composition by Harry Hutchins (Percussion) & Paul Rendon (Brass)

Excited for every single World Class corps this year and welcome Genesis!!! Honestly, they are ALL so good, so entertaining, such a testament to the value of the activity. Every corps has made me cry at one time or another - simply because of the effort I see out on that field. It is inspiring. Of course I love the perennial top placing corps. My signature pretty much says as much. But the corps who don't appear in my signature also deserve mention. Blue Devils keep the activity growing because everyone wants to beat them and the sustained success they have achieved gives the activity a measuring stick. When they do jazz they win titles. We'll see. It has been a blessing to watch the Blue Knights rise and define their distinctive brand. I always enjoy what Boston Crusaders put on the field. As for Cadets, I became a fan in 2011. I saw that show in June and knew it had legs. Ever since, I have enjoyed watching those kids march beautifully and to be honest, it doesn't matter what the show is about! It is always amazing. Hoping they return to a more traditional Cadets show this year. But most of all I like to bring attention to those not typically in the top 12. I'll start with Academy. They absolutely hit it out of the park last year and deserved every bit of love they received. Their first time appearance in finals lit up the DCI world. I'm sure they want a repeat of that awesome placement. The Troopers always have a big wow moment in their shows and I love them for that. Who doesn't want to see Troopers make finals? Cascades have been on an upswing with new unis, better designed and more dynamic shows. Really excited to see what they put out this year. Also Mandarins - holy cow they have upped their game in the past few seasons. Last year they were stunning. What a visual package. I expect they will dazzle again this year. I have endless respect for the corps at the bottom of the pack because they all just want to make it into semis, let alone finals, and it's SO hard to get there. Which brings me to Pioneer. This corps made me a believer last year with their Joan of Arc show. I just loved it and the burning at the stake scene was as dramatic a scene as I've seen in any drum corps show. Well done. I look forward to their Les Mis/Irish show this year. But those who know me know I'm an Oregon Crusaders homer and the announcement of their show - "Encompassed" got me REALLY excited for a possible compass rose in the drill this year. How freaking great would that be? Talk about a major WOW moment. Fingers crossed.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Bluecoats choose to unveil their show in a complete form in Indianapolis, their first performance. I go to their spring training several times each year and the staff exhorts those in attendance to keep the show under wraps so they can spring their surprise. I respect that, and only give my deliberately vague impressions during the spring. Sorry this upsets you so much, but not sorry.

In the end it's every corps decision on their own to announce a show. I know Bluecoats probably had an influence on that decision but in the end it's no ones decision but each corps directors own.

You have me all wrong. My entire point is to show that MUSIC was a major contributor to the GE. People here tend to be focused on visual effect, ramps, staging, electronics and winks. You know Bloo missed winning brass only by a third of a tenth (.03), right? Bloo won GE *and* MUSIC super-captions. I think they were 3rd in the visual.