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Any of the years in the mid-50s when my Dad marched with St. Vincent's Cadets... Honorable Mentions: Phantom 2008, SCV 1999, Madison 95/99

I'm not so sure. In the end, the Seven wanted to preserve the activity just as most do. It was the starkness of their solution that was most-jolting. Yet, even as the rebellion was crushed, it apparently stirred the animal spirits of the smaller down-ranking corps because, all of a sudden, we have an Open Class that has launched itself upwards in show design, funding, experience quality, performance level, and organizational structure, World Class welcomes a new member and we have surprising organizational strength showing up to challenge the staff status-quo of some stalwart top-12 corps. And there are half a dozen SoundSport teams knocking on the door of Open Class chomping to get in. Maybe the shockwaves were enough to start a new trend. Maybe the Seven didn't see the same means and fell for their Pied Piper leader (as hard as it is to believe). But I'll bet you'll find most, if not every, single one, would say the groundswell that was the opposition to the G7 has matured into an a realization that something drastic was needin' to happen. That sentiment is not far from the one that drove the G7 to take their action and choose their stupid direction. Mine's probably an unpopular opinion. Back on topic...

The Israelites finals show in Jericho in 1400 BC. I've heard they brought the house down.

Yeah we all know Pianoman sucked, but I wouldn't of changed it for the world. That season was just as much of the story as last year was and if that year hadn't planned out the way it didn't then the changes that came in places after might not of happened! Thus no change in the staff line up etc. Everything happens for a reason, our adversity that year would lead on the create something beautiful in the following years after. For 2017, I'm looking forward to seeing the corps grow and as a proud alumnus I will stand by them in whatever path they take following on from a great 2016 season. Yes, I am biased as hell but I have heard some exceptionally great things from the winter preparations and the new uniform is the cherry on the cake.

So, did the trampolines not work out because they were too hard, or simply because they were not effective? Did the side-by-side boxes not work because they were too hard, or simply because they were not effective? To me, drum corps is not about doing hard things. It is about doing effective things with excellence. Sometimes hard things done excellently are effective. But sometimes, seemingly hard things, even if done at a high level, may still seem out of place and loose their effectiveness accordingly. I'm in Kamarag's corner on this one.

Crusaders Senior Performers Take Gold in Boston !!! Several Crusader Senior Drum Corps of Boston individuals performed as soloists, in duets, and in ensembles to take Gold Medals at the Individual and Ensemble competition of the Boston Regional Bugler's Hall of Fame Show, held on March 25, 2017 in Dorchester, MA. Perpetuating the musical excellence of the Crusaders Senior organization, medals were awarded to the following performers in competition on their respective instruments: Bill Putnam - Snare Drum Individual - Gold Medal Gary Brown - Bass Drum Individual - Gold medal Michael Pantanello - Soprano Individual - Gold Medal Bill Hennessey - Soprano Individual - Bronze Medal Paul Beauchamp - Baritone Individual - Gold Medal Rich Michaud - Contra Bass Individual - Gold Medal Donna Denneson & Diane Maxner - Brass Duet - Gold Medal Mike Pantanello & Bill Hennessey - Brass Duet - Silver Medal Crusaders Senior - Brass Ensemble - Gold Medal The Crusaders Senior Drum Corps of Boston's first full corps exhibition of the season featured a strong percussion section with a new crowd pleasing solo and a powerful horn line for the 2017 DCA Alumni season. We are looking forward to another successful rewarding season.

Yeah, But Cadet's percussion is actually clean, even with the visuals.

Not sure about that. One wrong move and it might snap in half. Then they won't have a baton to take 10 minutes to pull out of the uniform!

ok this may sound weird but - 1973 Commodores. First time I listened to it on the legacy CDs I'm thinking - 12th place corps....1973....might sound a little rough. BUT holy cow! What a show - I believe the legendary Jim Ott arrange some or all of the brass for that show. I know the phrase "ahead of it's time" is overused to the point of being a cliche, but I think that year there were two - Stockton Commodores and Argonne Rebels with Fanfare For The New.

Why did you not go back to the Corps you were a DM with ? Just asking, as your response to this could help in providing you additional assistance that you are asking us for.

US Marines runner today in the Boston Marathon.. very inspiring, imo

1971 Argonne Rebels.

My vote is for Madison Scouts 1975...Hello Screamers! Heaven for me and bliss...

I wish I could have been at 1989 finals live. I love that year so much, and it got me into DCI. Can't limit to one, Phantom and SCV 1989!

Cadets 2000. I've only ever seen it on video, and that show really screams at me that the staging was incredibly important. Honorable mention: Phantom 89 Blue Devils 99 SCV 99 Cavies 00

Wrong year. He said " 1965 Chicago Royal Airs ".

It was '65. The VFW Nationals was to have been held at Soldier Field in Chicago, but rain had made the field a swamp so the show was moved indoors to Mc Cormick Place, a spacious barn-like building with enough floor space to do a full drill. There were 15 finalists and they all rocked the house. The Royal Airs were the only corps without contra basses, but Truman Crawford's arranging skill made that irrelevant. Incidentally, the audio is available from Fleetwood and belongs in any serious collection. The Royal Airs were great in '68, too, but I'm pretty certain it was the '65 corps GR referred to. 1968 belonged to the Kilties. They ran the table. See: http://www.drumcorpsplanet.com/forums/index.php?/topic/143516-gale-royer-the-judge/

In my opinion, this statement about 'hard for hard's sake' is true regarding body movement during drum solos. spare me your 'simultaneous demand,' I get 0 interest out of snares rocking doing squats or that rocking back and forth thing. especially when, in certain corps case, they prioritize their drumline dancing when their solos aren't even clean. fast drill though, is always great. I can't think of an instance where i saw drill performed well and thought 'gee, this drill is too complex/fast, it's making the show less effective.'

Gar, are you sure it was the 68 show? I thought it was the 65 show GR liked best.

I wish I could have been at any live performance of SCV 2016. One of the purest, most beautiful shows of the decade thus far. Sadly, they did not come to my local show even though it was a Tour of Champions show. Some honorable mentions: Phantom 1996, Cavaliers 2002, Phantom 2008, Bluecoats 2014.

I'm telling you, the air was sucked out of the stadium during that show. Those last eight counts... wow...

Blue Stars 2004 As I am a huge anime fan and they were the only corps to play an all anime repertoire seeing that show live would have been amazing.

Gail Royer always said his favorite show was the 1968 Chicago Royalaires. I could never find either audio or video of that show. I'd like to see live any show that impressed that arranging wizard from SCV.

Oh, I get it now. Rach Star (which I LOVED!) did not place higher because it was the music snob judges that couldn't get past the source music genre. Therefore, that must continue to be the case for all future corps reps (the hypothesis and findings must be reproducible), otherwise there would have to be some other reason for prior rock/metal sourced programs to place lower than expected. Maybe I'm naive, or not enough of a music snob/artiste, but I don't get why a judge would automatically dismiss a corps performance solely on the genre of its source music. And, BTW, there's a whole other section of the original song that the referenced brass band arrangement chose not to include. Quite melodic, and would fit into the right drum corps program nicely.

I love the INT and the Couchmen jokes. I wish we had more of them.

There are 4 categories of regular membership: Brass, Percussion, Visual and Administrative. There are other ways, however. Stay tuned.

Correct. The devil is in the details of mechanical and synchronization royalties.

Mke N....you'd be amazed how many folks have yet to realize what you "just got that the logo swoosh is the letter "Z" in AZ" I think it's pretty cool myself. Just love THE ACADEMY Logo and the 4 - 29 video teaser.

You can enter and re-enter as many times as you want. Thankfully.

The food is $$$ and typical stadium fare. Lots of great options in close proximity outside of the stadium.

Definitely leave your vuvuzela home. Dan Potter will tell you they aren't allowed in the stadium 9,652 times over a three-day span. Also, no missile-like objects. ;-)

I'm with Elphaba. SCV was a monumental game-changer. And, a few scant years later, in 1976, so were the Bridgemen and the Blue Devils. There have been some notable seismic shifts since, like whatever George Zingale touched, and a big one last year, 2016, when the Bluecoats took tech special effects into hyperspace. One thing for sure: the activity isn't through re-inventing itself, and not everyone will be thrilled about it. (OK. That's two things.)

I was there that night! LOL!

Emoting in the pit. Emoting on the field. The best emoting comes out the end of the horn, not from a facial tick disguised as a wink. (Thank you, 2016 Academy!) The best emoting comes from equipment tosses, beautiful choreography, and "Files" of ripped visuals. Back to work...