Phan Doris

So you did not have a good time at the show? Such a cynical review on a first week contest was a bit disappointing to me. Perhaps someone who enjoys drum corps will also write a review of this show, so we can get another perpective of it. But thanks for your effort to do this review.

Oh, Nikk, you're making me blush again.

Hey, Nikk! Glad you are teaching honors chamber winds this summer. That sure beats shop math, eh? As always, you provide us your great, insightful views. Thanks.

Regiment did Spartacus in 1981 & 1982, I believe. They did an all-Tchaikovsky show in '83. BTW, this is 2008 -- not 2007. I agree, Mike, that this year's production contains only nostalgic hints about the earlier Spartacus shows: just enough to revive those great memories but substantially different additional music to take the show to new heights.

It may be even harder in Texas if she is attacked by those pesky fire ants.

Regiment really feels at home along the left coast. There's even one red t-shirt out there that shows up now and then -- it says, PHANTOM REGIMENT Rockford, California SUTA!

I think I have been a Crown fan before it even was born. If memory serves me right, it was a hot August day in Charlotte, NC when Phantom Regiment bused downtown to play an outdoor concert "to give people an idea of what drum corps is all about" -- or so what someone told us that day. He added that a group of visionaries were starting a corps in the area and that their vision was to present performances of highest quality similar to what Regiment was recognized for. The year was 1988 and Regiment performed "Romeo and Juliet." There was a contest in Charlotte that evening and Regiment took second to some corps from Garfield NJ. Crown has not disappointed us -- assuming my memories are on target But let us not glorify something beyond what it really is. We of the seasoned generation of corps fans remember all too well of other corps that were crowd favorites but did not win the big contest in August. If we keep things in perspective we will continue to enjoy the moment and cherish the memories.

Two thumbs up for this great new feature I've just read the Stillwater review articles. Both are excellent! This will surely prove to be a widely read and very much appreciated addition to DCP -- and may also give Drum Corps World a positive kick in the pants for increased readership and subscriptions. Kudos to Steve Vickers for sharing with us.

Days like this I get weird thoughts in my head. Just a minute ago I was wondering whether someone who liked listening to tuba music could be called "contraceptive"?

It is going to be a great drum corps season this summer, based on what we witnessed tonight in Rockford, Illinois at the annual Show of Shows. A big crowd was on hand, the weather was clear and pleasant, and it was 2008's opening night. Nobody we talked to seemed disappointed. Quite the contrary, most corps seemed well prepared and we could see that everyone was really pumped in eager anticipation for drum corps season to begin. What follows is my (our, if you include my co-conspirator who is a well-known DCW staff member) impressions of opening night in Rockford. Colt Cadets opened the show without us. Sorry, but we were slightly tardy in getting to our seats and could only hear their show from behind the stands. But what we heard was very impressive. The youngsters from Dubuque, Iowa sounded much more mature than what we have come to expect over the years. Their show theme is "New American Signatures" and it includes "America" and "American Tune" by Paul Simon and "Song for America" by Kansas. (Score: 52.80; 1st place in Open Class) Next up were the familiar chrome domes, officially known as the Racine Scouts. It was nice to note that Andrea Birbilis is corps manager this year. The repertoire, "Frankly Sinatra" was a mix of a half dozen Sinatra tunes. Kudos to the lone snare drummer in this tiny corps. He performed well. So did many of the 16 horns. (Score: 46.50; 2nd in Open Class) Boy, what a surprise! Most years the Rockford show has had more than two of the "smaller" corps in the first part of the contest. Tonight the third corps to perform was the Madison Scouts. That, of course, brought smiles to the audience who suddenly realized that Show of Shows would include mostly World Class corps. The Scouts did not disappoint! Their forest green jackets and red neckties were quite spiffy. Their show is titled, "La Noche de la Iguana" and includes an array tunes from south of the border. On a light note, I'm betting that a majority of show announcers will mangle the pronunciation of most of Madison's repertoire and composers' names this summer. And don't expect me to try to spell 'em either. Suffice it to write, though, that this show will -- in due time -- rise high on the long list of Madison Scouts' favorite shows. (Score: 61.50; 6th place in World Class) It is of special note that the absence of judges on the field was, at first, hard to get used to. But, as the contest continued, it dawned on people that this change is a big improvement over past years when judges could intimidate individual performers by their "in your face" antics. At this writing, I must say it should stay. Does anyone remember those old "Hooked on Classics" tapes? If you do, you will immediately think both the Blue Stars and Carolina Crown are in contention for the best such show of 2008. The Blue Stars show, based on a Tour de France bicycle race theme includes snippets from about ten classical or pseudo-classical tunes. The guard costumes leave no doubt but that they are bicyclists from their shoes up to the helmets they wear. Several cute props and flags with handle bars help develop the bicycle race theme. These Blue Stars (Bluestars?) sound very reminiscent of the powerful sound the corps produced in the late 1970's when they often were national finalists. (Score: 62.50; 5th, World Class) Carolina Crown was one of my favorites last year in Rockford -- all season, for that matter. Their 2008 show repertoire, titled "Finis" includes a baker's dozen of your classical favorites. Sporting the biggest tuba line of the night (maybe of every night this year) Crown used 16 tubas. I'm inserting Crown here in my review despite the fact they performed next to last. It's part 2 of the "Hooked on Classics" remark from above. Crown's arrangements were well-conceived and admirably performed. The tempo changes and mood changes in the music kept everyone's attention along with cleverly splicing bits and chunks of various classical favorites. This is a good show and will, in my opinion, be a great show this season. Congrats, Crown! (Score: 70.20; 3rd, World Class) Colts have another great show again in 2008. After viewing corps after corps using solid colored practice flags for much of the evening, it was nice to watch a show that utilized what could be late-season silks. Their "Night and Day" them featured music depicting New York City. When the guard first appeared carrying out their props, it seemed the unit would don Bridgemen banana coats some time in the show. Much to our surprise, the yellow fabric was worn as beautiful skirts near the show's end. Well performed tonight, this show has potential for DCI finals if the staff works hard and the show doesn't peak too soon. (Score: 64.50; 4th, World Class) Cavaliers are hot, hot, hot! How do they keep coming up with such original shows? This one is a dandy one to watch, hear and, did I say watch? What clever new drill maneuvers will they think up next? They have one or two beauts this year. The authentic Japanese drums and the clever lip slurs that changed the pitch of the brass notes were quite interesting. I was dumbfounded trying to figure out where various sounds were originating in the pit. Of course, there's still much to improve upon; but look for Cavies to have another super season. (Score: 73.40; 1st, World Class) This brings us to the host corps for this great evening of music. Phantom Regiment, performing a new rendition of "Spartacus," has the potential for another big year -- if, in my opinion, they would remember some of the things that made Spartacus so wonderful in 1981 and again in 1982. This year's brass and percussion probably are better musicians than in '81-'82; but I really miss those red capes that were displayed as the corps made its grand entrance onto the field. More and brighter color may be needed for this production to reach its potential. It was obvious -- and typical-- that Regiment did not have regular show flags for this first performance. As the summer moves along, some great silks will appear at appropriate times for building up the score. Let us also hope that the guard costumes will get colorful enhancements too. Right now they really look like gladiators, dirty ones at that. The costumes have a blah color (my opinion) and the guard choreography at one point gave me the impression of a big mud pie churning on the field. I am amazed that I would write such words about Phantom Regiment, my all-time favorite drum corps. Let me also state that the individual guard members all performed very well. It is the lack of color and definition that was disappointing tonight. (Score: 72.40; 2nd, World Class) One final note. If you get a chance to witness a Phantom Regiment encore concert this summer, you will be impressed. Tonight Regiment's special encore concert included some of Rockford's great shows of the recent past, plus a repeat of "Elsa's Procession into the Cathedral" -- complete with percussion.

I hope they are flamingoes! :P :P :P :P :P

Thanks, Stephanie, for another great review! Did you notice how big the crowd was, despite meager advanced ticket sales? The walk-up sales were phenomenal! The rain held off again, and the lingering clouds gave us the added bonus of not having to peer into a bright sun for the first few corps. How 'bout that PR percussion, eh? In the encore performance (which you missed) there were comments about whether Regiment might have won DCI titles outright in 1979, '89 and '96 had the 2007 drum line been around then. The encore was to die for despite the fact we did not get to hear this year's show again. For those who weren't there, Regiment took the crowd back in time with stirring arrangements from '96 (Defiant Heart), '91 (Nessun Dorma), '89 (New World Symphony) and a wonderful rendition of 1979's "Elsa's Procession into the Cathedral." :) Yes, it is only June, and nobody's show is in August form. Most believe Regiment will -- as before -- add many things to improve their performance and GE scores. Among them are certain to be changes in those "black things" you referred to. Close your eyes and imagine beautiful artwork and colors that will greatly enhance the look of those panels and bring them into the "On Air" theme. Also, the single guard performer in those lovely wings may become a beautiful flock of birds (or butterflies?) flitting about the field. And anyone who knows Regiment's ability to "put teeth into their drill and GE design," already can see several places in the show where loads of nice stuff can (and will) be added. And don't forget the new silks that surely will appear as the season progresses. Thanks also for the pic of a Beef-a-Roo restaurant, home of the very best fries in the world! On a final note, I hope you weren't referring to my neighborhood in your "ghetto" comment.

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Not to worry (much?). Of late there has been the good old Rockford Weather Bubble that prevents rain from touching the ground here. No matter how bad the radar looks, the storms seem to dissipate just before they reach the immediate Rockford area or they just go around us -- rather than through. Just look at our lawns! :( On the other hand, Madison seems to get plenty of precipitation; and the Scouts are scheduled to compete in Rockford's Show of Show after many years of absence. And if Sky Ryders were still active, I'd bet on rain for sure. :P

Do corps still have the option of performing a judged exhibition? If so, an early season performance could please the audience who want to see a full-length show while, at the same time, give the corps valuable feedback from the judges. That way, almost everybody wins! What if early season scores really reflected whether a show met time requirements, with no corps getting a pass -- regardless of who they are? Wouldn't there be added incentive for everyone to be ready from Day One? Personally, I'm not as concerned about the drill during the first week; but I'd at least like to hear the music. Back in the day, most shows featured a concert number with the musicians standing still. Who complained then? Nobody.