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Krysty Spears.

The Scouts seem to have paid homage to what the New York Skyliners of the 60' and 70's did with their unique arrangements of Bernstein and the sounds of NY City. You dont have to believe me, but first listen to the Skyliners arrangements of Slaughter and NY, NY and then compare them to what the Scouts did with them. Back in those days, the Skyliners were among the elite of senior corps and usually had 60 to 70 brass, that played as loud as was possible. I also believe that the Scouts were the only DCI corps capable of reproducing that kind of energy, and taking the edges off the sound because of their training in the seventies. They were just as loud but not as crass as the weekend warriors of those early years. This is not a slam at all, it is a tribute! Good choices so far...I am sure this one will work for you! Now what about Symphony in F? Donny

I'm still waiting for some corps to perform, "'The Bell Jar' Meets 'Atlas Shrugged': Illusions of Archeological Reality."

I think he means the musical selection is "Scouty", if you will. Not a big fan of the music, but I agree the Scouts have a good shot at making it work very well on the field, and I would guess those who liked the increased entertainment factor from Madison last year will be in for more of the same.

None of the above. I vote Cesario. I mean, just look at that suave mofo

You're right - the nasty, overbearing sound of individuals overblowing substandard horns isn't there anymore.

Excellent choice, especially considering that 2011 is the 10th anniversary of 9/11. As I recall, the rest of the Scouts 77 show was their unique take on WSS, including a stirring rendition of Somewhere.

That is a very bold claim...

You're correct, Imperial Sound is performing exhibitions at DCI and DCA shows this year to build up for a possible Open Class evaluation in 2012. With corps coming and going like they commonly do today we want to make sure we have a solid foundation before making the big leap. Our exhibitions, as far as I know, will center around the Northeast but probably won't go into New England (though I can't say for sure right now). As for the corps that are still TBD for those shows you mentioned, I heard East Coast Jazz got a bingo license a few months ago but haven't heard anything else since then. Citations also expected to make a return this year but again nothing to confirm it. I can't speak for the Raiders anymore, but when I was there we always had at least one show in New England. It's possible their schedule isn't complete yet and they could be added to that show. Same goes with other current Open Class corps.

The 1977 opener for the Madison Scouts is the first EVER drum corps I ever heard. I remember it rocked the house! I can't wait to hear what 150 men of Madison can do to/for "New York New York". You rookies out their, go to the DCI archives and take a listen, the opening 4 notes is what hooked me on drum corps and that was 35 years ago! I can still close my eyes and hear those opening cords in my head. Many of you thought the opening of "Slaugher" rocked ... you haven't heard nothing yet! Oh and for you Madison fans that loved this years show, Madison has a tour DVD on their website for sale. I spent $20 to support them ... because their show was the only want I wanted to watch again from the 2010 line up. So instead of spending $119.00 buying DCI's Top 12, I drop $20 and got exactly what I wanted from THE MADISON SCOUTS!

Drum corps certainly has changed from that of the World War II generation. Several points from this thread need to be emphasized and some debated: 1. Drum corps is a fringe activity / attendance is dropping. Both are true. More often than not, when I mention drum corps as my main interest, I am forced to explain what it is.....more so over the years as there is no longer a corps in every city/parish/Legion Post. Kids at school always had classmates who participated in corps.....we are even "fringier" today than ever. Attendance is dropping and the average age is getting much younger as WWI generationers withdraw from the activity and are replaced with marching band generationers. 2. Drum corps is changing in appeal. This is also true. The move away from emphasis on military bearing and more into the arts is embraced by some, rejected by some, and ADAPTED TO by most. Fortunately the DCI/DCA differences allows for most of us to enjoy the activity while celebrating or bemoaning the changes. 3. The corps of today can march and play circles around the old corps. Oh yeah? Go to the video of the 1975 Madison Scouts (that's 35 years ago)...watch them "march." Today's corps do not do that...that is called marching..... Same corps and year...MacArthur Park....watch the soloist on one valve and a rotor. I doubt that anyone today could produce that sound with those limitations. My personal favorites..... I enjoyed the "junior corps" of the 1960s. I enjoy the all age corps of DCA...in between, I enjoyed the Bridgemen, Velvet Knights, Madison Scouts, Cavaliers, Blue Devils, and Santa Clara of the 1980s. I love the Blue Devils "Phenomenon of Cool" and the Cavaliers "Machine." I love everything DCA....mini, alumni, class A and Open. I LIKE DCI and occasionally find a DCI show that puts me over the top.... I STILL love drum and bugle corps and think it could have a place in high schools, but NOT where a full music program exists. It would be perfect for small schools where a 30-member brass line and 10-member percussion section sans pit could equal a 90-member marching band. Just my $0.02... Joe Dz in NJ

that's a good pickup

It might also mean New York New York is not...well, no one is going to put any bits of it in excerpt books and write treatises about it. But it will make an effective opener...perhaps even a 2011 highlight of the season kind of opener...

I think in the hands of the Scouts, New York New York, has the capability to blow down the house,,, Right song in 2011 for the Scouts.

This.

BAC - The meat and potatoes of drum corps!

Only 5 posts and already so jaded.....seems a shame. As for "rehash", the last serious treament of Les Mis was in 1989 by the Cadets, and none of today's marching members would have even been born.....it will certainly be fresh to them. Furthermore, the 1812 is..well, the 1812. It is a staple of World Music History, and its status as such entitles it to be played forever......get over it. And, have a nice day!

Here is hoping the guard is dressed in something sexy like black patent leather and thigh high boots as opposed to the grandma nighties they had on last year.

whenever i hear someone talk about 2000, they usually say cavaliers won. Besides, in 2001 the first show they had was just between cavaliers and cadets which was also known as the tie breaker show and needless to say, cavaliers won

um, IMO no way Cadets should have tied Cavies.

oh...and good beer. regional stuff at each venue. Like New Glarus Spotted Cow at all the Wisconsin shows!

I don't know about you guys....but these last few seasons have left me sorely disappointed. In all the rigmarole about amps and electronics and woodwind scares and G7 arguments, something has been left by the wayside and it saddens me. This one thing has always been a great drum corps staple, but I feel fewer and fewer corps are using it to its fullest potential. What I want to see, more then anything else in 2011, is more cowbell.

I think the Blue Stars are going to sound like garbage on the new horns..hows that for an opinion?

Cavaliers. On the field- Michael Gaines Drill and awesome show design Off the field- All well groomed and shaven. Very relaxed (not militaristic), and very respectful to everyone (except when pranking other corps :P ) They let me pass through their line instead of trying to scare me off.... and I said "have a great show" and they all responded "Thanks!" instead of trying to be scary in their band uniforms like certain other corps.. all this while still maintaining a good posture, clean uniforms and horns...etc.. so relaxed, but disciplined.

he means that not many drum corps are as awesome as the Scouts, so it is okay for the Scouts to do music that the other mere mortal drum corps would fall flat on their faces with.

I think there are cookie cutter elements of every show, including uniform designs, marching styles, and just a generally generic approach to design that makes many of these shows similar. Look at the percussion visuals ( those leans, lunges, and hops) that have been copied from the Blue Devils by many, many corps. Things like this have been true for a while. Several in my group would joke about the "OBJ" or Obligatory Jam session that many corps would insert into their show that was sort of a rip on the Cavaliers when they did it early in the '00s. The top 8 is less cookie cutter from one another, if you look at the lower placing corps and take off their uniforms, you'd be hard pressed to tell them apart musically or visually. It seems like that was definitely less of the case in the past. I'd take the time to give a in depth breakdown, but it would be a waste of time. Many who disagree are just going to disagree with me.

Many years! I am referring to shows that everyone talks about. 83 Cadets is one of those shows too. 2000 Cadets is crazy good, NO WAY Cavies should have tied them, NO WAY!

Zero. I watched BD first. To each his own - Don't want to see 2010 Cavies ever again.

New music. New designs. Innovation. EVOLution! Out with the old In with the NEW.

WOW nit as right as I thought it was. Powerful-yes emotion -yes tight-no. good for 10th -YES!

drum break and tuba pedal was a direct ripoff of things other corps have done in the 00s, particularly bd. every corps does this, so to me it's not a negative thing at all. and i know better than to try to convince anybody that music they happen to like is still chopped to pieces....

... meh... sounds a little boring... I like the song but, just seems a little boring...

they key is what the design staffs do from there. that's why I don't expect a one year fix

That Phantom is the best sounding corps out there? I think we can all agree that they sound phenomenal.

Fear not, for it isn't the kind of horns a corps uses that makes them great. Phantom Regiment uses Jupiter now, and they're still the best sounding corps around.