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Two words on parking....it's Clifton. I've been going to that stadium since around 1971 for marching band and drum corps shows, and your parking comments would have been the same then as well as today.

I tend to agree with you. Ultimately, guard staging and other visual aspects, while good, were just not good enough to elevate their GE. Additionally, the Shostakovitch music, as much as I LOVE IT, tends to come across dry and unemotional with many. Throw in the dark unis that hid a lot of visual mastery in the legs and you have just enough deficit in GE to wind up in 4th. My initial thoughts on Cadets this year were amazing brass, drums, and drill. I figured if they could be top 3 in brass and drums (which they were), and if their drill cleaned, that maybe the GE would get a bump. But the legs didn't quite get clean enough, which is certainly not a cut down when talking about a drill that hard. During most years this would not be getting quite the attention it is. Most would just chalk up their excellent 4th place finish to being really good but perhaps not quite clean enough to win. Demand can give and demand can take away. It's become somewhat of a talking point this year because The Cadets were in many ways the best total music ensemble all season. They won more high brass and high percussion trophies all summer, and almost did at Finals as well (getting brass only). In an activity called "DRUM & BUGLE CORPS" where the first two nouns in the name indicate the activity is about MUSIC, it's odd that the best corps on the field (arguably) in music was in 4th place. Whether we like it or not, this is where the activity is. Today we hear comments like "they didn't innovate," "not enough GE," "the guard wasn't staged well enough," or "the show was too demanding and old style." Today it is difficult to put a finger on the meaning of GE Music or GE Visual or how it's being judged, and today staging, body movement, and dance mean as much as the music, or more. Today, the corps that plays the best percussion and brass can end up in 4th. It's no longer a music first activity no matter what DCI says. It's a total show, much more like Broadway, where cast, crew, staging, lighting, props, effect, dance, movement, music, and theme all come together to form the whole. At present time only the Blue Devils truly understand this about the sheets, and they are brilliant at programming around it and yet creating a fun, exciting show while they do. I do like the activity where it is, but there are times it leaves me scratching my head.

I had you all going for a minute there on that last post huh... womp womp. Good morning to all of you out in the virtual marching pitch. Here's a quick overview of my day for 8.22.15. Leave Baltimore, sit in traffic. Get angry. Drive 30 miles, then sit in traffic. Get angry. Lather, rinse, repeat. Oh look Delaware... still in Delaware... eff Delaware. Then on to NJ. Then I finally arrive in Montclair. Had lunch at Egan & Sons. If you're in Montclair, stop by there. It feels fancy, but without fancy prices. I'll suggest though, that if you get a really short server with dark hair, kindly ask to be reseated in a different section or you'll arrive at your own funeral before your drink gets refilled. Then onto the show, saw a couple of people I've taught with, watched a couple of warmups, sat through a show, made some numbuts with her phone on feel like... a numbnutz, discover my original couch to crash on is infested with ants, drive back to Baltimore with a nap in the car, and a second red bull somewhere in there. Ok, enough semantics... REVIEW PREFACE/Boilerplate: Reviewer will strive to give you some good, some bad, probably some ugly when it's warranted, and some constructive, objective, and yes, even subjective criticism. Reviewer is a horn person hence will give more notes about horns, feet and posture, visual performance, and if other sections happen to throw down, reviewer will give them props earned. If performers are not selling it, readers will hear about it. Reviewer comments when stuff is clean and musical, and when its not. Reviewer has distaste for schtick, dirty feet, uncharacteristic sounds, and repeated gak. Schtick herein is defined as bando, theme is defined as drum corps. Schtick is only to be used if performers are the Velvet Knights, where your theme is schtick, and awesome. (RIP VK..*sniff) Reviewer is unqualified to determine structural integrity of field, shows, food, corps, or readers reactions, and thus cannot absorb repercussions for feelings hurt, egos damaged, or coffee improperly made. Reviewer is not associated with any corps in this contest and is not acting on behalf of any corps Jr or All-Ages currently in existence or defunct. Personal note... None of this is meant to be malicious, so please don't hatemail me. I try to keep it light, with jokes and rants, sometimes about the stuff that happened that night, sometimes about stuff on the field. I write a lot... and these actually ARE the cliffs notes edited down so if you don't want to read about somebody... skip it. I don't care. Do whatcha want! Some corps are going to get more criticism than others, because frankly, they can do more, they work harder, and there are higher expectations set from last year. As always, if your world is one laden with sugar coating, you should stop reading RIGHT NOW, and go find yourself a nice puppet show to attend. A show review this close to championships isn't going to be one of unicorns farting butterflies or jolly little leprechauns serving you beers by the bucket. As Mr Wolf says "If I'm curt with you it's because time is a factor. I think fast, I talk fast and I need you guys to act fast if you wanna get out of this..." Now get off my lawn... and back to reading. That being said... I remember playing shows in Clifton stadium ages ago. At least I think I remember it. It looks different from the seats. To be honest, I'm a fan of any show that has quality street parking. Thanks Clifton, for giving me a place to put my car without the feeling of being stabbed. I sat about 9 rows up on the performers left 40, and in that stadium, even 9 rows gives you some decent height, so I can check forms and such, lines, etc... But really, if I'm listening and watching for feet I want to be close. Alumni awesomeness... I apologize. I missed you guys. I intended to arrive in time to see some of the 'Wackers rehearsal in the stadium, grab lunch, and catch a few of you. That did not happen. So gentlemen and ladies, I apologize. I will have to catch you all either online or next season. But i'm sure you were wicked, the old mafia guys sitting behind me loved you. I'll trust the mafia's opinion, If nothing for self preservation. So if Louie, and Moose love ya, I will as well. Excelsior. 10 Horns, 10 guard, 7 battery, 7 pit, 1DM/Corps Director. Get out your RAY BANS, and start swaying like you have some soul. Because they're playing some soul. I think they look larger than last year. (or at least the movement helps that) They most certainly move more than last year. They are still young. (which may be a hindrance) They have a fun show. Songs about.. well.. YOU. no. not you, but YOU. And you, and her, and him, and you (lose the bangs and maybe you too). To be honest, they move like they're young, they play like they're young, and though I like the corps' mission to their area, I don't think it's going to be competitive until some things change. But alas, they are still alive in an area where others are not. One thing they DID change from last year, is the solo/melody lead trumpet moves around the field with the rest of the corps, finally. Well, sort of. Look, I understand how the member/staff person is doing two roles in the corps, but if you're going to march, march. Be in time, be in form, and be attentive to the DM like the rest of the corps is, otherwise you attract attention to yourself, which detracts from the show. Overall, they're dirty top to bottom musically and visually. Low brass needs to fill the horns up with air, and play to the back of the stadium instead of to the front sideline. I saw a tuba, but didn't hear one. So balance was a little off. Guard, though mostly competent of the work, has lots of phasing in it, and the battery is the same. Really, it looks like these MMs are out there to have fun, and are still learning the show, but it felt like they had fun performing. If they can nail the style of soul music, this show's likeability will skyrocket. I mean... How can you not love playing you's some Steve Wonder? Seriously. If you don't have fun playing Stevie, check your pulse. Then leave. I aint got time for you. In all seriousness, I truly like their improvement from last year. They have taken this corps up a large notch from what I saw last season. I hope they keep it up, maybe grab another 8 horns and keep pushing, because they fill a void that the death of DCIs Division 3 created, bringing actual youth into the activity. For that alone, they got a standing O from me. New York Skyliners... of Pennsylvania. "Because there's always something about that... 2 hour drive west" 36 horns, 14 guard, 11 batter, 8 pit. I feel like this is a little odd, to have to call them the New York Skyliners. Its kind of like baseball's The Los Angeles Angels... OF ANAHEIM!!! Geographical semantics! About their show... Whatever Loooooollla Wants... Lola wants you to listen to those chords better. She's on the field with you. She's gypsy thieving flags and stuff from your members, why isn't she stealing horns and drums as well? She might be, I just missed it. I like the idea. I think that this corps needs to receive a gold star, or a medal, or a hug or something for being the comeback corps. They look reinvigorated. The new uni's look fantastic. They've got new clothes, a new groove, and a new way of life. My biggest concerns are intonation, getting members to understand the chord stacking in the jazz charts, and getting soloists to be able to put out enough air that they can sit on top of the ensemble. Tonight the squealers got buried. The baris also don't have the punch I would expect for jazz. There's no bite on notes that need bite. There's also tons of visual dirt, which I think is going to be the norm since they are moving much more than before, and may be getting used to this style of show. It felt like they cleaned impacts visually and musically. Most of the stuff they played loud was pretty ok, not amazing, but aiight, everything not loud was just meh. Feet were a mess and all up in the sound of the horns, battery was tickish, guard, to be honest I didn't catch much of you, i'm sorry. I will watch for your stuff more closely at finals. To be honest, if they can clean this puppy, they will make it a tough day for the rest of that lower tier hoping for a finals spot. But they need to work... not like government work, but like day laborer work. And fast. Clean the chords, fix the intonation concerns, and get the feet together, and they are a solid NCAA bubble team. I'd like to think they can punch their ticket to finals, IF the members shed notes and sit down with a tuner at home in their off time, and literally learn how to tune every note in this show. If they don't, they'll be watching finals. But like all NCAA teams, its a 3 year process. First year change the coaching and evaluate problems, second year implement your new systems and recruiting, third year... profit. Don't be discouraged Skyliners of the city known for "The Office". Keep this track and success will come. Loooong Island Sunrisers, of long island. (I didn't count members.) Commmme fly with me... lets fly... lets fly away... OK. Let's get this over with. I'm going to get some hate mail over this... don't worry Sun, there will be others who are going to get this criticism later as well. Two things I don't like, schtick and bad electronix. In regards to schtick, I don't dig drum majors dressed unlike the rest of the ensemble. You're a corps that is better than schtick. I see bands do that who can't design a show to drive home an idea. You don't need that malarky. Your show is already better than that. I will say, however, if you intend to dress them as characters in the world, they need to act the character in the world. Not sort of. Be the Pan Am attendant, forced smile and all. When they aren't conducting, they need to also move like a Pan Am attendant. Embody the character, if you're going to use characterization. My other major bad... The vocals in the show, are choppy, and sound like they are a Google translator voice, that's been put into MP3 form for playback. Its flat, and not resonant like a real human is, and it bothers me. If your show is based around the ins and outs of an airport, and you can't take the time to do a quality recording of a voice that is what leads us into each scene, you've let the people marching on the field down by being cheap and saying "yeah, that's good enough". When you can record a real voice, using a real mic and a laptop, and an inexpensive software (or even free) to edit, there's no excuse for a bad spoken vocal. They also have at least one that was played, but was so quiet you didn't get it, so you missed the point of the next section of show. The vocal didn't set it up, which what I think was India. Other bads... high brass intonation is no bueno from the start of El Camino, there's loads of split attacks in the upper brass, and on hits, the lower end just disappears. It's like the big horns took a vacation on impacts. (see what i did there... wokka wokka) Bass four... your feet hurt me. I tried to look away, but I couldn't. Wrong foot, wrong time, bouncing between 3 and 5 in the space. woof. Now that that's over with. I like the charts in this show. I think they are appropriate for the talent level and can put this corps back into finals. I really enjoy the arrangements and I think the theme is something that can satisfy both the art, and the entertainment we are used to getting from DCA. IT feels like this corps grew up from last season and came back determined to make a point. Performance posture as a whole is better, but we are still getting feet in the horns sound, and battery drums bouncing around. The intervals tend to flex a little more than I think they want to. But the style of the show is there. And you can get four contrasting styles of music pretty well. There's a couple of moments where things come unraveled with some phasing left to right. France was shaky in some parts. Guard... looks like they are still learning some parts of the show. I think the work is tougher than last season, and tosses had some hand issues tonight. Overall though, I think this corps is much improved from last season top to bottom. While I think they need more time than they have to clean this up, I don't think they are neck deep in cow pie. (or whatever animal pastures on long island) Keep pushing, I think you're a solid low finals group. Hurricanes. After dark. Under the football lights. Wait.. WHAT? I forgot to count peoples. sorry. But they look smaller than last year. I like the charts for this show, (big band, jazz, lounge stuff... pompadours and pin stripe suits optional) I mostly like the arrangements. Except for one minor problem. This isn't a drum corps show. This is a trumpet show, backed by a drum corps. They've even put the soloist in an old school Hurcs cop hat, and stuck him in front of the pit on the field. So my thing is, is he in the pit?, dress him like the pit, is he playing the part of a lounge player?, then put him in a suit like your show theme dictates (and make him ACT like he's a lounge player), but where he's at in front of the pit, and sort of in between everything in space and in dress, makes it just look a little odd to me. Like an afterthought. "go stand over there Charlie, we'll get to you after this set". One other concern. Its ok to hang over a little, once in awhile with a screamer solo, it loses its luster when it happens over, and over... etc. It starts to sound wrong. Or lazy. Or both. Don't get me wrong, he plays beautifully, and the style is right, this just seems like more solo than needed. Their feet, in general, I stopped watching. They need work. The body presence also needs works. Battery bounces around left and right. I think the tubas played pretty well, but there's something about mimicking a bass that they are just shy of completing. The baris are on a good start for mimicking the bite and presence of big band trombones, but again, they need to really do it with everyone. There's still inconsistency there amongst the line, and inconsistency in the style. But they're close. The usual strength of the Hurcs... the guard... had some rifle probs. The rest of them though, were stellar. They've got some stuff to clean or add I think, and some staging to fix because I feel like they are stuck out in the nether regions for most of the show. But work is great, fairly tough, and being sold well. I think they may make some changes to up the ante. They should if they have time. They've got tables and chairs set up stage right. I'm not sure if they intend to use more of it, but it feels like an after thought. I don't think the show needs it, and they could find a better way to integrate that with the soloist on the other side. But what levels they create using these props are interesting and to be honest, if its out there, lets find another way to use it. I guess what i'm saying is, I want to like this show, but I feel like they robbed the members of playing time, and gave it to a fairly static feature. The corps itself has grasped the style of the music pretty well, so Nutville has a great feel to it, as well as Harlem Nocturne, but it really feels like we've got more solo than we need, you tend to not look at much else how its all staged. Everything else sort of fades away. White (blue) Sabres. 30 horns, 11 pit, 24ish guard, 16 battery. Incantation and Ritual, I was expecting a little more ritual. Sacrifice somebody! But without judges on the field... oh well. Stylistically this music fits their personality. I'm starting to think these ladies and gents are becoming the Cavaliers of DCA. They have a sound that feels very Cavies to me. Balanced, centered, and within its means. I will state that this corps understands what they have to work with, and they work within those confines extremely well. They had one of the best blends of the night. They don't have melt your face impacts, but their control is great across all volumes. So hats off to them. I'm not sure if they added some members after DCI but it looks like they've got some people marching differently than the rest. there are some attempting to march a true straight leg (where you lock your knee and walk using only your butt-tocks) and some doing a relaxed straight leg. so my brain is confused. There's also lots of feet in the sound. There are parts of the show where the horns sound like a Hammond Leslie. Which i'm certain, is not what was intended. To be honest... from my opinion, there should be NO DCA corps marching true straight leg. There's simply not enough time in the season to clean it, build body strength up to a point where bodies don't bounce like rabbits, and the members learn where to allocate the shock of the ground to. It looks like doo doo. Its never clean come finals time for anyone, and it wrecks your body in the process. Get rid of it. Seriously. just... send it wherever we put those ideas for marching tympani. And don't bring it back. Back to the news... Upper brass has some intonation issues in the 2nd chart. The pit overall, is dirty. Lots of attacks that flammed down there. There are still lots of suspect releases, which is uncharacteristic of this corps. I think they'll have that fixed in two weeks though. And at some times the pit gets louder and plunkier than I would expect. Right of Spring... was spot on. The guard's sabres, were AWESOME. Like Samuel L Jackson awesome. "Say what one more time...!" Whomever's drumline was warming up at this time backfield of the stadium.. (fusion, cabs...etc) you stink. You need to google map you a better warmup place because you ruined this performance. If you don't care, it makes you a terrible human being and you need a punch in a body part i can't speak of in this family show of a website. ​I think the corps ran out of gas tonight in the Bacchanale. Everything to this point was so solid, and then...ZZzzzzzzzzz. Felt like the thanksgiving turkey kicked in during the Cowboys game. There are times when the battery overpowers the horns. I don't think that is intended, but it happens. More often than I expected. The toms sounded tight tonight. The battery overall sounded tight. Cheers to them for minimizing extraneous beats and playing musically. But I think they need to dial it down a little as they wash out the horns at times. Overall this is another great show from WS. They mix in some pop Alannis Morrisete for good mashup measure, and have a show that really is kind of the epitome of DCA. Entertainment, art, challenge. And they execute it pretty well. Two more weeks this show is going to be wicked. Their honor guard is always the example of what to be. I think they bring in VFW ringers for it. "we've honored guards before you were even a glimmer in yer daddies eye" Any who, they are proof that you don't need a huge corps to make great impacts and engage an audience. If I still drank, i'd buy them a drink. C2-Judgement day. Dun dun dun, dun Dunnnnnn. Break out the wodka comrade. We are going to thee Red Square with Meester Chekhov. I really like this corps' show. This is playing, and moving. That's it. And they are the essence of what drum corps is this year. This was the most completed corps of the night. It was the cleanest, it was the most well played from all sections, and if the people currently judged higher than them aren't careful, this corps is going to be the ninja that sneaks in the window and leaves them face down hidden in the flower beds. Props to George and his design team for giving his members a show, that isn't a feeder corps show. While Russian Christmas Music might have been something from the old YEA books, or maybe it isn't, it works, and it works really well. For all intensive purposes, this is a DCI show, homer-fied for the DCA masses. Its not so clean it's sterile yet, in fact, its a long way from that, but the best performed show of the night was this corps. This corps also has the most definitive foot style of everyone on the night. Its not always the cleanest, but again, it was the most consistent to where you can tell how they march, and where issues are. good job. Horns had fantastic releases, and probably the most consistent trumpet line of the night. (see also, least split attacks, and least intonation probs) Drums you were the first of the night to be noticed fully as great from top to bottom, and this was one of the few corps where the pit sounded blended with the rest of the corps and the amplification wasn't screaming in my face. Fusion or Cabs or Bucs... your warmup was too close. And again, someone ruined a show. Kindly google yourself into a further warmup place... like Delaware. Now its not to say there weren't issues. The bari solo had some phrasing/air issues, and the mellos had some split attacks and weirdness overall, rifles had some drops, and guard itself had some phasing. I think they are at a point where individuals are sticking out more so due to the rest of the ensemble becoming so consistent. But I haven't seen them otherwise so I can't really tell until I watch them at finals. The accelerando at the end was rough. So Russian Sailor Dance felt more drunken sailor dance to start. Meester Chekhov put away thee wodka. Feet, phasing...etc etc etc. There wasn't one section not struggling here, but they recovered, and had a pretty solid push to the end of the show. So cheers for recovery. Incidentally, lady talking on your cell phone behind me. Next time, I'll take that phone and submerge it in my beverage, instead of the "ARE YOU EFFN KIDDING ME?!!!!!" that you received. You shouldn't be calling a restaurant to find out if they're going to be open TOMORROW at 5pm during a show. You've got all of tomorrow morning for that. The mafia guys agreed. And they didn't look the type to be as nice as I was going to be even. All in all... this show was well designed, and well performed across all sections. I think you should look for this corps to possibly make some changes even to improve that GE. They horns don't ever melt your face off like the Cabs or Bucs, but they do play extremely well and balanced. The guard I think was the sore spot of the night, but again, with two weeks I think they'll fix those issues, or cut those people. idk. Booms...boomed really well, tight, musical, and (minus Sailor dance) drove the car pretty well. Enough for me to watch them at times more than horns and guard. Good job Comrade2. Make some waves. I'm going to get hate mail over the next three corps. FusionCore. All Aboard the nucular powered train. I hate your gauntlets. There is nothing they go with on the uniform, they are the brightest things on the body, and they make the eyes move up from the rest of the ensemble causing the body to fade away and become unnoticeable. Maybe that's what you want. Something to detract from your feet. Because your feet weren't stellar at this show. I don't know. But they also stick out like a sore thumb when so many people have so many different methods of holding their horns. Triangle, sort of triangle, person who lets their elbows come in to compensate, both elbows up flat... etc etc etc. These bright silver gauntlets, against dark bodies and aussies stare right back at you. And they make everyone's upper body look sloppy unless you get them perfect. That being said, we've got another travel show. From East with NYC, to chicago, to San Fran. With another dead digitized voice. Yknow I don't think this was a good run for Fusion. Or maybe its just a snoozer show. The trumpets and mellis that are usually pretty good for this corps had lots of intonation probs, mellos had individuals sticking out the entire show, and the horns sounded like they were out of breath at the end of the opener. Maybe they are young. I like the charts they picked, just not all together in a show. It feels clunky and the vocals just don't glue it together. Drums had lots of visuals during the ballad that weren't together, and feet in general, weren't together. The closer sounded tired, looked tired, and the hornline chops sounded tired and overblown when they got to Hope Led them Home. To be completely honest, I liked Fusion so much last year I bought a shirt from them. Had I seen this show last year I would not have purchased that shirt. It took a lot to keep my attention during this run. Could have been lots of things, youth, tiredness, design... i don't know. But I know this was easily not in my top 5 of the night. Either of performance, or design. CABS. Unchained. I generally like you all, and you're normally a hornline I can relate to, and have a show that I think is face melting, but man... i'm going to have to edit this review so you all don't hunt me down. Maybe this was an off night. I love the unis now that Ive seen them live but I don't like this show. It's a schtick. And it feels like you beat us over the head with the schtick. It feels very uncharacteristic of the corps, the corps didnt feel hokey to me last year, and tonight this all felt hokey. This show feels like you want to emphasize the scthick more than the performance components. And the performance suffers because of it. Soloists were very not good tonight. Split attacks and rough intonation were common on all soloists. Which is something I'm not used to hearing. Drums were ok, not amazing, just ok. Guard was also ok. I think the work is good, I just think it was a ho hum performance with some crazy visual interactive props. There's so much attempting to be shoved at us, you can't mentally digest it all. Its like you've rolled the whole Old Country Buffet over to my table and just starting spooning stuff onto my plate. I DONT WANT THE MAC N CHEESE, ITS FILLER FOR THE ALL YOU CAN EAT RIBS!!!! seriously, more meat less filler. (that's what she said) Performance wise feet, were pretty good tonight, and performance posture was also very good. Characterization across the entire corps is performed very well. So we get it. Move to a spot, chain each other up, play, act like a prisoner. Unchain, move, rechain, play, Rinse, Repeat. All the motions of being restricted and secured we get. The idea of being a captive we get. I don't like the plastic looking neon colored chains. They remind me of a playground, and not a prison. When everything else is so dark, and even flag colors are non-neon... these chains look like they don't belong in the world onstage. Horns overall, were pretty ok. Low brass was full, tubas are still tubaing well, and the baris put out some sound. Overall the brass plays well, and impacts melt your face. Unchained melody needs to be as expressive as anything Santa Clara Vanguard does. And it's close, but it doesnt bring a tear to my eye yet. Releases were good for the most part, but there's a couple spots where they had a few hangovers. I think the book is pretty challenging, and this is just a different style the corps isn't used to. Its certainly a different style from them than WE are used to seeing/hearing. So it requires some diligence from the performer, as well as the viewer to get used to. Overall, I think you beat us up with schtick. I was hoping for a small glimpse of Van Halen in there... and got none. sad panda. BUCS. Twist it. Liiiiiike we did laaaaast summer. Let's twist (it) again, liiiiiiike we diiiiiid last yeaaarrrr. Someone is going to call me a (insert expletive for this), but I feel like I watched this show last year. Its the same equation of show creation. Mashup music, mashup visual, mashup wardrobe... and more mashup drill. No no... i DID watch this show last year. And nothing surprised me when i watched this. Break on through, was a great idea. Twist it to Break on thru, feels like what a camry is, to a lexus. Kind of the same, kind of not. Has most of the right parts, but its just not as fancy, or elegant. Its just ok off the assembly line. Its the most DCI style of shows of everyone that was there tonight. That's not a bad thing, but I think it was over most peoples heads. I have a hard time digesting this because from my standpoint. The music feels like it wants more. But it doesnt get more. Which makes me not want to buy a t-shirt of you. They do lots of twists visually, with their bodies, and they do lots of horn spin arounds, and there's lot of drill moments where a quadrant of members spins around a point, or does some block drill. (one person replaces the other to their left, that person replaces the person behind them, that person replaces the person to their right, and that person replaces the person forward of them) They perform this stuff really well. So props to them for that. Feet and posture are ok. Not great yet, but good. I think they've got some DCI people who just came into their ranks because I'm seeing two different backwards slow foot techniques. Some roll back onto their heels letting the toes roll up, and some stay up on platform. Drill, was reasonably clean, and direction changes are solid. There's still lots of personal balance concerns when they are doing dancy dancy irish jiggy types of foot stuff. Looks like a stiff breeze would blow them over. The opener was really tight tonight. I think that was the highlight. No Wait... the Rocky bit was a great throw in. Only thing it was missing, was a... MONTAGE!! ding ding. Honestly, there's lots of phasing left to right in the corps, and releases were downright dreadful. Tubas, though full sounding, were just all out of whack and had some players sticking out. I think I could count on one hand the number of releases that didn't have a horn hangover. Actually, i could count on three fingers. Yuck. Even the big backfield company front release was not blown. Someone owes some bus ups for that stuff. Sorry buccos, I do like you y'all, but I expect more out of you. And I think you should as well. Remember the review game I played last year... "its too late in the season for that". You're verging on that. And if you don't fix this stuff, you're going to be staring at someone elses butts on the ladder above you. Creepers. Do it for Chubby Checker. Google him if you just went "whooooo....?" Or ask your parents. You were born because of him. WACKERS. of the Bush type. The shows hosts. They brought everyone together onto one pitch for this weird form of entertainment we all know and love. Thanks for hosting. First off, they're smaller than last year. I didn't count heads, but they cover way less field space. They've got this industrial rEvolution show. Wind Ensemble music. Which is good material. I think its about the right level for what looks the ages on the field. They have to perform characterizations of workers, like factory workers, and I don't buy it. They just don't embody the people they are emulating. Hammering, using giant wrenches and bugs bunny style oversized levers... they don't grab me with it. But they've got a couple more weeks. A little time in front of a mirror will help. I think this year's show is dialed back a bit from last year in terms of toughness. The drill looks simpler. Foot technique is pretty inconsistent. I don't see that cleaning up in two weeks. But I do see them cleaning impacts and fixing balance concerns. Their pit at one point felt like it was overpowering the horns and melting my face. The opener is played really well balanced and full. After that I think they ran out of gas. Air support went south, and so did body posture. They still have holes, so if you are looking to march, I'd suggest contact them. High brass chops got, well, choppy, after the second chart. so when they got to the Enigma Variations, centered tones started to become rare. They have a small brass ensemble feature that will be cool, and lyrically wonderful, but they are going to need to build up some stamina for it. They had an amazing release at the end of the ballad that really rang in the stadium. Man, they need to channel that listening and energy into the rest of the show. Top shelf! They have some horn members who can't hold up their horns. Which in august... well... ITS TOO LATE IN THE SEASON FOR THAT!. seriously. Do some pushups and get it together. Every time you fidget holding a horn, we see a flash of light, which makes you, the performer, a beacon of tick. There is also a moment, that when the factory day ends, they take hats off, as in a big WHEWWWWW... but it just doesn't hit. It lacks that impact and release. Again, this is an acting moment, and its not being sold. It seems like a small moment because it's quiet, but it's a big impact, and performers dont seem to get it. As someone who's worn a hardhat on the jobsite, there's no greater feeling than taking it off at 5pm. Someone get these performers to a coal mine! boom. problem solved. They earn tour fees, we get coal, they get the character sample they need. You're welcome America! I will say that their effects are great. Good quality, they are a good volume, and have enough resonance that they feel like they are on the field and not through a speaker. Thanks for that. Percussion is just not what it was last season. I remember being thrilled by them, and this year... I didn't even notice them. They were just kinda there. Yknow I like this show, or at least the idea of it. But I don't think its being sold. Push it 'wackers. Only two weeks left til you cut that video. Incidently, it was a great moment to hear you all play your corps song. Something we outsiders don't always get to experience. So that was a treat. Thanks. Scores... i'm not going over that malarky with you. I was busy getting ice cream at the truck. You can go look at dca.gov to find those. or is it .org... whatever. Fran is an amazing face for radio. I mean voice. Voice for radio, and he does a great job at getting the corps on and off the field. Cheers to him for being a pinnacle of the activity, and a familiar face in an activity evolving at the speed of japanese technology. Al Chez... your band didn't need that much amplification. I love ya bud, but it was overkill. But y'all groove pretty well. I hope I can see you onstage sometime. I miss Dave Letterman already. Overall, the cost of a ticket, gas, and tolls up and back, this was a worthwhile show to see. I'm not sure how anyone else's experience was. I read there was parking issues, but hell. I found a spot on the street. So I'll call this a good show to experience. Its late enough that much of the forms are clean enough to watch, musical dirt is getting to a minimum, and stylistically most corps had it rolling. So come to this show next year. But save me a seat. See you all online for Finals. Unless you want to come over to my house, bring some wings.

I am in IT as well, and I have written lots of User and System Guides over the years. You describe that process perfectly. But DCI was not writing a User Guide...it was a press release to trumpet (so to speak) their successful season, attendance-wise. I think they published exactly what they wanted to say.

well,.............rumor has it that there may be a DCA show in Erie next summer,..............

When I review, I feel the need to be reasonably diplomatic. Even when I have been, an individual got banned for their responses to something I said and tried to pick a fight. I guess some folks would have quit after that. I've dealt with worse. Let's put it this way. there are a certain few folks in this activity on the Corps and scholastic end of things that caused me to lose all the sincere respect I did have for them after 15 to 30 seconds of their antics. They all knew better. They're all adults. I don't sit and wait for apologies. Part of it is this: If you looked at my notebook for a show, there's usually a laundry list of performance issues. Other people do execution/performance critiques here in far more detail, why repeat? I also figure the Judge's sound files also cover it. The corps members get all of that from the judges and the staff left and right all day. It can be a freakin' drag. Been there. Done it. When I go to a DCA show I'm paying to go in and enjoy myself and see some solid performances and look and see if I find some new ideas that are thoughtful and interesting. I'm not being paid that night to provide cogent and incisive critique. There is a serious difference. I sort of pattern myself off of Fred Mowbray (now there's a name from the past) who was one of the main DCA writers BITD- he was always around at the shows, very accessible, and many of us at Westshore always appreciated his support and would talk to him. It was good to hear a different and kind voice that was encouraging, one that told us to keep working to be great- that what we were doing was worthwhile. If I can do ten percent of what he did for us BITD in that way for those who are out there now in terms of encouragement- I would be very happy and satisfied. Yeah, some corps have real design and performance problems, but can I appreciate what they do, enjoy it, and want to watch it again without feeling like the Coyote in the trap and wanting to get away? Yeah, I can 97+% of the time. Price may have had something to do with Clifton, yes. In my case, I'm finally starting to make real money in my life and could afford it. I remember BITD going to DCI East Prelims because I could afford the Prelims ticket, see everyone all day, good and bad, and learn and experience it with great seats because it was first come first served and I would get there EARLY. Now- if you transplanted that kid to today, he couldn't afford to go both days, and would end up watching from the goal line on the second row wondering if there was enough cash in his wallet to grab a double cheeseburger from Mickey D's on the way back and afford the gas to get home. Solutions? Jeff hit on one. There needs to be more of a serious and aggressive liaison and outreach to the real feeder groups for DCA: the competitive scholastic scene. Most kids know about DCI, very few are aware of the opportunity DCA can provide them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOvfb4Ea1Bc This is the GE moment the Cadets were missing....

I don't feel like DCA's fans are beaten down. I do feel like DCA's fan-base is in a very tenuous spot right now. You have the long-time fans that are really aging, and you have the really new and vibrant young fans. There's not a ton of middle ground. DCA is actually managing to do a good job of attracting the new fan without alienating the old? I think they are doing a much better job that one would have expected...but it's still tenuous. And at some point, they may have to stop worrying about the older fan. Take Clifton for example. I'm curious to see if anyone else noticed what I did (or if I'm simply way off base here)....that the Grand Prix show at Clifton in July skewed a bit younger than the Bush Preview did this past weekend. To my eye, there were way fewer younger fans there. Was that due to the time of year (band camp)? I don't know. It may have been the alumni show in the afternoon, and Bush's marketing strategy. Ticket prices might have been a factor as well. Younger fans aren't going to gravitate to DCP unless they have a reason to. As Liz said, Facebook is MUCH easier to deal with, especially on a mobile device. Posting pictures and other media and posting thoughts is faster and simpler. Sure, it's harder to follow long-form discussion on Facebook, but I'm not sure that's bad. As for the prolific posters, there were 12-15 folks that attended and reviewed shows here on DCP, that were all chased off by super-fans and corps staff/admin. DCP was the go-to place for real reviews (and still is on the DCI side). But the super-fan and corps admin don't seem to want real, objective, critical reviews. They want show reports. You know, like those published in Drum Corps World. There's nothing wrong with DCW, it's the style they've chosen and has worked for years. But no report will ever dig deep like they did here on DCP. It's all rainbows and lollipops there. The bummer is, a certain number of folks react badly whenever critical reviews are written, no matter how knowledgeable or objective. The attacks, either openly or via PM that followed some of the very best reviews were toxic to the point they just drove folks away. Heck, I still have a handful of nasty-grams I received from DCA corps members and staff after being critical in a review, and I'm no where near as good (or critical) as some of the folks that used to write here regularly.

I'm rooting for you Spirit! And signing up for the recurring $20 monthly donation was easy. I'm glad I did it & I encourage fans to vote with their wallet too. Harvey

Thanks bud. We're all going to see different things. Heck, the 7 people with voice recorders see different things from each other. I like DCA, but I think it feels like this year is a "panic mode" year for the corps and organizations. (just from what i've seen online and reviews I've read, added onto what I saw last night) Like they saw the amount of kids heading to DCI and are attempting to lure them to DCA in any way possible. Shows that aren't feasible (cleanable) for the timelines, content that is crammed in until the fields burst and the normal homers are confused to the point of exile... etc etc etc.

Yeah. My reviews tend to throw a lot at you. I think it comes from my scribbling pages of notes, and trying to edit it all down into something that's not pages of notes to read. And then I just can't take more than a day or two to spend editing it into something digestible. So you get a short ride, in a fast machine. (there's a joke in there somewhere)

All-righty, then. Let;s get to the show and to the pre-contest exhibitions. I'd seen part of the Saint's Brigade program at Profiles in Music in April, and the brass section;s become a lot more confident as musicians. They perform really well thought-out arrangements of old and new chestnuts like "Baroque Samba", "New York State of Mind", , and "Legend of the One-Eyed Sailor". Their percussion's always nice and tight, and their brass soloists do very well. Reilly came on next, and it was hot, and out they came in full uniform- pretty tough for anyone at any age let alone some of the old schoolers who took the field. They hung tough! They're at their best playing the pieces they're best known for like "Danny Boy, It isn't Easy Bein' Green", "Soldier Boy", and "When irish Eyes are Smiling", though their flag presentation segment was nice and on the mark. Next up were Sky's Alumni Corps, and they were a very pleasant surprise. They're much better than when I'd seen them at last year's Grand Prix, their renditions of "Slaughter on 10th Avenue" and "Elks' Parade" were very well done, and the soloists were spot on. I think they're going to make a lot of people happy at the Alumni Spectacular in Rochester with their performance there. The Cabs Alumni have changed things up a bit with a drill style more from the '70's that's not the squad-based linear presentational drill from the previous decade as they usually tend to do. It's pleasant and well-performed. This year, they're doing a rather nifty arrangement of "Bully", "Mexican Hat Dance", a concert of "Echano", the second movement of Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez" and wrapping up with "Cha Cha Flamenco". They've been further refining their brass sound, but I have to bring up one thing before I forget. There are two very fine percussion features in the program and I finally met John Smith and complimented him personally. They're not trying to stroke out 600 taps per second or just smash and slam their way through these features, they have a fine groove and a real sense of elegance and control when they're out there and it's tasty as all get-out. These guys proved faster is not always better, and really had a very laid back, controlled and musical feel on Saturday. Next up was Al Chez and his Brothers of Funk. Take one great Rhythm Section, 7 good men on brass backing Al up, and 3 great Reed players... and you have a very entertaining mix. Al was extremely hard-working for both sets and worked the crowd as hard as he could, and was lights out spectacular. The videos of his band on YT aren't even close to how good they sound live. Well I did say this was an event, and now, I can finally start talking about the contest! I'll get this up piece by piece until I start nodding off.

Early in the season one of the Admin staff did a LOT of fund raising on the Spirit FB pages -- and she was VERY good at it. Some of it was just general stuff -- fuel, food, Gatorade -- that every Corps could use more of. And there were some specific items on the wish list -- plastic tubs for the souvie booth, some sheer fabric for the Guard (used near the end of the show), walkie-talkies for the staff, etc. At the time (and I still think this currently), this was NOT a plea for "send us $$$ or we won't finish the season". These were (IMO) items that we've wanted for a while and if we can get them donated, that would be awesome. And the families, friends, and alums stepped up.

Everyone has their opinion.....and I respect yours. So my thoughts are 1. How many of the last five years musical productions featured classical, symphonic, wind ensemble and symphonic influenced music? 2. I think the reason corps pick music from my item 1. Its so they can make up any crazy storyline they want. How bout no concept and just kick butt music!!! 3. If it is arranged well and the execution is there; jazz/latin should do just fine...should!! key word

Building upon their fan-friendly production "78th and Madison," the Scouts are proud to announce their 2016 show "Ashley Madison."

I am curious to see where The Academy goes next year! The have been improving and on the move the last couple of years.

Until it rains, at least...

I don't claim to see into the heart of every staff person or member of the corps (nor do I think that's the standard DCP posters should be expected to meet) . I'll just say this: there were plenty in both categories who *did* care about being the best corps they could be this year and were left to wonder if the leadership felt the same.

I still need to get my hands on the latest models of King/SB, Kanstul, Adams, and Jupiter to really form a well-developed opinion. Was (and still am) a Yamaha fan-boy, but your criticism of the lead-pipe is legit. Had no idea King/SB had the underhand lead-pipe until recently. Marched a year on the King 1141, and just recently taught a group that was still using them (poor basterds). Terrible, terrible, terrible design. Nice sound ... but a cumbersome piece of garbage that creates tension in the performer. Just looking at it creates tension. EDIT: ok, my language is pretty harsh ... again, it sounds good. I just don't miss that design. Going from that to Yamaha was serenity.

No, I don't want to spoil the image I have in my head, thank you... Mike

Not really a fair comparison, Liz. That's like saying Ferret Legging is very popular because there are plenty of posts on the Ferret Legging sites, therefore its absence in general sports forums is irrelevant. Look up Ferret Legging - you'll understand why it's a limited market.

I guess if we're being honest and looking at JUST World Class corps, than there's no denying Jersey Surf is near the very bottom/significantly below average, and beat only one WC corps (Pioneer) in ANY Caption

While I have ALWAYS been of the mindset that a corps' organizational and strategic plans are their own, I do have one point of contention with the philosophy you and maybe others state. You seem to stipulate that "being competitive" (in what I assume from your context you mean to be ranking-wise competitive) and "having fun and entertaining the crowds" are potentially mutually exclusive. I don't think that is the case at all. From most accounts marching Blue Devils is extremely 'fun,' and they even entertain the crowds some years while being competitive enough to score the highest score of all time (as they did with a seemingly crowd-pleasing 2014 program). Crown had a similarly popular show winning DCI in 2013 (and almost winning this season), Cadets in 2011, Phantom in 2008, etc. Those are extremes, and "winning DCI" is by no means the ONLY definition of competitive success. SCV was wildly popular in 2013 and 2014 with their Top 5 shows. Madison Scouts in 2011 (among other years) were the talk of the season, and not just because their closer was forbidden and not included in archives. Bluecoats have had historic success for their organization with a 2nd place finish in 2014 performing an EXTREMELY popular show, and third place in 2015 with another popular show in 2015. Blue Knights seemed to entertain the crowds this year with their Top 6 show, and Cavaliers pleased the crowds in 2014 while placing 6th. But maybe Finals is not necessarily the end-all definition of competitive success either. Colts and Troopers seemed very popular in 2014 playing populist music (with Colts doing Pink Floyd, a band with one of the highest-selling albums of all time). Academy played 15th this season playing Mary Poppins music! Even one of the most non-Finalist shows in recent memory came from Semifinalist Jersey Surf's "Bridgemania" throwback a few seasons ago! I don't think you'd find many casual Surf fans who would want the corps to radically change design philosophy. I do think you'd find many fans who would prefer Jersey Surf did a better job designing a populist show. Their brass and percussion scores at Prelims out-scored their overall score, which could be a sign that they have talented members who are lacking a better designed show (though their Vis. analysis might also indicate that they have serious visual deficiency that is holding them back, IDK). But the overall point I'm trying to make is "competitive success" and high achieving + "entertaining fan-friendly" are NOT mutually exclusive and acting that they are is often an indicator that one is not ready to address and solve real problems

Yamaha? Rubbish? You better let the brass folk from Crown, Bluecoats, Cadets, SCV, Scouts, Crossmen, Troopers, and Colts know.

I agree. A few of my choices would even be with Corps that don't even exist today at all.. let alone todays current top tier Corps.

Good point. All Corps decide for themselves what they see their mission to be. ( although, to be consistent in my comments, DCI should tell Pioneer.... " look, you are going to Open Class, and thats that ". )

And as far as using the reasoning as 'they started late" these groups form in the early fall with their idea of what they want the show to be based upon, I find it hard to believe that they (staff) are new to this, most being in Corps themselves to come up with with a kick@$$ show both musically and performancewise. I know that i would grow tired of being in the bottom tier continously. Gotta get something going here.

Here's what I don't get: If the corps administration, staff and marching members are happy with the status quo (ie entertaining light-hearted shows that are less competative than those who "take themselves more seriously") then why should they change anything? Where does it say that in order to be a world class corps going on a full summer tour that you need to compete to move up the ladder or you shouldn't bother to show up?

It's sad that the number of reviews are getting thinner. I've received nasty-grams as well ... both for specific comments and for omitting somebody's favorite snowflake of a corps. As for the general discussion at hand: I miss the Renegades. Didn't care for most of their shows, but the people involved really jazzed DCP up.

so its a color guard show, with live music?

really digging the SCV '99 love thus far.

DCi is a more national product, and does far more outreach to the next generation than DCA does. Does DCA have a game plan to reach out to the next generation or have mini corps more involved with sound Sport or Drumline Battle? Word is Gil is stepping down after the season. Maybe that will see some shake ups in how things are done. And yes, the DCA admin team don't do this for a full time job like DCI does. Maybe the business model needs to change some. I know a few years ago when it was announced finals were going to Annapolis, I recommended reaching out to the two band circuits I know that run events in that footprint, and work with them to drive interest. being very involved in one of those circuits, nothing came our way, and we have a ton of kids, staff and judges involved with DCA. I'm sure I'll get hell this weekend, but current DCA PR is not on here promoting stuff like Tom P, Fred or Dave H did. DCA IMO is at a serious crossroads. it needs to start reaching out to that next generation of marcher and fan, because the older generations are fading away. For all of the hubbub you hear on hear about the alumni show, it at best breaks even for DCA weekend. Mini corps, no disrespect, makes no money for DCA. as DCi fought for years, and still fights to some degree, it's tough to appease the older fans while bringing in younger ones. DCI for the most part has forged ahead and gone after the next generation, and recent alumni seem more engaged. Like DCi gives Indy, Rochester gives DCA a great deal, but hell, there's only 2 competitive corps within 2 hours of the place. Indy, for it's issues. sees attendance growing. is Rochester? I'm not going to either finals in their current locations as i'm not dumping my kid off on family for a few days, but I know at least in Indy there's stuff right there to do when the time comes and she's old enough. Not so in Rochester. And yes, I know winning bids don't grow on trees. IS DCA ready to try out of the Northeast? I don't know...whats attendance in the Midwest and southern shows? And when you look at the NE, you see most of the corps in eastern PA, NJ and CT, oh and some NY too....hmmm. So why is finals all the way over there? Don't those corps have a stadium in their area they can try and work on? It's a tough call. I don't have all of the answers. But what I do seem to see is the same ole same ole....and I don't know if that's enough anymore.

For clarification, the Bridgemen were a VERY serious Corps, that simply decided to shake up the DCI staid, Cadets styled, suburban based DCI establishment at the time with a radical ( at the time ) fun based, avard garde, completely different, urban based, theme styled shows. The fact that the Bridgemen finished 6 times in the top 6 ( more than Star of Indiana in this regard, for example ) and were less than a mere 6 tenths away from winning a DCI Title for themselves one year speaks to their seriousness of competing for a DCI Title, despite their unique approach to DCI styled shows at the time. The Velvet Knights orginally were a very conventional Corps, but one stuck in the back of the placement pack for over a decade. ( 20's, 30's ) Once they developed however a fun theme styled reputation for themselves ( fun for both fans and members alike ) their scores and placements began to dramatically improve ( into Finals 8 times, as high as even 7th one year ). Along these same lines, I thought that Jersey Surf might carve out a similar niche for themselves and fill the void left by the Bridgemen, VK. They seemed to have caught lightening in a bottle with their very well received " Bridgemania " themed show a few years back. But for some inexplicable reason they abandoned that approach. Regrettably ( but not unsurpisingly ) as a result, they have languished near the bottom of the WC Division since.

I agree. It was a combination of 1) an accurate press release coupled with 2) very clever wording. I see nothing inherently wrong with a PR press release from any entity that utilizes clever wording. They ALL do. Its really up to us, the public to understand what PR press releases are designed to do in the first place. If we don't understand that dynamic, then we get what we deserve, imo... PR press releases are ALWAYS designed to cleverly manipulate the words that are used in a fashion that is both accurate, but also susceptible to a possible misreading by a reader to a fashion most favorable to the organization that puts out the PR press release. This DCI article, with its clever wording on DCI attendance, successfully accomplished BOTH these goals for DCI, imo. So I agree with several others here on this, this DCI PR press release is a non issue.

I felt like I was watching an episode of Beavis and Butt-head reading this review.

Well it was a great season. I truly hope Cadets come back with a Cadet-like show that maybe is a bit smarter in design and with more emphasis on the guard as a prominent part of the show. I do want them to keep their identity and do the difficult stuff the others won't but as others stated, highlight it, do it perfectly and then do something else. Running and gunning the entire show is an unachievable task especially in a season like 2015 but thanks for doing it this one time. It was amazing to watch the MMs attempt to perform it and performed it very well even if the GE judges weren't impressed as they sipped their cokes and wolfed down cheese doodles in the the box burping into the recorded, 'I hate it!"

you can't judge the Reading show wondering what is happening in CT. you judge your sheet and the show of the day

bloo could do kinetic noise part dos with nils frahm's stuff. both of these are kind of out there, i know. the first one is the more accessible of the two. i could see a bunch of different corps putting together some great brass and percussion books with it, actually:

Yes. all of the above. My $0.02. Surf is at a crossroads. They can be the funny corps, or they can go more serious. VK did comedy well, because they were serious about it. (you cannot do comedy well, if you don't take it dead seriously, otherwise it looks sloppy) Take this year's show. The first half in raincoats was more serious. Decent drill, accessible music, big impacts, cleaner playing, and something they could sell. Once the raincoats came off, the show because more of a park and bark. But a messy park and bark. Drill got sloppy and sparse, and they instead relied on characterization of becoming beach goers, instead of traditional performers and marchers. So they needed to embody Annette and Franky and beach blanket bingo their way into your heart. But they didn't. So it looked like they might have been having fun, but without going fully into character, they just looked sloppy and the shows 2nd half looked like an afterthought. So you've got some fun done seriously, and seriously sloppy fun. But they had lots of fundamentals missing. Foot technique, body posture and control, musical attacks, phrasing, and releases were all sloppy as well. So yes, instruction can help overcome fundamentals. It cannot turn ok players into amazing players. That is part talent and part work ethic. But listening for balance/blend, moving eyes for forms, and keeping feet in time are all stuff that even open class does well.

It didn't bomb. The unis were fantastic!

Sky was a lot more focused yet relaxed in their performance at Clifton, and yes, there were some issues with imprecision, but they were a lot better with the quick temp transitions this week, and it really made the show come alive. I really like this brass book. It's really fun to listen to. Sky owes it to themselves to really commit themselves this week to do the vest they can do and just see what kind of decent number they can throw out there at Bridgeport. Sky's still young and learning. If they can stick together and grow together in time- they'll make some real noise.

Boston Crusaders 2014, "Animal Farm."

Star 1992. Because America. Message: Star Spangled Banners and Amber Waves, bay-bee.

That's why I often say we have to wait for the dust to settle before we best ever, weakest, etc. we need time to evaluate.

With the number of vets this year, and the talent and music they have, if THIS show places LOWER than 3rd, I'm quitting Earth. Tekk, are you still on the planet?

I guess it's not enough to say "I prefer a" or "I prefer b". We must now mock those with whom we disagree.

Mandarins made the greatest one year upswing of any corps. They put a corps on the field that should have placed higher. Nevertheless, they are a new presence on the field both size wise and performance wise. If they continue as they have, we are looking at a new kid on the block

"The Age of Enlightenment": Tony Schlecta was quite the character, in an age of drum corps that was positively filled by them. It is very sad to see that these individuals are long gone. And with them so much of the "Character" of drum corps. That "Roll Call" would include both Hy Drietzer and Joe Genero who taught us in the Lancers, Carmen Cluna, Bob Daniels, "Pepe Nataro", Walter Winkleman, Don Angelica, "Butch" Anderson, Alan Smythe, "Wild Bill" Hooten, Jimmy Russo, Bob BellaRosa, Ralph Silverbrand, the Yankee-Rebels "Stripper", and so many others that I'm sure Andy Lisko could bio. A few years ago, I saw an article written by Al Karls, a former Racine Scout and DCI judge that described the current activity as "Vanilla". Sad to say, it appears he was correct. Elphaba WWW

BINGO!!!!!!!

Dusting off my creaking memory cells. Ah! That's better. Judging in 1974 was mostly TICK based. Most corps', even very good ones, performance level varied quite widely from show to show due to the fact that most corps of that era were made up primarily of "kids off the street", who had been taught what music they performed as a skill, not as an art. Sometimes it all just clicked sympatico. Other times, for any number of reasons, it all fell apart on the field. These kids, even in the great corps, were not "music majors". They were just ordinary kids with widely diverse talent levels. So it is very logical that a vast quality difference could occur from show to show. That was part of the fascination of drum corps back then. You never knew which of 10,000 versions of your corps' show was going to unfold each time you set foot on the field. Under the tick system, if you performed poorly you tended to get a poor mark. If you performed well you were likely to get a good mark. This is not so true today. Nowadays a corps' show, written and taught by paid professionals, is worth a fairly firm base mark. The levels of performance of the very few, very talented, very professional corps who can still afford to go into competition vary only minutely. Judging back in the day was performed by people who began their drum corps careers the same way as the kids they were judging. They were not professionals any more than the instructors of the corps they were judging. Both groups worked for gas money and a box lunch, and because they loved doing it. Most corps competed in a limited geographical area. Most judges did too. They did meet often. They did know each others tendencies, strengths, and weaknesses. Many of the instructors and judges had grown up in the area, knew each other well. In many instances they had marched together in the same units or in competing units. We are speaking of hundreds of drum corps. Maybe thousands. There was no significant money involved in any of it. No one was making a living at drum corps. It was completely outside of all the participant's day-to-day lives. Do any of you think that Stetson D Richmond, or Moe Knox, or Bobby Bellarosa, or Tony Schlechta, or Sie Lurie was making a living from drum corps? Nowadays it's all about money. You know it. I know it. Even BMI and NASCAP know it. In the day, if you wanted a better score, you went out into the woodshed and practiced, and worked harder. And it worked. Your scores improved. And it cost no money, just effort. That, to me, was one of the major positives of the tick system. It emphasized execution. Particularly in VFW rules, where execution was almost everything. If your corps had 20 horns you had a fair chance to beat some big time corps hornline in Field Brass, because you could out-execute them. (You had fewer kids to make mistakes; were playing simpler charts.) You still might not beat the big timer in total score because they DID play better stuff, DID get better GE scores. But you could beat them in a caption. You had a fair chance to do that. If you did manage it , no one could take it away from you. It gave you hope. It gave you a reason to keep at it. It gave you a reason to survive. To keep trying. Today that kind of incentive does not exist the way DCI and their henchmen have the game rigged. The little guy has no chance, no matter what he does.