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Things did get weird in 24, but Wiles was gone before that.

As mentioned before, it's all about entertainment value for me. I don't give a rat's patooey what drives it or how they got there. Just make me want to hum your music.

You talk a lot. Pick a little more. 😄

Back in the day, my corps used both mellos and French horn G bugles. Assuming manufacturers still make marching French horns, is anyone using them? As an aside, this may not be practical on the field for different reasons, but imo one of the most effective uses of French horns in orchestral music is in the low register. Even band literature rarely exploits this tonal color. It's not that low brass already play those notes, it's a different color in the palatte. Low register French horn is just a different sound than bari/euph/trombone/tuba.

Wiles and Hinshaw were out after 2022, but that wasn't exactly a bang-zoom product to leave on (my understanding is that essentially everyone on that design team lost their marbles that season, and it showed). The 2023/24 team was just....not great, let's call it that. Good to see that they're keeping the 2025 band together for 2026.

I stand corrected. I'll be interested to see how their styles mesh.

a lot of things went wierd in Cavies 24.......can't blame it all on one person

Spirit just made some big upgrades. Spirit of Atlanta Returns Nucleus of 2025 Creative Team, Adds World-Class Visual Designers for 2026 https://share.google/840W5NfrBoJtG6BNI

That show was bonkers impressive. We'd played an arrangement of that in concert band in High School and it was HARD. I was like, "wait...they're marching this piece?"

In the Springtime When Kings Go Off to War (Cadets 1993). Still pure fire and insanity. Perhaps the consistently "fastest" show ever put on the field. At least half of the total run time is at 208 bpm, maybe a little more.

I'm not sure how everyone is overlooking the obvious choice, here. 1990 is clearly the best show. How do you beat "Ya Got Trouble," "76 Trombones," and "Marian the Librarian" in 5/8 time? Balzac.

Man, that show is freaking awesome! When ever I need a pick me up show, I always go to that one.

I was really hoping Wes Cartwright would bring something fresh, creative, and fun this year — I was hoping that lessons from his past at Regiment and Crossmen would make Crown even better. Instead, Crown rolled out a show that felt straight out of 2002 LD Bell HS (BOA). That God for Crown's hornline and guard... and Jeff's drill!!! It’s tough to watch incredibly talented people struggle to be successful in DCI. Some try and end up going back to being judges etc, others do well in the band world without ever needing drum corps success — and that’s okay. On a brighter note, I’m genuinely glad to see both Keith and Rosie “come home.”

It has been and always will be 1987 Cadets.

OK, I’ll be a rebel and say for tonight at least, my favorite show of all time is 1991 Star of Indiana … tomorrow it might be 1987 Garfield … day after tomorrow it might be Change Is Everything … and then ? For the record, my favorite BAC show was Wicked Games, and BD show was Felliniesque.

1989 Cavaliers

I would have been ok with a tie in 87, 93, 19, 25. Loved the top two in all four of those years. All championship-worthy shows and performances.

1995 Madison Scouts.

Allow me. Following is how DCI revenue sharing will be divided this year: Boston Crusaders 6.750% Bluecoats 8.107% Santa Clara Vanguard 8.795% Blue Devils 9.605% Carolina Crown 7.416% Phantom Regiment 8.721% Mandarins 3.250% Blue Stars 4.512% Cavaliers 8.568% Troopers 3.490% Colts 4.501% Blue Knights 5.742% Spirit of Atlanta 3.827% Madison Scouts 6.540% Pacific Crest 1.632% Music City 1.032% Academy 1.823% Crossmen 5.020% Genesis 0.146% Cascades 0.432% Jersey Surf 0.087% The revenue sharing formula is spelled out in the DCI Policies and Procedures Manual posted on their website, section 211.4, "World Class Allocation". Past contest results used in the formula can be found at various sites such as From the Pressbox or DCX, so this is all publicly verifiable. My takeaway - you can be a world-class corps for 15 years, and still have to compete with corps getting 100 times what you get in revenue allocation.