Highschool

Couldn't agree more. Seems to be a few very active Empire haters on here tonight. Last I looked, second place isn't too **** bad. How about congrats to all the corps at tonights show. Seems everyone is working really hard to take down a very deserving champion at the height of their run and would expect tonight’s show may have been one of the best 5 overall shows in the past couple of years. Best of luck to all the corps that competed tonight. Wish I could have been there and many Crown Royal salutes to yas all. Greg

This seems to be just another example of the elitism that is becoming DCI. I remember last year watching the interviews at the movie theatre for the DCI finals broadcast. Several high school kids said that they hope to someday tryout to make a drum corps when they get into college. Nice job DCI.....you successfully alienated thousands of high school kids that would have 10-15-20 years ago joined the activity. Hmmmm, on second thought keep up the good work. DCA is growing and is still a very inclusive activity for "all-ages". The biggest concern to our activity would be if Hopkins actually gave serious effort to penetrate and destroy DCA as he has been doing to DCI for years. Greg Wiese

I regret that I will be unable to attend this evenings festivities. Although, the lip buzzing and contra zotting has begun in order to prepare my chops to pick up the axe for Sunday's rehearsal and Monday's performance. Really looking forward to seeing everyone.....by the way, any bets on which will be the loudest section? Trying to firm up contra #5 & 6 by Sunday! Greg

Cozy, Our thoughts are with you and keep up the fight. Wishing you the most speedy of recoveries. Looking forward to seeing you this coming season. Greg Wiese & Family

Railmen, 1986 & 1989 Contra SoundStar, early 90's Contra Bayou City Blues, early 90's Contra, Baritone Empire Statesmen, 1993-1995 Contra Erie Thunderbirds, 2004?-2006 Contra Empire Statesmen, 2007 Contra Greg Wiese

Leland, Very good to hear from ya. Hope you can make it to a couple of alumni activities this summer. My first activity will be the April 5th weekend and then some parades from then on. Would be great to put together a great contra line for the group. I heard that Geoff is playing sop this year in the corps so he is out for alumni. I am working on Brent and wonder if Ty is still in Rochester. Maybee someone can get word out to Ron Derby and the other Canadians. Have you heard from Sammich lately? Greyhound from Chicago can't be that much....can it? Let me know of any others that you can think of. I sent off a text message to Howard and Vantassel. Hard to think they would miss this. Take care and keep me posted, Greg Empire Contra '93-'95 and 2007

Awesome! The wife has given me "the blessing" for ES Alumni and I have sent my contact info to Jimmy. The strict regiment of 16 hour lip buzz excersizes has begun. Consider this a call out for all past Empire contra alumni to represent! Looking forward to seeing everyone soon, Greg ES Contra '93 '94 '95 and 2007

Just saw the site myself last night. Way COOOOOLLLLLLLLLL. Gonna look for my "Railmen" box in the attic today while getting down the Christmas decorations. There is a new Sr. Corps in Cleveland and they seem happy to have old Railmen. Long tone warmups ROCK. Hope all is well in the land of the "Professional Contra". Give me a call next time you come through, you're welcome any time. Greg

Brent, I hope you are correct. This could be a really great thing for the growth of the activity and looking forward for more great things to come from all age corps. Like many that have gone through years of watching DCI, I am more than a little leary of their motives. Loved the show this year and looking forward to seeing ya'll again in '07. Didn't realize that "Pud" could conduct as well as the extensive listing of other talents he posseses. (Although, he looked like his 4/4 had a bit of a southern drawl) Greg Wiese

The opportunity of the west coast all age corps to compete in venues that would provide shorter travel time, greater fan participation, and possible growth of the activity is great. The fact that DCI has a desire to spearhead that exercise is very unfortunate. It has been a while, but from my memory I remember Drum Corps International really played hardball with DCM for control of corps and shows. The practice was not to take over DCM but rather run them out of existence. DCI saw the need to take over that venue due to lacking numbers of competitive corps back then and may be looking for new ways to fill lineups as their membership continues to decrease. DCI charter? What would keep DCI from making amendments to their charter should it fit their desires? Anyone. As I have participated in and watched DCI over the past 20 years, DCI has shown to be a group of elitist that are focused on the publicity of the activity, not the participants of the activity or the growth of the activity. Maybe someone can share if the DCI board has changed over the past 20 years and how much. There are many non-for-profit organizations, which have many directors/administrators collecting some huge pay. I do wish this works out for those in the West. Many of us in the Midwest and the East enjoy the results of your hard work and dedication, I just believe by looking at the past that this is not good for the senior activity as a whole. DCA is on the right track and the growing numbers of participants are showing that. Greg Wiese Railmen Bayou City Blues Empire Thunderbirds

Can someone please share the corps rehearsal locations for the upcoming Lewisburg, Pa. show? Thanks Greg

Hi Cozy, I talked with Leland a while ago pertaining to Trulove. He was teaching highschool band in Illinois but we have lost track of him since the past year. Let me know if you find him. Greg Railmen 86 & 89 SoundStar 1991 Bayou City Blues 1991-1992 Empire Statesmen 1993-1995 Erie Thunderbirds 2004-Present

I saw that Tim Newlin was the Color Guard Caption Head of the Reading Buccaneers last season. They won DCA's with an awesome corps. I thought they he was the Railmen Color Guard instructor at least one year when I was there. I think '89. Greg Wiese Railmen 86 & 89

What a great thread! The Railmen was a group of some great musicians and good friends. I saw Holly at DCA finals about 10 years ago. She was playing sop for the Westshoremen and I believe they won DCA that year. I also marched with Bill Trulove in the Empire Statesmen Sr. Corps in Rochester, NY. I think that was '94. I live in Cleveland, Ohio and am playing with the Thunderbirds Sr. Drum and Bugle Corps out of Erie, Pa. They are having their 50th anniversary this year. If anyone is interested in participating this coming summer, give me a shout. You can come to just a handful of rehearsal/performances for the summer and then participate in our DCA Finals Alumni show. I was hoping to have enough Railmen Alumni to put together a mini corps for DCA Mini-Corps competition. DCA has the competition on the field at night under the lights. Way cool! Everyone take care and hope to hear from ya'll soon, Greg Wiese Contra 86 & 89 "The" brass age out in 89

Contra, being a slightly different animal, and my ever-increasing age has forced some changes over the past 15 years. Being in college and playing regularly, I was able to play virtually instantly as long and with as much dexterity as I wanted without having to warm-up. Now, I find that warming up is more important to getting my ear, mind, and embouchure back in good fundamental working condition. Stamina is still not much of an issue, although some T-Bird shows have pushed it to near numbness. Without a really good warm-up, my playing technique goes to the dogs. Greg