CozyChopsCom

Congrats! Another Empire star!!!

If Darkman is 50, that makes me...a year younger. Feliz cumpleanos, mi amigo!

When I should keep pursuing a mountain of journalism, I read your review, J.C. You always have your own unique style which I love!!! I'm so glad you reappeared late Sat. night so that I could join in with y'all for the Kiltie Khoir. I also had a chance to explain (those songs need explaining?!?!) to the ladies accompanying Chance, the li'l pooch. And, no offense taken that night. It was a tough night for all the Kiltie family, especially the current members.

John, Again, it was a pleasure to chat with you at the Clarion. Best of luck with SoP. Keep us posted. Make it happen!!

I'm in Cincinnati this month. It's rained here some. Yesterday, we went to a marching band contest with the U. of Cincy Marching Band in Troy, OH, while the football team was being mauled at Oklahoma. I picked the grand hs winner, Dir. Doug McCollough's Beavercreek HS. Fairfield HS looked great! McCollough marched percussion at Marion Cadets, and his first hs gig in Dayton was putting a d&bc on the halftime field!!! Nick Angelis, Star of Indiana/Blast! snare, now UC staff, judged. Steve "Hairbear" Masters runs the pit. Dr. Terren Frenz, Ohio Brass Factory founder/dir., is the UC director. Tammy Fallon does cg. Weather was perfect, like Rochester all day long. UC Band looked fantastic in (recruitment) exhibition. Kickbutt percussion. Back to the guitar lessons I mentioned, Dennis. Sore fingertips. Lotsa journalism....

John, It was a pleasure to chat with you in front of the Clarion. Bring it on with Sounds of Philadelphia! I'm impressed by your drive.

I just noticed it. The CorpsVets' brass arranger and co-cap is a year younger. Dave also worked with Southwind back in the day. Happy B'day, Dave!!!!

I feel a tic coming on.

Be glad you never endured Frontier. I felt for Mr. B that year in '96. Rochester was so proud to host DCA again. The souvie area was fantastic. Fan$ were only close at the 10 yd. line. Built in an old style on purpose by a lady who wanted and got her way, the seats were at a low slant, meaning that row 10 was in LeRoy. The press box was across the state line and judges were supposed to judge from high and afar? Ernesto was Mother Nature. I can let it go. Frontier is another matter. Congrats to W'shore that year. Hmm...Good idea. In your face is always good.

Scott, It's been a pleasure to watch MCL evolve. What a corps! And so much potential. Thanks for the kind words. Since moving to the South, an area I've known well, which is part of my roots, I've relished in the entire DCA Dixie growth. The CorpsVets have grown each year, partly due to Dave Henry's lush horn books. Music City has risen to challenge with egos that work together. The marvelous year that Alliance has had is amazing; thanks, Terry Reilly, Jeff Pastor before and more. Gulf Coast Sound has hung in thru some tough guard times and entertained; work hard Slash, Nikki.... Shenandoah Sound truly joined us thanks to Sean Peck, Dick Pomerleau and more. John Hoekstra, John J. Johnson et al. have created a miracle in a year with the Sun Devils. Austin Stars are the next secret of DCA S; just wait, fan$ for what Brent Unger builds. We anxiously await Matt Basey's Derby City Knights, Masquerade and more. Thank Vic Kulinski, Jr., a man who comes from a family of corps people. Vic is a huge part of this growth. Thanks to DCA for seeing the bigger picture. And thank yourselves for enduring and keep entertaining. Think fan$. That's all I ask.

The zenith of mello evil would be Bonnie and Scooter throwing down together. Thanks to both of you for helping to provide highlights of my weekend.

Grennies -- It is fantastic to have y'all back!!! Great show. Step it up even more for aught nine.

I wore formal Hawaiian in honor of Fran and Barb. George Iacone and I, both clad in Hawaiian amidst suits 'n ties at trophy presentation, talked about how years of dressing up was not missed at all. It was great to chat with you. Just never enough time.

Seeing that you are in Dalton, GA, roll up your carpet and audition for Quest as Trey suggested, and also one of two DCA corps in the ATL area, Alliance or CorpsVets. Try 'em both out and pick. You'll get the experience you need for DCI while saving $$. Forget all this advice if you can figure out how to get into DCI sooner. March DCI while you can. DCA awaits later.

While on the intriguing Star United thread, I responded to an MCL compliment. Music City plays music that pulls at my heartstrings, that tightens corsets. Somehow, they get egos to work together on the field and stage. I thank Nashville's finest for thrilling the audience. I'm just sorry you finally listened to the judges and toned it down. (Yep, folks, that was MCL tethered Labor Day weekend.) In this case, our own judges need to turn over and read the backside of the sheets. Thanks for a highlight of my entire corpsdom experience!!! Regi, keep bringing Vickie to shows. She's pointedly another highlight of a drum corps summer. My comment posted under the Star United thread: Regarding the compliment for MCL -- Those dudes can play. I know that Vinnie Ciesielski, Bb screamer, and Joe Murphy, contraextraordinaire, get a lot of spotlight, but they are backed by one of the best horn lines around, Regi, Willard.... Some folks miss that in the viewing. I've attended many MCL rehearsals and this group is for real. I told Scott Rhodes last year in early August that skipping Mini Corps was not a good idea. MCL has the talent and needs to get their name out there more. What a welcome addition to Mini Corps!!!!!!!!!! Throw in Hulka McCoy in the corps battery, I&E snare winner in '06, '08, Ashley Nilles, dm, and the competitive corps is a showstopper. The shiny Penny percussion does well to balance the kicka*s brass, while the cg sold the continuing love story.

Jim, I, too, missed Derby City Knights. Ed "Camel Lips" Mason and I performed with DCK at the DCA Hendersonville, TN, show Aug. 2, and found out they probably would not make it to Mini Corps. Such a shame. Matt Basey, Jordan Alvey et al. have a solid group. Sooo, I missed my quick change under the stage. Regarding the compliment for MCL -- Those dudes can play. I know that Vinnie Ciesielski, Bb screamer, and Joe Murphy, contraextraordinaire, get a lot of spotlight, but they are backed by one of the best horn lines around, Regi, Willard.... Some folks miss that in the viewing. I've attended many MCL rehearsals and this group is for real. I told Scott Rhodes last year in early August that skipping Mini Corps was not a good idea. MCL has the talent and needs to get their name out their more. What a welcome addition to Mini Corps!!!!!!!!!! Throw in Hulka McCoy in the corps battery, I&E snare winner in '06, '08, Ashley Nilles, dm, and the competitive corps is a showstopper.

Ghost Riders are mortals???!!! They have names? Sing in church? I thought they were ghosts. Next, you'll tell me they eat garbage plates at Nick's.

Bill Flaker writes an excellent review every year for DCWorld about I&E and Minicorps. It will be in the October issue. Subscribe, www.drumcorpsworld.com . Need I remind folks, it's the only publication dedicated to the entire activity. (No question mark needed for rhetorical.) I do hope fan$ have enjoyed other reviews provided in the partnership of DCW and DCP to provide DCW On-line.

Bonnie, Post #1!!! Welcome to DCP. 'Twas a pleasure to view videos of you and the Renegades from Fremont and Family Day. I loved my viewpoint of your Pre and Finals performances and enjoyed my visit to your rehearsal. Keep up the fine playing. I just got off the phone with Bob and Annie. They are back in Atlanta, no problem. Pops was missed, but I understand. Renegade at heart....

Thanks for your nice comments. Y'all are certainly some friendly folks! See ya' at the Clarion next year. The Gulf Coast Sound folks are special. I do hope you get a cg that sticks around beyond the first weekend in May. Best of luck to Tom Huntley in his new role. Slash the budget. Slash the show. Slash....

OK, I read all 12 pages. Like Ponzo, I say, Congrats Star United. You deserve a backpack stuffed with medals for your performance. You run as smooth as OS 10 in a world full of PCs. Issue a trophy and a bus parking pass to the minicorps champ. I have friends in many of the minicorps, including Star United. May the best performance win. Bring it on!!! CVQuesty is a good friend of mine who does get the Big Picture as someone else said. The point is that he was defending Star United, a noble venture in this thread. Off-topic: I'm still teed off that most the competitive corps don't come out on the Alumni Spectacular morning to support all alumni. Cabs competitive corps cut their rehearsal short to come out and support the Cabs Alumni but don't time it to get there to support any other alumni. That still gives Cabs competitive first place in supporting alumni even when they have to run into the stadium to support their Cabs Alumni. (What a sight to see the entire corps running.)

Doug and Debra, Y'all are one of the finest couples in all of drum corps. When I went out for the 2 LMSs in 2006 and the 2 DCI shows, I had a blast getting to know you and the other Renegades. You are a lucky man to have such a fine lady. Your son is a fine player. Runs in the family!!!

Jeff, I do appreciate the video, something I've bugged JohnD about for a few years. Of course, we've all wanted it. I'm delighted it came to pass. Thanks DCA for accepting the idea. JohnD was showing the quality of his Sony HD video-cam in a small park as a squirrel scurried over a statue. Fantastic! Moon pies? This Dixie dude coulda used a Moon Pie fix.

My home is still floating in north 'Bama on the Tennessee River. She's been rockin' in the slip and strainin' the dock lines. Good thing I emptied the fridge before leaving. Might have some broken corps photo frames. I put the puter on the deck, off the desk. Whew! I'm glad that the wunnerful GCS 'n Frontier folks seem to have arrived home fine and found no problems. Great visit. Missed ya' at the Clarion Sunday night.

Yes, congratulations. What a rise since July 27 at JSU, AL!!!!!!!!!