Drumcorpsfanatic

How many people did the Kingsmen field anyway?....Tom Blair says they were "So big" How big is so big?

I couldn't agree more with you. Their was a huge wall of sound, and with 150 or so horns it was incredibly loud even for the Rose Bowl. All in all I think they marched close to 300 members. The closer with 25 rifles in a single file line down the 50 spinning in unison and then tossing is worth the price of admission in itself. In my opinion the greatest performance of DCI week hands down. They took the concept of alumni corps to a new level and set a bar that will be tough to ever beat. Not taking away anything from 27th, Madison, or anyone else. They had two years to put it together and they got it right. Those that have not had the opportunity to see this performance are going to be blown away.... When I saw the forum thread regarding this the hair on my arms stood up. Bravo DCI!!!

Just noticed that the Kingsmen Alumni Corps finally released their 2007 Rose Bowl show on DVD. It is posted in the DCP news section and for sale at their website...xkingsmen.com. I was there that nite and they blew down the stadium. According to the news write up it also contains the 150 horn on track warmup they did in Long Beach a few days before the semi performance. And three camera angles to boot....Wow!!! My check is going out in the mail today. I can hardly wait to see this. I was wondering if anyone who has actually seen the DVD can give us some insight.

Anyone who witnessed the Kingsmen Alumni tear up the field at Semis will have to admit they are ready for it. And as someone else pointed out they did an eight day fourteen hour per day camp before their DCI performance. After all of these years their work ethic hasn't changed a bit. One thing that the entire drum corps community learned about the Kingsmen many years ago....Never count them out of it!

Everyone in the Rose Bowl was on their feet. No doubt about it...the show to see in 2007. Drum Corps fans (like 27 in 1994) will be talking about this show for years to come. I hope they come out with a DVD so those of you that weren't there can see what you missed. Wow!

Actually now that you mention it they did do a short drill at the beginning and about the one third part of Mambo. It was almost like they moved for a dozen or so counts to "pull everyone in" before they ripped your face off.

Well I had the opportunity to take in the Long Beach show last night with a finale performance by the Kingsmen Alumni Corps. This was the "coming out" so to speak of the group. It was annonced that they will be performing at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach again a few days before their DCI Semis show. Sorry but I do not remember the exact date. During the entry the announcer stated that the average age of the Kingsmen is 48. Don't let that number concern you, they rock!!! For those going to Pasadena this is a must see. Just awesome old school drum corps at it's finest. I saw these guys at the June 2006 show in Walnut and what a difference. They were sporting brand new Kingsmen "cadet" style uniforms with the guard wearing the traditional knee high riding boots. Something about seeing a guard in matching uniforms just gives the entire corps a look of it's own. They numbered about 250 people and had several holes. I have to assume that they have some people from out of state that cound not be there. The Kingsmen went on last and did a full drill front to back with the exception of concert. The field setup has the entire corps in the back left corner of the field with the exception of the guard. They are setup front to back in files at midfield and open with a spin and throw type manuever with rifles flying in the air complemented by a flag part straight from the 70's. They then go into Folk Song Suite from the 1972 champion year played note for note. The opener ends with the corps stretched 10 yard line to 10 yard line across the field. I must apologize that I was so busy yelling that I can't remember the rest. The rifles (20 to 25 of them) were incredible. They broke into a drum solo that I heard them play at the June 2006 show. Don't know what it is except it kinda sounded like George of the Jungle. The drum section seemed small to me compared to other alumni corps I have seen. They only had about a dozen snares. But I must say that they sounded pretty clean so maybe that is the reason. I would have expected at least twenty snares. The second number was the color presentation and appeared to be a medly of Kingsmen classics with a full on company front moving forward playing "Johnny" with the rifles spinning as only the Kingsmen can. The rifle line and guard stole the show. The ending piece was from March to the scaffold by Berlioz and brought the entire crowd to their feet. I had tears in my eyes staring down at that American flag on the field. The second drum solo was next and was once again from the 1972 show. It featured a stick toss by the snare line and what appeared to be the flags doing the classic Kingsmen "Head Chopper" move where half the flags duck and the other half cuts the flag poles right over their heads. I will have to see it again to be sure because it happened so fast I almost missed it. At the completion of the drum solo they played Mambo from the 1974 show. Screaming sopranos and a sharks versus Jets theme went over really well. They cooked through this one as well and as I looked arond I could see fans tapping their feet and swinging arms....they had the crowd for good at this point. The ending just screams...it is one of those songs that you just want to last another five minutes or so. When the crowd finally quieted down they did So Very Hard To Go and Firebird Suite once again from the 1974 show as a closer. The rifle line stole the show with the pyramid and accompanying salute from the early 70's and then a full line rifle spin and sequenced toss. If there was a part of the show that needed major work it was the massive company front that closes out the show. With a front that long (about 125 horns) it is extremely difficult to pull off and you gotta give them credit for the effort. It was a very special evening to see these guys out there on the field again. There was a strange feeling seeing those powder blue cadets on the field and they carried that feeling of military bearing and class that was a Kingsmen staple. No doubt they have a lot of work to do between now and Pasadena. However, they truly brought down the house and without a doubt the most entertaining show of the night. Wow!!

It is so true. All this equipment requires amplifiers so it can be heard. It is like putting a bandaid on a gaping wound. It doesn't change the fact that it is still a wound. Next thing to happen is that the equipment is so expensive and can be damaged by rainfall. So lets let everyone bring canopies and portable sheds onto the field to keep the stuff nice and dry in case of inclement weather. And now that we have amplifiers can we make the pit area a six foot buffer all around the field perimeter, not just the front sideline? And can we increase the number of players in the pit to 135? Then the fans can pay $125.00 to watch the grass grow.... And if I could add to my earlier comments......... Imagine how stupid all of you people are going to look 35 years from now when all of the brass instruments are rested on stands during the show instead of held in your hands. I can hear it now..."I can't believe those idiots carried their horns around on the field in 2007..Think about how heavy they must have been...especially those fools with the contras/tubas." Occasionally the corps members step away from their instruments to do guard work (General Effect) on the field and then return to their instruments to play. And this is called progress.....