Keith Laubhan

To each their own... personally I love where drum corps has come as an art form, and while I can only compare to the old stuff on the basis of the videos, there's a much higher range of emotions and ideas currently going on, to say nothing of the technical achievements of the ensembles. It's not that I don't respect the old stuff, I just prefer the new stuff. You can talk smack all day long about how boring you think drum corps is today, but I know I'm not the only one who disagrees. There was a stadium of folks in Bloomington last year that seemed pretty entertained. Before that there was one in Pasadena, one in Madison, one in Foxboro, one in Denver, one in Orlando... Fact of the matter, there's a lot of people who will never feel that their introduction to drum corps (or other forms of entertainment) can be topped. I hope I never stop appreciating new things.

From a marketing/identity standpoint, I've long maintained that a corps' uniform is their corporate icon, in many cases even more so than their actual logo. For most groups, it's their single most identifiable piece of visual branding. I agree that it would be foolhardy for a corps to abandon them completely. I don't think you'll ever see a number of corps completely abandon their uniforms for new costumes annually. If it was going to happen, I think it would have already. As far as augmenting or modifying their uniforms for specific productions, corps have been doing it since before I was aware of the activity, and I'm sure some will continue to experiment with it. I look at a group like Crown as a group that has best of both worlds. They've wrapped their visual identity in the clean, simple cream uniforms that are agnostic enough to take on different looks. Pretty brilliant in my opinion. The really interesting thing to me, is that the whole uniform vs. costume debate is another sign of how drum corps straddles the line between team sports and arts, as well as the very obvious line between it's military heritage and it's growth into performance art. Back to the influence WGI has had on DCI, I think it left it's mark in far more significant ways than what they're wearing. Look at how color guards have evolved during the WGI era, or how drill (especially during drum features) has changed. Even programming and show concepts have changed in ways that seem similar to the indoor activities.

That's not at all how copyrights work... that's what, now. :P

Absolutely... so refreshing to have his vibe in the mix over at BK.

Atlanta's gonna be REEEEALLY interesting... and that's more like the scores that I want to see out of BK. Hopefully that's a sign of improved cleanliness.

Between all factors, Invesco Field is my favorite drum corps venue. I'm sure I'm a little biased, being across the street from it, but between amenities, overall comfort, acoustics, and atmosphere, I love it. As for the other venues I've caught drum corps at, The Rose Bowl was a dump, and not good for drum corps. Camp Randall sounds great, and always has a great vibe, but it's so uncomfortable. I thought Bloomington was terribly cramped. Once you got into the stadium, Gillette was fine, but the ancillary stuff like parking and location sucked, IMO... I'll be really curious to see and hear Indy. As far as Buffalo goes, I was too drunk to recall most of it!

2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, will attend in 2009... might break the streak next year, though, depending on if I take a real vacation. I've been considering going to London.

I'm so glad that they're making the move to HD... granted, I expect it being a while before the Blu-ray Disc production to be feasible for DCI, but simply for archival purposes, this would be a big step up. Eventually, you know they'll be releasing some sort of HD recording of the corps, but this won't delay me in picking up the DVDs this year. Even though I have a Blu-ray player, I know next to nobody else who does, and the drum corps evagelist in me still wants to be able to take the discs to others' houses and fire them up.

Haha! Nice... I'll take a turn: Blue Devils: Very evocative setting Crown: Eww! Moldy uniforms! Cavaliers: They climbing higher? The Cadets: Classic, but tired Vanguard: Beautiful, faithful rendition Bluecoats: Hmmm, not sure Blue Stars: Everyone say cheese Crusaders: Love the BACchanale Regiment: What's going on? Blue Knights: Makin' me proud! Glassmen: Kinda miss "boring" Troopers: Clever mash-up Colts: Lots of potential The Academy: Very good rebound Madison: Embarrassed for guard Spirit: Not my tastes Crossmen: Dig the capes Pacific Crest: Always like Latin Madarins: Dancing with mattresses? Surf: Movin' on up Pioneer: Seems much improved Cascades: Back from dead

1. BD - 90.3 2. Cavies - 88.9 3. SCV - 87.4 4. Bluecoats - 85. 7 5. Blue Knights - 83.2 6. Colts - 79.3 7. Troopers - 79.2 8. Academy - 78.8 9. Madison - 77.3 10. Pioneer - 72.1 11. Cascades - 69.9

Matt, I could use advice on good bars near the stadium... My buddy and I will need to kill an hour or two after finals before we grab a cab back to the airport. When's last call there?

I voted Colts by less than a point for Windsor, but I think Troop has the show to eventually beat them this season. I think "Western Side Story" is just better constructed than my last online viewing of Fathoms, and I think that'll be the deciding factor later this month, barring some massive changes to Colts' offering.

That I don't know... I'm a graphic designer and don't have any involvement with the theater selection. Sorry, man.

The lot is one thing, the stadium is quite another... I definitely wouldn't bring it in the gates.

My brain says Blue Devils, my heart says Crown (for the novelty factor) or Santa Clara (for the nostalgia factor). My brain is generally smarter than my heart, sadly.

On the plus side, it would probably be the loudest last place drum corp(s) ever.

Musically, it's one of my favorites... especially the percussion. Visually, I hated the guard costumes and I don't particularly care for the drill, but found it to be a fairly entertaining show live, and became one of my favorite corps shows in iTunes.

That does sound like a pain... I'm not necessarily talking about moving them during a show... I just meant positioning them off the sideline, somewhere on the field for the show.

Indeed... I'm biased, having to only walk across the street to the stadium, but It's definitely my absolutely favorite venue for drum corps. I wish championships made it out here more often! :) Weather should be really good, too. Pretty warm (talk is upper 90s, I think), but dry and sunny. I was worried, with all of the unseasonable rain we've been getting, but it's supposed to be really nice this weekend. I'm totally geeked up for this weekend!

I like the front ensemble too much to want to see them completely hidden from the field of view. Besides, if a drill designer can't design the drill to keep it from being obscured by the pit, he/she should turn in their gun and badge. I am, however, a fan of occasionally moving the pit off the front sideline for variety's sake. Sounds like SCV Cadets are doing that this year, and I remember Phantom doing it pretty effectively in the mid 90s.

I'm finding myself more apathetic to the issue than I thought I'd be... I was originally leaning against the idea of introducing them to drum corps, and while I've only seen one show live this year so far, it did nothing to hurt or help my enjoyment. I heard a couple things I liked (BK's wind and Avalanche effects), one thing I didn't (BK's guitar/plucked strings sound), and one show where I didn't consciously notice them (Troopers). I think I'll be able to form a more developed opinion after the Denver show this weekend. I guess now that it's here, I look at it like any other tool in the designer's bag of tricks... however allowed, you're still responsible for using it well. We don't blame freedom of speech when someone says something stupid, and there's always the potential for someone to say something stirring, so I guess I can adopt that concept on this, too.

I work for National CineMedia, the company that does Fathom Events, and we just go the press release for Big Loud & Live. Just to confirm, it is in fact 15 corps in their entirety, with highlights of the other seven. In related news, I've got to do some art direction on the graphics for this event, as well as the last Countdown. Highlight of my job! :) Here's the full release: DRUM CORPS INTERNATIONAL’S “BIG, LOUD & LIVE 6” WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTERFINALS MARCHES BACK INTO MOVIE THEATERS FOR AN ELECTRIFYING SIXTH YEAR Annual NCM Fathom Event Broadcast LIVE for the First Time from DCI’s New Home at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis Centennial, Colo., July 8, 2009 – Drum Corps International’s (DCI) World Championship Quarterfinals will once again bring the snap of the snare and boom of the bass drum into movie theaters in its exclusive, annual event Big, Loud & Live 6. This highly anticipated competition will be broadcast LIVE from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis to nearly 400 select movie theaters on Thursday, August 6th at 6:30 p.m. Eastern / 5:30 p.m. Central / 4:30 p.m. Mountain /3:30 p.m. Pacific Tickets for Big, Loud & Live 6 are available online at www.FathomEvents.com as well as presenting box offices (theaters are subject to change). Presented by NCM Fathom and Drum Corps International, Big, Loud & Live 6 will feature five hours of powerful performances from the top 22 corps competing in the 2009 DCI World Championship Quarterfinals. The broadcast will include the competitive programs of the top 15 World Class drum corps in their entirety in addition to highlight clips of the first seven corps that perform earlier in the day. Drum corps competing in this year’s Quarterfinals event include:  The Academy – Tempe, AZ  Blue Devils – Concord, CA  Blue Knights – Denver, CO  Bluecoats – Canton, OH  Blue Stars – La Crosse, WI  Boston Crusaders – Boston, MA  Carolina Crown – Ft. Mill, SC  Cascades – Seattle, WA  The Cavaliers – Rosemont, IL  Colts – Dubuque, IA  Crossmen – San Antonio, TX  Glassmen – Toledo, OH  Holy Name Cadets – Allentown, PA  Jersey Surf – Camden County, NJ  Madison Scouts – Madison, WI  Mandarins – Sacramento, CA  Pacific Crest – Diamond Bar, CA  Phantom Regiment – Rockford, IL  Pioneer – Milwaukee, WI  Santa Clara Vanguard – Santa Clara, CA  Spirit – Jacksonville, AL  Troopers – Casper, WA   DCI has hosted more than 35 World Championships in 17 North American cities since its founding in 1972. This year’s World Championship Quarterfinals will be held for the first time at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis – the new home of Drum Corps International’s corporate headquarters. “Following the excitement of the DCI World Championships from the theater is the next best thing to being part of the action from inside Lucas Oil Stadium,” said DCI Executive Director Dan Acheson. “We are excited that the popularity of the Big, Loud & Live event has continued to grow, now in its sixth year showcasing the thrilling performances of the world’s most talented elite marching music ensembles.” Big, Loud & Live 6 will be shown in select movie theaters including AMC Entertainment Inc., Celebration! Cinema, Cinemark Holdings, Inc., Cobb Theatres, Georgia Theatre Co., Goodrich Quality Theatres, Hollywood Theaters, Kerasotes Showplace Theatres, Malco Theatres, Marcus Theatres, National Amusements and Regal Entertainment Group movie theaters as well as the Palace Cinema 9 (South Burlington, VT) and Penn Cinema (Lititz, PA) through NCM’s exclusive Digital Broadcast Network – North America’s largest cinema broadcast network. “The audience for Big, Loud & Live increases each year as communities recognize this event is not just for drum corps enthusiasts, but also for families and those who enjoy musical performances and competition,” said Dan Diamond, vice president of Fathom. “This event gives fans nationwide a front-row seat for the LIVE competition without the expense of traveling to the actual event. It is an experience not to be missed.” About National CineMedia National CineMedia (NCM) LLC operates the largest digital in-theater network in North America through long-term agreements with its founding members, AMC Entertainment Inc., Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK) and Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC), the three largest theater operators in the U.S., and through multi-year agreements with several other theater operators. NCM LLC produces and distributes its FirstLook pre feature program; cinema, lobby, and online advertising products; comprehensive meeting and event services and other entertainment programming content. NCM LLC's national network includes approximately 16,800 screens of which approximately 15,600 are part of the company's Digital Content Network (DCN). NCM LLC's network covers 171 Designated Market Areas® (49 of the top 50). During 2008, approximately 660 million patrons attended movies shown in theaters currently included in the network (excluding Consolidated Theatres). National CineMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: NCMI) owns a 41.5% interest in and is the managing member of NCM LLC. For additional information, visit www.ncm.com. About Drum Corps International (DCI) Drum Corps International (DCI) is the world leader in producing events for the world’s most elite and exclusive marching ensembles for student musicians and performers. Founded in 1972, Drum Corps International has developed into a powerful, nonprofit, global youth organization with far-reaching artistic, educational and organizational influence. Drum Corps International is Marching Music’s Major League™. Learn more about the exciting world of Drum Corps International and its member corps on the Web at www.DCI.org or call (317)-275-1212. Drum Corps International is located in Indianapolis, Ind. # # #

My prediction for Windsor would go something like Cavies, Bluecoats, Blue Knights, Colts, Troopers, Madison, Cascades... I could see Colts/Troop swapping, or Troop/Scouts swapping in there, but I don't think Colts have to worry about Madison quite yet, and I think Blue Knights have even less to worry about the Colts. The shows, from a programming, design, and demand standpoint, aren't particularly close from what I've seen.

For me personally, I wonder if Blue Knights can clean up and jump a few spots... I see the potential, but also see how competitive that grouping of corps around them is. Can the Troop exercise the demons and make finals? Can Pioneer stay out of the basement, and maybe even set a foundation for competitive improvement? I'm also with everyone wondering about Crown... can we really see a new champion? Hasn't happened since 1996, and I think we're due.

Yup, to go seem them rehearse, visit some friends. In these cases, I found them on the individual corps websites. Most corps don't seem to mind the public watching.