Keith Laubhan

I also agree that the pre-season approval thing is exactly opposite of the principals that DCI was founded on, and a bad idea in terms of fostering creativity. Would Star 93 have made the cut? As different, controversial, and abstract as it was compared to all of the other shows at the time, maby not... what a loss that would've been. I agree with Tubamann... that's the job of the corps' design teams. If they fail or acheive with their design, the responsibility is on them. Why give that responsibility/liability to someone else?

I got the opportunity to conrtibute on the project by designing the packaging and disc art. Jolesch takes some great photography and gave me a lot to work with. It was a fun project, and nice to help out an organization that I owe so much to. I really recommend the disc, or at least the online rental. It's a good watch, and it helps people appreciate what makes the Blue Knights so different and special.

About the only policy change I'd like to see be legislated would be stopchecks to prevent situations like this year's Capital Regiment suffered. It's sad to see that the organization was entrusted to take care of these kids, and didn't do a good job, endangering their health, and in some ways ruining their experience. I don't know exactly how this would be prevented, but I'd like to see it addressed somehow. As for some of the more superficial rules, I really don't want to see more or less tools given/imposed. I think we're in a good place as far as instumentation that's allowed.

I liked it well enough... Great execution, beautiful ballad, and I found the storyline easy to follow. The storyline didn't grab me, but I never had any question as to what was going on. There are a few things that I definitely didn't like. I'm no anti-amper, but I didn't care for any of the amplified voice in the show. "The Zone" intro wasn't necessary, the shrill girl's voice at the beginning of the mechanical section was obnoxious, and I would have rather seen the drumspeak stuff actually put on the drums... it was different, but I'd rather see a display of virtuosity on their instruments than "just talking about it." All and all, though, I thought it was well thought out, entertaining, and very clean. Does it crack my all-time top 10? No, but I thought it was really good. 2006, though- ughh... maybe the most contrived drum corps show I've ever seen. Resting on their laurals (IMO) aside, either do an "Alice in Wonderland" show, or do a sequal... the idea of trying to force those two completely seperate concepts together made absolutely no sense, as far as I'm concerned. Like any other misguided sequal, it negatively affects people's thoughts on the original, which is a shame, because I think 2005 diserves better.

I dunno... I'm pretty sure it's a much older tradition than that.

Most Popular- SCV (The benchmark for class... few people can say a bad thing about them) Most likely to succeeded- Cavaliers (Proof's in the pudding... nobody else is on a tear like that) Most Attractive- Crown (Maybe not the best grades, but clearly a good looking package) Most likely to become famous- Blue Devils (Probably more well known individuals than any other corps) Most Athletic- Madison (Explosive and powerful) Most Spirited- Troopers (How many kids have stuck to that program? Who has more pride?) Most Artistic- Blue Knights (Maybe not the most popular, but willing to push their envelope despite what the critics say- content to do their own thing) Most Outgoing- Cadets (Unashamed and willing to stick their necks out there) Class Clown- VK (No surprise there) Most Dependable- Phantom (Year in and year out, you know what you're going to get at least a decent level of entertainment from them)

Huh.. the Div I guys hit up Boise, they hit up Portland... sadly it doesn't look like there's quite enough time to sandwich Seattle in there and still make it to Stanford in time. I guess if you have a Div I hankering, you can make the trip to Portland... not ideal, I know, but it's probably the best option if your heart is set on checking out the big boys.

Agreed, which is why I've wanted to build back to at least '87.

It should probably be noted that Blue Knights playing Shostakovich hasn't necessarily been detirmed nor officially announced. That being said, I'm crossing my fingers, 'cause I'd love that show.

I've got '92 through '06... this might be a good time to start working backwards a little bit in my collection. For $160, I could accomplish my goal of having '87 through the present, plus get '86, too. Too bad this sale pops in right in the middle of the Christmas shopping season... makes it a lot tougher to buy presents for myself. :)

Is it possible that some of those shows could have benefitted from amplification?

Haha! :P

haha... A little bit, yeah. But I don't think with like 58 snares playing on mylar heads, crystal-clear definition of sound is exactly their bag. :)

Oh, I'm sure they're not... and like I said— I'm not trying to diminish the merit of that group. They're good at what they do, for sure. I'd just rather watch a DCI-style drumline, and I think a lot of people would, too.

Correction... that's what lay people like... not that there's anything wrong with that, but DCI isn't exactly a crowd of uneducated non-musicians. As a rudimentally trained percussionist, I'd much rather listen to Phantom throwing down some tastey, musical beats, Bluecoats nailing some cold attack rolls, Cavies playing some complex multi-meter groove, or BD playing some highly syncopated unisons. Not that what these guys are doing isn't legit in it's own right. I found it really entertaining. But there's only so many drum-to-drum licks that I can watch before I start craving some state-of-the-art battery arrangements performed by some excellent drumlines— and apparently the marching percussion world agrees, too. There's not exactly a shortage of interested parties at every Div I and the vast majority of Div II audition camps. Those corps are having to turn away scores of drummers.

That's pretty hysterical. :)

For me personally, while I haven't heard any amplified voice that I've particularly liked, I'm not for banning it. I think that if a corps wants to use it poorly, that it is their perogative. I don't think it's altogether impossible that someone could use it well in the future. I'd rather leave that option open than shut it down because it hasn't been used real successfully yet. Obviously it's a matter of opinion, and in such cases, I'd rather error on the side freedom and creative choice.

"Hey!"

OF COURSE I CAN'T! I don't have the slightest clue as to what they're playing. I'm purely guessing... hense the "bolded" word guess. ...Apparently, a lot of people here need to unbunch their panties...

I know people personally who haven't made the cut as a vet. I understand loyalties, but I certainly understand why a corps would want to take the people that they feel are best for the job, regardless of previous marching experience.

Hey, I'm no Madison hater. Anything is possible. You and I have exactly the same amount of knowledge on exactly how things are going to shake out... which is just this side of none. Fact of the mater is, sometimes corps respond really well to a new staff, some experience growing pains, others have been a disaster... there's really no telling how Madison will do.

For shins and grits, here's mine... as painful as it is to try to guess at where these corps will end up... so much amazing talent, so many unpredictable productions.. the only comfortable prediction I have is that it will be the strongest semifinals field in years... even moreso than last year. With that said, I present my speculative gut reactions to how the season could maybe play out: 1. Blue Devils (Talent's never an issue, but this year the show really works) 2. Phantom (It's Phantom.... they take second... it's just what they do... and really, really well... a contender all year) ~~~ 3. Cavaliers (Europe trip, Billy Joel show slightly misses the mark, strong showing nonetheless) 4. Bluecoats (Another strong showing, just not quite enough to hop on the podium... momentum keeps them from falling back into the pack) 5. Cadets (Programming misses the mark, but for entirely different reasons than last season... still very talented) 6. Santa Clara (Pick up where the left off... too bad the top five are just as impressive... pleases the crowd) ~~~ 7. Blue Knights (Maybe a homer pick, but the corps' talent remains quite intact, drill gets a touch cleaner, and the Shostakovich production become a surprise fan favorite.. BK cements their place as the "evil" kids on the block) 8. Crown (Primed for that jump into the upper teir along with BK, Crown just doesn't quite have enough to overtake the "big dogs"... just yet, anyway) 9. Crusaders (BAC returns to their style of 99-05, and presents another strong showing.. maybe the highest 9th place score to date?) ~~~ 10 Glassmen (Another nice, good show... just not enough oomph to push higher) 11. Spirit (Improved talent, but show design isn't quite sophisticated enough to place higher) 12. Colts (Enough knocking on the door already... a nice, clean, albeit safe, show makes it happen) 13. Madison (Negative organizational momentum and a new staff might mean a step backwards to make future steps forward a possibility) ~~~ 14. Blue Stars (2007 will improve upon last year, even if the placement doesn't) 15. Crossman (New location and a young membership aren't enough for an imediate finals return, but light is on the horizon) 16. Academy (The hype aside, AZ makes a strong showing, sets themselves up for a big push in future years) ~~~ 17. Southwind (After narrowly missing semis last year, a renewed design effort makes it happen) 18. Cascades (New staff and design help, push the Northwest representitive a touch higher) 19. Troopers (A nice resurection puts them in a respectable position to stage a semifinals run in 2008) 20. Mandarins (Despite those cool orange unis and a good show, the Mandos won't have what it takes to stave off the three groups in front of them) ~~~ 21. Pacific Crest (Barely will hold off a resurgant Pioneer to maintain 2006's placement) 22. Pioneer (An improved showing will help them stay out of the cellar.. expect a lot of "Nice show" comments) 23. Esperanza (Despite finishing up the coast from San Diego, lack of tour momentum and a young membership will prohibit them from a higher placement) Again, these aren't a slight to anyone marching or the corps themselves... just my guesses. Nobody knows how things will really shake out.

Just got mine, along with the 04 SCV drumline disc... how the hell can I get out of work early without taking any sick time? ;) And thanks for the info, Tom. I know I'd much rather have the DVDs now rather than wait around for corrected inserts.

I called DCI and got a tracking number for mine... they're to be delivered today. Stupid Thanksgiving- screwing up my DVD watching! :)

Hells yea! I hope that is in fact what they're playing... I loved their performance of the 10th Symphony in '98, and their performance of the piano concerto in '02.