FrontierEuph

Credit Madison.

Ditto. Exactly, precisely what I think. Exactly. Even if I thought the narration in Cadets 2007 and 2008 shows actually added to the story-telling, I would still groan at its inane, obvious, stale, grinding verbosity. I'm not interested in poorly-written outdoor musicals. Plenty of other places to get that. inane: lacking significance, meaning, or point verbosity: containing more words than necessary : wordy

Frontier

I was at both 89 and 06 finals. i cannot bring myself to put one of these over the other, so a tie: 89 PR 06 PR OK, OK, since 06 was the harder show to pull off, my vote goes to 06 PR. O M G

I think the phantom menace in all of the 'progressive' rule changes is the music equipment companies. They are the entities that: 1.) Enable drum corps in the first place by providing basically a full corps' worth of equipment to the Div I/World Class corps, FOR FREE, EVERY TWO YEARS. 2.) Pimp ever more of their equipment, like electronic amps, soundboards, microphones, and finally now electronic instruments. "Try it. The first one is on us (and the second one, and the third one, and the 100th one.)" DCI is merely following the money to ensure its survival. I can't blame them. Welcome to Corporate America. It's not DCI's fault. It seems like DCA will have to follow suit to become a viable national entity (read: $$$), which is why it remains a federation of regional organizations rather than a national organization. "On the stage, from Chicago/LA/New York, performing their 2014 program 'Aren't Roland Synthesizers The Greatest Value?!!?', The Roland-Ziljian-Yamaha Marketing Profiteers!!!"

Hey David, The only changes ('07 over '87 DCA) I am aware of: 1.) More corps 2.) Much higher quality performances and shows. And responding to some other completely different post from someone else (about 'intoxicated'): I have participated in every single Frontier rehearsal and performance in Frontier's 3+ year existence. (I missed part of a rehearsal, for the first time ever, two weeks ago due to illness.) Not once has there been a beer opened at a rehearsal or before a performance. Intoxicated? Try drinking outside in 120 degree heat and then exercising. I dare you. The only intoxicant at Frontier events is heat exhaustion.

There is too much of a variance to generalize, but on average, most DCA corps have way more than 10% ex-DCI'ers. One corps I know of had 10% CURRENT MM of DCI corps, as in they marched both DCI and DCA in one summer.

Really some good food for thought, jwillis35. I agree that waiting and seeing is a rational approach to any change. If you look at the historical top 5 (BD, Cadets, Cavies, Regiment, and SCV), only two of these corps have used amplified vocals so far: BD and Cadets. So, I do not believe that the top corps are 'the most progressive in terms of music, show design, amps, voice, electronics, you name it.' By the way, SCV, Regiment, and Cavies (the 'unprogressive' corps, by your definition) have always been my favorite, since the 80's. It's both--you're making a false distinction. All of this 'progress' that the 'dinosaurs' have railed against in the last 10 years has to do with drum corps' morphing into band, an indoor activity as much as an outdoor activity--band uses indoor instruments that need 'help' to be heard outdoors (woodwinds, etc.) Ask yourself: why specificly is drum corps an outdoor-only activity? Really think about this question. I've never thought of drum corps as a band concert on a football field because for most of drum corps' activities existence, it has been about humans (under human power only) doing super-human things like literally vibrating a football stadium with resonance and volume. Humans vibrating a football stadium is awe-inspiring. Electronic amplifiers vibrating a football stadium is called a (rock) band concert.

Great! Let's go to the symphony. Oh wait, they don't mic individual string instruments there, either. DOH!

Agree 100,000%

We've had DCA checks made out to "Frontier's Men". And often we get "The Frontiers", sorta like MCL gets called the Music City Legends.

Just curious who all in DCA is doing a DCI show this year. Frontier: July 19th Mesquite (Dallas suburb) July 22nd Denton (same city as University of North Texas, north of D/FW)

And right it will be kicked off!

To me, the whole point of the 'drum corps' activity is that such huge volumes and precision of sound and frenetic visuals and activity could be made with human power alone, as a sport. It is/was humans, metal, wood, skins, and silks magically turned into something utterly awe-inspiring for 11.5 minutes. Drum corps is a SPORT. Not merely 'entertaining' or 'pretty', like you were hearing a band or symphony, but jaw-dropping, PRIMAL AWE inducing amazement. Very high, organically produced VOLUME is required to achieve this. Woodwinds don't make the cut, sorry. And electronics are obviously out. Deep down, this feels so obvious as to be easily overlooked. Drum corps = "I can not believe what I just saw, heard, and physically felt. That was superhuman and utterly awe-inspiring." THAT is the MAGIC of DRUM CORPS. Give them something that they CANNOT get anywhere else. Why would I plunk down $35 or $70 for a ticket (and $300 for a plane ticket, and $200 for a hotel, etc. etc. etc.) to see something not unlike what I can see by driving down the street to a Friday night football game? MOVE ME. Shock and awe me. It's a SPORT. Vibrate my body with resonant, human-produced sound. Name another sport that allows electronic power to augment the human power or skill. Drum corps is, like all other sports, organic and analog. As a sport, drum corps must exhibit human abilities that are uncommon or unique in order to attract wide interest. Those unique and uncommon abilities are: extreme volume and virtuosi ensemble musical performance with simultaneous frenetic dance ('marching'), synchronized. High degree of difficulty. Side note: I have a feeling that if DCI, on their ESPN program, had shown audience members going APE #### like audience members used to do at drum corps shows, then it would have caught more people's attention. Audiences no longer break out into Beatlemania because what they're hearing/experiencing is not as unique or special or amazing. Take me to see Jesus and Santa Claus and Darth Vader!

Yes. I meant that. Deeply. (Even though you're omitting key verbiage from what I said.) A proper restatement of what I said is: The whole point of the activity, to me, is that it was entirely organic, human-powered. (I'm wondering if I haven't just coined a phrase: "organic drum corps".)