year1buick

Don't be silly. Freedom of expression doesn't mean freedom from criticism. Your caveat basically amounts to a preemptive flaming of your own, to anyone who has an opinion that differs from yours. (Or, more correctly, the way you're expressing it.) You're just dressing it up in "poor me" martyrdom. edit: removed "ignored" link-- a little "over the top" of me as well... (also un-ignored dans--must've been cranky this morning)

Always liked the sound of that principle trombone player. :P (Jimmy Clark) I was pretty lucky to have him as a private instructor in high school... I can still hear him saying, "Gotta keep those corners set" in that familiar Texas drawl. Very cool guy and great instructor. Actually, I think it was his approach to breathing and "sound" that helped me get a spot in the Hymn to Peace soli section in '92. As a converted trombone player, I didn't have great fingers, but my overall tone was pretty good. He had me using a breathing tube and playing long tones till I was blue in the face long before I was doing the same in Regiment. (Paid off, I guess...)

Assuming what I heard was true, (missed that summer...) here's a hint: he played a part in the "I'm wet!" saga (or was it "I'm still wet"?? I haven't watched those tapes in years...) and had a brother who played a baritone solo in both BD and Sky Ryders... I'm sure he wasn't the first, and won't be the last, Regiment player to frack a cutoff, though his was certainly one of the most spectacular. The funniest one I heard happened during a winter camp. We were playing (for the heck of it) the opener from 87. The arrangement called for FFF, "con scrot." (Gotta love Jim Wren) He missed a cutoff and managed to play the note all by himself, "scrot" and all. He earned a nickname that day...

Heh.... I'm the guy wearing the white jacket! (Which no longer fits, btw...). This was right after Hymn to Peace (well, I think so--I know it's somewhere around there... :P ) The front line of people (including me) comprised the soli section of Hymn. ("Napoleon" is talking to Judy, wearing the black jacket)

Well, there's always the long-awaited (and, potentially, highly amplified) Batman: The Musical drum corps show. Different genre, but same substance. (This beast of broadway nearly happened. The music was composed by the same man who did much of Meatloaf's work. Wanna hear The Joker singing?)

When I saw the show, the switch out was so subtle, it made me wonder if they were intentionally trying to be inconspicuous about it. ("Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!") It seemed that the reveal was to be the "aha" moment-- whether accomplished either visually or sonically. However, neither facet seemed to be emphasized particularly much. How about staging them front and center, as part of a single unit (or line) so that, when they do bring those horns up, forty (or however many it is) euphoniums are staring you (and the microphones) in the face. (I only got one read of this but, from what I recall, they were not in a single formation at the time of the switch out/reveal). When they bring the horns up, maybe use a slow count to make it more dramatic and obvious. And, most importantly, cut em loose a little--let them put out the SOUND of forty, freakin euphoniums. (woo hoo!)

^OO^

I heard a story that Cleatus suited up before Finals in 93, so he could march with the corps to the stadium. But, as the story went, he didn't fall out quickly enough-- nearly causing disaster as the DCI official DCI counting members clicked 127...128... 129? Supposedly, Dan Farrell came bounding down the stands, bent for leather, and pulled him out just in time (and quickly explained the situation). True story? Also, didn't Chris Jackson come in for the last couple of weeks of 92 to fill the spot of a contra player who was cut after the staff found him playing basketball on an "injured" knee (that had otherwise prevented him from rehearsing...)? [As a side note, marching alternate seemed about as fun an thankless as serving as Vice President--or, as the saying goes, "a pitcher of warm spit"]

I remember that! A few well-placed mellow runs, as I recall. :P It came to a head during a warmup arc, prior to a performance. Dan Farrell: (severe paraphrasing here...) "Uh, mellos, what was that?" Unsure looks, followed by the explanation. Dan: "Take it out." Unfortunately, those "other committments" came up shortly thereafter. Thankfully, J.D. was able to clear his schedule eventually :) (I really enjoy his arrangements).

I know this is OT, but your post reminded me of something I'd wanted to ask you for a while... Back in 94, I don't remember the location, we had some extra down time one morning and were all lumped into a classroom, trying to get some extra sleep. The tenors hacking away outside made this kinda hard, so everyone starting shooting the bull. The topic of future show concepts came up, and you said it would be totally bad*** for Phantom to play Shost. 5th, in all black. (As I recall, there was a marching demo to go along with it :) ) Later that fall, I ran into Mark Waymire [marching staff] at a high school band contest in Texas. He mentioned that the corps was going to be in all black the next year. Playing... you-guessed-it. He also said Greg Cesario would be writing drill. I was pretty shocked. Obviously, the idea must have been shelved but, sure enough, there it was in 96. Soooo... were you just one heck of a guesser, or did you have inside info? (Or wisper it into the right ears?) I've always wondered...

Huh...would it sound like this? Oh... oops-- that one's ribbing the Regiment guard. Come to think of it-- wasn't this thread also? What's so different about comments directed towards The Cadet's outfits?

LOL, I'd forgotten that song!. I do remember one about someone named ... Smythe (Robert, maybe?), sung to the tune of Bacchanale :)

My band director in my freshman year of college was kind of a jerk about DCI, actually. Seemed pretty anti drum corps. Before I was aware of this, I made a trip to his office in May of 91 (prior to graduating high school and touring with Sky Ryders) to discuss the fact that I'd miss the first couple days of summer band. I offered to go over the music ahead of time, etc. His first response was to say that he didn't care much from drum corps, thought it fostered bad habits and bad attitudes in his band members, etc. etc. I was pretty floored. There were plenty of other DCI vets marching in this band (such as Chris Scott, whom I later marched with in Phantom Regiment)-- I don't know it they experienced this with him or not. For me, it continued throughout the year. I was finally so turned off that I quit the program after one year. Hopefully, this is a pretty rare exception...

That's always scary. In either 92 or 94 (can't remember which) we heard this terrible sounding crash in the parking lot, while listening to some judges tapes. The Cavaliers equipment truck had pulled out without the trailer being attached-- smashed the front of it pretty good. (Thankfully, no one was hurt-- it came straight down and didn't tip)

Thanks for the review! I also thought Phantom was a little flat in Dallas; either they were worn out or the staff was pulling in the reigns a bit. For whatever reason, the corps seems to (often) have "off" performances there-- bad karma or something. In 94, we had a pretty lousy show and, according to folks who marched in 93, it was just repeat history. (I think Nikk even mentions the Dallas performance on his website.) Usually, in the last weeks of tour, the brass staff (well, I'm thinking Dan Farrell here) will break out the "magic dust" and get the corps volume up--way up--after having it somewhat "chilled" for a while. From what I remember, we'd come out blowing our brains out, then have them back us off, only to bring it back later-- with a vengeance (and more control). I remember the rehearsal in 94 where we did this; Dan, in the bleachers, running White Witch Doctor again and again, asking for more, more, more. (After generous sprinklings of "magic dust," of course!) It was fun, like we were kids being told by their parents that, not only can they finally stay up past ten, they got to eat a plate full of cookies too! By the end of that afternoon rehearsal, we were putting a smile on his face and **** near blowing the hat off his head. Based on some of the reviews I've read, starting with the early season and culminating in SA (along with what I heard for myself in Dallas) it seems like this may be the case again. They started out loud (and a little out of control, maybe?), then backed off for a while, and might just be adding it back in...

Thanks for the review. Rather than driving 200 miles, I only needed to drive about 3 to make this show. But, unfortunately, I couldn't make it. <**> Maybe next year... (BTW, Brad was on staff at Sky Ryders when I marched in 91)

We had a few of "those days" as well. There were no printed charts or coordinates to be found. (I laughed when I recently read an article by Michael Boo where he mentioned a magnet board that Steve Brubaker used to work out his drill ideas. I immediately thought of Tony Hall, and that he kinda did the same thing- only with life-sized pieces...)

I can actually see the stadium lights from here-- and I'm still typing on this **** computer! <**> (Had to watch the kids...) My wife just got home. Actually thought about sneakin in to catch the finale. (Oh well...)

Another one that people who haven't marched might not be aware of is, don't break rank. And if you are marching member, and someone does start to break rank, don't be a jerk about it-- just kindly ask them to wait or walk around. (I've seen some people be pretty rude about it--probably worse than the actual "offense"...)

The volunteers at the Dallas show are pretty strict about this, and won't let anyone back into the stands while a corps is performing.

Not sure about those years, but he was on staff when I marched.

Very cool. Maybe I can swing by and check 'em out. (I'm only about 10 minutes away...)

Do you know where?

Good thing they dropped the description at the bottom as well! :P http://www.p4a.com/item_images/medium/04/65/27-01.jpg

Thankfully, the forecast calls for it to "cool off" to 99 by Thursday's show! :P I remember when we practiced in Wichita Falls in 92, my parents came out to watch the rehearsal-- for about 30 minutes. It was all they could stand of the 100+ heat & humidity. (I was hoping to mow our lawn this afternoon-- think that'll have to wait...)