justMike

I'm with Keith. As an alumnus, I'm extremely proud and..................... Oh, that's right, I'm marching with Cru again. Hope things are well with you Keith. It's been a long time. Hey Brad. Nice job last weekend. See you Saturday. Mike Covell, Contra/Tuba Rochester Crusaders..., and a couple of others.

Hi Gary, What are you looking for for the K90's? Mike Covell contra -Ghost Riders -St Joes

Yep. A great year for minis. It just wasn't that long ago that we were playing in a parking lot in the dark. Who'd a thought it'd come to this! Thank you DCA and thanks to everyone who performed. Mike Covell Contra - Ghost Riders

Any specifics on what's being proposed to DCA? By the way Nick: speaking of Ghost Riders................, so how does the shirt fit? Mike Covell Contra - Ghost Riders

Canadian Commanders

I think that, with the development of Mini Corps, DCA has begun to "grow" drum corps again. I don't mean to suggest that they are going out of heir way to create new corps, but between Minis, Class A and Open, it's ###### hard to find a reason why you can't compete. In addition, DCA continues to make it easy for organizations to float between levels as their talent, numbers and finances allow. I may be wrong but haven't both Heat Wave and CorpVets come out of the Mini Corps program? I know that both had members participating in I&E before they were ever able to field a fully competitive corps. This is a good thing, so just leave it alone. If one organization has 21 folks who want to do Mini Corps, and another with 9 people who want to compete in Class A, so be it. The success of that organization is measured by the organization. If they're happy in Class A, then leave 'em there. If they're not, at some point someone will wise up and change. Regardless, the choice remains up to the corps and it's members, and right now DCA is doing a whale of a job facilitating it all for us. Mike Covell Contra - Ghost Riders

Guess my first recollection of Harvey was when the Phoenix hornline played PINES OF ROME to him over the phone when he was in the hospital back in late '75, or early '76. A real friend of drum corps and a nice guy. My best to the family. Mike Covell

Thanks for the video post Chris. I hadn't seen your 2001 performance because we were backstage while you were out there. We knew how you were doin' though. that audience was freakin'. Then again that particular audience was freakin' for everyone. Great audience. Great show! Thanks again. Mike Covell Contra - Ghost Riders

As long as everyone else is throwing in their 2-cents, here's mine. Keep mini corps one caption. Allow additional points for "Visual Effect," whether be Cru's color guard folks or Erie's drill, but include percussion as part of the overall music caption. I think that the expectation from the judges is such that lower scores are really less important that how the corps shake out in the end. After watching the DVD of this past contest I'd say the judges pretty much got it right. In the end, it's not really a brass caption or a percussion caption, but an entertainment caption. Was the audience, and judges, entertained by that mini corps, and how much compared to everyone else? A marching requirement will, first of all, require a more consistent venue for performance. This could be a chunk of a football field, or (maybe more practically) a basketball court. This will allow all corps to develop a show as they see fit, and give visual cueing spots for marching reference. That said, I'm less in favor of focusing on a marching show, than keeping the focus where it is; on entertainment. Marching-sure, props-sure, singing-if you have to, dancing-sure (I wanna see Donny in a tutu), but first, last and always, entertainment. Mike Covell Contra- Ghost Riders

.....................!! Geez man, I wish you wouldn't do that... (O, to be a banana) Mike Covell contra - Mighty St. Joes contra - Ghost Riders contra - Rochester Crusaders contra - Rochester Phoenix

Sorry Joe, but I'm an old Purple Eagle,.....................and Grenadier. Mike Covell

Got mine last friday. Mini-corps contest only. I'm in upstate New York (Batavia). Mike Covell

...and the parking's terrible.

A couple of pretty good Canadian corps; the Canadian Commanders and the York Lions. Enjoyed 'em both, and that irridescent orange top on the Commanders was really something. Another good, if short-lived, senior corps was the Utica Executives.

Hey, hi Tom. It has been a REALLY long time. Heard you'd taken the Seattle position. Best of luck. I always thought you did a fine job with Cru when we were both there, so those west coast folks are getting a deal. Mike

Yep, it's true. The Knight Watch was a pretty good little parade corps from about 1980 to about 1985. Size-wise, it probably would be able to compete in mini-corps (although it sure wouldn't have won it). Had a reeeeeeal credible snare line though, with the Parker brothers and Dan Cole. No great contender, but a lot of fun nonetheless.

Couldn't agree more. In 1974, a friend of mine from the Albion Grenadiers, Grant Downey, asked me if I'd like to help him start a fledgling drum corps in Newfane. In the end, what we ended up with was a drum and color guard unit. I've never seen a place so hostile to music in any form.

Hi Keith, Long time no see. Born and raised in Orleans County. Mike Covell, Albion Grenadiers USAF Drum Corps - Lackland Newfane Marching Statesmen (!!) - played bass drum Rochester Phoenix Albion Knight Watch Hamlin Brassmen Rochester Crusaders Mighty St. Joes Ghost Riders

"You had ALL YEAR to memorize the music...." You've got a point Nick, but in the case of some corps, like Minni Brass, I suspect they were spending part of that year learning music for the larger competitive corps. Add to that late-comers recruioted to fill slots at the last minute, or mini corps that, for one reason or another, couldn't get it all togetheer until the last minute, and music stands are at least understandable if not necessarily a good thing. I'm not in favor of stands either, but until DCA says no, they'll be there like it or not.

Not for nothin' but when I first competed in mini corps 10 years ago, I think there were only 4 corps and we performed in an empty department store in Rochester. Last friday, 12 corps performed under the lights in front of a whole ton of folks. Stands, no stands; drum sets, no drum sets; march, don't march; it's all good. I wish we had done better, but it was a great time and, like most of us, I'd do it again tomorrow. Since that ain't gonna happen, will just have to wait 'til next year. Next year........... Mike Covell Contra - Ghost Riders 1995 - Present (on and off).