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Star 1992 Bluecoats 1995, 2013 Cadets 1995, 2002, 2014 US Marines 2018 Excerpt: Bridgemen '80 'Civil War Fantasy' Spirit of Atlanta 1991 Boston Crusaders 1996, 1997

Been a long time since one of these threads. Once you get behind, it's hard to start again. Also, I really don't know much about 1985, except Garfield three-peated. But I'll have to rely on those who were there and those who know more. Will most likely post some links to shows once the thread gets going and I get back into the groove. For now, all I've got the energy and drive to do is start the thread. So, tell me about 1985.

I was at this exhibition. Was really impressed and excited! Always was great to see both Cadets and Crossmen do their premieres there.

What would you have done? Real question, not sarcastic.

The entire Top 12 is available for your enjoyment!

1999 was indeed the last year for ONLY G bugles. That is why, I think, he says it's their swan song in 99, even though only BD and Cadets used any key in 2000.

Well, now, it's not like Crossmen in 98 played all the same Metheny. But I love listening to both 1991 and 1998 because they are two great Crossmen drumlines from two different eras. Sure, 2/3 of the 98 Third Wind is the same song they played in 91, but Thurston's and Hannum's arrangements are completely different and both uniquely engaging. Thurston's stuff is obviously iconic and the 91 line is arguably the best of all his years, but listen to how faithfully Hannum's drumline interprets PMG's sound (I think the live recording on The Road to You must have been the inspiration). Yes, Letter From Home isn't anything to write home about (ha!) but The First Circle falls right back into that PMG groove.

HA! Obviously I was a little more critical of Cadets than I remember. Maybe I should read my twenty-year old reviews before posting now. And I have absolutely NO memory of that show being in the afternoon. It's amazing how much we forget. In the end, often what we have are isolated images and feelings and the words we have written in the aftermath of the event. But even words we have written do not automatically conjure up images or feelings. Furthermore, they are not the entire account of what we experienced. Other senses help us more. For years the smell of diesel fumes transported me to tour. I no longer play brass, but I'm sure the smell of valve oil would unleash a powerful wave of memory and nostalgia.

I've heard nothing.

Cadets of Bergen County - 1st, 98.4; High GE, High Visual A 10.0 in visual performance, top GE, and excellence across the board. Wind ensemble music by Jan Van der Roost provided the soundscape to the flawless execution of Jeff Sacktig's vision. I saw this corps twice and was blown away both times. Santa Clara Vanguard - 2nd, 97.9; High Percussion I love this show. Copland like few hear him. Aggressive, brooding, and performed with that Vanguard elan. Blue Devils - 3rd, 97.7; High Brass, High Auxiliary (non-judged caption) Juliet meets and falls in love with Tony, Bernstein trades licks with Tchaikovsky. Genius, but at Allentown I thought 'They left the door open for Cadets.' True also in Florida. Nevertheless, awesome. Cavaliers - 4th, 96.2 Deserves to be remembered if only for the awesome Philip Sparke arrangements, especially the elegiac and majestic 'Lento (For the Brass).' Glassmen - 5th, 92.8 What a great drum corps playing the music of (edit: Borodin) and layering it in gold. (Shhh, they beat BD in drums at finals.) Madison Scouts - 6th, 91.9 Tasty, tasty arrangements with a little symphonic thrown in. 'Remembrance' is a Madison classic. Crossmen - 7th, 91.4 Bones and Metheny were a match made in heaven. Phantom Regiment - 8th, 90.4 Hard to do Roman music after Star 91. The usual Phantom power, but seemed a little sloppy. But herald bugles! Blue Knights - 9th, 89.5 Someone tell BK Beethoven doesn't work on a football field. Just ask 15 Car--- oh. Bluecoats - 10th, 87.1 A slapped-on theme allowing them to end with 'Autumn Leaves.' Who cares? We're having fun. Carolina Crown - 11th, 85.7 Alfred Reed music is always good to stretch your chops. Plus, Russian Christmas Music! Colts - 12th, 85.3 A cappella was big in the 90s, and a lot of it made into the marching world. There were lots more drum corps who marched. Tell me about your 98.

It's at negative seven figures now. How does that even happen?

Edit: It sounds like it will be a great program. Looking forward to it!

Did VK ever do a 'time machine' show? That would have been hilarious.

Ugh. Phantom had food poisoning issues for 2002 finals I think, too. Interesting that you read it in Stars and Stripes.

Little known fact: Vanguard would have won Finals going away, had they not been penalized 1.0 by the Ukrainian judge for putting Kiev in Russia, and 1.0 by an old VFW judge for the drum major's hippie haircut. That is not true. BD was untouchable (and made Rod Goodhart say, 'OH ####!') Santa Clara was magic (figuratively and literally). Cavies continued their climb with wind band music. Garfield played Bernstein great (as usual) but decided to do weird guard. Suncoast, Spirit, Madison and Star all had amazing hornlines and unique takes on great music. Sky Ryders had brains, heart and courage. This was such an off-year for Phantom that no one has even put up a video of them. It was Troopers' last time in Finals in 23 years. Velvet Knights played a show that Cavaliers would do a pale knock-off of in 2004 (that's not true either). 27th Lancers played 'Move On,' then... moved on. 😞 Les Eclipses took the Semis crowd to Paris. Bluecoats were turning heads, Boston Crusaders was still not dying, and Dutch Boy was screaming. Tell us about 1986. 1. Blue Devils: Finals Performance, Field Percussion Tape, Stillwater MN (Rod Goodhart), Early Season, Riverside CA' 2. Santa Clara Vanguard: Finals Performance, Early Season, Bakersfield CA 3. Cavaliers: Finals Performance 4. Garfield Cadets: Finals Performance, Statue of Liberty Re-dedication Opening Ceremony 5: Suncoast Sound: Finals Performance 6. Spirit of Atlanta: Finals Performance 7. Madison Scouts: Finals Performance' 8. Star of Indiana: Finals Performance 9. Sky Ryders: Finals Performance 10. Phantom Regiment - see below 11. Troopers: Finals Performance 12. Velvet Knights: Finals Performance, Early Season - Riverside CA 13. 27th Lancers: Semifinals Performance, GE Percussion Tape - August 10 14. Les Eclipses: Semifinals Performance 15. Bluecoats: Clip 16. Boston Crusaders 17. Dutch Boy Performance (date and location unknown)

Ah, yes, the days of the preseason and midseason CDs.

Linked to timestamp

That part I haven't yet heard. Now I'm excited to hear more!

I wish I had kept a journal of my drum corps year. One always forgets how much one forgets...

Only watched half so far but i found it fascinating that they said what's been said on here for years and should be obvious - yes, judges do have unconscious biases and it matters who's on the panel

Dood wasn't celebrating his birthday. He was just trying to make a funny.

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