mvbailey12

Great News Mark! Good luck and blessings this next year! GO BLUE SAINTS!

OK Mark , you can let us know anytime now! This is Myron from The Northernaires. I will be cheering you guys in in Madison this next year! GO BLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Saints! Maybe, just maybe , they are doing music from Tony & Tina's Wedding! That could be their show?! Or Joanie and Chachi get married! They always have creative shows and am looking forward to the next step of the legacy called Blue Saints! Great luck this next season!

I haven't heard the final results of fatalities yet, but it is not good! I will check with local authorities and news stations to see what the final count is. My hearts go out to the families and the community. Chippewa Falls is where they are trying to start up the Chippewa Valley Brigade Drum & Bugle Corps. My prayers are with them!

I really dig all the white haired guys/gals with a liquid grain storage facility. Those people really do it for me! I have only had the chance to see a few soloists through the years, so here goes... Roger Grupp - MBI Bill Roetzer - Kilties/Northernaires Kenny Norman I don't know all the names of all the others that I have seen! But whatever their playing ability, I really appreciate them! Always remember - PARK AND BLOW!

I, personally, am not really for the whole amping idea, but I do underestand that maybe within a few years, all Div I's will be having them. I think it is great that Pioneer can move on to the "next level" and "amp up". I'm not saying that amps make you a better corps, I am saying though that with a great corps like Pioneer, it is good to see them try what it might take to truly make them "Better Every Day". If you read on their site, it does say thatthey are looking for experienced mallet players. Not just fill-ins from other parts of the corps that didn't make the cymbal line or what have you! I defenitely think that is a move in the right direction! Go Pioneer! First - Scott Stewart and some other great staff additions Second- not in last place at quartefinals Third - Amps Fourth - who knows where they could be going. Good job and God Bless!

My question exactly! Is it going to make them "Better Every Day"?

Bill, Our hearts go out to the Kiltie family and to Joel's family! Two great members of the drum corps community gone in one season - Joel Magnuson and Bil King of the Northernaires. Thanks for keeping us informed Bill! I just wanna cry! YNWA, Myron

Bill, I just wanted to say that from one of your brothers from Northernaires, I just wanted to send out my deepest respect and sympathy to Lothar and his family! If there is anything we can do let us know. What a rough year! God Bless Lothar! God Bless Bill King! Take care! God Bless Kilties! Myron PS I will be contributing to the Joel Magnuson Fund!

You know they could do some really old stuff like, oh, I don't know... Great Escape Bully - This could be done really well! Rio - I Think that this would be great! Bohemian Rhapsody New World Symphony - Just Kidding! Hey! Stop the presses! They could do an all Christmas show! Yeah! That's the ticket! It could be titled "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Christmas!" Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer Silent Night - Ballad Sleigh Ride - Percussion Feature 12 Days of Christmas If they open with a fluer de lis it could then transform into a ... are you ready for this... a... a... Christmas Tree! That would rock! No wait Jingle Bell Rock! Or do an all Motley Crue show! Just think of the possibilities! Girls, Girls, Girls Dr. Feelgood Home, Sweet, Home Or an all AC/DC show ####'s Bells - Opener Shook Me All Night Long Dirty Deeds Highway to #### Whole Lotta Rosie Thunderstruck Percussion Feature - Big Balls? Yes? No? What do you think?

I think that maybe they could do some gr4eat versions of stuff like Strawberry Soup and Slaughter. I would love someone pull out bits and pieces of maybe someone else like an all Phill Collins show. I know that some people don't like him or whatever and I may sound too Top 40 for ya', but think of the possibilities... Sussudio Something Happened on the Way to Heaven In the Air Tonight Take Me Home Who Said I Would You Can't Hurry Love I Don't Care Anymore Drum Solo w/Chester Thompson All of these, just to name a few, would be great to do because they have some great horn parts and you could do some great visual stuff too! That's what gets my vote! Or you can always rehash Ice Castles! Better yet... A Drum Corps Fan's Dream Part III - A Tribute to the Velvet Knights - Magical Mystery Tour Part 15! B)

I know that the show that was anually held in Woodstock, IL was during Dick Tracy Days. That's because Chester Gould, who created Dick Tracy, was from there. In fact, my father used to do odd jobs for Chester. He would work on his car and mow his lawn and other stuff for him. I got the pleasure of meeting him when I was really young. Anyways, that's the only Dick Tracy info I know about drum corps. Except, years ago, when Pioneer/The Thing, whatever they were then, wore those awful yellow trenchcoat/jacket/slicker things for their uniforms.

I would like to see Spartans and ECJ go Div. I, but only if they were ready financially and administratively. I think it would be wiser for them to stay Div. II. The risk that you take with going from Div. II to I is alot! Plus, you have to look at whether you are planning on being an ok Div. I kind of mulling around at the bottom or do you have what it takes to excel and be a top notch, quality Div. I program that might be competitive. Plus, even though you have had great success in the II/III ranks, doesn't mean that you are gonna be that way in Div. I. Mandarins have done a fine job thus far since bumping it up. But you don't need ot be the next Academie Musicale either. Just my two cents worth.

GO MADTOWN! I haven't been to a finals since 1996 and am so looking forward to this one! I am already planning my vacation time around this! B) I have no problem paying to see Div II/III. It sounds like just because you have a Div. I ticket it should be your backstage pass for everything. What is that saying to the Div. II/III corps? "You know Reginald, maybe we should check out the commoners down there in those little Division II and III corps. We will grace them with our presence because we have Div. I tickets, because if you're not with the Div. I corps, well then, you're nothing. BUT! I repeat, but, if only we can get in for free." Give me a break! Grow a backbone. Pony up some ching and go support the smaller corps, because believe it or not, they work just as hard as the Div. I's do!

I would love to see thm do any of the following or a combination thereof: 1812 Overture Fifth Symphony, Fourth Movement by Shastikovich (I know - 1996) Fire of Eternal Glory Pagliacci Claire De Lune Night on Bald Mountain I know that most people want Spartacus or something else or just for them to not do a rehashed music show from the past, but I think it would be neat! You know, they could really throw everybody off and do something out of the ordinary and do something like " A Tribute to The Cadets" or "The Guardsmen Remembered". To really mess with everyone, I would love to see them or anybody do an all P.D.Q. Bach show! That would rock my world if they did it right!

Since PR and a slew of other corps are now, <shudder> using Bb instruments, they are no longer called bugles. They are band instruments. When was the last time you heard a local high school band leader say "And on Contra Chris Wellner and on Soprano Jay D'Auria." ? Call a spade a spade!

I am going to DCA this year and am looking to possibly do a solo piece for I & E. I have NO clue as to what to play. I want something somewhat challenging, but not something that I am going to butcher. I was wondering if all you big studs and studettes have any recommendations on a piece and where I can find the piece. Thanks alot! B)

Are Canos selling any of their old horns or have they gotten rid of them already? Let me know, because I might be interested in buying some of them. Thanks.

Billy Boy I can't agree with you more! It was a great time had by all! B) The best part of course was to see all of the "old guys" talking about their experiences in drum corps and hearing some of the stories. Talking to guys that haven't been to a show since 1971 (Ken Bond), or to prelims since '68 (Gres) cripes, that was before I was born! They had drum corps then? Just kidding!!! It was a wonderful experience to see The Blue Saints from Sudbury, Ontario Canada come join us for the parade. It gave some of the guys wonderful memories. They didn't get in to Menominee until 5am. But they were ready to go at 10:30 for the parade! When they were warmimng up and rehearsing, they sounded great! Only 8 horns, too! I hear they souded better than Kilts did. LOL! I got to talk to their business manager/brass instructor/driver/confidant/pr relations all in one, like many small corps and found out about their program and their organization. What a class act! I have to say that they made a lifelong Blue Saints fan out of me! What was also great is their part of the concert. They played, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Theme from Pearl Harbor, String of Pearls and In the Mood. They had they whole crowd rockin' and a reelin'. I actually saw people dancing! And then when an older lady in the front row, grabbed the director, while he was conducting and said that she loved their music and them, I think that really made all of us just appreciate drum corps just that bit more! After that point, the director could not stop smiling! He told me that he told the kids what she said, now remember these kids are anywhere from 10-17 years old, and he said that even though they have'nt been getting the scores they wanted but that made the whole season worth it! That's Class! Thanks again for everyone coming out! Thanks to The Blue Notes, The Mountaineers and especially The Blue Saints! Please join us for our 50th Anniversary next year! :)

How much are you asking for the Contra? I'd be very interested in purchasing for the right price.