TuneMeister

Mandarins sounded great...I was impressed. Ryekart, I agree with your statement. If some of the shows that the 13-22 range are putting on now were 3-8 years ago...they would be KILLER! The activity grows so much every year. And honestly we have the top to thank for that. They push the bar higher. However, I think the smaller corps struggle not only to pass the previous years achievements, but also to surpass the "new standard" being set in the activity each year.

Lee Harvey Potter.... that may have been the funniest thing on here in weeks. I have this strange of Dan Potter, Harry Potter and Lee Harvey Oswald.... With a microphone and a wand!

My very first drum corps show was Finals 1995. Man what a show! I had never been more impressed in my life. Scouts blew me away, Phantom had the big picture frames, Cadets told a story and Cavies were simply amazing. For years I would go watch shows and I would arrive late. After all...the corps that are on early were just a warm up for the big boys. I came to watch Cadets, Cavies, Devs, Scouts, you know...the real drum corps... What a moron I was... I am sure I missed some GREAT drum corps in all the years I was narrow minded. Well now it looks like things are changing a bit. I am looking at the recaps and scores and show reviews and we have A TON of GREAT drum corps out there now. Over the past few years Southwind has become one of my most favorite corps to watch perform! They have never made finals. I always dig Mandarins, a style all to themselves....they haven't made finals either. Academy looks to be another big fish and I can't wait to see them. We can be sad that corps are not doing well this year, but the upside is that many corps ARE! Corps that desperately need appearance fees and good placements to draw members are scoring well! They are placing well! I think it's ok for new blood to come into the light. Lets watch Southwind, Mandarins, Pacific Crest and the rest of the 13-22 crowd come in and take over. To me, these corps embody what I remember most about my first drum corps show.... PASSION!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? I have to say something about this. Fru Fru concepts? Let me guess either you or your child marched for Mandarins this year. We all know Cap Reg has money but I don't think Southwind Does. In fact I remember talking to their staff and hearing that their staff rode a SCHOOL BUS most of the summer. Cap reg's director gave up most of his summer driving to make sure his kids were fed and had their equipment. There is no way Mandarins should have made semi's. That is a mistake. I have been involved with drum corps for a long time and though I don't believe SW or CR was finalist material, it certainly was better than Mandarins.

Colts, Southwind, Crossmen, Spirit, Glassmen will all make the battle for the bottom of the top 12 VERY interesting.

The way some people respond to people disliking something on this board is just incredible. I can dislike that segment if I want to! I didn't say I hate the cadets or I think their show is shot this year. I don't think there would be such a reaction if I disliked a segment from BD or Blue Coats or Spirit, or Capital Regiment. The debate is ALWAYS about the Cadets.

I personally never said she sounded like that. I do think that was rude. And to the gentleman who assumes that those that don't like the Cadet's show aren't educated.... You are wrong on this one. I do teach, and I believe that my background and education allows and affords me the right and ability to understand and comment on the segment that was posted. Folks, I give credit where credit is due, Cadets are good at their gig. BUT, that doesn't mean I have to like their show design. I didn't like most of their show last year either. I love texturing and planing in the orchestral and wind band settings but to me it doesn't translate well on the field.

Again, I'm sure the singer is quite good. If you would have read the previous comments the concern is not with this young lady, but the design of the segment that was posted. And I certainly hope you aren't trying to relate my dislike for this performance segment with another corps, such as Magic.

Location of the mic doesn't change the face that they have intonation issues

Just to be clear, I am not picking on this girl or any corps member for that matter. I have an issue with the DESIGN. I felt bad for the kids in Crown 04 too when everyone laughed at the classic countdown. I feel bad for those members because they are being GREAT members, doing what they are instructed to do, but it just sucks.

I don't desire for old school drum corps. I desire for quality design. And I understand that the members chose to be there but they don't get to decide the design of the show. And in my opinion that segment of music lacked direction and impact for the idiom. Not to mention the many brass performance errors. IMHO they sounded better last year at this time.

To the tune of "O' Taunnenbaum" They trouped the stands, They trouped the stands, Oh, F*****G Bush they trooped the stands And when they asked what did they do, They lost a point, to Number 2, They trouped the stands, They trouped the stands, Oh, F*****G Bush they trooped the stands

Good luck to you this summer Brigs. I have always enjoyed your shows.

This is just absolutely terrible. I feel bad for the members.