jimott01

Gotta go with '04 Blue Devils. Lots of people talk about second place shows that should have won. This is a first place show that got the DCI treatment on finals night. Right up the tailpipe. Two other shows that got that treatment were '93 Star and '95 Cadets. Three championship shows that were not given their due. Funny, two of those years, the Cavaliers won with way too dirty, overhyped shows, and in 1993 the judges brains' weren't on a high enough thinking level to realize what they were watching. Of course this is just my opinion, but I'm right.

I don't think the Colts will ever be "this year's Blue Stars". And its really not the kids' fault. There are some super talented kids there, but there are flaws within that organization that will not allow them to make that push. And its too bad too, because that Corps should have been "this year's Blue Stars" a long time ago.

Hey, isn't that what Michael Phelps got in trouble for? Hahahahahahahaha..........jokes, jokes!!

Yeah, doesn't that seem weird, when you ask a direct question like that and almost everybody just shrugs their shoulders and looks the other way. Kinda like "What was the event that caused Jeff Fiedler to leave The Cavaliers?". Why don't we try and get people to actually fess up and answer those kind of questions? Is it because sometimes ignorance truly is bliss, or is it to protect the organization, or is it something else? Hmmmmm......................

Good for him, good for Vanguard. Now, can he, or somebody with that organization please take those new God-awful shiny uniforms they were sporting last summer and burn them. Bring back the uni's from 03-04. Those were proper-fitting, classy, and had the Vanguard look. These new uni's look like they should be on the 'B' corps.

No, no, no. Bitter? I aged out before 2002, and was instructing another drum corps by then. I wouldn't care if it were the General Butler Vagabond, it was way too dirty to be a championship show IMO. But I know dirt when I see it, and 04 Cav's was dirty. You don't have to agree, I don't have to be bitter just because I think this, its just my freakin' opinion. Chill out haters, its a message board, not an accusation board. Oh, and how could you mention 99 Blue Devils before 99 Vanguard. I love both shows, but I watched each one like five times back to back the other day, and Blue Devils had Vanguard handled in execution, visual and music. Here's a couple more: '98 Cadets- Listen to the hornline at the first big hit, and realize that that hornline was so bad, more than half the show had to be cut to small ensembles. '96 Devils- multiple phasing problems through-out, both hornline to hornline and hornline to drumline. '95 Cavies- Solid first 2/3 of the show, but the whole last 3:00 was how do you say, yukky poo poo. Honestly, to get back to 2002, that show was one of the cleaner finals shows we've had in the last 10 or so years. But I stand by the color guard thing. Peace out.

Yeah, there was dirt, but like people keep saying, there usually is. I do know two things: if you don't have a perfect color guard show( dropping someone on their head in the middle of the fight club section, dropping tosses, sail on the last flag), you shouldn't get a perfect score. Second thing: the 2004 Cavies show is perhaps the most filthy mess of a Championship show I have ever heard or seen. That jam out samba section sounds like a bad Spirit jam out, and their were more visual errors than I've seen in some of the bottom six. And I don't care about how hard it is, execution is execution, if you don't execute, who cares if you did the hardest stuff ever. Devils were musically cleaner and visually just as hard and way cleaner. I just don't get it. Oh, well. Thats DCI.

Sorry to disappoint the haters, but I marched in or taught in those groups, and I'm not trying to tell this kid not to march your precious Southwind, I'm just telling him to be careful and weigh all of his options before he goes to a corps that can't seem to acquire stability. Its good advice, especially with all the parody from year to year in drum corps. Relax, I'm sure that the folks in charge of Southwind will provide a stable environment, but obviously not this summer, so someone suggest where this kid could go, because sitting around talking about 2010 sure isn't getting anything done. Holler.

Not to be the buzz kill here, but there is always a good reason that corps fold or take seasons off, and its usually not a good one. I know that Sal Leone did great things for Cascades, but when he left, the corps had huge income problems with their bingo operations, and Leone's son didn't do such a great job, and Cascades had to take a season off. Magic had all sorts of problems including some slimy people running things and a huge debt, so they had to fold. What I'm getting at is, why don't you go to a corps that you won't have to worry about from a monetary or logistical standpoint. You don't want to wake up one morning with no support staff or food. Find a fiscally responsible corps, a stable organization, and somewhere that you feel like you have a place. I promise, you will have a better season, and will be more likely to march again. Just some advice. Late. CB

At Devils, we used to rock the Hound with some Bulls on Parade by Rage Against the Machine. I used different things in Colt's visual warm-up/stretch for hype: Muse Flo-Bots Korn (old stuff, not the janky new stuff) Angels and Airwaves If you haven't checked out Flo-Bots, you should. One of the best albums of the year, period. Give it a chance, buy the CD, the whole thing is sick. CB

Hey guys and gals, think about this. Back in 2004, DCI had a show in Seattle at the Seahawks new stadium. BD, Vanguard, Cascades, and a couple more corps were there. While it isn't a dome, it is closed on both ends and has big overhangs so that the fans stay dry. Anyway, I think that Seattle and Denver are perfect examples of what Lucas Oil Field will sound like with the roof open and the endzone open (only one end opens, the other is solid brick). The recordings from that Seattle show have Finals quality acoustics, and the recordings from Finals in Denver in 04 are very good. I hate domes too, but if the Luke sounds like one of these fields, then you may like it more than you think. PS- I agree with everyone who says that the move to Indy is largely a money move. Acheson got sick of watching Scott McCormick suck every last dollar out of his BOA cow each winter and wanted a piece. Who wouldn't.http://www.drumcorpsplanet.com/forums/style_images/1/folder_post_icons/icon10.gif http://www.drumcorpsplanet.com/forums/styl...cons/icon10.gif

Kevin did a great job with Madison last year? What show were you watching? Oh, and I guess a good job means barely making semifinals. I can't wait to see what he does with a corps that has a weaker visual program. OMG, Spirit's gonna win. Kevin's drill may be functional and you may see a few effect moments thrown in there, but remember, Spirit had Michael Gaines a couple of years ago, and what happened with that? 'Nuff said.

Name: Chris Brown Gender: Male What age were you when you marched: 19-21 What age are you now: 28 Which instrument did you march/play: Mellophone Which corps is you favorite (besides your own): Santa Clara Vanguard, Cadets What is your (intended) college major/degree in: Music Education Which corps did you march with: Magic of Orlando, Carolina Crown, The Concord Blue Devils What years: 1998, 2000, 2001 Why did you join drum corps: 1995 Madison Scouts live at my high school stadium, 'nuff said. What was your best experience: Winning the Jim Ott award and High Visual Award in 2001. Yes, I continue to teach in the activity as well as support DCI.

1996- BD, period. Phantom's show was great, but they had less than stellar technique, drumline barely played, and the demand of that show was on the higher side of minimal. BD had a harder horn book, way harder drill, better technique, and a cleaner, higher demand show. 1999- BD, but closer. Vanguard was on in finals, but they are the dirtiest visual program to win a title in my opinion. BD brought a superb musical product to the field, both by the brass and percussion and front ensemble. Devs also had a wonderful color guard and an underrated visual program. They matched Vanguard's demand and executed it better. 2000- This one is tough because on one hand, Cadets brass and percussion books were second to none, and their level of performance and showmanship were tops all year long. This was, however, the first of the trilogy for the Cavaliers and some who wear green would say that 2000 and not 2002 was not only the hardest show of the three, but their best as well. This show redefined the Cavaliers and both these shows pretty much started a new formula for many DCI corps shows' to follow. Final Verdict- Cadets by a nose (or slightly better drill design). My opinion is only that. CB ^0^

I know that in recent years, a decent amount of the staff changes have been the result of the instructors and the alumni/front office being at odds. Some of the more big time staff that has been brought in from 2004 all the way till now has had problems with the front office people and the SCV alumni who are very vocal and opinionated about 'their' Vanguard and have made it hard for some staff members, ultimately resulting in their leaving. I don't know about the most recent staff, but this has been a recurring theme over the past few years (Gino Cipriani, Adam Sage, Myron Rosander, Jim Cassela, etc.)

I cringe every time Phantom Regiment jazz runs. They don't march well at all, and their jazz runs are even worse. :sshh: I cringe every time the Bluecoats copy the Blue Devils, blatantly. <**> I cringe every time the Cavaliers get high visual technique scores. ^0^

OK, here goes: 2002-Murfreesboro- snuck in with lady friend through the corps entrance gate. Got to see the top 5, pretty sweet. 2002-UGA-Ga. Tech Football game- put on a Shako and snuck in with the marching band. Better than paying $150. 2007- Atlanta Regional- I used an old staff pass and walked right in the door, I couldn't believe it, but hey, if it works, it works. I'm sure there are more, but those are the highlights. Am I proud, hell yes. Would I do it again? Definitely ^0^

How come when the Blue Devils win with a show that isn't the super greatest show on earth, people question its validity and its place among other shows. But when the Cavaliers win with a show that definitely has problems and some say should not have won, everyone slops on the congratulations and the questions go away. I am speaking mainly of '01 and '04. Why didn't these shows get scrutinized like this years BD show. And don't tell me that those shows don't have issues just like this BD show, have you actually listened to those hornlines? Anyway, I just think its interesting how the two corps get treated when it comes to winning.

Hmmm.... I guess my most overrated show would have to be Blue Knights and Cavaliers. Both of their visual programs were noticeably weak from a content and performance perspective, and neither of the shows seemed to matter. Five minutes after I saw them, I had forgotten all about them. For underrated, I think it would have to be Cadets. I, myself, am a Blue Devil, but even I would have to say that what those performers were being asked to do, and were achieving, was simply amazing. I think a lot of people underrated that show because of the unneeded soundtrack and the sniveling man that represents them. Too bad.

In terms of visually pleasing being balanced by equally great musical effect, I would have to go with Blue Devils 2001. The opener was created as a two movement piece, and the second of those two movements is fast and effective. The most memorable moment visually is the large swinging mellophone arm that sweeps across the field and then connects perfectly with another wall of mellos. In that next instant, there is complete visual silence. Not a flinch or a sway, just still. It is one of the most underrated shows and opener endings out there in my very humble and heavily influenced opinion. CB

So the Cadets just announced their 2007 show title "This I Believe. Truth, Values, and the Personal Experience Called Drum Corps." So now we have SCV with possibly the shortest title ever, and Cadets with one of the longest. But one things for sure, both these shows sound like they are gonna rock. CB

At Blue Devils, we were given charts for the first day, when we learned the drill, then, after that we were expected to know all of our dots and yardline relationships and people's dots on either side of us for reference. Yes, we kept it all in our heads, people are capable of that. Other groups could do it too, but what am I thinking, that would be expecting too much from them.

Here's a few that I thought of that had not been listed yet: 1998 Santa Clara Vanguard- Wow, should have won, set them up to win it the next year. 2001 Blue Devils- Probably one of the cleanest visual shows you will ever see. Phenomenal hornline and very cool drill. Oh yeah, and one of the best color guards EVER!! 2002 SCV- Just check out the ballad, 'nuf said. Drill is cleaner than other years, too. 2004 Blue Devils- Definitely should have won, wow that hornline can play and move, and the battery maxed out that show. Much cleaner than 007, period. Anyway, there you go.

I remember hearing that Dick Cheney marched with The Troopers, pre-DCI years. I remember hearing him talk about this when he was being interviewed some time ago. Anybody know if this is for real or is he a 52 Buckaroo( a 52 Buckaroo is someone who claims to have marched but did not).

No, Andre is Tommy. They are the same person, Tommy was like his drum corps name, and Andre is his after drum corps name. Like his professional title. You know what I mean.