mrbitz

Don't forget Kile. Marge was the cook for years and Dave, Paul and Eric marched from 1982 until 1989 for sure. Plus they housed kids for the corps. 945 Farnam Street. What about Severence? There are generations that marched from the later 70's until now. There were a bunch a "families" that were members. A lot in the early years.

They were back at it today. I watched the runthough on Friday and they had about 9 minutes done then. They are running for the first 5 minutes of the show. I can't wait to see what they are doing for a uniform. Hopefully the drill will stick and they can keep it most of the season. The last minute was the pit playing cajons. I will see if I can get out there again this week...now that the rain has stopped.

From oldest to youngest. Brian, Brent, Brad, Bruce and Brandon. Brian played Sop, Brent was Snare, Brad was always DM Bruce was a sop and DM (I think) Brandon was Pit but I was long gone by that time. It's been years since I first met the family...1984

I don't know if this is it. But this is where I found a recruitment video. http://www.bluestars.org/media/ MYNWA FCO

Dave, I never knew you liked Old Style. Old Grand-dad, maybe. Good Night StolieWolies.

I watched the show last night in Baraboo. Those who say it's not the “Madison sound”, I must disagree. I really liked the show and the music. I was a little apprehensive at first (April Camp mp3s) but seeing the show and listening live, I thought they were great. I wish them the best of luck. I can't wait for tonight’s run-through.

Southwind was great. Too bad the season ended too soon. I really think this is a tough year for anybody under the top 6. I'm still amazed that there is only a 10 point spread in the top 12. There is a lot of good corps out there. Good for everybody. I hope the community as a whole can continue to recruit such great talent.

From Cavies website: The Cavaliers will be rehearsing at North Central College all day on Tuesday, August 8, with the evening ensemble block running from approximately 6 to 9 pm, (weather-permitting) before they head to their DCI housing in Portage, WI.

I know there is one on State Street. It is not too long of a walk.

In the past Phantom always goes to Lodi HS in Lodi, WI. I don't know for sure if they are there, but it might be worth a shot. They usually have a few coprs there. I'm gonna try and get into the Cadet and Cavies over the next few days. Both so close.

13th Spirit 14th Crossmen 15th Blue Stars 16th Capital Regiment 17th Pacific Crest 11th through 16th is so close, it's anybody's game. I think that the Colts have a great show this year. Haven't seen BS but CR was fantastic. But there was a clear difference between CRand the Colts...and the Colts were LOUD!!! We'll see and good luck to all!

Now I liked the Madison look but it isn't much different from the 1986-2002 look? Which I am very happy with. What about Blue Stars? I'm not sure where I would go with them. I think they need a splash a red (other than the plume) on that uniform. When the Drum Line had the white sash with red trim...I like that. Maybe bring the Cummerbunds back. Just a thought.

The guard used to practice over there. We never did. We (Drum Line) was always way out in the back corner of the festgrounds where the Black River went under the railroad tracks. My best guess would be the North West corner. Where and when? I went to one at the Oak Crest Tavern in '02.

I always had trouble telling the difference between the Brewery and the Sewage treatment plant right by the brewery. Those hot days with a south wind...Argh! But those were the days!

Did I bust on your spelling? Sorry Joe. I agree with Reed on the music, but with one strong point...wasn't that the downfall of Madison in the early 2K's? I'm still a fan of Velvet Knights, I have an mp3 of the 87 show I listen to weekly. I can't say for sure that Blue Stars can or cannot do a crowd pleasing show and still be competitive. I know that is what I would like to see, but I really think I am in the minority anymore. Even when I marched, I think most people where music majors, but I wasn’t one. I liked BD, Madison, Older Cavies (Planets). Songs I actually knew. Ok Back on topic…I will still be there cheering on Blue Stars if they have narrations or not, if I don’t understand the show, or I have the normal confused look on my face during the show. I will still be there for the members. I will still be proud to say I marched there. I still know how hard those guys are working, how huge the commitment is and how great all the performers are. Just because I don’t know the music, I can still see the great talent and drive the members have. BTW, the first time I will see the BS show will be in Madison on Thursday afternoon, then Friday and hopefully Saturday. I know there are corps from 13-18 that are all really close score wise. I just wish BS the best of luck.

I remember taking tours at the brewery. There was a girl from UW-L Marching Chiefs who was a bartender there and kept feeding us beer. It was not good beer, but it was free. I should really go on the tour sometime....not just sit there and drinking beer. I also remember going to practice at the fest ground and stopping at the Artisan Well at Heileman’s to fill up our water jugs. JoeB, you were there.

Beer and Pretzels? My Blue Star coat still has an Old Style patch on it. I played Soularo for several years, but I would like to see tunes like Chicago, I’ve been searching and The Beatles, Norwegian Wood. I would love to see them break top 12 but I am also very proud of where they have placed so far. Great rebuilding effort!!! Don’t give up, you’re not out of it yet.

In my opinion, the Bluecoats are what drum corps is about. I was worried when I watched the show earlier in the season that they were going to lose momentum. I thought they were too clean that early in the season, but it seems like they just keep growing. I thought it was the best show that I watched that night. I don't want to bust on the Cavies, but Bluecoat were my favorite. I hope they have more in their bag of tricks to put a run on first place. That would make for a great night in Madison. I think just beating Cadets would be great, but hey…let’s go for the top! GO BLOOOOOOO!

Dennis Delucia Ralph Hardimon Chris Thompson Steve Weekes Jeff Moore (Early 90's)

For the most part, Blue Stars practices are ran out of the Twin Cities. Before I get slammed by Blue Star people, I know they are still from LaCrosse but I want to say all the practices are in Brighton MN or something like that. They had one camp in LaCrosse. Greg Struve was from up there I think (old director until Brad Furlano took over). So if you want to count Blue Stars as a MN corps, go right ahead. I want to say that I remember that the origins of the Blue Stars are from LaCressent, MN. But that was way before I was born so that is just from memory. Go Blue! FCO!

I think they still have time to get everything going. I must be in the minority in thinking that when they take the field there is electricity in the air. Madison is Madison no matter what music they are playing, what uniform they are wearing or what year it is for that matter. Those guys are no less “Brothers” than any of the rest of us. We can reminisce about the past, but we also have to embrace the future. These guys are great. I think there is plenty of potential in the show they are marching. So I don’t recognize the music, that doesn’t mean it is not the Madison Style or being performed to the Madison Standard. Really, the only show I connected with was Velvet Knights (Any Year). There is a solid month left for tweaking and adjusting. I have faith they will clean it up, and make it as great as possible. I can’t wait to see them in a month from today. On the field, from MAAAADDISON WISCONSIN!!!

I would like to see Scouts in the 2nd or heck let's say 1st, But I don't see that in the scores. I can say the show has a lot of room to grow. They can get much better and I thought it was one of the best drills I've seen from the boys in Madison. I want to wait until I see it a few more time before I say good or bad. Either way, GO SCOUTS! Mike Albitz

I marched the 1991 season. I know for a fact that the drum staff was not all Scouts back then. Jeff Moore was from SCV and Lee Beddis was from Cadets. I know Jeff stayed for something like 11 years. Colin (Perc Caption Head) is from Boston and SCV and Beddis is now back. I met Colin and some of the drum staff over the past years, I thought their intentions were in the right place. Scott Borema is still there (Horns) and he is still doing a great job in my opinion. As for Sal, I think he is doing a great job. I'm pretty sure after the 2002 season, the Board Of Directors said we want the corps back in top 12. So Sal put together a staff to do just that. The staff is very talented and competent. New ideas or fresh blood is not always selling out or a bad idea. When I watched the show in Madison last Sunday, the electricity of the guys taking the field was no different than any other year. I don’t care for the uniforms, but I tell you this…if they were wearing white pants with the green strip down the leg….they would have looked horrible. The dark pants really hides people out of step or timing issues. The Fleur de Leis on the uniform, although a cool idea, cannot be seen from the stands. Madison West is a relatively small stadium, so I doubt you will even be able to see them at Camp Randall. I am very partial to the 1986-2002 uniforms. I grew up watching those uniforms and later marched in one. But I am accepting the 2006 versions as hard as that may be. After my long rambling, the older I get, the harder it is for me to accept change. I know this so I try harder to do so. I think the Corps will do fine. I agree that it is what is inside the uniform is more important than what is on the outside. I also agree that the staff attitude has changed for the better since the 2002 season. I hope the guys step it up. There is a lot of room for growth with that show. They have got time to do it. They have got talent to do it. I can’t wait until August 10th. Mike MYNWA

I will be leaving here in 15 minutes. Sounds like a good show.