Backstrom

I think two of my favorite closers this season were from SCV and Scouts, because both of them had ovation-inducing half-time company fronts right before the closer, which brought the crowd to their feet. SCV famously did this in 1989 before their soft closer. There are plenty of other examples which I can't think of right now. What about this makes it so appealing to the audience? I'm trying to think of this from a more emotive perspective-- is it the musical aspect of marching and playing half-time? Or something visually endearing about the company front?

The only thing that really holds back 1996 for me is the visual program, both the drill and execution.

So how exactly do you define an "art form?" Many symphonies, ballets, and jazz bands are largely unchanged from the early 20th century. Does drum corps necessarily fit that mold?

I'm curious to know how popular or well-known drum corps is outside the drum corps world. If you were to ask your classmates/co-workers, would they know about it? I'd imagine this varies regionally, but every time I see video of a corps doing a parade somewhere, I wonder how many in the audience know they're not actually watching a marching band.

Boo, bring it to Seattle!

I don't know about Oregon but I think a huge factor in Washington is the lack of competitive high school marching bands. Out of all the large 3A or 4A schools in the Seattle area alone, how many competitive corps-style programs are there? Just a handful, if my assessment is correct. With that, very few will even get the opportunity to hear about drum corps.

Hate to rain on this BD-Crown pissing match, but I have a question (which has already been discussed at length and beaten to death on DCP, but I'm admittedly way to lazy to scour all the threads for a decent answer). I've only seen Crown's show once in theaters, and I know that percussion was a major concern this year. I'm not a drum guy but what EXACTLY was the issue? Was the book poorly written? Was the battery simply not as technically proficient as the other higher-scoring corps? Or a combination of factors?

One word: SUNBURST

This is just my observation, but is there any reason why Cadets are scoring so low in visual? From theaters, they looked cleaner than anyone except for maybe BD.

I haven't been following DCI much in recent years, but what on earth is up with the Cascades? They scored a 49.500 at Renton. That's the lowest WC/D1 score I can remember in recent years. They only had 8 guard and a very small hornline, but do any insiders have the scoop on what's the deal with the organization? I know they had a reorg a few years ago but this looks like a case of failed management?

The Vanguard Yell is right before the impact point in the I Dreamed a Dream ballad mvmt. 5:25 mark in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4hYLQ7RyH4

Cavs, probably, but much more so in the first half of the decade. I can't even think of a good memorable show they've had after 2003.

WHAT THE HELL? Phantom got 11th in GE Vis? OUCH.

+1 THIS

They can't just keep opening and closing the top every other year.