Eric M. Buckman

First thought was...every single prop they have built and used in the last 5 years will be on the field in this show!

This show goes often unmentioned...but, I will always say, if you know the full story, 1989 Cadets of Bergen County and Les Mis. Behind Star most of the year and too many endings to the show to count, all the way up till finals. It is still very sad, to know we could not convince judges that there really isn't a tear in the show, it was two completely INDEPENDENT CORPS on the field at the same time(maybe we should have just superimposed one on the other), but dawg gone it, that's how it was done on Broadway and that's what we did on the field. An absolutely inspiriing, emotionally charged show, no matter what place it finished.

Don't forget one of the greatest Christmas shows ever....Phantom Regiment 87 https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=ie7&q=1987+phantom+regiment&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-Address&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7SNYR

Albeit, Corps have done well over the years with Encore pieces, I am finding that some of the Corps quality really is becoming, to be honest, abysmal regarding these peices alone. As much as I like to hear a great piece from the past in an encore, especially by a top Corps...if it isn't executed properly then it just comes off lame. I just heard SCV percussion do a rendition of Lezghinka this season and it is SMOKIN' HOT. Yet, I also listened to another top corps perform their own "Corps" Song...and I was flabberghasted at the poor execution. I used to dream of playing "Almighty Father" and "Maria" as a Cadet and we treated it with respect, we never played RPH for an encore, but I can't imagine butchering it. I guess I would reather hear Space Music done 10 times well than 10 crappy selections that Corps don't get to spend time on or that current members don't understand or care about the historical ramifications of the pieces they are playing.

LOL. I remember George and Sully asking the Corps collectively one nite, "how do you guys feel", regarding the fact that we didn't have an ending, or we still had the crazy peace sign soft ending. I mean how are you supposed to answer that? Funny thing is, the FINALS nite ending, was a Zingali/Sullie/Hopkins GARFIELD ending, and I would not change a thing. Fast pace in your face, drill, color guard and music..all while completing 2 step pass thru's. Outside of not hitting every single corner of the field in drill, that show was AMAZING and still quite underrated. I am more interested how they will tackle the Split Corps reality, that, IMO somewhat killed us in '89. Seriously, we were still explaining to people what was being interpreted on the field from the on stage version at Finals. Listen closely to the Tape/DVD and you hear someone yell "NICE FEET" in reference to the fact that we had two completely different corps and tempos on the field. If I ever meet that guy, he and I are going to have words. A & D is shaping up to be an amazing show, I just hope that the Cadets take a page from SCV 99 the Canyon, less is more and let the body of work speak for itself. NO Gimmicks.

Played Contrabass for 88 'Coats and 89 Cadets but would have loved to perform on Snare. But, I have always dreamed of being in the '87 SCV Contra Line. Wicked.

I really think that the last 10-13 years have been exactly what the original post deems as reaching the main stream...I am sorry, but I am tired of this...if you don't get it...then here it is...THAT SHIP HAS SAILED and FAILED. The reason we continue to argue about ### for tat is that it actually did work and when it was changed...you tinkered with exactly what was your "MARKET"...we didn't need to do anything except what we were good at...this is like Pepsi Clear...or the Ferrari Dino...great Corporations make mistakes...but those same companies recognize their failures and return to what they are good at...you can't keep beating this dead horse as a champion for a "cause"...that "cause" has FAILED...MISERABLY! The Top 12 is really the Top 6 and people really no longer care in the same passion as they did before...but yet those same people are still fighting for what really is Drum Corps...not this watered down PseudoBand stuff that we call Drum Corps of today...I get what your example is with Lady Gaga...but that is such a HORRIBLE example...we made DC easier for people to join by going to Trumpets...rather than bugles...but those same kids who play woodwinds still learn brass instruments and show up anyway...those piano players are the lead female bass drummers for such Corps like DEVS...I'm sorry but our current idea that we are going to continue to go in the WRONG Direction is sad...RIGHT the ship and move on...DCI can be saved...money or not...but, the leadership just keeps plugging along a directive that continues to fail. Yea we will do instant Encores...woohoo..whoop-de-doo...we will play POP Music...REALLY, REALLY...why don't we just sell out completely, we will let the FANS Judge...oh dear god...that really works...let's see when in CANTON guess who is going to win that show or at Diablo Valley. I give up!

Garfield, Holy Name, CBC has used it as a technical warmup since the late 80's...it can now be heard on the Corps Preseason Releases.

Or I'll sum it up this way...I'd rather watch old Youtube clips from the past or sit in the LOT rather than actually attend todays shows...

Evidently it speaks volumes about this particular ERA of DCI!...

Bottom Line is entertainment value...and this says it all...Artistic...Humor and Music= Entertainment. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlNVCfSF5ps

88 was much better presentation, but, 89 was one of the top shows for that year, obviously since they did win. I just prefer the musical arrangment, drill, male/female guard. Even the presentationr brass for the duets and solos just had a much better feel to it. Not to mention...NO missing members.

Plain and simple...when Star came to existence...they bought their way in(no disrespect, everything was first class)...brand new everything, and whatever they got seemed to change every year. Everyone knew what to expect from all the other players in the game, but with Star you had no idea...yes 85, 86 were in tune with a startup brand new "cute pink corps" but then in 88 with "Porgy and Bess" something that was not the greatest thing offered on the field but...pretty darn good. 89 was the thing of legends...because they did a 27th lancer show, that NO ONE else dared to touch out of respect for that corps, yet Star did it tastefully and respectfully...there are alot of "stories" about how all that transpired, but, Star not only put it on the field, but they did it out of respect to the 27th lancers, something you may never find another corps pulling off as well as they did. To me that was the game changing year, because they competed not to just be in the Top 12 but to beat the Top 6 and they did,...you were watching them make their own history right in front of your eyes. Star had a plan to win it all and did(PERIOD EXCLAMATION POINT)...just as in 83 the Garfield Cadets made their own history by winnning DCI...those are moments...Star made many MOMENTS in a very short period of time and everyone of them I cherish the opportunity to have witnessed. As much as I hated the departure of Star, they did it the right way...you couldn't be mad at them and you were darn sure glad to beat them, but you were even more impressed and at peace with them when they beat you. Because they were Great and they deserved to Win. One of the biggest problems as a marching member is that we really don't know what goes on in the outside world during tour...and we have no clue if some corps is really better than us...you practice, you compete and you go to retreat..they tell you your rank...but you have no way to judge if you are better than anyone else until the season is over and only then can you watch the videos or listen to tapes. Otherwise it is the staff or family friends that feeds you the goods, the bads and the indifferents, and most family members don't always have an object eye or clue. I guess what I am getting at is that when Star did start beating others(and as a Cadet I remember their first victory against us, although I felt like I may have let down the tradition of Holy Name that night...they had my respect...whether I liked it or not.

I love SCV 1999 the Canyon....but I would love to see Cadets complete the whole selection top to finish the way GarfieldC did Appalachain Spring...Bring back Holsinger...something a bit closer to Tame the Perilous Skies...part deux.

Actually Crown is on a very similar path, as well as, now Madison...so you might want to hold your breath...the recipe is exactly the same...and the leadership is what brought Star, Crown and now Madison to the Top of the game...Madison's youth is the only thing holding them back...

Like I've said in other post's ...look at the reaction to Star's performance and to that of Devs this season, audiences are CRAVING real Drum Corps, fans are there and we can get people to return to the activity, it's just the fans are becoming disenchanted with what they are seeing very VANILLA...since we are hemmoraghing traditionalist's and the "newbies" or those whom are deemed "outsiders" are less likely to stick around or return to another show...we have unfortunately missed the target audience in our niche oriented world... DCI has officially become "Pepsi Clear"...

Jeff thanks for the insight and the posts...I don't necessarily agree with the all in or all out concept...but I can see the other side of the coin...I still am sorry for the Alumni and the kids that never got the opportunity to continue on such a great ensemble that graced our presence for such a short periord of time.

Love this post...and regarding the OP...bottom line is a weak applause or no applause is a better sign of fans perspective...and man the audiences today...just don't match up...yes the kids deserve better recognition...but there is no difference between people watching back then and now...if they don't like it fans shouldn't have to applaud out of kindess...if it sucks it sucks...Look at STAR of Indiana...now that was a Response probably the best response the entire WEEKEND...maybe DCI should think long and hard about what they witnessed...as well as the Member Corps. BRAVO Star Alumni...you made(saved) the 2010 season.

I'm just sad...and it proves my point from this past weekend..STAR was OUTSTANDING...and that Corps should exist as a Drum and Bugle Corps on the competitive field...and I am happy for all my friends who are Alumni of the group, but I am sad for the lost opportunity that many others never got to experience...they are one of the finest groups ever to exist...with or without all their extra "Toys" and the refernce was not meant to disrespect, it was meant as a reference to yes how they were perceived back when they departed the activity.

Not really...Bluecoats exposed not even close...oh the Tuba solo...yeah..well try the entire show and drill nothing to write home about, they are very stong talented line one of the best... but by no means the best...anyway...we won't go there...Star of Indiana "Tuba Line" Contra section did just as well with a much more difficult arrangement...LOL and just as tough of drill.

Funny when you say "Star" left...do you really think that was a service to the group of kids that were marching members...and to be quite honest...they had NO! say in the matter...that was a sad day for all involved no matter how great BLAST was...for someone...and I'm not sure exactly who decided they would take their toys and go play some where else, by dismantling the Star of Indiana...Blast could have been formed without skuttling Star. Again...I am an avid fan of the Star organization in it's entirety..but what happened wasn't based on positives, as i understand it...it was based on the malcontent for the politics of dci and the fact that their Corps didnt win! but that happens all the time...I mean there aren't any conspiracy theories that have ever floated around about Corps placements...now have there? Or score changes at finals. DCI is as politically polluted and corrupt as every other subjective sporting venue based on judges. Sorry for the diatribe...but I guess what I am getting at is this really wasn't a decision the kids made or supported, this was a decision made by one or two, that no longer enjoyed the game they got into and that is fine, but don't use the general moniker of "Star" left because that is a missnomer...no matter how you spin it. That is evident by how strong their alumni are and how sad it was when they closed up shop.

Maybe I missed something...but, as I understand it and correct me if I am wrong, but, Jim is staunchly against the G7 which is awesome, and I am not knocking anything about the G7 here(there are plenty other topics for that). Anyway, someone else please tell me if I'm wrong...if we indeed link Star of Indiana as pushing the envelope thru Star 93, as, not the only significant changes in DCI, but a very LARGE catalyst for changes in DCI direction that brought it to the state of where it is today...does no one else see the irony of it all????especially in light of what Madison Scouts are doing this year...one of the few semi Old School shows. Please don't start in on the G Bugles, Zingali, Hopkins, pit, Colorguard or any other aspect or this or that, that influenced Dci through the years...I just find it odd of what the goal of Star was 1. to make it 2. to win it 3. to change it forever. I am an avid Star of Indiana, Jim Mason fan and Cook group fan...and I love my home team Cadets along with anyone who has ever been a member of the drum corps community...at any level...but, it really just seems quite ironic to me.

SCV RCM 87...the entire opener...is the reason why i finally marched and it one of my all time favorite dci shows. SCV The Canyon 99 WOW Garfield 83 Rocky Point Holiday...Immaculate

Did the OP really include 'Coats drill, I'm not hating just confused...Hornline(check), Drumline(check)...GE(check check)...drill...ummm righhhtttt. There drill is what could be their doom(and by doom I mean not challenging for 1st). They are already fairly clean and maxed out and where do they go from here... Hornline Exposure of Crown, SCV and Phantom rank at the top this season making their shows extremely difficult to clean and perform. Cavies always a tough drill, but, they rarely seem to leave the hornline exposed.