Super Don-O

http://www.jewsharpguild.org/Audio/billtis2.wav makes me think of the Cadet's wild west show :P

87 Cadets 88 Suncoast 88 VK 97 Madison 97 Crossmen 90 Star 89 or 06 Phantom 87 or 92 SCV Troopers (I leave the year to even older farts than me) 88 or 04 BD 04 Cavies

I can think of three corps right off the top of my head from this season who were able to add another layer of texture to their shows with amps in a way I really appreciated. Santa Clara - those beautiful handbells. Yes corps have used them in the past unamped, but Vanguard made it work better. Bluecoats - love those steel drums, probably wouldn't have worked without amps Cavaliers - lots of great metallics and sound effects Of course any time someone amps a voice I cringe, but that's another discussion. In all, amps seem to be a good tool to have in the box. As far as the recordings, I noticed more than 1 corps set up their speakers right in front of the recording mics. This caused a big problem on some recordings and should be addressed, but wasn't apparent to the fans in the stadium.

The crowd favorite doesn't have much/anything to do with expected placement. More often than not the fan favorite and the corps most people acknowledge as deserving of a championship are completely different. It's a rare year when the favorite is also the winner ('88 comes immediately to mind). It has everything to do with show impact, power, emotion, humor, creativity and a million intangibles that connect the corps to the crowd. This year it was Phantom in my opinion, even though a lot of folks who loved them best can also understand the merits of Cavvies show and agree it was also worthy of a title. good example "1997 – Madison and maybe Crossmen right with them" I totally agree with this pick. Huge huge huge ovations for both corps, multiple standing O's for both during their shows as well as after. Crossmen, in fact, got a standing O that year as they marched ONTO the field from a legion of fans who adored what they had created. I don't think you would have found too many fans who would have felt they should have won the title that year, but God we loved them. 92 VK also - listen to the crowd during and at the end of their show - legendary crowd favorite and a 10th place finish.

"Can I just vote for Illinois?" I'll second that. Cavies, Phantom and SCV for me...

"It's amazing how clean their drill looks." Was thinking the same thing. From the webcam they look great - their hitting great sets at least once every 15 seconds...

Did I read a few pages back that there are clips available somewhere? If so could someone elaborate where I can find them? Sorry if this has been covered but only been home a few minutes

where are the clips being hosted?

Cavies took GE Visual, Performance Visual, Ensemble Visual, Brass, Ensemble Music BD took Colorguard Phantom took GE Music, Percussion

"Hall of Fame is important. It's part of our history. Sponsors are important. It's where we get our money. I can wait." Well put.

"Someone wrote on here recently that they should bring out the black uniforms for finals.. I think that is brilliant idea, and would love to see that happen.. " that just gave me freakin' CHILLS I doubt it would happen, but if they did Camp Randall would explode! :^0^:

Since I won't be able to get to Madison this year a big "hello!" right back at you. Boy have we missed you guys. 2COOL B)

Speaking of weird gimmicks and props, I don't remember which corps did it (I think they may have been division 2) but I remember seeing a corps in which the drumline got in these rotating harnessess and played their break while literally spinning head over heels! Anyone remember who that was?

Steve Rondenairo "Ladies and gentleman, believe it or not that's Spirit of Atlanta you're looking at" :P crap.. I think I've become and Old Fart.....

If my children ever decide they want to march corps, I pray they'll want to march Vanguard... does that answer the question?

As a way of demonstrating just how ahead of it's time that Suncoast show was, look at the themes... adolescent girl guard character, lost in fantasies and nightmares, confronts her demons.. sound familiar? No, I'm not talking about Cadets 2005! I'm talking about Suncoast '88 of course.. Even the musical style which would sound familiar to today's listener was unheard of at the time.. that show was pure genius. And I agree - the Spirit show in '88 was an enormous departure for them. Also no discussion of strange Drum Corps shows can be complete without tossing in Star's space show - I don't remember off the top of my head what year that was but it was really out there.

'88 Suncoast Sound - their "Contemporary Child" show. It was considered extremely avant garde at the time and (in my opinion) underappreciated by the fans. It was way WAY ahead of it's time and in my mind is a classic. I vote for it every year to be on the Classic Countdown, but maybe I'm the only one.

Wife and I are both going. Get to see my 3 favorites: Cavies, Phantom and SCV ... I'm in heaven

Ron is my idol. I've been buying tickets from him since the late 80's, he's truly a Drum Corps institution. From speaking with him it sounds like he buys and sells and trades tickets until he trades himself up to that perfect 50 yardline seat exactly where he likes to be. He doesn't charge much over face value, probably makes just enough to cover his travel expenses.