brassyNsassy

Sounds like a great tour. We are all looking forward to see your corps perform. With that rehearsal schedule leading up to Prelims and Finals, I think you guys are going to surprise quite a few people. Best of luck and safe travels!

After these shows, we will have a better idea of what's what. Then, all of that goes out the window once the corps hit the field in Annapolis. Buccs 95.50 Cabs 92.00 MBI 91.75 Hurcs 89.50 Empire 89.25 C2 87.45 Fusion 84.50 Atl CV 83.75 Kilties 80.95 Tampa Bay 80.20 Bush 74.65 Govies 81.00 Windsor 76.40 Sun 75.25 Cinc Trad 72.10 Shen Sound 61.95

Eight corps are going toe to toe this Saturday at Clifton, NJ. Here's are my predixions for the Grand Prix... Buccaneers 84.2 Hurricanes 78.8 Caballeros 78.2 Cadets2 72.8 Fusion Core 71.2 Bushwackers 65.9 Sunrisers 65.3 Windsor Reg 64.8

You gotta think a Springstein - Tribute to Clarence show would be a natural fit. Maybe Al Chez could convince Max Weinberg and Steve Van Zandt to make guest appearances at Finals. Born in the USA Rosalita Jungleland Born To Run Done!

Prelims Buccs MBI Empire Cabs Hurcs Alliance Corpsvets Renagades Bush Kilts Tampa Bay Fusion Govenaires Carolina Gold Winsor Reg Sun White Sabres Shenendoah Cincincatti Trad High Country Bras Excelsior DCA Finals Buccs MBI Empire Cabs Alliance Hurcs Renagades Corpsvets Bush Kilts Govenaires Fusion Carolina Gold Winsor Reg

So the Buccs will go on before MBI even though they are undefeated and handed MBI their only loss of the season at Lewisburg? Interesting development. Rules are rules, I suppose. Should make for an even hotter contest at Prelims than it already was shaping up to be. My money is on the corps in Blue.

How did the crowd react to the corps? Was there an obvious crowd favorite? (other than Cabs Alumni ) I went to this show a few years back when Brigs were there, and I thought it was strange for Bush to have it there since they have no connection to the Toms River area. Seemed like the crowd was pretty neutral back then, so you got a true reaction and not just the "Homer Cheers". Can't wait to see the corps go toe-to-toe at the Scranton show!

This was a tough call for me. I can see 3 corps in this spot come finals.

I like TBT for this one. New corps with new energy!

OK, forget what I said a couple of weeks ago. THIS is how it will be. Very little doubt.... Open Class 1. Buccaneers 2. Minnesota Brass 3. Alliance 4. Hurricanes 5. CorpsVets 6. Statesmen 7. Caballeros 8. Tampa Bay Thunder 9. Kilties 10. Bushwackers --------------------------- 11. Renegades Class A 1. Windsor Regiment 2. Carolina Gold 3. Govenaires 4. Fusion Core --------------------------- 5. Arkansas Thunder 6. White Sabers 7. Sunrisers 8. High Country Brass 9. Cincinnati Tradition 10. Shenandoah Sound 11. Excelsior

This IS how it will be. No doubt.... Open Class 1. Buccaneers 2. Minnesota Brass 3. Alliance 4. Caballeros 5. Hurricanes 6. Tampa Bay Thunder 7. Statesmen 8. CorpsVets 9. Bushwackers 10. Kilties --------------------------- 11. Renegades Class A 1. Sunrisers 2. Fusion Core 3. Govenaires 4. Windsor Regiment --------------------------- 5. Carolina Gold 6. White Sabers 7. High Country Brass 8. Arkansas Thunder 9. Cincinnati Tradition 10. Shenandoah Sound 11. Excelsior

They do seem to have their fedoras pulled down low...

Glad to hear it. Swan Lake and Mambo are two of my favorites, although I never thought I would see them in the same show. Hope they're as good as I have heard. The African show by Fusion sounds like they are trying to go a little further with their recent success. Bigger risks can equal bigger returns, if you pull it off. Best of luck!

And since 9/4/2004, can you show a steady decline in attendance in shows that the Buccs have been in? I've been to the Lewisburg show every year, and I don't see the audience shrinking. I've seen the Scranton show a few times since then too and I think the crowd has actually grown noticably. BTW, in your post below you forgot to mention, "Nothing against the Bucs, I was actually on the planning team that started their success. I'm just sayin'". Be sure to include that and a little smiley face thing so we all know you aren't just whining about the champ.

Looks like a lot of great people returning, along with some interesting new blood. I like the fact that there is even a Combat Medic on staff. Ya never know?!?

Sounds kinda Tea Party-like. Less government (judges) must be good. I don'tlike it. I also bet that you just forgot about Visual Ensemble or left them out because 100 doesn't divide by 6 nice and neat. Smaller panels just give more weight to each individual judge. I like the current system of checks and balances.

Doncha mean Scrapple an Dippy Ekks an stuff like at?

Right on the money Dude!

Uhhh, sorry to you too, but I've been around long enough that I HAVE seen Emprie WAY out of the top 3. I also was in a corps that 15+ pointed them at finals, so my picks are based on a LOT of history, not wishful thinking. I happen to think that the 4 corps I put over them are gonna pull out some incredible performances, the one true wildcard being Kidsgrove. The Top 7 are gonna be the best in a long time, so a few corps that legitimately have a shot at the top 3 are gonna place a lot lower than they think they will. So again, I say, this time with scores.... Open Class 1. Buccaneers 99.1 2. Minnesota Brass 98.6 3. Hurricanes 97.2 4. Kidsgrove Scouts 95.9 5. Empire Statesmen 95.8 6. Caballeros 95.0 7. Alliance 92.1 8. Bushwackers 88.5 9. Renegades 88.0 10. Corpsvets 87.6

Yeah, there were NEVER any arguments about the judges back in the day!

Open Class 1. Buccaneers 2. Minnesota Brass 3. Hurricanes 4. Kidsgrove Scouts 5. Empire Statesmen 6. Caballeros 7. Alliance 8. Bushwackers 9. Renegades 10. Corpsvets Class A 1. Govenaires 2. Fusion Core 3. Carolina Gold 4. Grenadiers

So basically, you are saying Empire's best shot is to add more sizzle and Bucs best shot is to keep perfecting their steak? Personally, I think, based on an earlier season matchup betweeen ES and MBI, it willl come down to Buccs and MBI again with Empire fighting it out with the Hurcs. We shall see in a few days!

Oops, I forgot to add this....

I stopped by the Buccs rehearsal on Saturday, and the only thing I noticed was that the brass staff wouldn't let the hornline wear hats. It seems to have worked.