Stewdog

That's not exactly true. DCA is going thru the same evolution DCI is, only a few years behind. I've been involved in DCA for a couple of years and it is definitely not the senior corps I remembered when I was in junior corps. I haven't had 1 beer during rehearsal yet. Maybe alumni corps is the only place left for us truly old-schoolers. That and maybe mini-corps.

Interesting thread, but too long to read at work so forgive me if my comments are redundant. My buds and I (all old turds from the turn of the 80s) have been having similar discussions. I didn't see any drum corps from about the mid 80s to the early 00s so I was in for quite a shock when I came back. IMO, the only difference between drum corps and marching band has always been powerful brass. That's what got me involved in 79 after hearing Spirit and Madison live in 77. Could be my hearing going but that aspect of DC is just not there any more. Maybe it's the move away from G bugles, maybe it's the super demanding drill, maybe it's due to a deliberate move away from being loud because we can. I don't know, but I do know that for me, shows today aren't as musically entertaining as they were when we dinosaurs roamed the earth. Definitely more technically demanding, the kids today could play circles around us 2 valve hacks. But nowhere near as goose-bump-raising, hair-on-the-neck-bristling entertaining. I always liked watching precision rifle work and for the most part, that's gone as well. I don't like ballet and to me that's a lot of what todays guard has become. I can appreciate the athletic ability required but it just doesn't interest me. Most of today's shows bore me to tears. Granted, there are some moments in some shows that are neater than grits, but nobody recently has had a show that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time like they used to. And I saw most of the top 12 at some point this year so it's not an isolated sample. I too am thinking of passing on DC in the future. I'll just go watch my son's HS band contests (mandatory as a parent) and be bored there. That said, I LOVED the Cavies in 2006. Go figure. Maybe I'm just full of bull butter.

Apparently. Jeez, you would almost think it's as important as drum corps.

Now that's bitter. It's been almost 8 years man, let it go. :P

I'm surprised camel lips hasn't jumped on this one so I will. The only time I've been nervous this year is during this warm-up! I really didn't want to sound like sheeit in front of you guys! Thanks for helping me get up for the show.

My high school band director. He was always telling me to quit playing so loud, which for a high school trumpet player is blasphemy. He took a group of us to a DCI show where Spirit was doing a clinic ('78). I stood on the sideline about 5 feet from one of the lead sops and just about wet myself. On the van ride back after the show, I peppered him with questions about the activity and made a comment something along the lines of "I have to do this". His reply was, "why do you think I brought you to see it"? Next year, I was in. Of course, I came back playing even louder. Poor guy, what was he thinking?

Man, you are my hero! The worst is when members of the pit sit on their arses and watch somebody else load their sheeiit. You play it, you carry it. Spread the word.

I don't have to go back very far for this one - MSARP. Probably the biggest regret of my drum corps life.