Bill R

Mass Brass will be in Quincy Mass on the 4th. BUT, we don't march ........................ We ride flatbeds!!!

I hope the good people at Kelly's raise a glass to the corps that won't be at Wildwood this year................................... THE LIGHT BRIGADE (RIP)

I told her she was being mean. But I can't reveal it because I don't want to feel ...................... "THE WRATH OF NANCI"

BTW nanci where did ya get this pic from? I gave Nanci the pic. I grew up in New Bedford, as a matter of fact from 72- 78 I lived just 2 blocks from where it was taken. The street is County St. the corps is traveling south, the grassy area is Washington Square which is still there except there some large trees around the perimeter. The pic was a Christmas present from my brother Donald who is an antiques dealer. He bought the picture from a gentleman that dated it aprox. 48-51. What you can't see, there's a stone monument in the middle of the square, & seeing I work just a few miles from there, earlier this week I went & checked it out. I thought the parade could be a dedication for the monument but, it was dedicated in 1970. You'll be interested to know the buildings on the side St (Grinnell St.) are still there. The pharmacy is now a convince store, but the mill buildings are gone. One last thing, when I started marching in parades in NB, during the 60's I never recall marching down County St. Mostly it was downtown on Union St. or up the north end for the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament. And I know some of you would be interested to know the Feast was the largest consumption of beer of any Portuguese feast in the world!

This is neither. This is a new entity entirely. Yes, there are people from Light Brigade involved but, this corps will have new music & a new look. This did come about from the unfortunate demise of the Brigade with many former members that still want to try to make a go at it. But, it's also hoping to attract anyone out there that wants do be involved but might not be inclined to join one of the other local corps. Also in the interest of full disclosure, I an not going to be involved with BSS. I'm posting this because Bill Connelly (the current Fearless Leader) is not YET a member of DCP. So Bill, after you read this ............. HURRY UP & LOG ON!!!! You can contact Bill................................ bigboomer@rcn.com First rehearsal will be this Wed. at the Legion Post in Malden on Pleasant St. Experience preferred but not necessary .....................Love of music, necessary.

bump

On Wed. Jan 14th The Bay State Sound will hold it's inaugural rehearsal at the Malden, Ma. American Legion Post from 7:30-10:00. (Located on Pleasant St. Malden Ma.) Bay State Sound is a parade & exhibition corps that will play a wide variety of musical styles. Ages 17 & up are welcome! Openings in all sections!! Brass (In "G") - Percussion - Color Guard Experience preferred but not required - A love of music, DEFINITELY REQUIRED!! If you have any questions contact Bill Connelly bigboomer@rcn.com If You Want To Play In A Fun Drum Corps ... COME ON DOWN!!!!

I was there when The Light Brigade played our Farewell Performance in Plymouth, MA. Saturday Nov. 22, 2008 "RIP"

Walt ...................................... I received your email, thanks for the kind words & generous offer, I'll pass it on to the members. As far as the email address you asked about, believe it or not I don't have it but I can send you to a person that should have it. The night of the show was fun........... sad............... thrilling ............... exhausting (both physically & mentally) ........................ all rolled into one. The corps did a great job, the crowd just loved it, the response was amazing! Our members have had many offers from all the local corps & a good number of the "southern" corps. Some I know are going to hang it up, some take some time off, others have plans for where their going to end up. But, as I told them at our last rehearsal wherever they decided to go they could walk into the door of any alumni corps & immediately make that corps better. Good Luck To Reilly & All Alumni Corps Bill

"And the award for top drums goes to..... the Baltimore Yankee-Rebels" What you didn't mention & it still remains one of the most memorable things I've ever seen at a show. During the 1st rain delay, the one that interrupted Cru , the Rebels were under the stands trying to stay dry. An impromptu drum solo started that drove the crowd, (also under the stands) to a frenzy. That propelled them to well deserved high drums........ I was there!!!

To all fans of the Light Brigade if your planning on going to Plymouth to watch the Reunion Concert on November 22, you'll hear this announced as the Light Brigade takes the floor. ___________________________________________________________ Formed Originally in March of 1996 as the 27 Alumni, this Corps soon changed its name to The Light Brigade. Since then, the Corps has been a staple among alumni corps for the last 12 years performing in New England, all along the Mid Atlantic Seaboard, and in Canada, and has performed at every one of these Reunion Concerts. Since Day 1 the Light Brigade has prided itself in their unique musicality. Their "Sound". They have maintained an image of the past and kept the quality of musicianship as close to the high standards of the original as possible. This, along with their One of a Kind Color Guard has kept them at the top of the alumni drum corps world. Sadly, because of dwindling membership and the corresponding problems with maintaining their high standards, this fine Drum Corps has decided to become a memory and is playing their final performance for you in Plymouth tonight. This year's program has been titled "All Good Things"......... and includes "The Great Race March", (the very first piece played by the 27th Lancers in their first competition in June of 1968), "Shenandoah", "My Heart Will Go On" from the sound track of the movie Titanic, Chicago's "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is" and "Beginnings", a medley of "Rule Britannia-Loch Lomond-and Gary Owen March"; and for the last time Jim Wedge's, famous arrangement of "Danny Boy" which has been a classic among drum corps fans since it was introduced in 1971. The tune is timeless in Irish folklore, passed down by word of mouth from generation to generation for hundreds, and maybe even thousands of years. The notes were first put on paper and published in 1855 under the name "Londonderry Aire"; and in 1913 an Englishman named Frederick Weatherly found the tune and discovered that it fit perfectly into a set of lyrics that he had written several years before. So since 1913 it has been, and forevermore shall be DANNY BOY. The Light Brigade would like to dedicate this performance to our past and present members. For all of you who took the time to come, to watch, and to listen. In memory of those who can no longer come to watch, and to listen; especially Peg Sutherland, Bill Fancy, Charlie Foley, Billy Malone, John F. Gore Jr., Tony Moschella, and Ellie Dube all former members who have passed on; as well as Patsy Bonfiglio, the matriarch of the 27th Lancers, a Great Lady who the entire world of drum corps lost this past May "And if you come, when all the flowers are dying And I am dead, as dead I well may be You'll come and find the place where I am lying And kneel and say an "Ave" there for me." THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES The Light Brigade

I live in Rhode Island but work in Dartmouth Ma. The price Monday was $3.46. But $3.57 in Rochester, isn't bad at all considering what it was in July.

Ba - Dum - Bum -Tcchh! :smile:

Minesh Shah was in attendance all the way from New Jersey. Minesh Shah! WOW! I haven't seen Minesh in 8 years! If he's going to Rochester tell him that Bill Roderick from Generations would love to talk to him.

Actually George was fine, except for a sore back for a few days. He worked too hard in the winter just to prove to the staff he could play them to let a little thing like being crippled for life stop him!! :tongue: You right about the bars, there was a cage that he lowered onto his shoulders with a frame that supported the drums. The biggest problem like a mentioned before was tuning. They sounded great in the beginning of the season then as the summer went on they just got worse & worse & nobody knew how to tune them so we never used them after 75.

Ok, I need to correct some things as I understand them being a Matador from 75-87. For full disclosure, I rehearsed with the 86 Matadors till May when a knee injury forced me to the sidelines for that season, but I still considered myself a member. The guard in 86 was not the defending champions. They didn't win the title at the 85 championship, I believe they were close to the top but not #1 in 85. What they were was undefeated for the 86 season coming into prelims. From What I understand, the decision to allow the Matadors into finals was a result of a vote by the DCA corps directors (I assume that would be the top 10 finishers from 85). The Matadors finished 10th in finals & won the color guard title. In the winter of 86-87 the decision of the directors was rescinded & the Matador DCA membership for 87 was reversed but the guard was able to retain the title. As it turned out the 87 Matadors were much better than the 86 Matadors & finished in 9th at prelims. The guard went undefeated for the 87 season as well. 2 years undefeated an incredible feat!! Unfortunately that was a monsoon year, & finals was canceled. Prelim results stood as Championship results with Sunrisers winning the color guard title, making the first time in 2 years the Matadors guard was defeated. Tom Peashey was the guard judge in 87 as well. Sunrisers went on to win the DCA Championship in 87 as well as the guard title. Again in the spirit of full disclosure, the vote by corps directors was what I was told that allowed the corps to compete. Tom said it was a decision by the boss, that would be Mickey Petrone. It's no secrete that Mickey & Red Corso were very close. About 8 years ago I had a lengthy conversation with the director of the corps that would have won that guard title if the Matadors weren't allowed to compete, he was still very upset. Bottom line, if you agree with the decision or not, the 86-87 Matador guard but on a run that probably never will be matched! Some people have said that the Matadors were the best corps to never win DCA. I don't really know what to think about that. When people mention that to me I say I'd bet the Rochester Crusaders, or the Yankee Rebels might have something to say about that. But that's ok, it puts me & the rest of my Matador brothers & sisters in some pretty good company.

In 1977 I was heading into my 3rd year with the Rhode Island Matadors. The previous winter, we had a uniform change that had us going from a uniform that made us look too much like the Cab's (yes, I'll admit it) , to an all black uni with gold trim. It was hideous. In April of 77 during a Sun. afternoon rehearsal at The Bullpen, Red Corso has his son Mike (RIP) model our new uniform for the 77 season. Mike comes out wearing this bright red Mexican leisure suit with flowers embroidered on the shirt & down the leg (remember this is the 70's). The silence overtook the room ..................... Fast forward to Memorial Day weekend & our first show in Mt. Carmel ............................ we did the rehearsal, & were issued the uniforms for the first time before hitting the showers. For some reason (I can't remember), I was late getting out of the locker room & to the warm up area. I'll never forget what I saw after I went to the back of the school & around some construction equipment that was there. I had to stop & stare with my mouth open .................. about 55 horns & 30 drummers in these bright red uni's with these huge black sombreros! I said to myself "This is going to be ****ing cool!"

That was my first show with the Matadors & I remember George going down! The good thing about it was all they had to was to arrange or rearrange, I'm not sure which, some counter weights on the frame & he was fine for the rest of the season. So we figured out how to carry them .................. how to tune them was a different story!!!!!

The Light Brigade will be there marching for the Livingston Elks! Stop by & say hello! Woo-Hoo!!!

RIP

Due to the high fuel prices, & after much thought with consultation with the Board Of Directors, the Light Brigade will be revising our rehearsal schedule for the months of June, July & August. This decision was not made lightly But, with the price of gas likely to go $5 plus I saw no choice. Rehearsal dates are ........ Wed. June 4 .... Wed. June 18 Wed. July 16 ... Wed. July 30 Wed. Aug. 13 ... Wed. Aug. 20 Like any corps the Brigade will have visitors stopping by to say hello, or even sit in a rehearsal. I would hate to have someone travel to a rehearsal thinking we are there on a Wed. night only to find an empty American Legion Post. We will resume a normal every week schedule starting Sept. 3 - Nov. 19. The Light Brigade rehearses at the Malden American Legion Post on Pleasant St. (Rt 60) In Malden, Mass. Rehearsal time is 7:30 - 10:00. The Brigade's membership is never closed, & we're always looking for people in all sections. Stop in & say hello some time! Bill Roderick, Manager Light Brigade

Wildwood!! Whoo Hoo!!

Light Brigade will be in Cambridge on the 26th.

Some really good information here - thanks to all! I did look at the United Alumni pictures & emailed for info. Thanks

Like many alumni corps the Light Brigade is finding it harder & harder to get drummers that can carry a full size drum down the street in parades. Everyone knows parades are $$$$ & we're able to finance our entire year with parades from Memorial Day thru the 4th of July. I was looking at St. Joe's cone drums Sat. night at the Classic & was told they love them. Anyone else have experience with them? Pro's & con's of getting them? I know they don't project as well as full size & we would keep the full size for concerts, but if this could get more drummers on the street why not? Any thoughts? Thanks