chris87

In 07 when we wore the new uniforms for the first time, we kept making jokes about how we thought we were in the Bluecoats and not the Blue Devils. Seeing the rest of the corps in dark blue and black just felt like I was watching a BD show.

I think Tim Fairbanks was the only person interviewed who actually said something substantive about the show. Sounds cool though. I hope the visual design program is better than previous years.

I think if you listen to the judge's tape from Finals night, you can tell why Phantom didn't score higher on the field in 2007. That said, that drumline was sick nasty and they played some cool @ss notes. Thanks for the Bluecoats 07/08 mention too. Mac and company are the deal. -Chris

Silly rabbit, drum corps isn't marching band. Drum corps is SUMMER marching band!!

Crown, Boston, and Blue Stars all had great drumlines this past summer, especially relative to where the corps has been placing the past few years. Not sure I'd say their percussion sections need improvement necessarily. I love The Cadets, but I agree the past few years they haven't been the most consistent drumline on the move. That includes the year that I marched there, so no hating, just what I think is true. As a preemptive note, I hope The Bluecoats drumline retains the quality they've developed over the past few years. With almost an entire new staff and not that many vets, it'll be difficult. That said, that staff is friggin stacked, so I'm sure they'll be incredible. I can't wait to see 'em. Peace! -chris

As a proud alumnus of the Fabulous Jersey Surf, my biggest worry about them going to World Class is that they don't rehearse enough to hang with the top 12. Between not having a month of spring training and not being on tour all summer, I don't think they'll develop the same overall quality as those groups who live and practice together since mid-May. That said, I love the corps, and nothing would please me more than seeing them do well this summer. Best of luck Surf! -Chris

Bass drummers are just guys who got cut from the snare line when they were in high school. Really just a bunch of dudes with no chops who need to split up the snare part because they can't play all the notes by themselves. Love, A snare drummer </sarcasm>

Hearing all this talk about the G bugle hornlines makes me wish I was around to hear 'em live. The shout chorus of Bluecoats 08 was sick at move-ins. The drumline would stand in front of the hornline at that section during runs of the ballad and just hype it up. Love it.

Hell no, I totally hear ya. Does that stuff happen? Yes, but that wasn't at all what I was talking about. A drum corps bus with age-outs is hardly a college marching band bus with 18-year-olds. Rock on man, much respect. I didn't mean to promote underage drinking, just wanted to provide another perspective from a group of guys who were mostly of age. Alcohol is not necessary for camaraderie, agreed. But it usually doesn't hurt when enjoyed responsibly either. As for OMH's post, I PM'ed him so hopefully we can settle that one privately. Thanks! -Chris

Amen. Wake up, practice hard, get in the zone, warm up, perform, drink a few beers on the bus. That was the usual routine for my friends and I, and we were extremely tight and performed very well. At times, it is overdone, and Finals retreat 2008 is an example of that. The Bluecoats drumline was full of age-outs with tons of years of experience who had been frustrated all summer by drum corps issues that were out of our control. Retreat was our last hoorah, the last time when we were all together at the same place at the same time. Some of our acts were regrettable however, and ever since that night those responsible have been dealing with the repercussions. Hope that clears some stuff up too. Thanks!

Was Mike Jackson ever involved with the Blue Devils?

Sick. Best of luck bloo!

nah there's only 4 quads. we had 10 snares and 5 quads at camps, but we moved in with 9 and 4 and have been rockin' ever since. we've had about 5 weeks of move-ins now so it'll definitely be nice to get out and perform in front of some people soon! take care, chris

- Bluecoats 2007* - Cadets 2006* - SCV 2005 - Madison 2005 - Crown 2007 - Phantom 2006 *Just because I want to see myself on the big screen, honestly.

I very much so appreciate the sense and passion behind your ideas. Personally though, I'm not sure I would like to see drum corps become nearly half as big as the NFL. Maybe it is the appeal of our "little" underground network, I don't know. Usually, when I meet someone who knows about drum corps, I can immediately connect to them on a variety of levels. However, when I meet someone who knows about the NFL, it doesn't really mean anything. Maybe that gets at what I mean. I'm all for creative and popular expansion, but not necessarily at the sacrifice of integrity and passion. Thanks! -chris