CallipygianKing

Here's what I know of MN all-age corps: St. Peter, MN (10am): Govenaires Delano, MN (10:30am): Chops, Inc. (Chopstix Percussion & Top Chops Brassline, marching separately) Cannon Falls, MN (10:30am): Minnesota Brass Apple Valley, MN (1pm): Chops, Inc. (Chopstix Percussion & Top Chops Brassline, marching separately) and Minnesota Brass Chanhassen, MN (2:30pm): Chops, Inc. (Chopstix Percussion & Top Chops Brassline, marching separately) and Govenaires Also, River City Rhythm lists a number of parades on their calendar. I know that they do have a separate drumline unit that does summer parades to raise funds for their winter program. I'm not sure which unit (corps or drumline) is at which parade: Edina, MN (10am) Lake Bluff, IL (10am) Deerfield, IL (Noon) Richfield, MN (1pm) Somers, WI (2pm) Chanhassen, MN (2:30pm) Hales Corners, WI (4pm) Starbuck, MN (6pm)

Best of luck to you guys! DCA could use a few more corps, and I'm really hoping you guys can make it through the approval process this year.

I'm flattered, Pat, but I've only got the one from 2005. My experiences with MBI and the Govies were great, but I missed out on the hardware.

Touche. Make that both Rochesters, since MN has had a show there in recent years as well.

Unless said corps has 34 members.

I predict 3 corps from MN heading to Rochester.

I can't say that I'm an authority on the matter, but I thought that the word was Heartliner declined. Their members were more interested in being in the stands to see the top corps. Again, I can't confirm this info, it's just what I heard.

Racine is a fantastic stadium for drum corps. Horlick has nice, tall stands that the Kilties pack with fans. This video was St. Peter, MN, which is also worth a trip. Come on out to the MN weekend sometime for a 2-show weekend and cap it off at Patrick's (the world's best drum corps bar).

Funny, since there was both a proposal and a wedding on the field during retreat.

It's better than an empty field as we wait for scores to be tabulated.

With most of the show going on behind the mid-field pit, it felt like he Bucs were really far away. Even on the webcast.

They may be trying to make a case for micing voice. Lord help us all the day they allow John Mayer to have a microphone... ;-)

Apparently they're playing the same commercials on the big screen in the stadium as well as on the live stream. And they're not muting the stadium mics, so there's an echo.

Ha! The city is overrun with corps and they play a recording of the national anthem?

Live stream is up and going. Looks like Standard Def. Only one hiccup so far.

That's been true since 2007. At least in Class A, prior to that caption awards were given based on prelim scores. And then Chops had to go and win High Percussion in 2006 and still miss finals, so the rule got chamged.

Thanks for watching! Hopefully we can bring the corps to a show near you soon.

What do you call a bunch of drum corps people sitting around Spandy's house watching Finals? Chops, Inc. :-P Count me in on the crowd staying home. Reluctantly. We will have our chance in the future.

Bold statement. You sound pretty sure of yourself.

Communication is a mystery to the one guy in DCA who is best at talking directly with the crowd? Color me amused. ;-)

Bill, all of us in Chops had a great experience in Racine. Thanks! It's unfortunate that the review forum is so sparse this year. We've been starved for feedback, so I was hoping someone would have written one.

If you were looking for him to do something today, he went straight to Chops rehearsal after work.

I didn't experience the Kiltie Klassic from the stands. Any ticket holders out there planning to do a writeup?

Here's hoping for your speedy return to competition! DCA can't afford to lose more corps. Every viable corps on the field is their most important asset.

I would love to hear news on Alliance, too! I'm excited to have them back!