Frank Mulvaney

I agree with every word of this review.Bluecoats knocked my socks off. They will get standing ovations every night. With all the new corps, shows like these( and last year's) and three internationals coming to finals, this beloved activity is clearly on the upward track that we have been waiting for , Theatre attendance was a little disappointing in Aliso Viejo CA, but adult ticket price was $24 which is less than reserved seat at the big 12 corps (BD,SCV, BK,Regmnt,PC,Acad.,Mand.)show on the 28th in Riverside. Show will sellout (2,000 reserv.)like last year.

Eight of the top 12 from 1970 are still with us. As in any competitive activity,excellence drives out mediocrity. Only half of the Fortune 500 from 1950 are still around.Today's top corps are twice as big as top corps in the 1960's

I have been an observer of this beautiful activity for 45 years and I have to say that this year's Top 15 are easily the finest ever.Several corps have their best shows is years. Madison's show is the most emotional show I've ever witnessed. It is brilliantly designed and the brass arrangements are fabulous. Cavies and BD are amazing but IMHO from an artistic standpoint they are not up to the incredible standards they have set.Vanguard's percussion is unbelievable but brass arrangements don't make it - very disappointing. If Crown had not gone a little too far over the top they might have gone all the way. Phantom have a truly beautiful and majestic show that only a few years ago would be No.1. Cadets have the complete package - a classic..Also love Academy, Boston and BK shows a lot. Really don't think electronics and prerecorded singing add much.Great to see Crossmen with their best show in several years. The future is bright especially considering the state of the economy.

I have been an observer of this beautiful activity for 45 years and I have to say that this year's Top 15 are easily the finest ever.Several corps have their best shows is years. Madison's show is the most emotional show I've ever witnessed. It is brilliantly designed and the brass arrangements are fabulous. Cavies and BD are amazing but IMHO from an artistic standpoint they are not up to the incredible standards they have set.Vanguard's percussion is unbelievable but brass arrangements don't make it - very disappointing. If Crown had not gone a little too far over the top they might have gone all the way. Phantom have a truly beautiful and majestic show that only a few years ago would be No.1. Cadets have the complete package - a classic..Also love Academy, Boston and BK shows a lot. Really don't think electronics and prerecorded singing add much.Great to see Crossmen with their best show in several years. The future is bright especiall considering the state of the economy.

Michael,your comment really struck a chord.I have been an observer of this amazing evolving art form since before you marched.Enjoyed reading your columns over the years.Have been a Cadet vol for a dozen years. Even after a couple hundred shows my heart rate still jumps when I get near a stadium and can hear warmups.Not a typical fan. Heavily involved in Jazz world including as columnist covering college jazz.Got three live doses already this year including Cabellero show last Sat.This will be a year to remember. May the flame always burn brightly .

I have followed this activity for over 40 years and have grown with it.Been to 15 finals and drove a truck for Cadets for two weeks.IMHO emotion is generated by effective story telling and music. I think the increasing emphasis on visual(to please judges) which started sometime in the 90s (Cavaliers to blame?) has deflated corps show emotion. I miss the goosebumps. Most of you are not able to recollect the wall of sound from Spirit back in the day.Check out Scouts 1989 on Youtube. I thought 2008 signaled a reversal of the trend.2009 was disappointing. Don't think amps,vocals or electronics can make up for emotion and passion which can really sell this activity to sustain and grow into the future. For me, Allentown this year is likely to be a harbinger of the future.I hope for the best Frank

I was there in Bayonne 1976, when The Bridgemen unveiled their new look and revolutionary show ,which changed the activity foreever.I was at Franklin Field for DCI 1975 and !176 for the fabulous Scout show and BD's first Championship.I was at the Dream in late 70's when Bridgeman went on in the rain on a muddy field in their underwear.I was at the World US Open in Lynn Mass. in late 70's when North Star gave one of the most emotional shows I had ever seen to go from 7th in Prelim to 2nd in Final.I was at DCI 2000, when Cadets and Cavaliers tied. I have been at 10 of last 11 DCI finals.Love this activity and the Cadets almost as much as I love jazz.Also current USSBA show coordinator and retired Fortune 500 corporate officer,making me rather unique. Frank

Oh, for the good ole days when you could bring in coolers of your fav beverage.The moron brigade,of course, abused the priviledge and ruined it for the rest of us.I know that alcohol was served in Denver,because they card every one ,even 60 year old coots like me.BTW Mile High gets my vote for the best major sport stadium grub in the country .I've been two dozen of them. Frank

It was the best local corps show that I've seen in a while.High entertainment value.Percussion for the top five was all very good.Fusion shows much promise.If they had the Raiders drum line, they could do some damage.The Cabs Alumni was fabulous;the best hornline of the night.Those old guys still have amazing chops.

Amazing! Your ranking is very close to mine.I would put Crossmen in 8-10.It was the best year ever ,top to bottom.DCI should sell a record number of videos.The fatal flaw of the Cadet show is that there did not seem to be any connection betweeen the theme ,narration and the music and visual.Thought there might have been a little too much reputation bias with the judges this year. Frank

It was the best ever.Our second finals there.Love the city and the area.Had some great meals at places recomended by DCPers.Did Madison alumni show ,quarters and finals and D2& 3 finals. Thought that several of the 13-23 had more entertainment value than many of the big boys.The D2s&3s were great.Too bad only a fraction of the out of towners saw them.I had scoofed at the suggestion that Academy was top 12 caliber .They made me a believer.Exceptionally entertaining show with some of the best brass GE that I've heard in a while.East Coast Jazz had some great charts and a couple of soloists that were as good as anybody in the D1s.Jersey Surf has to be the best 30th ranked corps of all time.Both my children live in So Cal but I'm not looking forward to the Rose Bowl.Camp Randall has the best sound of any big stadium that I've been in. A big thanks to all the corps for a fabulous week of marching music art. Frank

I've observed this activity for 40 years and have been to 11 DCI finals as well as three World Opens and a VFW Final.There have been several great top 12's,but I vote for 2005 because IMHO it had the best 30th ranked corps of all time. Frank

It was only a few years ago that the trend line pointed to the demise of this beautiful activity.With the benefit of hindsight it appears that the bottom occurred in 2000/2001.There were only 16/17 D1s in DCI in 2000 and DCA had only 15 corps at championships in 2001.Today there are 24/25 D1s in DCI and several D2s are stronger than many D1s of the previous decade.Total number of DCI corps have merely stabilized but that is probably reflective of competitive intensity and escalating start-up financing .The fact that the Hoover Dome was seeking to book the DCI Chanpionship for a 10 year period is also a big positive development.DCA is expecting 27/28 corps at the their 2006 championship and alumni corps have exploded with some large corps about to make initial appearances. Will this favorable trend continue? What will the picture look like in 2010/2011? Frank

I read on this forum a while ago about a corps that was going to be sponsored by one of the band associations in the mid-west.Has there been any further development? On a related subject,I had hoped that we would be seeing more corps on the Jackson State model.Any indication of that happening as well? Frank