StuStu

I just looked at Ticketmaster. Looks like there are about 50 seats available online between the end zones, but prices are up to day-of-show levels. I'd estimate between 1500 and 2000 more are available in the corners that extend beyond the end zones, but aren't 90 degrees to the field.

This means my now 11-year-old son, if he decides to march drum corps, can age out at home.

Somewhere I have a picture of him in the batting helmet he used to wear during rehearsal. I'll see if I can dig it up.

I can't think of any better way to convey the meaning of the music than to play the music. But that's just me.

I've not heard anything about ticket sales being that low. In any event whoever told you the MotoGP has only rune every other year is wrong. It has to run every season a once 2008, although this may indeed be the last year. There's no contract in place for 2016 at the moment.There will be a lot of bikes out in Indy this weekend. Traffic may be a bit tight because of it.

The MotoGP motorcycle race also is in town this weekend. That will draw at least 50k.

Anyone still looking for tickets should hop on to Ticketmaster ASAP. I've been monitoring the ticket situation closely for the past couple of weeks and until this morning the selection from Ticketmaster was terrible. However, as often is the case, some decent tickets have been made available for Saturday night. Not the primo Friends of DCI stuff, of course, but better than the beyond-the-end-zone that was previously on offer. For Friday you can buy tickets anywhere in the upper deck save for Sec. 640 (dead-center on the 50). So if you don't have seats yet, check these out -- and keep checking. One day before finals last year, I was able to buy four together in row 2 of the upper deck one section off center.

One thing I dislike about modern drum corps is the notion that every show has to be "about" something, with some kind of narrative or meaning attached to every element on the field. There have been successful shows that do this, of course, but there also have been some horribly pretentious and cringe-worthy attempts as well. I prefer when drum corps is non-narrative and abstract. Let the music and visual make an emotional connection with the audience. Cadets' 2015 show is a great example.

If the forecast holds, the weekend shold be relatively temperate for August in Indiana. Does anyone know whether DCI has the option to open the roof at LOS? During football season it's up to the Colts but I don't know of DCI can make the same decision.

Did you actually march Cadets in '91? As an alum, I'm not concerned whether they get the gold medal. I'll be happy for them if they do, but won't feel slighted of they don't. Instead, I want those members to leave the Cadets having learned the lessons about hard work, self reliance, discipline and self respect that lie at the center of the corps' values. Those lessons have helped me immeasurably in life. These aren't just platitudes, mind you. I'm talking about academic and professional challenges, interpersonal relationships and life's nasty curveballs. I've sat and wondered whether my career would survive some unexpected twists. I've rushed my wife to the hospital at 2:00 a.m. thinking she had food poisoning, only to learn she had a potentially life-threatening condition that required immediate surgery. I've sat in one hospital as my new-born son fought a blood infection that gave him a 50/50 shot at making it, and in another hospital waiting for an ambulance to arrive with my four-year-old daughter, not knowing if she survived riding in a car that was struck by a dump truck at 50 MPH. It would be easy to fall apart at any of those times. Instead, I've remembered the lessons I've learned. When things aren't going well, bring it down to field level and execute. Do what you know is right, and do it well. Sing the corps hymn quietly to yourself, then go do your job. So if the 2015 Cadets go home with the life experience that positions them better to handle life's real challenges, I'll be a happy man. If they finish the drum corps game in first place, that's just a nice bonus. Every one in my family is just fine. Went through some tough times, though.

The Angels and Demons uniforms were sold off as a fundraiser after the 2011 season.

The fact that the OP thinks a certain "goatee-wearing" director might make this a "life-or-death" event tells me s/he doesn't understand how that corps works. Which is OK, most people don't. No matter what happens Saturday night, those young adults will be fine come Sunday morning.

I had the same reaction, particularly to the ballad and the waltz. The movement detail disappears into the murk. I just hope the lighting in the oil can alleviates some of this. Perhaps the judges will not be swayed one way or another, but watching the feed from Allentown I found the black uniforms muted a lot of the spark in that show last night.

Will take all three if still available.

I agree. The corps just disappears into the shadows with little definition. Granted, the lighting at LOS will not have the black hole in the middle of the field like Allentown. Still, the show just doesn't "pop" like it did with the conventional uniforms.

At the Muncie stand still, Bluecoats were the loudest thing I've heard since I saw The Who. And not in a lets-blow-our-brains-out-because-we-can way. It was a quality, distinctive sound.

At one point, between the double horn arcs and spelling out "TEN", they hit 10 drill sets in 24 seconds. POW!

Cadets have new duds Drum Corps Planet goes crazy Judges say "so what"?

Feel so bad for those kids. Not everyone likes Cavies show this year but after the first show in Indy I thought they had potential to surprise people if they could clean it up. Unfortunately they have a huge barrier through no fault of their own. Hoping all those kids are full strength soon and make a strong finish in Indy.

Poetic meterMentioned and then abandoned StuStu screwed the pooch

George Hopkins went on the attackTo earn Cadets' rightful spot back He looked at the scores, Learned the judges are ###### And said "We'll show them by wearing all black"

Three lines, 5-7-5 syllables, often about nature but never rhyming. Hey, this sounds like a good show concept. Explore traditional and contemporary Japanese music. Call it "575".

Since we still have a few hours to kill before the big reveal of the Cadets uniforms, I'm going to pass the time with some Japanese poetry. How about you? A loud horn section Marching crisply in a line The Madison Scouts

Double post. Doh!

If you have any interest in western and/or native American culture, it's a must-see when in Indy. I'd say it leans more towards art than history, but it is worth a visit no matter what your tastes are.