Madrid

Can the Cadets manage to stay on top of the Cavaliers? First meeting of two solid Open Class groups with Oregon and Music City finally going head-to-head! What a show!!! Is anyone out there that can give updates?

Absolutely. I have witnessed this very thing first hand. Very sad scenario for everybody, indeed. However, I do not think that this is the particular case for SCV. Well, I hope not anyway. WHy would you put limitations on a team that has a proven track record of success? In other news, just watched a video of these folks from the San Anton lot. Hot ####, they're good -- like, REALLY good!

edit: Complying to a request to remove link! All is well!

I think you may have interpreted my statement incorrectly. That's okay. I'm not just talking about sound quality as it relates to tuning/technique/approach, I'm talking about overall Quality of the percussion ensemble. From what I've been hearing, SCV has one of the stronger cohesive packages and clearest dialogues between the 4 battery voices and front ensemble. Other groups that are playing more hybrid/lick oriented books lose a little clarity when it comes to unison ensemble moments where SCV stays clear -- IMO.

Hey MadBass4 - I'm loving your posts, man. Thanks for the articulation and thoughtful presentation of your views. Cheers! p.s. I'm with you on the whole SCV thing. The whole lack of demand argument is a bit silly. However, I can see why it exists and how people would throw that stone at SCV this season. I counter that stance with this: Lets not forget that Quality creates Demand. Last I heard, SCV is throwin' down some serious Quality.

GO CADETS!!!! GO OREGON CRUSADERS!!!! (Now on top of Open Class!!!!) WOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! (Ric Flair style)

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAY TO GO, OC!!!!! Hearing from the staff and kids tonight, the run was great for a first run out!! So happy!

JUBAL!!!

This is great! Thank you! I had no idea that Diaz had so much history. I remember his seeing his lines when he got to Magic and beyond. He was doing quite a bit in WGI scene for awhile, too. Not sure about John Donovan, though. I thought that that guy was a quad player. I think you may be thinking of Jeff Kozol. I know he marched there at CBC for many years. Not sure if he taught them as well or if he was just there before that plate line got cut. I'm familiar with both books you mentioned. I know Jeff Kozol also wrote a book and put out a video. The East Coast technique is so interesting. I wonder if it all came from Thom's thesis or if he just maxed out an already existing technique. When did he write that thesis, anyway? Anyway, thanks for the info., folks! If anybody has more too share, I would love it! Cheers!

If so, very cool!! Always great when a corps can actually make it to the opposite coast -- especially an Open Class group! Cheers, BDB! Best of luck, too!

YES!!! I've been hearing good things from the staff about our first show out in a few weeks. I know this is the World Class forum, but I'm proud of my Oregon team! GO OREGON CRUSADERS!!! (oh, and go Cadets, as well) Q: How's the heat out there tonight and is it affecting the shows? I heard that it was 108 when Oregon pulled into the lot!

Massive shout out to the Oregon Crusaders as they're currently taking the field!!!! GO OREGON CRUSADERS!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

is anybody doing updates from the show tonight?

Not going, but would definitely appreciate a review of ALL the corps going on tonight. So excited for the Oregon Crusaders to get back in the competitive mix. Oh, and the World Class action is intriguing, too. Have a blast at the show!

I love the Blue Devils because I love every facet of drum corps. Plain and simple.

Hey all, just wondering if the Open Class Championships are now going to be a night show as opposed to the afternoon format. Now that we're at our own stadium and such and would think that that would be the case. Also, will there now be a DVD or Finals performance recording of Open Class? I would think so seeing as there is plenty of time for the recording folks to do their thing in Michigan City and then have a day and a half to get set up in Indianapolis. Just a few random thoughts. by the by, GO OC!!!

Bones perc. got the hose last night. Plain and simple.

getting 5th in guard held the Cadets back from...well...ya know...

Since when do field perc. folks factor the front ensemble into the equation? ...just jokes, folks....

What bothers me more is the fact that nobody really posts in this forum at all. Perhaps we need to start slamming other Open Class corps, calling out judges and directors to get some action in this thread? I mean, really. I can open up this page and there are literally 2 people in here when there are always at least 100 in the WC forums. sad.

Aw man, Kurt -- this sucks. My heart goes out to you Cascades. As a fellow Northwesty, I know how difficult the road is us NW folks travel to get a group out on the road. It's an unfortunate situation with no easy answer. Being that you're in Texas, I wonder if any of the larger bands down there would loan out their trailer and any necessary equipment for the duration of the season? Please, keep us posted and hang in there.

Hey all you Open Class fans, just thought I'd give a report from the Oregon Crusaders Send Off Gala last night. The night was perfect for drum corps at Tualatin HS. Great weather and LOTS of people milling about watching the individual sections prepare for their last performance in Oregon. There was even an auction that helped raise funds for the corps as they head out for Championships. Very cool! I was very surprised when I looked a the crowd as I helped push the front ensemble on. The stands were PACKED -- top to bottom and side to side! Easily several hundred folks in attendance and definitely a much larger crowd than a majority of Open Class shows. So cool to see the support for the home team. The corps performed several Encore performance tunes before delivering their show. It was made clear that this corps is here to play. Quality percussion and a huge brass sound. This is the largest this corps has ever been and it shows. 10 tubas!!! Nice. As the corps moved out onto the field for their run they brought out a few new surprises! Awesome, awesome! Great additions, folks. The run was great! Obviously the corps is much stronger now, the endurance is there and the show has been changed/tweaked in all the right places to provide a seamless flow of great drum corps! Visual - Drill has come a long way since Hillsboro and one can now see the great staging provided by the design team. Timing of feet is pretty solid and clarity of technique is there. Obviously there are still a few things here and there but that will all be taken care of in the coming weeks. Speaking of the visual side -- COLORGUARD! Wow! This is also the largest guard the corps has had with 22 or 23 members. It's so nice to see OC with a full guard as that has been something that has lacked (numbers, not talent) in the past. Brass - Awesome! Horn sound is huge and balanced. They let you have it at the first impact, too! Great drum corps moment, for sure. Soloists were a bit off tonight but I know that it was a fluke and not a consistent issue. Did I mention the 10 tubas? It was also nice that all the impacts now finally match the intensity of the opening statement...even at the end! Nice work, brass. Percussion - Battery has cleaned up quite a bit and are hitting their stride. Another great bass line is coming to the field this year as well as a solid front ensemble. The book has been appropriately adjusted to ensure maximum effect and clarity. Quads are holding it down, too! Snares and plates still have a bit of work but are not far behind the rest of the ensemble. Overall, the percussion is quality and balances well within the ensemble. OC has always maintained a solid perc. ensemble from year to year and this year is no exception. Overall the corps is doing great. It's a mature bunch of kids and a great staff/admin/volunteer team. As I mentioned in another post, the corps is finally firing on all cylinders in terms of logistics and behind the scene operations. Looking at the tour schedule the corps has a rehearsal day everyday as they make the trek out to Arkansas for their next show on the 26th. Very cool and a great transition for the kids/staff to getting back in the tour mentality. I would definitely recommend catching this show to anybody. Especially come Open Class Finals and definitely on Quaterfinals! Competitively speaking, they have the vehicle and the talent to make some heads turn, for sure. Is it a winning show? That's for the green shirts to decide. Is it a contender, though? IMO -- Absolutely. They're taking the momentum from last years second place finish and running with it. Very exciting for not only Oregon, but for Open Class as well. GO OC! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! (That's for you Mike and Phil!)

I would get rid of 4-5 guard/brass members in each corps and replace them with cymbal players.

Hey there, In regards to OC, as someone that has been out to rehearsals, I can honestly tell you that the show is making huge strides everyday. Coming out with a full show was difficult but is now paying off as the corps and staff only need focus on cleaning and not "learning" during this second set of all days. That has never happened in the history of OC. Smart and effective changes are being made across the board and the members are quickly building up their endurance to really make this show hum. That "magic" moment when a corps changes in a season -- you all know what I'm talking about -- has happened and things are really beginning to move. Where do I see this corps when it's all said and done? I really think that retaining a top 3 placement is in the cards. As a program, everything is firing on all cylinders. I'm excited for Open Class this season. As is the case in World Class, there are lots of groups that have oceans of talent amongst members/staff and great shows that showcase the talent. Cheers!

Pretty sure you can see her with 3 other female snare drummers from back in the day performing a solo at DCA this season. Between the 4 gals you have the Blue Devils, 27th Lancers, Crossmen and the Phantom Regiment represented. Very cool. Very sexy! meow!