big old drummer man

Well he wrote for Surf the past few years and it didn't work out so well. So good luck, Crossmen.

That was Mike McIntosh.

All you nay-sayers realize that he has more WGI Independent World medals as a battery arranger than anyone else ever, right? And that WGI has been pushing DCI in terms of percussion for the last 10 years, not the other way around. This guy knows how to write musically, and sure he's no Paul Rennick, but he ain't no slouch either. Regiment will be smart to keep him around a few seasons and let him make his niche. He won't disappoint when given the full opportunity to grow.

This may be the single most Earth-shattering audio/visual experience in the history of mankind. Truly life-changing.

Seriously? Come on. Pomposity not needed. If it's who I heard it is, they'll be fine. They'll take a step back, but they won't drop off the face of the percussive earth. They'll still stay in the top 6.

Also total LOL at whomever picked BD 07. They weren't even the best drumline that YEAR. Let alone of the decade...

I picked Phantom 06. I've never heard a line that clean in person before or since. And the BLEND oh my god. They were a whole different level of clean. Add to that the gorgeous touch of that front ensemble and the PHENOMENAL writing, and you have my winner.

In terms of the second half of the decade (2005-2010) I think the Bluecoats had some of the best programming. Definitely some of the most hip.

So far I've heard that Ellis will be caption head at Phantom AND Boston. He'll be a busy guy this coming summer.

Do explain...

Mac was snare tech and then caption head from 98-03.

Erik Johnson wrote the pit book at Cavaliers from 98-05, and either 08 or 09-present, as well with WGI powerhouse Music City Mystique since 03. In that time, he has set the standard in front ensemble arrangements, in my opinion.

Yup.

I've heard Bret Kuhn will be writing the beats and Ellis Hampton will be caption head. Both great choices, indeed.

You are. You didn't get the memo? Oh man, you better get started!

As long as they are taught correctly, there should be no more difference with a flat line than there is with a tilted line.

Regarding SCV's cymbal line, Paul has always had cymbal lines at UNT and always had them when he was at Crown. I doubt he'll bag it.

Yeah I'm so sure you can hear the difference between a tilted snareline and a flat snareline.

I disagree entirely. Innovative's tapered bass mallets (NOT the fulcrum notch ones) are the reason I changed my battery to IP. EASILY the best bass mallets out there, in my opinion.

Scott is no longer with Vic Firth. He is a Pro-Mark artist now, and has a signature stick with them. He honored the rest of his Vic contract after BD changed to Pro-Mark, and then when it was up, he switched. Regarding Paul's status as a Dynasty artist, that happened because all the percussion faculty at UNT went Dynasty. It is evident that he really liked the Pearl sound, especially since he made changes to the Dynasty drums to make them sound more like Pearls. I hope that Vanguard continues their relationship with Pearl/Adams regardless of what Paul does. I would love to hear a Rennick percussion section back on Pearl/Adams, Remo, Innovative, and Zildjian.

Phantom was Pearl through the 07 season, but Paul is a Dynasty and Innovative Percussion artist like the rest of the faculty at UNT, so they switched to Dynasty. So expect SCV to fulfill the rest of their Pearl and Vic Firth contracts and then make the switch.

Word on the street is Bret Kuhn will write the battery and Ellis Hampton will be caption head. Both are MORE than capable. Haven't heard anything about the pit arranger though.

Ding!