washingtoncorpsfan

...This is true. It might be the first instance in modern drum corps history where a 9 year old kid is a drum major of a Division I corps.

"Welcome Home, Cadets" got choked up just reading that, and I'm in no way affiliated with the Cadets. Thank you for sharing all of that.

Sounds like a great night of music. Unfortunately, I'll be a few hundred miles away from the event. So, enjoy it for me.

As someone said before, it would probably be really difficult to teach all those little buggers how to march, play, and spin. Especially since most of them just kind of waddle around and some of them can only SAY THEIR F'ING NAME!

I'm also surprised the '02 Cavies haven't been mentioned. Say what you will about new age drum corps show, the drill and execution was about as close to perfect as anyone is going to get.

Obviously, there has never been a recorded score of 100.00 in DCI history; but there are some shows that are held on a higher pedestal. Higher than champions and innovators and even higher than our own personal favorites. These shows have it all. superior music, spectacular drill, and just the right group of marchers to make it all click. Even in some of our personal favorites, there are those little spots that we could do without. In these shows, though, there isn't a single moment you'd insert or take away. Which shows would you consider to be "perfect"? I'd have to say (as I did in another thread) the '84 Garfield Cadets had, without a doubt, a perfect show. The show had a wide range of emotions and really got the essence of West Side Story. Of course, George Zingali provided excellent drill that suited the show perfectly; and, at least on Finals Night, the Cadets made magic. It's been 25 years since this show debuted; but it still has the effect it did all those years ago. Even non-drum corps fans enjoy it.

I hear Dr. Beat in my nightmares...and I'm just a marching band kid.

Sounds like you're having a good ol' time over there, Granny.

Thank God for youtube and other video sites for allowing me to reach into the archives! 1.) 1984 Garfield Cadets (might be the perfect show) 2.) 1976 Blue Devils (Who knew you could groove to a drum corps show?) 3.) 1975 Madison Scouts (Classic Scouts. If I were to pick a show to define drum corps in it's glory days, that would be it) 4.) 1989 Santa Clara Vanguard (It's the show every Marching Band wants to copy, but just can't) 5.) 1989 Phantom Regiment (Yes, the swinging "glory home" was kinda...weird; but otherwise one of the best shows ever put on a field) 6.) 1975 27th Lancers (*sigh* Doesn't it just feel good to hear them play "Danny Boy?) 7.) 1980 27th Lancers (The rightful 1980 Champions. Oops, did I say that out loud?! :-D) 8.) 1991 Star of Indiana (Oooooh! Shiny.) 9.) 1992 Santa Clara Vanguard (Yeah, the marching was a little dirty; but it's Fiddler! What's not to love?) 10.) 2003 Blue Devils (Just the epitome of cool)

What this brilliant person said.

Thank you! I've been trying to find a corps to relate to my beloved Redskins. That one hit the nail on the head. :-D

I hope you're right about Spirit. I'd love to see them as a heavy hitter.

1.) The Troopers (reminding us all where the roots of Drum and Bugle Corps lay) 2.) Holy Name (virtually unchanged since day one) 3.) Blue Devils circa 1976 (who doesn't love the frilly shirts and open jackets?) 4.) 27th Lancers (simple, to the point, and dignified) 5.) Velvet Knights (on the complete other side of the spectrum. How can you not laugh at that?)

Well, unless times get REALLY tough and they have to get the Holy Name Church to sponsor them again; I think it's a one time thing.

I always have to vote for the boys in blue

I think it's rigged, personally. I need to get more acquainted with DCA and get out to a show.

Don't you EVER put The Madison Scouts and the Dallas Cowboys in the same breath again. -Washington Redskins/Madison Scouts fan :-D Anyway, I see the Blue Devils as the Yankees of DCI. They have, far and away, the most titles than anyone else and they're the face of drum corps like the Yankees are the face of baseball. I kind of see the Cadets and the Cavies as the respective Red Sox of drum corps. People either loathe them or adore them. The Troopers are the Cubs. They haven't won a major title in God only knows how long, but everyone still seems to love them. Santa Clara Vanguard...probably the Celtics. Steeped in tradition and respected the world over

Well, gee, way to be ambiguous with your feelings.

Brilliant thread. If I knew anything about cars, I'd contribute. Maybe I'll do one that compares Corps to baseball teams or something.

I think the introduction of the front ensemble is the most important innovation in drum corps history. With grounded percussion instruments legalized, corps were able to expand on their repertoires and add new musical textures to pieces of music. I know I couldn't imagine some of my favorite drum corps shows without the assistance of a pit.

I've always been impressed with SCV's shows, even in this decade. I can't understand why they keep placing in the middle of the top 12 pack. Granted, their marching does tend to be a bit sloppy sometimes; but I can't understand why the would need more than a few little fixer upers to get back in the top of the heap.

Yeah, I guess the biggest different I've seen is the rise of the "themed show". It seems like every show HAS to have a theme. Whether it's god or bad, I can't say. You have to ask someone who really has the inside track on Drum Corps affairs on that.

This still might be the greatest thread in the history of the internet.

Now, if that isn't the coolest, I don't know what is. Thanks for sharing that with us :-)

This sounds like it's going to be a fine show. With the addition of those guard members, who knows how far the Troopers can go this year?