RogerF

I have a subscription for the Live Webcasts ($79) and I'm logged into the Fan Network page using IE7. But I don't see the actual link for the broadcast. I see links which ask me to pay $14.95 for the Stanford webcast, but I've already paid the 79 bucks. Does anyone else see the link yet? Or if not, when will the link become available? It's about 7PM Central Time here on Saturday. Sorry I feel like a dummy here, I don't know when the actual broadcast actually begins because there doesn't seem to be any info on the fan network website on when it will actually begin. Thank you, Roger Dodger

My two (2) cents: Yes, SCV can break into the Top 5 but I think they will need more of a 'gimmick', something like: A) Build a 'house' made of white wood posts, with no walls-- B) With strange tall creatures on stilts running around, hunting for -- C) Angels and Demons playing 'war' in the backyard -- D) Accompanied by the rock-star piano-stylings of a very talented Austin Powers look-alike with other mohawk and makeup groupies. They've now got some random horn player running around trying to escape from Hell. Hmm, I don't see a big enough gimmick here.

So far, after tonight's movie broadcast, I'm HYPE-ING on: - Carolina Crown's keyboard/pianist. I'm not really sure if that is drum corps or some type of performance 'art'. There's a lot of cheezy prop/makup/faux rockstar stuff. Alot of fun though. I didn't like the fire bass drum heads though. Well, again, maybe I did. - Cadets -- Love it all... Love it... best Cadets show in years. Drums ROCK as does the entire corps. So very fast and intricate marching. My favorite of the weekend by far. - Cavaliers -- STILTS ROCK. I love'd 'em all. I'd love to see the entire corps on stilts. - Santa Clara -- Drums ROCK. BEST. The entire design I think is really top 5, though before tonight actually seeing the entire show, I was very hesitant. Alot of work is needed on marching and horns, to clean it all up. - The quality of the broadcast. I think this pre-season broadcast is a GREAT idea. Not so much: - BD: I wanted more of Burt, but only got flavors. I didn't like the entire show really. It kind of put me to sleep. Anyways just an old guy's opinion. I like what I'm seeing so far, by far. Roger

Well, we will see if they can really get it together. I've been following SCV since the late '70s and I have to say, along with last year's show, this show looks weak particularly from the brass perspective. I think drums are SMOKING and on fire! (and not smoking w**d). A top 5 show *USUALLY* will have familiar tunes, and high entertainment value. From the past two shows in TX, there's nothing familiar about it. It's just seems like a bunch of concert band/avant garde stuff thrown together. I mean, it's that way to me. Just a morass of dark and unfamiliar. I mean, they have a great staff and I'm really wondering what they all think of when they come to a decision as to what tunes they come to a consensus. Is this corps going to become a 'hot dog' corps? Perhaps, we will see. I'm all for the great excellent effort of the kids, but this show, as is, doesn't seem like it had a Top 5 look to it. I would not be surprised if maybe they inserted/exchanged new, different music for some of the pieces. Maybe something like SCV from 1980? SOMETHING that would help uplift this show! Look at the Cadets, Cavaliers, or even Madison Scouts! Yeah I know, this is just one old guy's opinion. Don't be too too hard OK? :) Thanks, Roger

Worst: Cadets (1994? 95?) the taxi door North Star '78 -- the 'lips' on the color guard Best: Santa Clara 1987,88,89 (any of those years) Phantom 2008 -- stabbing shaft used to ***STAB*** the other drum major. Bridgemen 1982 83? -- blindfolds used by the snares in the drum solo North Star '78 -- cream pie used to smash in the face of the contra player

Watched the movie "Sweet Charity" again last night and thouroughly enjoyed it. Yes the production numbers and songs and concept is dated, but I think it's still fascinating in terms of the songs, story, dance numbers and of course, Shirley MacLaine. The movie came out in 1968. Would love to see a corps do a show based on the Broadway musical and movie, "Sweet Charity". (Cadets? Bluecoats? Blue Devils?) Here's one of my favorite numbers from the movie, "I'm a Brass Band". (Yes I know it may seem very campy and a little flame-y,...) Enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEAVL-QcKvY

Love it!... looks like some type of electro-melodia...

I volunteered for a corps this past weekend during Spring Training and I noticed they aren't fielding a timpani set this year. I was surprised, in that I've never seen a corps *not* have a timpani set, either marching or grounded. I was told that they decided on no timpani this year because it takes up too much room in the equipment truck, or they get out of tune easily, and that now with synthesizers, the timpani sound can be reproduced electronically, in effect removing the need for a timpanist. HMMMMM.. So if this is true, why not just have a couple of synth players on the field, with a color guard and call that a drum corps show? I mean, if a synth player can reproduce horn sounds and drum sounds, why do you need a horn line and a drum line? Any other corps not marching timps this year? Are they becoming less common?

My guess is that it's the 3rd Essay for Orchestera. I looked it up on YouTube. It sounds a little more staircase-y than the rest I guess.

I marched Freelancers but wanted to march Santa Clara. I made the auditions in '84 for the pit, but sadly could not make the commitment because of my mother being ill/sick in L.A. WAH!

This sounds great on paper. I mean, some of the greatest Burt songs written. But really, how much can the corps do in 11 minutes using 8 songs? I mmean, are we just gonna hear some weird jazz-y riffs and splice it all up, drum corps style? I want to hear a great arrangement of all of these songs from start to finish for each song, not just snippets of the best meaty parts of them. By the way, my favorite version of "A House is Not a Home" was done by Luther Vandross. Stunning. A House Is Not a Home Summer of 77 Walk On By One Less Bell To Answer Woman I Say A Little Prayer Wives And Lovers God Give Me Strength -Roger

Well I was in the audience in Montreal during finals in '82, having just marched 6 spots earlier with the Freelancers. And I think, in my opinion, it was the grand hype of having SCV do Bottledance, that maybe the acoustics/horn line flub up was overlooked by excitement and thrill. It happens, I mean look/listen to alot of today's popular live music. I'm sure the musicanship is crappy but the look and the hype of the person, group is red hot. Roger

I've seen EVELYN GLENNIE in concert a few times. Needless to say, she's absolutely incredible. I think, the best concert percussionist living today.

These fees are commonplace now with pretty much anything and everything nowadays. I just paid $35/ticket + 12.00 EACH TKT to a Devo concert in Houston last weekend. The tkt was bought online, and it's labled a 'convenience' fee. Hate it but what are you gonna do. It was a general admission tkt. By the way, DEVO STILL ROCKS after 35 years!. Mark Mothersberg (sp) is 61 years young! Roger

Just wondering, if water or food are allowed as props in drum corps shows. They could be used as humourus gimmicks. I remember, back in the day, late 70's there was the North Star drum corps, who had a real cream pie in their show, that one guy hits another guy in the face. I think it was '78 or '79? Sorry, I may be wrong. But anyways, for now, today... is water or food allowed on the field, in drum corps shows? Roger

1. Fred Sanford 2. George Zengali 3. Pete Emmons 4. Gail Royer 5. Jim Jones 6. Michael Boo

No, I was the geek with glasses on the Chinese cymbal tree :( Sorry.. That was Jeff Bonenfant who they shot up through the tom toms. He's now a freelance drummer in Orlando if I'm not mistaken.

Welcome to the DC Planet! I also marched those years '81,'82 and '84 in the pit. Roger

I'll be only able to attend Friday night's show, as I'll be in Pennsylvania M-Th for work. I will definitely miss VANGUARD. :( Berry Athletic Center is a relatively new facility, more so in the Copperfield area of Houston. Nice crowded suburbs. I just bought a house in Spring in the Candlelight Hills section, off of Cypresswood Blvd. :) I am jazzed. -Roger

Watching some of the performances on the Fan Network so far, I'm hyping on these corps so far: Cavies -- I'm liking the integration of pre-recorded audio with the overall live performance of the corps. I like the whole 'My Rifle...' theme, and I think it's done very well. And I could actually recognize some of the music such as 'Mad World' and 'Smile'. I really liked the jazz quartet theme at the ending... where it is just the keyboards, trap set (?) and the entire corps marching in silence, with the great drill. My favorite corps this year so far. Cadets -- This is also done pretty well. Great marching and outstanding guard work. All those HIGH rifle tosses... just great. Santa Clara -- Yep I know. I did kinda like it. So far, not as exciting as some of the others, but it will take some more time to put it all together and have it be more cohesive. Blue Devils -- Eh, it just seems like more gimmicks as in previous year. All those mirrors, and really just a mish mash of bizzare jazz riffs and unrecognizable music. It didn't make sense to me this year. And with all those snare drummers in those hyper-extended modern 'dance' moves.... Just my opinion. I've not seen Crown or Phantom, or Bluecoats yet or the other top 15 corps so far but looking forward to it. Roger Freelancers '81-'84

Here's my submission. 1980 Spirit of Atlanta - It was a different era. Even though Spirit did not win it all, the emotion of the time, the awesome drum solo, the loudness of the horns. I think combined with the other shows at the time (Bridgemen, 2-7, Phantom..) just gave it an immortal quality. 1984 Garfield Cadets - Just an amazing, outstanding show. I was marching Freelancers that year and I always was in awe of Garfield during that season. I always made it a habit to try and watch their show whenever possible. Loved the marching xylophones and the overall show design. It was unlike any other show at the time. 1987 Santa Clara Vanguard - Amazing, powerful... this is drumcorps. 2008 Phantom -- Action-packed, thrilling, emotional. 2006 Cavaliers -- So much intricate, detailed movement. Truly a modern drum corps classic. -Roger