Zaromas

Gawd tell me there's a chat somewhere full of true drum corps fans. The youtube chat is filled with little baby girls...

Of all of the shows this year, Santa Clara's will be the one I watch over and over again. Easily 5x more than any of the other shows. The end of the show stirs my love of what drum corps used to be into a torrential maelstrom, and leaves me absolutely praying that other corps will pick up Santa Clara's gauntlet... SCVFTW!!!

Phantom has had amplified voice... Amplified by THIRTY-THOUSAND-PLUS RABID DRUM CORPS FANS IN THE STANDS!

wow crowd was excited about Concord winning... The most reaction came from announcement of Santa Clara and Crown's scores...

woop! Troopers back in top 12! For now...

That made me wanna cry... In pain...

Is it just me, or does it look like someone sat on the Troopers DM's hat?

WHAT is with the out of tune lead sop line?????

Ummm... Is the Cavies' hornline really this uncharacteristically epic, or is it the synths?

A corps in my sig, from '87 to RIP, did the same thing, only it was on the 1/2 count before step-off, the 1/2 count before the halt, and we did it with Richard's aformentioned "breath-flex"...

Sure you will. The corps Director says, "have fun at finals retreat tonight. Enjoy yourself. But if you drink, no-one outside of yourself better know, or I'll hear about it, and you will never be associated with this corps again." At which point you hope that you don't have a CMM ticked at your corps, rarin' and willing to destroy your corps' image...

We in the Freelancers hyped on Boston for these reasons, mostly because we hyped on ourselves for the exact same reasons. I don't have any brawl stories, but we tried to take hard sell to new levels, when it came to public exposure. Retreats consisted of parade rest and attention, and disciplined stretch/squat drills for long retreats. I would spend the entire retreat staring into the eyes of the hornline, waiting to pounce on anyone who moved anything but their eyes. (And yes, before some else mentions it, licking my lips). We took pride in owning our ten yards, even to the point of having to "speak with" the Concord horn sergeant in Glenwood Springs in '88. We had rules such as no running in uniform, no swearing, no eating/drinking except for water... All because of our pride in our uniform and our corps. Everyone has their own approach to retreat - the Freelancers approached it as Phantom, Garfield, Boston, and especially Santa Clara (whom we idolized for the most part) have and always will. That being said, Finals retreat was the only time we would relax. Ever. At finals we were allowed to celebrate, which, for the Freelancers, meant we were allowed to relax and walk around our 10 yard slot, put our shoes on the front sideline if we were aging out, take pictures, etc. In '85 the baritone line even spelled EMBO with our horns. But even THEN, it wasn't until all of the scores had been announced. Two points here: One, there is something to be said for attention to one's corps' image in view of the public. This thread proves it. NOT maintaining "professional" conduct causes nothing but bad bad bad, including alumni practically disowning their own corps. Two, There's nothing wrong with relaxing and celebrating at Finals retreat. Just try not do anything that reflects badly upon your corps, and part of that is having a more advanced sense of judgment before doing something that might be questionable in nature. I thought the Cavaliers' seppuku act was brilliant, but the breaking of ranks was (in my time, and always should be) a drum corps cardinal sin. I think that throwing candy in retreat is harmless, AS LONG AS you don't aim for other corps' equipment or actually intend to harm. How about just keep the candy in your block??? I don't know. This thread has contained like 98% condemnation for the acts described, so I don feel that far out of line in what I feel is appropriate in retreats. Bottom line is doing olympic retreat at EVERY show may not be possible, due to time constraints at the venue or whatever, but shouldn't there be olympic retreats at regionals at the very least?? If I feel sorry for anyone, it is for the alumni of the offending corps...

Wow. Talk about irreplaceable. Good luck to the Cadets in finding men or women to take over their incredible percussion tradition.

All true. Underdawg, you marched that year? Side note: unfortunately fielding 84 horns also meant that there were a lot of "plugs", which meant not even all of the actual horn line played, much less the entire guard. That show could have been earth shattering if all 84 horns played all the time. I will also mention a common feeling within the corps that year, which was if the entire show was "On The Waterfront", with no Christopher Street, we might not have experienced "death by low GE" and maybe given Santa Clara a run for second place. (No one was touching Concord that year...)

1. I want this photographer at my wedding 2. The baby throwing is classic - my old corps woulda ate that up. (So to speak) 3. Woulda been there had I been 400 miles closer - miss you guys! 4. Sorry to hear about the staff shake up 2COOLVK Take care...

Hey Nikk, Another lurker and FMRAMD chiming in... Best of luck with your new position, and I hope it brings you as much satisfaction as you deserve (immeasurable). Though I must say, I must have never seen any skeletons in your DCP closet - your posts have always been educated, constructive, and insightful. DCP's loss... Take care...

I've got 3 words: Montreal: Foxy Lady 3 more: Montreal: Beer Gardens I'm dyin to know who else has the same fond memories of what has to be the greatest day off venue in drum corps... I know for certain there are some Scouts out there who shared these times in '89...

Consider Pat's statement confirmed...

All I know is I run to the stadium exit for a smoke whenever INT comes on... IN FACT, I often find myself waiting impatiently for INT to come on specifically so I can do just that...

[/lurk] I might not have enough inside info on the Stealthmen, but hasn't INT performed at every competition the Stealthmen have ever been in? [lurk]

I second that - good luck to all, can't wait to see everyone, as opposed to READING about everyone... "Breakfast" was good, aye, but even better with something to wash it down... Clint - quick - hide that box flap! (hit) louder (hit) LOUDER (HIT) LOUDER!! (HIT) LOUDER!!!! (HIT) yesssssssss..... Agree - Part 4 - nice... hot weather sux - YEAH DRUM CORPS! "the sticks"? Is that like East L.A., or is it a wildlife/vegetation distinction? tell me it was cooler than Thermal - oh wait - you guys get hu-freakin-midity - never mind... Yeah, because "fluff" just wouldn't do with that baritone line hangin around... another example of the baritone mind being more gutter-dwelling than any other human collective in existence... Get em up VK!: and YET another example...

Isn't there a rimshot at the end of that??

The tritone has been borderline overused in drum corps for ages. I think that it can still be used creatively, but it requires subtlety that is just not inherently characteristic of the tritone. It is almost as if its sole purpose is to raise the tension in the closing moments of a piece by means of #4 to Maj3 or open 5 resolution (90% of its use in drum corps). There are moments, though, where it is delicately used, though almost as generic - like at the end of ballads. My favorite all-time use of the augmented 4 unresolved major chord is right before the drum solo in Concord's show in '85. Freakin brilliant and straight up spine-tingling. It never resolves, in fact the chord actually DEcrescendos into the drum solo. Give it a listen if you get a chance. By the way there are many more drum corps-esque chord progressions that you will rarely, if ever, hear in modern composition the way it is written for drum corps. Prime example: high brass screamin major chord followed by the low brass' major chord one half step higher, resolving down a half step. Classic, powerful, common, and TOTALLY drum corps.

I'm fairly certain that was '88 - that was one whacked show... (EDIT) Never mind - it was the girl letting the ball roll away in '88... (EDIT Pt. Deux) Of course, on a related note - Sky Ryders '86 when Dorothy's balloon flies away - freakin LOVED that closer... Anyway... Goosebumps leading into major physical mountainous deformities up and down the back leading to close to impossible to contain the emotion: The last minute and a half of Garfield '87

You sure you didn't march the VK at some point in time?? ^0^