Fran Haring

Absolutely...looking forward to the 7th!!! Also, are you guys gonna be going to Columbia for the "DCI at the Movies" quarterfinals on Aug. 5? We already have our tickets!!!! Fran

Someone call the Too-Much-Caffeine Police..... LOL Certainly wasn't putting down Curt at all... nor was I trying to diss the Cabs by not writing more about them. Sorry if it came across that way to you. I thought Cabs started strong, had some rough edges in their ballad and closing tune, but overall looked good from the press box. And like I said, when they do some more cleaning and fine-tuning, look out!!!!!! Fran

Hey, Sean.... it's MISTER d###### to you, pal......

LOL!!!! Actually, you are incorrect, sir. (old Ed McMahon reference there). Yours truly dismissed the junior corps who were gathered for the scores, then I was informed that I forgot about the "America/O Canada" thing the juniors play. So it was, "Okay folks.... here's the America/O Canada thing the juniors play, THEN they can get the #### outta here." Well, maybe not EXACTLY in those words, but..... :lolhit: Fran

More like a few thoughts from someone trying to wind down after a long day: DCA CORPS: Quite honestly, I did not see a 10-point spread between CorpsVets and the rest of the field. Not at all. I thought the 'Vets should have been closer to the pack by at least a few points. These guys have a heckuva show this year! Stop the presses!!!!!! Curt Hawkins of the Caballeros actually missed a note during one of his soprano solos. Well, not missed, per se, but rather he didn't quite hold onto a high note. It's the first time in 20 years I've heard him make a mistake. I'll probably have to wait another 20 years before he makes another! Cabs looked and sounded pretty good from upstairs. And once they clean up their visual show..... hide the children, folks!!!! Buccaneers have a killer lower-brass section, but could use some more "oomph" out of their soprano line. Overall, the Bucs looked pretty strong tonight from the press box. Some pretty interesting visual stuff going on. Brigadiers.... I can't believe they're leaving a good deal of their soprano solo work in the hands of guys from BALTIMORE. WTF are they thinking???? JUST KIDDING guys...... Brigs had much more energy (and execution) tonight in the back half of their program than a month ago in Wildwood. And their "Caravan" opener... wow. Goooood stuff!!!!!!! DCI CORPS: When I first saw Capital Regiment back in 2000, they were a Division 3 corps. I thought, "For a small corps, they're kinda cool." After seeing them this year in Hershey, I'm thinking, "They're kinda WOW!!!" Holy mackerel, where did these guys come from???? Their hornline was absolutely blowing us away upstairs, and the drumline and visual show weren't too shabby, either. Keep up the good work, Capital Regiment!!!! Sorry, didn't see as much of the Seattle Cascades and Crossmen as I probably should have. Had to get some work done during those two corps. From what I DID hear/see of Crossmen, they were much improved over my last viewing of them in Kalamazoo two weeks ago. And a happy 15th birthday to Leighann Fields of the X-men!!!!!!! Madison Scouts: Opener is performed quite well, but is more technical than it is crowd-grabbing. Then a very nice ballad!!!! Cool visuals during the ballad. And then the Scouts open up the freezer, take out the raw meat and toss it to the die-hard drum corps fans in the form of a high-energy version of a Scouts classic, "Malaga." Complete with pinwheel and huge power push to the front. And a triple-pump "loud, louder, and someone answer the phone!!!" final chord that gets the whole house on its feet. I think I even saw some babies being thrown. Santa Clara Vanguard: Well, at least in my opinion, they certainly lived up to their advance hype! Super-powerful brass with several in-your-face moments, world-class percussion and another fast-moving "expando-contracto" visual show from Myron Rosander. All kinds of stuff going on in this show, but it's a program designed both for the judges AND the fans. Mr. Royer would have been proud! Blue Devils: My second viewing of them this season and the first from upstairs. I've always enjoyed "tell-a-story" types of drum corps shows, and this one is right up my alley. I love this show!!!!! The "train slowing down" sound effect made by the tympani player using the brushes is absolutely fantastic. Another great BD hornline and a well-coordinated package overall. Do they do as much drill, step-for-step, as some of their competitors? No, probably not. But you know something? I could care less. I just want to be entertained, and I was by this corps. Marine D&B Corps: Most unique arrangement of "America The Beautiful" I've ever heard. The most in-tune marching brass section in the world, IMO. 44 horns that sound more like 74 at times. The best brass articulation of the night in Hershey, during the finale of Tchaikovsky's "Symphony No. 4," on two-valve horns, no less. What's not to like about these guys????? Brian Dix has done a great job with this corps in recent years. That's all, folks.... gotta get some sleep!!!! Fran

Some of my faves, off the top of my head: Two names from a bygone era: Bill Hightower and John Simpson. Two absolutely awesome players, considering the tinker-toy brass instruments they were playing on in the early 1960s. Doug Kenyon should probably be on anyone's "best of" list. Ruben Ariola, now with the NY Skyliners Alumni corps. He gets my vote for the loudest baritone player in the history of drum corps (you gotta hear this guy bring the heat!!!!), with a great tone and technique to match. A not-as-well-known name from the 1970s: Dennis Dewey. A great bari player with the (then) Garfield Cadets. Fran

LOL!!! That was hilarious stuff! Good to see you again, Stef!!!! Fran

I had a great time in Kalamazoo! Good show, good crowd, great stadium. And the folks from Kalamazoo (the chamber of commerce people, the city officials) were very helpful. Fran

Mike, did you get the names of those Sacred Heart guys, by any chance? I used to march in the Crusaders during that same time period. Fran

I remember the Keystoners being a regular participant at DCA Prelims for several years during the mid-to-late 1980s. They never made Finals, though. Fran

Wow..... after reading that great review, I can hardly wait to see SCV and BD at the Hershey, PA show at the end of July! Fran

The loudest mellophone player I've ever heard in my life was Pete Franceschina of the Sunrisers. He could bring the heat, big-time! You Renegade folks, ask Frank Dorritie about Pete some day. Fran

Very nice review.... thanks! Fran

Some of my personal faves during my marching years: Providence, RI: For whatever reason, we just about owned that show the years I marched with Sunrisers. The crowd was always fired up... very responsive. Bridgeport: Outstanding drum corps stadium. Allentown: Sun won its first four DCA titles at J. Birney Crum. Roosevelt Stadium: THE DREAM!!!!! Run-down stadium but a great, great show and crowd. And those chili dogs from the hot-dog vendors in the parking lot.... tasty!!! Hamden, CT: Site of the Fresh Air Fanfare, an early-season show (back in the days when "early season" meant just after Memorial Day). Cool stadium!! Fran

Excellent review.... thanks! Fran (from Baltimore)

"Love For Sale," perhaps? That was a cool chart. Fran

I hear ya. Always a great crowd there, and the folks running the show really went out of their way to make everyone feel welcome. Fran

Nope..... 1988 was still the two-shows-in-one-day format, with prelims and finals scheduled for Sunday of that weekend. But since it rained, the shows were held Monday instead. I think having Mother Nature disrupt the championships two years in a row ('87 and '88) might have been the catalyst for the format change. Fran

1995, at the DCA I&E and mini-corps show: Heat Wave from Orlando, who wasn't out as a field corps yet, competed in the mini-corps show. The tune they played? "Heat Wave." The crowd went nuts at the end of their show... a big standing "O." Lots of folks yelling for Heat Wave to play an encore. So Heat Wave played an encore. It was..... "Heat Wave." Apparently it was the only tune they had put together for this show!!!! That became a running gag for the rest of the night.... people yelling for other mini-corps to play "Heat Wave" as an encore. And Sunday night at DCA Finals, the Boston Crusaders senior corps did an exhibition. Somewhere in the middle of their show, some fan stood up and yelled "Play 'Heat Wave'!!!!!" Too funny! Fran

DCA went to the current Saturday-Sunday format in 1989. One of the best moves the circuit has ever made, IMO. Jim, you're right.... the prelims-and-finals-on-the-same-day format was not easy on the corps. It was real tough to do a great performance in both shows, especially if there was a quick turnaround time between a corps' prelims and finals performances. Fran

Into the Sunriser War Stories treasure chest we go: (this actually is one of the tamer stories from my time with Sun. Some of the REALLY wacko stuff that happened over the years is probably not even fit for a drum corps audience!!!! LOL) The year: 1981 or 1982. Both years we (Sunrisers) were hired by publisher/Mets owner Nelson Doubleday to do an exhibition at a party he threw for his wealthy friends at a Long Island country club over the 4th of July weekend. We did a full run-through of our show in uniform, while Mr. Doubleday and friends watched us from on top of a hill, and afterwards we got to chill out and drink some beer that Mr. Doubleday had provided. So here we are, after our performance, hanging around having a beer or two (or 20.) We notice that there were a number of very expensive cars (BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, etc.) parked all over the golf course at the country club (the cars driven by the Doubleday group). Unlocked, with the keys still in the cars. Next thing we know, here comes Dave Whelan, one of our soprano players, driving up to us in one of those expensive cars. "Hop in!" he says. "I'm takin' this for a ride around the golf course!!!!" My brother Lenny was corps director at the time, and happened to be standing there when Dave drove up. Lenny's response to Dave was basically, WTF are you doing????? Then he realized that Dave was serious about this, and when Dave made his mind up about something (often something illegal) you didn't stand in his way. So Lenny basically told him, "OK, I didn't see this. If you get caught, it's on you." So off went Dave on his joyride. He didn't get caught. Later, Lenny was hanging around when a member of the Doubleday party, falling-down drunk, stumbled out to get in his car. The car Dave had, uh, "moved" earlier, now parked in a completely different location. The guy was clueless as to what had happened!!!! "Where's my #### car... I swear I left it right here", etc. Just another day in paradise!! Fran BTW, there's also the "golf ball in the crotch during the performance" story from that very same day. But that shall remain locked up in the Sunriser archives for now!!!!!

That ain't quite the way I heard it. 3 guys from Sky (Butch Anderson, Wes Myers and one other) were jumped by members of Sun swinging horns and fists and connecting! Cos saw what was going on and turned the Cabs loose to assist 3 very out-numbered Skyliners. That's the version that was told to me, by Cabs and Sky alike. Again, I wasn't there, but that's what I was told. I have no idea what or who instigated the ensuing melee. Ray very correct ray Not even close to the truth - except for Cabs coming down off the hill. Larry, you beat me to it!!!! No offense to my friends in Sky and Cabs, because we are now in a completely different era where I'd have a hard time imagining a situation like the one in 1977. But give me a break here. The two people who probably could best tell the story (Butch Anderson and Teddy Heumann) are both no longer with us. This is one of those War Stories that most likely will continue to have a life of its own for another century or so. Bottom line? I think pretty much all involved in that '77 fiasco have MOVED ON with their lives, in and out of drum corps. And that, I think, is for the best. Fran

Back in my day, we'd warm up on the day of a show by walking 15 miles, then play nonstop for 10 hours, take a sip of water and then go out on the field and perform our show. And we LIKED it, dad-gummit!!!!!! Fran

My last year marching was 1982. In this forum, that makes me a freakin' dinosaur!!!! :lee: Fran

Nice review.... thanks!!!!! A few thoughts on the show, if I may: Mass Brass was FANTASTIC. Wow.... what a great sound, clear AND loud!!!! It was a privilege to get to hang around with the Westshoremen Alumni folks again. Everyone in the corps seemed to be having a lot of fun, and isn't that what drum corps is supposed to be about? Cabs Alumni rocked!!!!! Big, full brass sound, terrific drumline. Good to see George Hayek (one of the co-founders of the Caballeros way back in 1946) still going strong in the alumni corps' honor guard. YOU DA MAN, George!!!! Also, it was quite a treat to see legendary drum major Ralph Silverbrand conduct the Cabs alumni corps during Flamenco Cha-Cha. Cabs competition corps: Well, so much for the "G vs. B-flat" argument, as far as I'm concerned. A GREAT hornline, rich, full and balanced, with plenty of punch. These guys are so strong this year I get the feeling they could play on PVC pipes and kazoos and still get the job done!!! My wife and I (and several other folks sitting in our section) were fascinated by the young man in Caballeros' pit who was playing a variety of percussion instruments and playing them all very well. I understand he's 15 years old, but he looks 12 or so. He's my early favorite to win the Best Showmanship award at DCA Finals this year. Thanks to the Five-Star Brass folks for putting together another great lineup. I can hardly wait for the Hershey show in July!!! Fran