Valve Oil

Oh man are you dating yourself!!!!!!!!!

Naaaaa...I don't paint you as a trouble maker at all. You have passion for the activity! You may be right. You may be wrong. You raise valid concerns. In any event, you generated the conversation...and that's always a good thing, agree or disagree! As you like to say, Rock on!

Great lineup!...........see you there!

What about spreads between #'s three through six?

Great review !!!!....so far. I'd be interested in your take on positions and spreads. Thanks for all the time and thought you've put into this!

Big W...I hope you'll be at D-town and post a review.......always a valued insight!

Ok....so here's my picks for the show that wasn't... 1 Cabs 83.5 Continuing their persuit of the top spot with a vengance. 2 Fusion 80.20 Crowd fav...soaking up the LOVE 3 Hurricanes 74.75 Small but amazing....making their mark! 4 Sky 71.50 Lola delivers for Big Red......Theirrrrrrrrrrr Baaaaaack! Well that was fun...wish there actually wuz a contest.

Why?

Here's to the "Big Red Band"....Sock it in Gabarina!

Beat wishes going forward!!!!! Welcome home!

I agree with some and disagree on other points. First...you gotta love Sky and Cabs alum, they bring what you expect. What I didn't expect was the show the Brassmen put out. They may not look impressive but they sure have some great players and sell arrangements that are perfectly suited to their size and talent...super! I picked Hawthorne over Bucs by a very slim margin. These two corps are great and pretty much equal. I just thought Cabs were a bit crisper. How many differant tunes does Reading play? Fusion seems to have filled the void left by Empire. Well trained with a high energy show, great sound and very entertaining! Cadets2 has alot of cleaning to do if they're going to move up. Hurricanes are a pleasant surprise....can't listen to winter rumors I guess. Nice show, solid sound for their size. Training is evident but they could use a little more POP in their ending. Welcome back Sun!!!! Big corps, nice big sound just a tad sloppy...they will be very good by Rochester! Bush,Waaaay too many holes to make an evaluation. One final comment on uniforms. Does everyone have to look like Johnny Cash with a hat? When did BLACK become the preferred color? Drum corps is a happy sport with lively music and pagentry.....Black is not a happy color! Reading, Fusion, Hurricanes and Sunrisers....Too much black...wise up!

Got it now.....Thanks!

I don't know what that means???????

The Hurricanes have quietly assembled a highly qualified staff and have chosen what looks to be a very entertaining show...it sounds like it will be a hit! Good luck to the Hurcs!

Sure looks like Fusion is kicking it up a notch!..........Top 3?

Great choices! That's a Skyliner kind of show...best of luck with your open house and beyond.

It's what has become the American way..........intrusive government :thumbdown:/>

Is it to late to sign up for the live finals video ? if not how is tht done?

Joseph Nicholson. He's listed in the Hurricanes HOF.

Not so hard if you follow the clues. I now know who, althogh I don't know much about him.

If Fish doesn't know, maybe Ray or Kulinski do.....I think he resembles Pete China only I don't know if he ever played sop?

The heart and soul, comradery, freindship, family and fellowship are certainly the backbone of the activity...past, present and future, no question. As I said, much of the progressive innovations have enhanced the product greatly. My beef is that the unique sound and intensity has been gutted...yes, gutted. Anyone that can play a trumpet can play a G soprano so the argument that it's easier to recruit band people is weak. When the product was loud, exciting and in your face... the stadiums were full, there were hundreds more corps in existance and there was no shortage of show sponsers or BIG shows (Dream, Mission Drums, Barnum)....so yes, things were great BITD, and how I wish todays generation could experience the same level of success as well as the thrill of the passion and adulation exibited by legions of fans. And let's not hear about the economy anymore. Have you been to the movies, a Major League game or Broadway play etc. etc.?.....not cheap, but a venue people want to enjoy, and they do in droves! Or have you evaluated the costs associated with golf, boating, skiing or the myriad of other activities that some would claim are drawing people away....if you participate in those activities, I promise, they're not cheap either. The rest of the world is indeed moving forward, unfortunately, drum corps is falling way behind in popularity. The fading state of our activity, when you compre it to a vibrant past tells me all of the changes in the name of sophistication isn't panning out. No one wants drum corps to thrive more than me...but this is sadly, my honest opinion. And no, this is not a topic that belongs on the Historic thread for the fogeys to banter around....there are valid points that apply to today! Why is it that Hawthorne Alumni is so wildly recieved wherever they go? It isn't because the fans miss the Cabs....they're still here! Perhaps it's the sound and energy they put forth! They get a better reaction than the Cabs, or any other DCA corps for that matter, so score one for the big sound. Now that Empire(perennial crowd favorite) is bowing out, we'll only have the Kilts to remind us what drum corps is supposed to sound like.

I have to agree with you...The progressive thinkers have gutted the appeal of what we know as drum corps. The big sound is gone...not just the brass, the perc now sounds as if it's played on cardboard boxes. Although many of the innovations over the past few decades are for the better, IMO, the dilution of the big bold sound striped away the excitement and allure.....so yes, todays corps are just a bunch of everyday bands!

Like I said...I don't know. Is this speculation or fact?