JayM

Comenzamos!

Post hoc ergo propter hoc.

Makes sense somewhat. The '10 and '11 corps probably still had some guys who were taught under the old brass staff. I doubt the '12 corps does.

Arg, I accidentally downvoted you when I meant to upvote you. Sorry, Jeff.

Well BD is going to be bad*** regardless. But this year they're probably going to be clean as ####.

Since my guys are obviously out I'm rooting for you guys over BD/Cadets/Phantom. But, what's with the middle of the show? Is that going to be fleshed out a little more?

I honestly do think there should be some sort of regulation of rehearsal days vs. show days. As much as I loved show days, I remember being frustrated when we had too many of them in a row, not giving us the time to add and/or clean. Full rehearsal days are what make our drum corps what they are. edit: to be more clear, I think Spin Cycle would have been cleaner if we hadn't had free days almost every weekend that summer and if the weather in the Midwest had been better.

1991 Cavaliers 1993 Phantom Regiment 1993 Star of Indiana 1995 Cadets of Bergen County 1995 Madison Scouts 1997 Santa Clara Vanguard 1998 Blue Devils 2000 Crossmen 2000 Blue Devils 2000 Phantom Regiment 2000 Southwind 2001 The Cadets 2003 Cavaliers

I'm not even sure, honestly. I know that was I was super intrigued by how different the instruments were from what I was used to. My band had trumpets, marching french horns, and sousaphones, but drum corps had these mysterious things called sopranos, mellophones (I know some HS bands use mellos, but mine didn't) , and contras, and of course they were in the key of G. But other than that it was excellence. The first shows I heard were BD and Cadets '97, both great shows, IMO, and I listened to them over and over. I'd never heard anything like the Cadets mellophones. But I've fallen victim to something I think all of us have trouble with, in that I romanticize the era in which I became a fan. I'm less of a fan these days (though not for any specific reason like A&E or the paradigm changes in show design; just burnout mostly), and I sometimes wonder if I would have become a fan if I'd grown up in this new era. The answer is probably yes, of course, but since I'm not a huge fan anymore I'm having a bit of trouble articulating what it is I like about drum corps. Mostly, for me, it's just following my brothers in green. But other than that I guess I like the competition. I like seeing the shows change and how much of a difference a week can make competitively. It's always interesting when suddenly everyone's opinions change on a given corps' show and performance.

I don't think judges suddenly decided to "call it as they see it" this year. I think the scores are a reflection of a tighter than normal pack of finalist corps. You said it yourself:

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2001?

You can still go back and watch the webcast.

You can still go back and watch the webcast.

Yeah, I agree. There are definitely still some kinks to be worked out, but I think that as they clean and add the Cavaliers will eventually overtake Madison. I know Madison will add and clean, too, and will likely end up with a great show as well, but right now I see more potential in the Cavaliers' show. Call me biased if you'd like, but that's just what my intuition is telling me.

It would have had to have been pre-2000. I'm not sure if Madison ever beat the Cavaliers in 98 or 99, but if not, then...1997? edit: looks like it was July 5th, 1998 in Michigan City, IN, by two tenths.

Hard book. Brass seems to be having timing issues all over tonight. edit: Great sound when it's together, though.

I've only seen a little bit if this on YouTube, but wow. Easily the best SOA I've seen in my 14 years following this activity.

Thanks! -cavies03

Thanks!

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That's a non sequitur. I don't mean to be rude but please tell me how Gaines leaving has any effect on the performance of the guard.

Too many syllables. :)

Missouri's a bit of an interesting anomaly there.

Nah, it's more interesting otherwise. But, ya gotta defend/support the home team, right?