gcurrier

Looks like the first Knights already drew first blood! I'll wait until July 19th for my turn in East Rutherford NJ! (Save some for me Bill). I was just looking over a long history with Star of Jupiter. I have gone head to head back and forth with them in FDCI, VCL and now FDCP! Looking forward to taking them on the very next day on the 20th! I barely edged them out in the FDCI 20 title--so maybe I will have 2 rivals! Two very HONORABLE foes!

what no one dares take on Mystre? What do you think Shannon--we must have had some kind of rivalry left over from FDCI--reigning FDCI Champion taking on the reigning FDCP Champion? I am not scared just because I am some 20-25 odd places behind you! LOL

After not even making finals in the East, a position the Knights are certainly not used to, the Knights are announcing a huge overhaul of the corps and show. First and foremost visual caption head Kent March has been fired and his position will be immediately filled by Ima D Zigna. Ima has a great history of presenting the best in marching arts and we look forward to having her on our staff. Ima insisted in having complete visual control however, so almost the entire visual program is being scratched. This could have an effect on the corps through the next few weeks, but we feel it is better serving our kids and fans to be working toward a better product for finals. Other changes will follow in the next few weeks as the entire CLASS organization works hard to improve our current standings. CLASS President Gary L Currier said, we are fine having a great start, low middle season and strong finish, but whne you pinnacle corps is down around 30th place, you start to worry and say, what do we need to do to turn this around. sitting in the stands watching the Eastern Championship was just the kick in the butt this organization needed. We do congratulate our sister corps Sunrise Surf in making the West Finals as well as our feeder corps Les Blanc Chevalier and Cape Cod Regiment in the east. Good luck to all!

I really like the idea of changing the singing to a little more dream like and Enya like--it would actually endhance the show a lot! NICE idea!

actually I am a HUGE Cadets fan and I have to say thank you---thank you for being fair. What you said in places has a lot of merit. I do realize that your missing some HUGE awesome points of the show too--but I can't disagree with most of what you said AND its not all a complaint fest about amplification--you actually had to STATE what it is you didnt like instead of sounding like some robot mouthing off everything you have heard as to why you should hate amplification. I am not big on sequels in movies, nor am I in drum corps so I was disspaointed with the direction as well. It COULD win--but your right, I am not betting money on it at this point! I am going for Blue--either one of them would make me happy!

I dont even know how someone could watch any drum corps and be totally homophobic--hello the gay quota goes up JUST A TAD in drum corps! LOL and its not just the male guard as some people have stated in the past, but brass and percussion too!!! GASP!!! and dont get me started on the staff! LOL Maybe homophobes should not go all together as being around so many gays might TURN THEM GAY (thats what I heard happened to some lady's husband that went to see Brokeback Mountain)... :P by they way on teh subject, I usually post my slightly more gay version of reviews on yahoo group gay drum corps--look for it soon!

I could have sworn when they ripped off the first uni, the second was orange, but it was a week ago and I coudl be wrong--they were tight thats for sure! LOL

ya it was petty--but it was $15 and I had a slew of tickets so it ended up being a pretty hefty donation. I think if I am going to donate to things, I should be able to pick which ones. They didn't "lose" money, they just didnt make any off from anyone other than people they didnt return money too..I guess why I am ###### is not really the money, I have enough, its that they didnt have the courtesy to reply to my e-mail after the fact. They didnt give me the option to say fine--keep it. I usually would--as a matter of example I give generously to the united way each pay check. ONe time they doubled it by accident. Now people who had 2-4 dollars were deminding they get their money back--I simply said keep it after they gave me the option, but not giving me the option--thats a form of fraud. Plan and simple. Just wanted to set the story straight and after today, Ill probably never think of the money East Coast has again as its a good corps that always entertains. HEY I gave them a solid review still! LOL

I decided I would wait a week to see what I really felt about the show and what hit me because if I remember it now, then it must have made an impact right? Ok, so honestly I was just busy with family being in town and a move at work! BUT, I wanted to add a few things as I recall them just incase you want one more perspective! I will give my guess at rank come finals, however, I am usually going to give a 3 position spread as I havent seen most corps so to say one should or could or will beat one I havent seen is kind of crazy to me! and if spelling counts to you--dont read--because this is not an english paper. Jersey Surf was up first. I have to say I think the last few years this corps should have been doing better and after hearing the scores this night, I felt the same way again. This is a very different year for them as they dont seem to be going for the Velvet Knights look and instead are picking something a little more serious, yet with some fun in it. They are doing selections from Moulin Rouge and honestly, I thought it was done VERY well. They seem bigger to me then past years and so the sound volume was a bit bigger and it was just a nice way to start the evening. Their biggest issue--they couldnt hold it the who show. Started off wow and loud, but they got more noticeably tired as the show went on! By the end it was hurting them. BUT I think this was their first show--I am excited to see it again in a few weeks. I see like 3-5th place. East Coast Jazz (who I am mad at because they never refunded me my money for a show they CANCELLED) was up next. GREAT jazz sound-not to be too shocking from them. It was not as loud at times as the Surf, but they held it all through the show which was a huge point booster. They have some great soloist this year too--####! They messed up a bit in their wrap up song but if those guys hit those notes at finals--its going to have peopel jumping out of their seat! It has big time goosebump potential. Could win it again --top 3 easy. The Magic--the show was very nicely done--not as cutsy as they have done the last few years which made me happy. I think that it is an extremely challenging show however and if a different level corps was doing it, it woudl easily be top 12 maybe the top of top 12. They simply dont seem to have the experience to deliver it! Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring is one of my favorite pieces and so beautiful. They do it different then I have heard it, but still very enjoyable. I dont remember much else from this show (sorry) but I do remember remarking how strong I thought the percussion was. I have to say I said that for most corps I thougth their percussion sections were better for them then previous years. Id say bottom pack 23-21. Southwind-Honestly last years show freaked me out a bit--this years show I found much more enjoyable. They really take the "twisted" eliment and make it work. Ok the guard outfits end up bieng both TIGHT and ORANGE! very orange--but I think it all goes with the show. Its like a WOW moment. now some of the boys are rather endowed and maybe thats why people have been freaking out--but its not different then going to the ballet! RELAX people--its just the human body. Anyway, maybe it was distracting because its mostly what I remember--LOL BUT it was very well done and I think it could possibly even have a shot at top 12 (I would say definetely if it werent shaping up to be a tough year to be top 12). Their best show yet. I loved the mixing of the different themes. Id say 15-12th place. Crossmen--ok so I liked last year and although I couldnt really find someone in top 12 I wanted out--I wanted them in. Well this show SHOULD put them back in. Its entertaining, fun and has some great moments. Unfortunately getting into the game later, it is so not clean yet. I cant wait to see it when it is. I saw someone say best use of amplification yet and I think I may need to agree. Just be the shear fact that I feel like I remember more about this show--tells me something. They start off liek they are in a car that wont start and eventually it gets going--I thought it was funny, but also well done. As it moves along your like a passenger in the car. Well, the raido station keeps getting changed. they have a white noise effect I think they could make better, but it moves you from one station to the other. I mean your geting traffic reports in here, weather, its a riot. They move from classical, to a full on latin jazz which literally had me busting UP, but yet IMPRESSED! at one point they get to the "half-time show" as UW is winning the football game and they do a very "marching band" half time show moment! KICK ###--I loved! Madison will probably freak. Then it goes to the long distance dedication which is a very beautiful moment reaching out to all those you cant be with. Guard has waht I believe to be large flags with their hometown and zip code on it. Pretty sweet, near teery eyed moment. All of a sudden I realize--dont remember the ending much! LOL but it was all good because I stood up! Guard outfits were odd--like gray jogging suits. but it did the job I guess--guard seemed strong to me, but the judges didnt think so..oops. All elements were very dirty--but once cleaned up--this show will literally rock. my guess after cleanups (as it has the most potential) 13-11th place. Cadets--man was I nervous about this show. I am a Cadets fan...didnt LOVE last year in any stretch (my favorite show was Phantom-Gershwin--but I still thought Cadets should win). I was sold by the end of last year and maybe thats why once I saw this show, I wasnt nearly as freaked out as people were making me. I guess I am starting to accept the fact that the Cadets are like the yankees of DCI--you love them or you hate them and people that hate them LOVE to hate them! LOL Life goes on people. ANYHOW--The show had some awesome moments--vocals didnt distract me at all but that coudl be because the speakers near me didnt work--maybe that was a good thing. I am wondering why people dont get this show--its almost exactly like the real Alice in Wonderland with kind of a liek hip 70's psychedelic feel to it. Its called through the looking glass--does that not tell you Alice in Wonderland?? In many ways its more accessable then last years show. Some of the charachters are a little wacky--but that fits. The percussion is on FIRE!!!! HOLY CRAP! The one thing I could say is, I dont know how they are losing percussion to Phantom. They do a toss of a stick all the way across the snare line and the guy on the end catches it, and then after sends it back--very cool moment. Oh I forgot--not thrilled with the first 30 seconds--its ok, but it reintroduces last years theme. The section from Pollack is BEAUTIFUL and very well done. Again, if you know anything about the artist, then the show will make more sense to you being a little wacky. The other thing I would say is--the ending is so flat. I knwo they will beef it up for finals, but now its kind of just over. The crowd loved the show from where I was. Top 3 for sure--not 100% it will win. Phantom-yes guys in the guard and we go back to the less is more theme! LOL I said this year that the theme for color guards seem to be, tighter the better or less material is more. Half naked men right off. I dont know much about Faust and the story is told in its own way, but it seems to be about gay deamons trying to keep one of their own from turning straight! (I say that as a gay man so I mean no reference to gayness being a sin). It was a very tasteful show however. The lead male starts off before the show bwgins looking for the rigth girl and then seemingly meets his match in a beautiful yougn lady of the guard. The little deamon guys start of with leather masks on that was kind of creepy, yet I liked because it defintely gave this dark feel. At one point in the show they kill the girl and bring the boy back to their side. IN the end she is brough back and they are united and it goes well wiht the sound although I am not sure it is true to the story. Percussion is solid, but should not be beating Cadets--just my opinion. BRASS on the other hand--holy cow! I was shocked they didnt--BEAUTIFUL sound from them--very dark as we would expect. Ave Maria allows Phantom to give us the next WOW moment of the year--truly delightful. The section where they all play lower brass...cant be described without feeling it first hand--and I do mean FEEl it. Overall though, the show doesnt have it. I wish it did. Its beautiful in parts and touching in parts, but lacks the next level. Its not last year. I dont predict they will be top 3 again, id say somewhere in the very competive ranks of 6th-4th this year. Boston-#### nice show--oops probably shouldnt say that about Cathedrals huh? well it is..solid all the way around. Complete different approach from them. They carry the theme throughout the corps and show very well. The guard outfits seem to have cathedral like windows on them. I liked it. Guard was awesome--step up for them for sure--almost beat Phantom score wise and in my mind. Beat Phantom in GE visual and I think thats mostly because they just fit so well together and it just made sense. It all intergrated so well--and gave you a great southing feel like being in church. Percussion probably has the most work, but they will get there. The pillars and cathedral vaulted ceiling slowly comes together in the end to create a solid arch down the middle. Very cool moment, liked it a lot. Id say this show will be competitive wiht teh ranks of Phantom and Santa Clara this year. I put them also 6th to 4th place. Grwat show--rain held off which was nice! we had field seats which i dont know if they are offered any other place, but its worth the money if its not your only show--you get the feel of being right WITH the corps. Done it two years now and love it. The campus is beautiful at Endicott so it made for a great day all the way around. I welcome direct questions as it may jog my memeory on something I am leaving out. I hope you enjoyed the review--know that I tried to pull out the positives as much as possible because I have no affiliation to any corps from any time--I am just a fan who loves the activity and loves a GREAT show, no matter WHO is doing it! Thanks

I pick Cadets are ruining drum corps--I saw the show--saw room for improvement, loved parts of it, but certainly don't understand how it could take down anything let alone the AWESOME activity that is drum corps--is it too artsy for some? is it too cutting edge? yes--but then again so weren't many things that moved us in any forum to where we are now. Elvis and Rock and Roll didnt ruin music, nor did Rite of Spring destroy classical forever. Things change and evolve--its a fact of life--and honestly I don't think this show will be the most copied show ever, so I doubt it will even change the activity as much as those other things changed life. I am not going to stop going to drum corps or ball after the Cadets beat a classical drum corps show...I will simply say, good for them and wait for the next production to blow me away!

This was in regards to the Cadets--I am going to add my own review tonight--and much of it I will agree with you on and this quote in particular I just had to say--EXACTLY what I said. I remember an earlier review saying people didnt know what to think after and didnt clap--I dont think it was as much people didnt know what to think as it was we were unsure it was over! My roomy literally turned to me and said, "They are done right?" LOL it just didn't have a big IMPACT that says #### ya were done! I am sure they will add that by year end (I hope).

seems the brass judge wasn't too happy with our show! We have been up and down and all over. Congrats!

Great review! Needed a break at work so I read it and was dying laughing through half of it--but it really helped with a clear picture of what it was like to be there! Maybe more people shoudl write reviews with fast raw thoughts! LOL Thanks!

OUCH first loss of the season always tough Murphysboro, TN (Sons of Thunder Homeshow) 1 Emerald Regime................ 16.00 15.40 15.90 14.97 13.90 15.60 13.50 14.55 75.607 1 The Knights................... 16.00 15.40 13.90 15.15 15.60 13.51 16.10 14.00 75.532 Congrats to Emerald Regiment---UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN!!!!

Thats too bad--but thank you for the update! Makes the decision easier!

Thats too bad--Thanks so much for the update! I am going to check on again later this afternoon before I make the decision if I also head down from Maine or not!

I wrote to the corps yesterday to see if I could get any kind of info, but I did not. I am sure they were busy making last minute adjustments? Maybe hopeful that "the show must go on". The weather does look only slightly better than yesterday. 50% chance of rain by 7pm (show time)--we will see

I have to agree with what a few other people are saying--give them time. Last year early on--most of the people around me had no idea what the show was about--and I being a HUGE Cadets fan also was saying WTF?? I was actually pretty upset after the first viewing. By championships I was sold! Entertaining--well done--pushing the envelope (which is big in DCI these days). That being said--I still enjoyed Phantom's show in 2006 over Cadets--I still thought Cadets should win. Phantom's was more emotional and as a certain announcer would say "gets me where I live"--the one thing we have to remember is--sometimes the gets me where I live is who should win and sometimes the pushing the envelope should--until August, I'll reserve my judgement as for which one I am going for this year--without seeing a single show right now, I must admit, I'd full on ball to see Bluecoats get their first championships--but until I see all (or any shows for that matter) I will sit in dream! LOL I'd say you got a little overheated, but then suddenly I remembered me sitting in Madison in 2002 going NUTS that the cavies won with such a BAD show IMHO. and then 007 and I was like oj--Cavies are my yankees (yes I am a loser for New England Red Sox area)... Good review overall though--I liked the approach.

And again in Philly!!! Gave us our biggest scare yet--.167! EXCITING SHOW! Keep it coming!

I am humbled to have been considered a "key player" in such a great organization as FDCI. several announcements should be coming out today or in the next few days showing that all of the corps in CLASS, including both the Knights and Sunrise Surf plan on demanding respect within the DCP community through hard work, dedication and excellent shows. While we may be both new commers and topping the charts of DCP competitions all over the US (by the way all of our corps are currently undefeated in their dvisions/shows) we don't expect to just get by on our laurel's as FDCI defending Champions. We are also thrilled to see that stiff competition is just as much part of DCP as it was at FDCI, competition makes us all stronger and better than we dream we can be. We look forward to giving you our VERY best and nothing less. Gary L Currier President CLASS The Knights Executive Director

I am looking forward to this show--its always my first of the year and a fun when to get it started! Always love Spartans and ECJ but will miss Surf NOT being there.

I just wanted to take a second to say thank you for the welcome and challenges from everyone! I am glad the East already has such powerhouses in it so that we can continue to dominate the activity! EAST EAST EAST! It looks like this group already has a LOT of things going for it and I have been wanting to get involved for years, so I am glad I am finally take the leap, forced or not! I believe it was Star f Jupiter who mentioned it to me first, but as far as revenge--dream on! LOL I should warn you in my first year of FDCI I was rookie of the year and easily placed top 12 which back then, didn't happen that often for new corps as current corps had point advanatges! I am also a FDCI hall of famer, so I plan to come out fighting! All kidding aside--I look forward to the chat-competition and jabs. I can't spell and often rush these out, so if spelling is a requirement-kick me out now! LOL Is there a weekly "report" of any kind? In the old days we used to have one in FDCI and I actually edited it! Which is too ironic. I am always willing to assist or start one in my very unbiased views! LOL wishing all well!

As long as I am not taking it from anyone--Id like to host the Montreal Show on July 26th as the CLASS Championships hosted by LesBlanc Chevalier.

The Knights would like to host the CLASS Championships in or around Maine or Montreal..the suggestion would be Portland Maine at Hadlock Field, home of the Portland Seadogs. Its a small field holding about 7500, but there is also Fitzpatrick Stadium right next door which holds an additional 6k.

The Knights Drum Corps along with all CLASS corps (Corps League Association for Superior Sound) are pleased to announce their intent to join the DCP league. The Knights have a long history of quality culminating in a very successful season in 2005 that resulted in them being crowned the FDCI Champion in Div I in the 20th and final season of FDCI competition. The corps is excited about reaching in a new direction in their new family of corps. The move will also allow for some expansions from old sister corps to re-immerge in an exciting way. Corps Executive Director and President of CLASS Gary Currier stated that while he was sad that the years of fun in FDCI have now come to an end, he is highly anticipating the new direction and new attitude of the corps. Currier mentioned he welcomes any corps who wants to join CLASS in the pursuit of excellence and good sportsmanship to join the league. Currier also noted that he will miss the relationships developed through his position as FDCE director and hopes to be able to build upon those relationships in DCP FDC. The corps will be announcing schedule plans and repertoires in the very near future.