Sopmedic

That screamer with Cabs is my boy Drew Wilkie most likely. He's ok......

As usual I don't "chime in" to often but I feel I need to here for a little rant. Drum corps is a weird thing to me. As I love the new stuff DCI puts out every year and I love just as much the old school balls to the wall in your face "G-bugle" stuff. But one thing I have noticed after a couple years with the cabs is that whenever we try something out of the normal caballero idium it just plain ol falls on deaf ears..... The "pyramid" show was just as weird for the members as it was for the people who paid good money to see us perform. It just doesn't work for the cabs! (And I was the poster boy for the 1993 uniform!) On an average, people only get to see the cabs maybe once or twice a year! (thats a guess) and I don't know about you, but when I go to see a drum corps show I go to it because I want to feel that moment, or hear that corps I love, and yes to get my "face blown off!" (If I go to a Rush concert and they don't play YYZ I'd be ######) I wanna hear Hurcs play mag 7, cadets play rocky point, and Cabs RUMP their little ##### off. And as a former marching member of the cabs to ALL the people who feel the same way as the "same ol ####" haters, all I can tell you is if you ever marched in the Caballeros and felt what we feel after or during a performance of that "same ol stuff" your attitude will surely change. For most it will never happen and you will continue to "hate". But honestly? We don't care what ya think! If championships were awarded for standing ovations............ I would need a MUCH bigger jacket.

With the whole sidelined soloist thing......I do not like it. I just think if I have to do it and move then they should to HAHAHAHAH!!! I understand the sidelined soloists but as with anything else, only if it is done tastefully. I really don't like when they hide on the sideline the whole time while the corps is playing a sick lick, then at the end of the lick they decide to jump out and either tag a high note or bring something up an octave and it completely takes away from the rest of the line. It's like they want to say "Hey everybody look what I can do after everyone else played the hard stuff". Unless it is written into the show and done tastefully I just think it pulls away from the ensemble sound.

I remember in the early to mid 90's......(well for the most part i remember them hahahaha) and your right there was a mutual respect between the corps then. Especially when the vets from each corps knew each other and told us new guys about who and what the other corps were about. back on topic tho, 1996......I still gotta go with that one on here......(yes i am biased) Oh and Phantom vanguard.......now I may have more time to re-work the corps direction and perhaps hire additional staff. Donnie if your interested I need an upper soprano vibrato tech. The pay is decent and Timmy Campbell has mentioned interest in marching, albeit in some place south of Hawthorne that is due to freeze over?? (not to sure what he meant hahaha) If your interested send resume asap.....I hear Deamer is in to.

I agree. I think DCA as a whole was so much different then and the competition between Cabs, Bush, and Empire was awesome

That actually means a lot Fran thanks....... I will save the names from this story for sake of embarrassment but here goes. Every corps as we know thinks they are the best. And thats great. Theres been many times I thought the cabs should have won and for one reason or another we did not. The older guys always used to say to me "Welcome to DCA kid". And after the announcements were made I turned to one of my best friends to this day who I met in 1996 and said "I guess this is what they meant by welcome to the DCA...." We were both in tears as was most people that night. Fast foward to 2006. The same guy I met in 1996 ended up marching next to me EVERY year after that until we both left in after the 06 season. In 2006 the corps was unbelievable. The horn line was probably one of if not THE best horn line I ever had the honor of playing in. The corps in the beginning of the season was tweaking the show like most corps do. The brass caption head called me and said "we are thinking of adding something to end of the show and was wondering what ya thought about it." Turns out they talked to Jim Prime (who wrote the opener in 1996) and with permission they took the tag at the end of the opener and it fit perfectly in the end of our show and generated the excitement and intensity they were looking for. Knowing how much the 1996 show meant to the Caballero organization, the remaining members who marched in 96 were psyched to play it the first friday night we got it. the new members also knowing the history of 96 were just as excited. So we play thru it........And the flashbacks started happening. The Flashbacks were in fact overwhelming to myself and to my friend. And needless to say we were a bit misty eyed. And even tho we did not win that year. Even tho it was my last year with the corps. even tho we lost by a TENTH in 1996 One of the best memories I have from corps is knowing I got to end my drum corps career cryin like a baby with my friend next to me, playing that little tribute to the 1996 corps one more time. Musicaly it was the greatest way to end my marching career......

Well I have not posted on here in a while so first let me say hi to Ponzo, Donnie, Jeff Ream, and anyone else who still thinks phantom vanguard is the best corps ever to march on the field. And now for my vote..........(with no offense to anyone involved in the 1996 westshoremen) 1996 Cabs in my opinion wins this by a LONG run....... that corps was one of the greatest things I have ever been a part of. The show itself and the performance that night was legendary !! I know im biased and not everyone will agree but just watch and listen to the shows........

I was on the A team............ And Dennis I may have to bring my Kanstul out of the case now just for fun!

HI TIM!! I bet Tim can still run circles around most of the people out there !!! HAHAHA AHHH memories.........

I dunno Frank.......you, me, Curt, heck I will call Timmy, Deamer, and Bruce and we can have one heck of a 95 / 96 reunion!!! Ya think Donna would let Timmy do it ?? Gordito would have to slide down to 2nd I think. OH and we can find David Brock and shove white castles down his shirt for the parades!

The other soprano was Pete Fox. And I THINK that was Mike WInfield that played the upper register stuff in the sextet. Timmy Campbel, Ponzo, and Pete had some fun as well.......... Sounds like an epic show I gotta admit.........Can't wait to hear it. See everyone at the open house. (I may bring my mouthpiece) ^0^

Congrats to Malloy and Freeman.........Guess which one is named FROGGY !!!! hahaha Seriously Bucs, These two guys are good friends of mine and you are definately lucky to have them. LOTS of knowledge to pass on to all of you from the two of them.......................... And Malloy has great New York...........

Stay strong Fran........I will be thinking of both of you guys!

Have fun in Wildwood ! Always a good time down there. Sorry I couldn't work it out for the season. But like Al said it is one of those years that other priorities have to come into play! I will be at as many shows as I can supporting ya all. On a personal note and again to play off of Al's post, it is just one of those things. My first year (1993) we had I THINK 42 horns. I was soprano 17 out of 18. The only reason I wasn't 18 was because the guy in the 18 hole wouldn't give it up! (He ended up being my serrogate corps father Love ya JOHN!) I have been in horn lines with 52, 60, 64, you name it. But EVERY year there is a hole. ALWAYS a hole. I think it is just one of those drum corps "things". But it works itself out. And as one of those long time members who can't do it this year, it is going to be VERY weird to adapt to non member life. I am already going thru withdrawls. But after 15 years it is a challenge I am up for!!! (Do people really sleep past 6AM on the weekends in the summer?) Anyways good luck to my whacky bell bottom wearing psychos. Your in good hands with that staff and if anyone needs the rules for bus #2 I am only a phone call away!

Chris that was 2000. One of my fondest memories in drum corps! It was absolutely insane. Another was 1996 Cabs.........DAM !