On the 50

In any "normal" year, I'd be heading up to Indianapolis right now for a week of total drum corps immersion. Doing the SCV percussion recording session on Wednesday, checking out the lot on Thursday before going into the stadium, seeing Semis in its entirety (assuming we finish lunch in time), SoundSport and Finals on Saturday. And in between, enjoying walking around downtown Indy, meeting up with friends and eating at the most peculiar hours. So, my eye is always on the weather forecast for the week. Looks like the weather would have been PERFECT for the whole week in Indy - even to the point where opening the roof would have been possible (even though it still wouldn't happen). Figures . . . Shawn

I'd have to look up capacity at the time of show, but Olympic Stadium in Montreal was pretty big (otherwise they wouldn't have had >41,000 on concert side in 1981). There has been at least 1 show in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville (current capacity >102,600). Capacity in the past was over 107,000. The Rose Bowl was over 100,000 in the past, but is now smaller due to replacing bleachers with chairback seats in some sections and other renovations. The new MetLife stadium at the Meadowlands is one of the biggest in the NFL, along with Jerry's World in Arlington, TX. The biggest stadiums though are in the college ranks, with Michigan Stadium (aka The Big House) topping the list. The stadiums for Penn State, Ohio State, Texas A&M, LSU, Alabama, and Univ. of Texas are all in the Top 10 I believe. In terms of seating capacity for drum corps (concert side), Camp Randall is still one of the biggest. Shawn

Crown did a Beatles tune last year ("If I Fell"), and that was included in both the CD and Blu-ray sets. I am optimistic that the entire Bluecoats show will be on the discs. I think we could see edits in BD's show once again. It's interesting that there are no issues with streaming the shows live multiple times during the season and NOTHING is muted from any corps. I would think that would be as big an issue as the license for the discs.

I have a few extra tickets for DCI Prelims (only) for sale in Sec. 140 (center section). There are 3 pairs of seats just off the 50 yard line in Rows 18 and 19. This is absolutely the place to be for the best sound in Lucas Oil Stadium. Asking face value ($59 each). PM if interested. Shawn

I have an extra ticket (friend won't be able to make it) for the Katy show on July 19. Front row of upper deck on the 50 (specifically, Sec. D, Row 1, Seat 14). It literally doesn't get better than this - great sound and visual. Asking face value - $58. PM if interested. Shawn

Jeff, You have 3 Santa Claras listed. You can only pick one! I like the JD pick though. Shawn

Each year after the first few shows, once I've had a chance to see everybody, I "take inventory" so to speak and gauge how good a year it seems to be. I do a little comparison of each corps' current show to the previous year's show - better, worse, or about the same (hey, I'm an optometrist, so it's in my nature ). The quality and engagement level of show design of course fluctuates in this activity as in any creative endeavor. If most corps are better or at least as good as the prior year, it's a good year. I've often thought , particularly doing this comparison, "Wouldn't it be awesome if every corps knocked it out of the park with their show design and had their best show ever - all in the same year?" Of course, this would never happen and it would make the next year a pretty big letdown most likely. But it's fun to think about. Or, what if you could bring back any show from the past and see it live? What would your "Ultimate Finals" look like? There have been lots of discussion and polls over the years about the best or favorite shows, but I don't recall seeing one quite like this. Here are the criteria: pick twelve different corps (not different shows/years from the same corps) and the show from each that would be in your personal Ultimate Finals competition, as well as the performance order and venue. This doesn't necessarily have to be what you think are the "best" or highest scoring shows, but the ones that would make for the most enjoyable evening for you personally. And I'm not looking for scores or how you think the competition would shake out - just what would leave you the most entertained by the performances on their own merits. You can choose any Finalist show from any year in the DCI era. Here's my Ultimate Finals: Venue: Camp Randall Stadium - Madison, WI (packed to the gills) Weather: Clear skies, 79 degrees, calm wind, 35% humidity Before the Show - Future Corps outside the stadium 7:00pm - National Anthem - Al Chez 7:06pm - 2000 U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps (Exhibition) 7:30pm - 1992 Crossmen 7:47pm - 1980 Spirit of Atlanta 8:04pm - 1980 Bridgemen 8:21pm - 2004 Cavaliers 8:38pm - 1993 Star of Indiana 8:55pm - 1995 Madison Scouts 9:12pm - Intermission - DrumLine Battle: The Old Guard vs. Hellcats 9:35pm - 2016 Bluecoats 9:52pm - 1987 Garfield Cadets 10:09pm - 2013 Carolina Crown 10:26pm - 2017 Blue Devils 10:43pm - 2008 Phantom Regiment 11:00pm - 2018 Santa Clara Vanguard 11:25pm - 1994 27th Lancers Alumni Corps (Exhibition) 11:47pm - Ambulance to nearest ER, possibly coroner

I will ALWAYS take physical media over streaming options. Streaming can be taken away easily - what are your options for watching 1984 Suncoast Sound right now? But nobody is ever coming to my home to confiscate my DVD/Blu-ray library. Video and audio quality are better (less compressed) on physical media in general also. The sound quality of the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio alone is worth the cost of the Blu-ray, and you can't get that any other way right now. Streaming can be more costly over time, whereas a disc is a one-time purchase for unlimited viewing forever. I'll pay pretty much whatever they want to charge for the blu-ray - keep 'em coming! Shawn

Well, as many folks remember, Oakland Crusaders won drums in Prelims in 1977 but the corps did not make Finals. BD won drums in Finals that year. Probably the right call on '82 Bridgemen. It would have to be in the tick system. Lowest placement in the "modern" (non-tick) era for a caption winner I think is 2010 Phantom Regiment (won the Sanford but finished 6th).

There are no APDs (Audio Performance Downloads) any longer (haven't been since Tresona got into the mix). Live streams of select shows are all that there are currently until edited audio and heavily edited video products appear around the holidays.

The ticket has been sold. Shawn

I have a single Semifinals ticket for sale - Sec. 140, Row 19, Seat 7. This is on the 47 yard line - ideal seat for sound. Asking face value ($89). PM if interested. Shawn

Anyone going to the show tonight, please be aware of MAJOR road construction on Middle Tennessee Blvd. on the west (concert) side of the stadium. Many connecting roads are blocked off and it's two lane traffic instead of the normal four. Better to come in from the north or east sides. Some of the parking lots around the School of Music are inaccessible.

Glad to see a thread on The Smoking Section on DCP! I have seen them probably about 20 times (although I missed last night's show), and they are THE REAL DEAL. They put on a fantastic, fun show at the best small venue in Nashville (3rd & Lindsley). The depth of talent in Music City is incredible; even when they have subs in the band (which is often because these are A-list folks and in demand) and they are SIGHT-READING these complex charts, there is no noticeable drop-off in quality! They are one of many awesome bands in Nashville along with the Eaglemaniacs (Eagles and Don Henley), Twelve Against Nature (Steely Dan / Donald Fagan), Make Me Smile (Chicago), Live From Ventura Boulevard (70s soft rock), Vinyl Radio (70s classic rock), Soul Cages (Sting / The Police), The Long Players, The Bottom 40 (progressive fusion jazz), The Tom Hemby Band (contemporary jazz), on and on. As others have said, Nashville isn't just country music! If the Adele cover isn't your thing, check out what they did with Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off":

Interesting show. I wonder how they got permission for the John Williams piece (from A.I.)?

Final Update - All tickets have been SOLD.

Update - Here's what I have left: Semifinals: 1 Ticket - Sec. 140, Row 18, Seat 7. Prelims: 4 Tickets - Sec. 140, Row 18, Seats 7, 8, and 9; and Row 19, Seat 14. Shawn

I have extras. PM me (your box is full apparently). Shawn

I have extra tickets for DCI Semifinals and Prelims for sale. These are Friends of DCI tickets in Section 140 (50 yard line). Semifinals: Sec. 140, Row 18, Seats 7, 8 and 9; and Row 19, Seats 13 and 14. $79 each. Prelims: Sec. 140, Row 18, Seats 7, 8, 9, 12 and 13; and Row 19, Seats 12, 13 and 14. $59 each. PM if interested. Shawn

No prohibition on photography - just video. Take as many pictures as you like with whatever equipment you want to bring. I've brought a Canon 7D with a big 70-200 mm zoom lens into Lucas Oil and other DCI venues without any problem. I've seen plenty of others with nice DSLR cameras as well. Just be considerate of those around you. White balance can be a problem in outdoor venues, particularly as the sun sets. You might try manual adjustment with the Kelvin scale and experiment. Also, you might consider shooting RAW to correct any white balance issues in post. Need a fast shutter speed (<1/500) to stop motion, so you may need a pretty high ISO for anything under the lights.

One of the tickets has been sold; I still have one left. Shawn

All tickets have been sold. Shawn

I have a few extra tickets for Prelims and Semifinals in Indy. They are Friends of DCI tickets in the lower center section - by far the best sound location in the stadium. Semifinals: Sec. 140, Row 18, Seats 7 & 8 and Row 19, Seats 7 & 8 (block of 4) - $75 each Prelims (Thursday): Sec. 140, Row 18, Seats 7, 8 & 9 and Row 19, Seats 7 & 8 (block of 5) - $55 each The 50 yard line is between seats 10 and 11 in this section. PM if interested. Shawn

Ohio, I'm sure there will be, but attendance is usually over 9000 (I believe over 11,000 last year at Vanderbilt). So you may be pretty far out if you buy at the ticket window. Shawn

Correction - Seats 12 & 13, not 8 & 9. These are on the 49 yard-line, Side 1, essentially 23 rows up. Shawn