ech2os

Even though I love 1976 on a visceral level.....and basically 70 through 77 as well........I would agree if by best you are referring to the level of difficulty. I loved it. Wish they would have had a few more weeks to work out the drill. Don't know if it would have helped or not. I don't design shows or write music for a living, but the whole package looked head and shoulders more difficult than anything I have seen in DCA. Unfortunately, degree of difficulty doesn't necessarily translate into championships. Not a knock on other shows by other corps, just an indication of how much I thought of the 2004 Cabs program. Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga

I'll be there. Can't wait to see the show. Will be my girlfriends first drum corps experience, so it should be interesting :) Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

Jay.........We have never met, but interestingly enough..........as I have mentioned on here before........when I moved to Atlanta, Ga from Erie, Pa in February of 2000 I took a position with a company named S1. Imagine my surprise when in August of that same year I was early for a meeting and was introduced to a guy named Ed Morlot who was an IBM SNA (Systems Network Architecture) specialist for S1. We actually introduced ourselves as we were the first two to the meeting. I mentioned to Ed within moments of meeting him that I was going up North over Labor Day to go to a Drum Corps show that I had always attended with my Father. Ed said to me.......oh really.....hmm.......he says........my brother Jay is the Director of the Bushwackers. I was like........no way......no sir. Well obviously he was telling the truth:) Anyways, please accept my condolences and pass along the same to Ed. Regards, Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

Glad you got to see it Joe. I remember you mentioning it last year at DCA's. Maybe I am just a homer for the Cabs.........but............1976 Cabs is my favorite show of all time. I can't even imagine how many times I have listened to this record. To see it.......even in the format presented on the website is awesome. Goosebumps, Goosebumps, and more Goosebumps. When the soloist during the closer is hitting the note coming out of that one hit.......the mellophone line whaling....little moments like that are littered throughout the show and to me.......are what makes it so awesome. Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

A man can dream can't he:) Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

12 snares? B-A-utiful :) I can't wait. Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

With all due respect Thom..........I don't think you could take a bad picture of those unis:) Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

God I hope your sources are correct. Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

lol..oK......My Dad isn't a Pilot OR a Flight Attendant.....and I am 33 and not brilliant, lucky dumb, or disabled so I am not retired.......BUT.......I'll fly up twice a month if you split the airfare with me:) Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

With Stupid!!! :) Let's go Carolina Crown Style with 70+:) Laura.......I watched you guys practice at Muggs.......You must not have had the hat on because I don't rememeber seeing you. Kay....help me out:) Alan.....me and my Dad need Hotel Rooms again:) And by the way.....I liked the Diversion Through Egypt:) Go Hawthorne!!!!!!!!!!!! Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

Let's make it 06:60:60..............2006, 60 years, 60 horn players:) Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

This time next year............"In this corner.......from Hawthorne, New Jersey........10 Time World Champion".......oh wait....I am thinking of Ric Flair.........whoooooooo:) Go Cabs! I don't know about the rest of the country.....but flights from Atlanta to Buffalo have always been reasonable. Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

Although I couldn't agree more with many of the posts..........I still say that Ritchie Price left a lot on the table at finals despite winning Best Soloist. If ES would have just stopped the show for 10 counts and let him loose this conversation would probably be moot:) When he marched with Generations in Allentown several years ago........he walked backwards off the field by himself after the corps and hit some note that that tailed off into the stratosphere and undoubtedly sent many a neighborhood dog into auditory "cardiac arrest". Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

One of my favorite childhood memories was watching George and Butch in the early 80s. Total shame. Don't sweat the small stuff. Life is too short. Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

Had Pieorgies last night at Mugg's. They were really good if you like those things. Best part was the Yuengling.........I looked at my Dad and said.....man......2.50 for a draft (as in I love it) and the bartender overhears me and said......well........that's until 5.......at 5 they go to $1:) Awesome:) Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

Unless you are sitting in the audience:) Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

Will do Gary. See you guys there. Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

LOL. Gary.....are you kidding me:) Yeah he is going, but Grandpa Watters isn't going. We buy an extra every year so that he can make a gametime decision. Should be great seats on the aisle. Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

I have one ticket for Finals, Prelims, and Alumni Spectacular. The Finals and Prelims ticket is in Section 130 Row J, Seat 3. Let me know if you want the whole kit and kaboodle (sp? never tried to spell that slang before:)) for 80 bucks. Regards, Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

Steelahs :P Hey.......nobody besides Bobby Cox can get a team to the post-season only to go nowhere like Bill Cowher:) You just watch the Steelahs do it again this year:) Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

Watch it Pal:) Enjoy this run while it lasts because it might not happen for another 30 years:) By the way...I presume you are a Pats fan......nice "Ring of Fame" at Gillette......Steve Grogan.......puhlease......I was looking for Sam "Bam" Cunningham. Go Steelers:) Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

Maybe I'll eat my words and take this back after actually seeing them in Scranton.......but I have a 100 bills that says the Kilties got the royal screw job tonight. And I have no affiliation with the corps whatsoever. Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

^OO^

I almost bought the Ali analogy, but then I thought to myself.......you know what.......100's of 1000's of people each year pay great money to watch John McEnroe play Jimmy Connors and are entertained. They aren't sitting in the stands ridiculing their serve and mobility from some self absorbed pulpit. This all comes back to expectations, open-mindedness, and relativity. Its not like the Alumni Corps was on the field to try and "follow up" Garfield. Nevermind....I have said enough over the last couple weeks. oh wait....maybe not:) I am not kidding you......when I first saw the Cabs Alumni Corps in Allentown back in the Mid 90's........I almost cried. My Dad, sitting next to me, looked like Iron Eyes Cody. And you know what.....it wasn't because I grew up listening to Hawthorne, although that may have something to do with it......its because for so many years.......not for a couple here and there.....they just blew everyone's face off. Your talking about 60+ horns 30 years ago when you could spit in any direction and hit a Jr. or Sr. Drum Corps. There were Characters in Drum Corps.....personalities that gave the "Big Boys" their own personna. Russo, Parks, Anderson, Notaro, Olderman, etc etc. I guess that is another difference between Jr. and Sr. Corps........or at least what used to be a difference. The personality and the longevity of certain people helped attach the audience much more so than a Jr. Corps is capable of. Again......That isn't a slam. Again....I have my tickets for Madison and I went to Boston and I am going to Scranton. I LOVE Jr. Drum Corps. Walk into the crowd at DCI's and ask somebody who was the Drum Major for the Garfield Cadets in 1976.........then go into a DCA show and ask the audience who was the Drum Major for the Hawthorne Caballeros in 1976. See which audience gets the answer correct most often. Does that emotional attachment impact a fans perception of the music.....possibly. But again.......if you ever become capable of adjusting your standards to be more accomodating.....I think you will open a whole world of entertainment that myself and a load of other folks are fortunately able to enjoy. And for the record, one of my top 5 favorite drum corps shows of all time is 1982 Garfield Cadets. So I hope the fact that I do understand what you are saying about Jr. Corps and I have been going to Jr. Shows for 25 years lends more credibility to my comments about The Greatest Drum Corps of All Time.......The Hawthorne Caballeros:) BTW........ask the guys from The Renegade's Mini Corps that I spoke with back in Syracuse the year before they brought the competing corps to finals......they were ex sop players from BD and SVC......and they couldn't get enough Sr. Corps. Somehow, they were able to check their Jr. expectations (not standards, knowledge, or preferences) at the door and were able to begin an experience that was more rewarding than they could have ever imagined. As always, Regards, Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

I have already told my Dad that if I can't get Hawthorne to play at his funeral, that I am going to buy Caballero Uniforms for the Erie Thunderbids and pay them to do it:) He lives in Erie. Naturally he loved the idea. Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.