MikeN

Thanks for the mini-review! Honestly, I was expecting you to say that you *didn't* like them. :) Now I'm even more impatient for San Antonio! Mike

George - Write less. You're not allowed to win your own contest. That's *my* dvd you're taking away with the great review. :P Grrr. Now I've got to write a friggin' Tolstoy epic from San Antonio to beat that. Mike.

Thanks for the review! Mike

Thanks for the review! Mike

Me too. He was supposed to come down to stay with us and visit the San Antonio show in July, but couldn't make it. I miss him too. Mike

Thanks for the review! Are they wearing the same jackets this summer as last? Mike

What "no comment"? Oh. We should have put, "Rebuild - 4,000 posts at a time."? :) Mike

Was listening to 1984 on the way to work, and it occurred to me that solos were a lot longer back then. More measures. Just about every corps in the top 12 had solos longer than you'll hear *any* corps try today. G'men last year were a throwback. I wonder why that is? Mike

I did a writeup on the costs of Bb vs G horns a while back, and from the numbers I got it seems like the average breakdown (in DCI anyways) for the last 5 years comes to like 20-12-20-12 for sop/mello/bari/contra. Well, "average", anyways... :) Mike

That DB solo in 1990 was friggin' cool. As was the Cadet in '90. It looked like he smiled after she put the hat back on him. Or at least smirked. :) How about the two guys in '91 Cavies for The Bridegroom? 2001 Glassmen's euph will always be mentioned. I tell you what, if you want sweet G horn ballad solos, get Ornaments in Brass. I Wonder as I Wander is so beautiful. Mike

There are now. On Audiogalaxy. Mike

Just had the wonderful fortune to be able to hear the Crossmen's summer production as done this past week. This show is a solid, rocking journey already, and we haven't even begun yet! Heat of the Day starts with a quiet horn and pit swing, and then the middle horns come in with what sounds like a 6/8 single note rhythm over it. A very fast one. Even in this early point in the season, they've got great definition on the notes. Eventually, the rest of the horns add on, and after a long run, hit the power chord of the intro. The song, like a lot of Metheny, is hard to sometimes distinguish between 6/8 and other meters. I would say, though, that this song sounds like the Dark Lord of the Sith Metheny. Very Spanish - more like something the Blue Devils might play. The 6/8 single note rhythm keeps getting laid over the melodies, which adds to the tension of the piece. I kept getting reminded of Day Danse from the Blue Devils 1994/5 shows, but this one ratchets up the intensity a bit, and never really loses the swing to it. Candle in the Window seems to roll along about 120 bpm, though I'm just armchair guessing on that. It's a very restrained piece - no real big highs or lows to it, until the big hit right at the end (before the quiet denoument). Very old school DCI ballad. Surprisingly, there's not really a solo in it, either. They make up for it, though, with some great full-section high soprano parts. Drummers will be happy to note that there is a drum part to it, too... :) Strawberry Soup starts out with soft percussion. Then the brass comes in (also fairly softly) voice by voice, quickly reaching a power chord. Then to the melody we all know so well. For those of you who've heard this before, it feels like a cross b/w the Blue Devils and Madison Scouts in 1993, which means that it's pretty darn faithful to the original. The swing section has a short drum break in front of it in this version. The end of the swing section features some rippin' upper brass runs, then right back into the swing section again. Then, a *lot* of full corps unison hits. When you get to the quiet restatement of the melody (where Madison was singing in '93), the melody is repeated 4 times, once while the snares / tenors / basses / full battery get to wail. Sounds like the feature this year is integrated into the song proper. Oughta be interesting to watch to see how they highlight the drums visually, since they're not standing alone musically. Finally comes the show's ending, which seems to be in 5/4 and uses held-out chords with variants of SS being played under it to a final unison chord (or a 5th, I dunno, but not a major chord) while the entire battery churns out 16ths to a double quarter note corps-unison finish. Overall, this is going to be a great show. It's darker in tone than last year's music, especially with Senor Metheny being used this time instead of Happy Metheny. :) I was curious to see how this'd be pulled off using a composer that I'm not that fond of for an opener and an *old* corps standard for a closer, but they've managed to create a show that will leave no doubt that the Crossmen not only have a voice of their own, they'll make you remember it long after you've heard the show. Mike

Cool stuff. I've got to wait until my wife gets her new job, but I'll certainly be getting one to wear to San Antonio... :) Mike

Hey, all: I've still got a few songs I'm looking for original recordings for. I've got a bunch to trade, so if you're a fellow collector, shout out! Mike

Scouts for years have been the only corps willing to do it. Gotta love them, if just for that! :) Mike (Collector of preseason recordings)

6 hours left in the auctions. Here's the ones still going below DCI market rate: $11.50 1998 Finals 3 CD Set http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...;item=864438168 $22.50 1997 Finals 3 CD Set http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...;item=864438707 $25.00 1996 Finals 3 CD Set http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...;item=864439420 $23.50 1988 Collector Series 2 CD DCI Set http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...;item=864441998 $19.99 1987 Collector Series 2 CD DCI Set http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...;item=864442397 $10.00 1986 Collector Series 2 CD DCI Set http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...;item=864442709 $15.50 1985 Collector Series 2 CD DCI Set http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...;item=864443227 $10.00 1984 Collector Series 2 CD DCI Set http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...;item=864443725 $10.00 1983 Collector Series 2 CD DCI Set http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...;item=864444350 $10.00 1982 Collector Series 2 CD DCI Set http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...;item=864444823 $15.00 1981 Collector Series 2 CD DCI Set http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...;item=864445317 $21.50 1979 Collector Series 2 CD DCI Set http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...;item=864446144 $6.00 Blue Devils Through the Years, Volume 4 - 1990-1995 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...;item=864446754 $9.99 Phantom Regiment Classics, Volume 1 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...;item=864448835 $9.99 Phantom Regiment Classics, Volume 2 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...;item=864449107 I promise this is my last commercial for these! As before, mention you're DCP user id when buying these and I'll give free shipping. (At $5 per set, that can add up, too!) Thanks, Mike

Okay, this'll be my last post, I hope. I'll sweeten the pot. I've still got some CD's for auction on ebay that don't have bids. I'd rather get them all out the door now, rather than wait and relist a few of them, so I've lowered the prices on the remaining stepchildren CD's: 1998 Finals 3 CD Set 864438168 $10.00 1986 Collector Series 2 CD 864442709 $10.00 1985 Collector Series 2 CD 864443227 $10.00 1984 Collector Series 2 CD 864443725 $10.00 1983 Collector Series 2 CD 864444350 $10.00 1982 Collector Series 2 CD 864444823 $10.00 1981 Collector Series 2 CD 864445317 $10.00 Blue Devils Through the Years, Vol 4 - 90-95 864446754 $6.00 Ornaments in Brass, 1993 Printing 864448240 $6.99 Good luck finding any of these cheaper than this. Especially the collectors series. Even with DCI's sale, they're twice as much as these prices. Auctions end Friday. As before, mention you're a DCP member and get free shipping. Thanks, Mike

3 days left, and a bunch of cd's not spoken for. Ones without any bids: List with item # and opening price 1998 Finals 3 CD Set 864438168 $19.99 1986 Collector Series 2 CD 864442709 $19.99 1985 Collector Series 2 CD 864443227 $19.99 1984 Collector Series 2 CD 864443725 $19.99 1983 Collector Series 2 CD 864444350 $19.99 1982 Collector Series 2 CD 864444823 $19.99 1981 Collector Series 2 CD 864445317 $19.99 Blue Devils Through the Years - Vol 4, 1990 - 1995 864446754 $9.99 Ornaments in Brass, 1993 Printing 864448240 $9.99 Phantom Regiment Classics, Volume 1 864448835 $9.99 Phantom Regiment Classics, Volume 2 864449107 $9.99 Don't miss a chance to get these for less than DCI's selling. Mention you're a DCP member to me via pm or e-mail and I'll give free shipping! Mike (Replying to my own post to keep it in the same thread - not trying to spam my favorite site, here!)

Thanks for the review! Mike

Hey, all: I'm selling my DCI cd collection on Ebay. They're all going for lower than what DCI would charge. If you've ever had a year that you just missed, here's your chance. Say you're a DCP member (and which one you are...) and I'll waive shipping charges. PM me with any questions. Thanks! Mike List with item # and opening price 1999 Finals 3 CD Set 864437553 $19.99 1998 Finals 3 CD Set 864438168 $19.99 1997 Finals 3 CD Set 864438707 $19.99 1996 Finals 3 CD Set 864439420 $19.99 1995 Finals 3 CD Set 864440072 $29.99 1994 Finals 3 CD Set 864440481 $29.99 1993 Finals 3 CD Set 864441031 $24.99 1989 Collector Series 2 CD 864441591 $19.99 1988 Collector Series 2 CD 864441998 $19.99 1987 Collector Series 2 CD 864442397 $19.99 1986 Collector Series 2 CD 864442709 $19.99 1985 Collector Series 2 CD 864443227 $19.99 1984 Collector Series 2 CD 864443725 $19.99 1983 Collector Series 2 CD 864444350 $19.99 1982 Collector Series 2 CD 864444823 $19.99 1981 Collector Series 2 CD 864445317 $19.99 1979 Collector Series 2 CD 864446144 $19.99 Blue Devils Through the Years - Vol 4, 1990 - 1995 864446754 $9.99 Blue Devils Percussion - The Line 864447482 $9.99 2000 Mid-Season Selections 864447858 $9.99 Ornaments in Brass, 1993 Printing 864448240 $9.99 Carolina Crown Collection 864448490 $9.99 Phantom Regiment Classics, Volume 1 864448835 $9.99 Phantom Regiment Classics, Volume 2 864449107 $9.99 Star of Indiana - Brass Theater I 864449444 $9.99 Star of Indiana - Brass Theater II 864449690 $9.99 Star of Indiana - Brass Theater III 864449899 $9.99

The recordings are wonderful quality for preseason. Just off of show design, I'd say 5-6th is within reach. Of course, I felt their shows in 2000 and 2001 were designed as top 6 shows, too. Just had a feel to them. Well, here's hoping. Mike

I've lost my copy of tape 2 (the PBS top 6) of the 1990 finals, and the Usenet group hasn't been really helpful in replacing it in the last 3 years. People have committed to, then I've never heard from them again. If any kind soul has a clean version of that set, I'd love to get a copy. Would be willing to pay for the dub/shipping, or trade for other material. Just let me know. Thanks, Mike New

Chip, Where'd she march? Just curious. Mike New :D

Only seen the last 6 years live, but I don't think anyone has out-louded the 1998 Santa Clara Vanguard. Mike

Hi, I'm looking for either originals or copies of the DCI CD's from 90-92. I've got mp3's and the cassettes, but they're not translating to Audio CD well. For a trade, I'm willing to swap CD copy for copy. Just let mem know what you're looking for. Thanks, Mike