craiga

Thanks! Does this mean that Boston is on AFTER Int?

Anyone in Iowa tonight?

The Teal Sound situation (that's what I'll call it since I do NOT know the facts behind the scenes) is not analagous to BAC 1982. Boston did, in fact, finish their season that year including going to Nationals and competing with its full membership and staff. Their reorganization happened in the off season.

At the show in Quincy, MA three nights ago, yes, the "CYO Nationals", the show began with a prayer by a Catholic Monsignor praying for the good health and safety of all the particpants. Nobody died or burst into flames. Really.

Yes, there is a network of kids from a wide variety of corps who get together at shows during their free time after they perform. They locate each other via their cell phones and they come together each evening for spiritual time. I frankly was completely unaware of this until several BAC members told me about it last summer on tour. With the modern touring demands, I can forsee no way in which a corps could provide church time on Sundays.

It should be a full panel tonight, and parking isn't as bad as it looks. And BRASSO, I live in SOUTHERN MAINE, so it's only 90 minutes from my house as long as traffic is moving freely over the Tobin Bridge~ Should be a great show!

HA! Dude, there are some current DCI judges who judged ME when I was marching, and I joined BAC at the end of 1979!~

DCI doesn't host regular shows on tour; a local sponsor has to come up with the organization and $$ to host a "DCI-Sanctioned" show. For example, I attended the show in Fort Edward, NY last weekend which was hosted by the Glen's Falls Lions Club. The next night, there was a show in Lynn, MA hosted by the Beverly Cardinals Alumni. Chances are good that both of these groups had the workers and $$ to accomplish this. The upfront costs for a DCI show to the sponsor can be between $20,000 and $50,000.....alot of money for a local sponsor, to be sure.

Aren't these shows in the Northwest usually smaller shows? Perhaps they have taken on a greater prominence because BK and BAC are in them this year? And, how is a show with six corps considered a "mini-show"? From what I've been reading, it would appear that the fans out there are really enjoying these shows. I'm not seeing a downside here~

Over 30 years ago........

1. The Cadets 2. BD 3. Phantom 4. Crown 5. Boston 6. Bluecoats 7. SCV 8. Madison 9. Cavaliers 10.Spirit 11.Blue Knights 12.Crossmen

Ok, so I have no dog in this race...I enjoyed the show and here are a few unvarnished thoughts on each corps in competition: 7th Regiment: This corps has made huge strides since last year. The hornline (while not any larger this year-I think I counted 22) is already displaying an increased level of maturity musically. The corps switching to bright blue plumes which match the front of the uniform look great....color is always good, and this pops out at you. 7th's battery has come to play this year. I think I recall the line being 6-3-5, and these guys have a GREAT stage presence. Speaking of which, major KUDOS to the visual team...the hornline is marching incredibly well. Spatial relationships and form awareness were very solid (espcially so for what I think was their first weekend out). Marching technique was stronger than a couple other groups, including a world class corps. Great work 7th! I even bought a shirt. Spartans: These two corps are every bit as close as the numbers indicate. 7th is much cleaner at this stage, while the Spartans have the edge on numbers. Actually, I think the two horn lines are only about 9 or 10 players different in size and the battery sections are almost identical in terms of numbers. The big advantage for the Nashua team is their guard. It is huge and the writing (except for an incomplete book during the percussion feature) is great. As with the drill, the guard isn't as clean as 7th right now, but sheer numbers and the book itself are impressive. Also, a shout out to whomever chose the show silks...they are great! Dramatic, colorful, and they fill the field. I am looking forward to seeing these guys again in a few weeks! Jersey Surf: This show is alot of fun, but this corps makes me feel bi-polar. On the one hand, because I was a college kid marching in BAC during much of the Bridgemen music Surf treats us to, I am filled with warm memories of In the Stone, William Tell, etc. The corps looks to be full size, and I really enjoy the show (the dancing cymbal line is a hoot!). However, as a visual person, I think these uniforms are problemtaic. They are all blue, but with pretty much the same cut as the vintage Bridgmen "raincoats" and floppy hats. In the current era of tailored, form fitting uniforms and aggressive hornline visuals/body work, these coats might be a detriment. Part way through the show, they do take them off to reveal bright yellow and black vests which resemble the Bayonne color scheme. When they do, the corps instantly looks better. The other point that many folks my age tend to forget is that MOST corps in the 70s' didn't exceed 144 bpm+-.....this show reminds us of that, and while it IS a fun show, it feels (to me at least) like one of my legacy dvds-slow motion. But, again, the show offers much and the hornline handles the "Bridgemen Hop" very well, and the butterflies are beautiful. Crossmen: Going from Surf to the Crossmen was like a time warp. Crossmen move aggressively, in very sharp black and white form fitting uniforms, and hold your visual interest. They had a bit of a pile up somewhere around the 40 on Side 2 about midfield. It looked like 5 or six brass players went down during a high velocity backing move, but ALL of the kids recovered by the next move...in fact, this was one of the better recoveries I've seen. Good work guys, and I hope everyone is ok. Back to the show, Crossmen look to me to be a bit older this year, and their visual design utilizes the entire field. I personally didn't recognize any of their music, but the program does work emotionally. The ending set of the show (a compressed circle for the whole corps) is effective and dramatic, but the audience seemed hesitant to applaud at the end (even though there were several great applause points during the show). Crossmen ARE quite good this year, but down endings can always be a two-edged sword. In any event, Bones alums fear not---the corps IS back on track! Colts: Another corps who is having a great year are the Colts. They also are marching very well, and there are three or so very young-looking members of the hornline who everyone should know are getting it done. I love the aggressive nature of the battery, and even though I'm not a drummer, the Colts battery really seemed to me to sell the show. Nice job here, guys. As with the Crossmen, I didn't recognize most of their music, but the show works and I did notice the tune I did know was being hummed along by many of the audience. The Colts are also a step up this year, and special note to Colts DM(the one who starts the show on the podium)....he had the best salute of the night. Cadets: People who know me KNOW that I am not a homer for the Cadets. It has been fashionable here on DCP of the last few weeks when reviewing them to say something like "when I heard it was Christmas music, I had my doubts, blah, blah blah". Seriously? That's clap. This corps could play "Row, row, row your boat" and stomp the stuffing out of most of their competition. This show is no exception. The Cadets REMAIN the masters of high velocity motion. They are clean, tight, and their hornline marches the bejesus out of this show. When certain other top corps choose 10 minutes of follow the leader at a medium swing tempo or spend 90 seconds mid show posing and pointing, along come the Cadets and simply blow everyone away. This show is incredible and performed at an incredible level (except of tuba feet phasing during "Do you hear what I hear" when they're transitioning into a file way back in the corner on Side 1---it happened at Fort Edward also, and it is surpising because everything else is so darned good). The guard is stellar as usual, as is the percussion section. The spinning Christmas presents remind me of their spinning flagless poles last year--very effective. I love this show, and if you don't think it will be contesting for first place, you're ignoring history. Cadets 2: This was an unexpected. I thought there would be the traditional horn arc by someone as the encore. Instead, as Cadets were leaving the field at on end, entering at the other was Cadets2, dressed in maroon and gold and coming on the field in a tight block! They performed their entire field show, with drill, in what the audience was told was their first performance. Before I go any further, I have to admit that I haven't been to a DCA or All-Age show in 20 years, so I do NOT know what level those corps are at these days. And , C2 is obviously not on par with their big brother. However, the play like the big corps, they march like the big corps, they look and sound like the big corps, and it seems as though they were pretty much the same AGE as the big corps. They seemd to have about 10 or so holes in the hornline. I wonder...if they get around to say, August 10th or so, and they find, I don't know..10 or so hornplayers from the big corps who want to march another three weeks, couldn't those kids fill these holes for DCA Champs? If so, the DCA folks need to know this corps should NOT be underestimated...they might well rock the boat in September..very impressive performance tonight by C2. It was a great show. Manning Field, (which announcer Paul Cain insists on calling the Manning Bowl ) was packed, and as he was announcing the various dates for the three OTHER local DCI shows and one DCA show in the next month, it occured to me that drum corps is alive and well in Massachusetts!

I think it is billed more as a "community exhibition".....still a great performance opportunity for the corps involved and a nice event for the local folks.

Also, I recall that at this point last summer, BAC was 4.8 BEHIND Madison...the final result, of course, was different. All I know is they are hard at work in Oregon today as we speak working on the show....

The Red Sox approached BAC about this last winter. Despite the annual debates here on DCP about BAC really being from Boston, the corps remains the oldest, continuously operating youth activity in the city. As such, it was a natural idea. As far as corporate sponsoring goes, I have no knowledge of that. However, every year at the BAC Spring Fling fundraising event, the Red Sox (as well as the Pats, the Celts, and the Bruins) donate signed memorabilia for the silent auction. These items have been hugely popular, and generated considerable funds for the drum corps.

The first major regional with everyone there may prove to be....interesting. The various rating scales both here on DCP and elsewhere are food for thought, but I wonder--does anyone here believe that Boston chose the show it did with "staying in 8th" as a goal? BAC is currently flying under the radar because of where it's been performing and and the shows it's been in.....as they begin making their way east next week, this will change. There are at least two corps who might well be surprised when they finally meet.

Indeed it is BAC...and it is shown at every home game in celebration of Fenway's 100th Anniversary. Civilians wouldn't notice the difference, but we drum corps officianados may notice that the are 2008 uniforms with 2011 plumes, for example. The video was produced in early Spring, when the corps' equipment truck (carrying the current uniforms) was still in Florida, but the other set of uniforms was at the corps headquarters in Mass.... Drum corps always find a way to make it happen.....lol. And yeah, they look great!

Thanks for posting these photos...I'm not sure i understand the technical aspects of how you're able to do this, but they are much appreciated. Hope BAC is under the lights tonight....

Thank you. I think Boston is on @ 7:43, so you can probably extrapolate the other times from there. Does Santa Clara High have lights that work?

Does anyone have the order of appearance?

This is true, plus the costs associated with things like judging fees, police/ems coverage, and other fixed costs do not lessen simply because there are fewer corps.

LOL----to we folk who live here on the East Coast, Blue Knights ARE a western corps, as are the Troopers! I guess it all depends on where you're from....

Flammaster, you are correct. In fact, that little tidbit is one of many shared with the corps members every year during history night (which actually was held this morning ) Another little secret for you: What is the only current DCI corps to NOT (yet) have been beaten by the Boston Crusaders? Answer: Blue Devils

Today (Mon 6/25) BAC has a well-deserved break....Corps History session, laundry, then free time in San Francisco! What a great experience for a corps membership which is predominantly East coast.... Have a great time Boston!