scouttimp

Bro, you beat me to it! See y'all at Semis! (I guess we won't make finals...)

how about this- best: the day I woke up and realized that I was ageing out and couldn't do this anymore. worst: the day after when I woke up and realized that I was aged out and couldn't do this anymore.

for my horn I used Brasso about twice a year, but then my "horn" was a set of copper bowl timps... for my shoes? three simple words- white field spraypaint!

Ameristar Kansas City ...on my way the next day to Madison for Alumni Corps Rehearsal! I might just wear a Madison T!

Mike was in the '85 ensemble that got 100, and then scored an individual 100 in '89 (I think!). And Jeez, Jeff, I don't call that thing you play a trombonium! Mike played the vibes. He did however play the wicked xylo run in Slaughter his age out year. One of the many brothers I wish could have done the reunion corps with us!

Done several times in the 80's For sure, Cavaliers 1985- first Planets show (from them!). Pretty sure Star did it as well, in the '86 John Williams show. I know I learned that trick from drum corps...

Unfortunately, No Feeneys- I spoke to Pat (he works as an LAPD cop). All 3 bro's couldn't do the gig, but I hope to see them all at the performance. It was a pleasure to march with all of them in my time. John Hendrickson I don't know, and I didn't find his name on the list. Sean Owens YES, and he has a prominent role in a few spots.

You can see me start the show on the concert snare on audience right (dada dat dada dat dada rrrrrrrPAK) Close up on the vibes after the fanfare (I'm the one who's NOT the unparalleled Mike Knutson!). Big bad close up at the end of the show, last few notes of the mello solo before the spin to the wedge on kettle-drums. I found out later that I'm also famous for my scraggly hair when I take my hat off to accept the medal from Ms. Pesceone during retreat. People still come up to me and say "you're the guy with the hair..."

Who carried those frikkin' triples! Glad it wasn't ME!

I was there, and remember it well. The first group on was Phoenix from Japan- just off the planes and jetlagged, wearing dark green scout-type wool unis. They had like 30 kids swoon or pass out, so many that there weren't enough people who spoke both English and Japanese to translate for the first aid crew. Colts went on while they tended to the stricken, and they cancelled the show after that. I remember that there was some kind of Sunday evening noise ordinance so they put the show on in the afternoon- Frikkin' brutal! Saturday rehearsal in Jackson was the hottest I ever was as a spectator- Followed by cold rain that night...

Props to '86-'87 SCV green Pearls- I Needed a set with that finish, and found out that it would be an expensive special order, and would take 6 months to deliver. Then, in about '93 I walked into my local drum shop (www.explorersdrums.com) and saw a 6 piece kit in identical color-I bought the drum set I still use today. The first Pearl Masters birch recording custom ever in the midwest- straight from the NAMM show. That being said, my faves are the '95(?) Madison Yamahas that had the actual material from the sash as a wrap. Awesome match to the uni!

I could almost make a case for '75-'76 for the amazing accomplishment of the staff and members in '76 (the entire show was re-written halfway through the season, changing both drill and songs finishing third! That will NEVER happen again.), but I agree with Brother Clay: 1984-1985. Hey CW- are you doing the reunion?

How about this... Eliminate judging during weekday shows all summer. Sunday-Thursday shows have no retreat, an encore by the closest local corps, and a taped evaluation by the staff. Corps members and staff focus on what THEY want to improve upon, and the local audience (i.e. Dubuque) get to hear an extra performance by a local group (The Colts). Save the money spent on moving and housing judges! Weekend shows (and regionals) will be judged by the best the activity has to offer, BUT those judges are required to NOT read caption scores from any other show. If the Southwind drumline outplays Boston on Saturday the 28th, they should score higher, even if Boston scored higher on the 21st (for example). Weekend shows include a full retreat and winners concert. In both Semis and Finals, random draw for the order of performance in groups of 3 (bottom 2 in Semis), without scores being published. Judges are FORBADE seeing scores from any show finals week! The performing corps only know finals night that they were 12-10, 9-7, 6-4, and 3-1, and ALL corps have a legitimate shot at moving up. Right now, it seems to me that the slots are filled far to early due to the judging system. As we see over and over, real excitement happens when the impossible is possible...

Submitted just like before- I couldn't bring myself to second guess! 1974 Santa Clara Vanguard 1977 Bridgeman 1984 Blue Devils 1985 Suncoast Sound 1986 Spirit of Atlanta 1987 Garfield Cadets 1990 Star of Indiana 1995 The Cavaliers 1995 Madison Scouts 1996 Carolina Crown 2000 Blue Knights 2001 Glassmen Can't wait to see the results- I think I batted 0-for-12 last year!

I'll agree with all of you on everything. But... I need a gong basher. The Garfield Cadet at the end of WSS '84 MUST be my gong basher! Love the look and intensity of that gong basher- changed my life! I mean it...

For the record: I saw Danny (getting the name only from this topic) hanging out at the busses after finals in KC. Not shunned or beat up. Just looked kind of bummed to me. I didn't march '89, but saw that show several times, and he was always nails. Just a bad night, on a bad night to have a bad night.

here's me. 1974 SCV (let the show begin) 1977 Bayonne (I just want to hear AND see it!) 1984 BD (made me love this crazy stuff) 1985 Suncoast Sound (kid you not- I just changed that from '84 to '85 to '86 three times :) 1986 Spirit (guard!) 1987 Garfield (still makes me weep) 1990 Star (best last minute ever!) 1995 Madison (love both shows and would love to see ) 1995 Cavaliers (what people think side by side today!) 1996 Crown (love the chessboard) 2000 BK (start of a revolution of show design) 2001 Glassmen (I want to see that flugel solo in prelims) and I will be happy.

OK I'll bite- I work at a drum shop, so I tune stuff all day. My preferences:2 ply top, one ply bottom heads (emperor/ambassador, G2/G1, Double Thin/Classic Clear). I currently have Rennaissance Emporers with Clear Ambassador bottoms. I like Evans snare heads with the slight ring inside like the generas (the strata staccato snare head for concert/orchestral is faboo, BTW), but currently just am using a Rennaissance Emperor like my toms. I have an Evans emad clear on the beater side and a Powerstroke 3 resonant head- no pillow, no hole, tuned the same front and back. I am running 16-14-12-10" toms, and I start with the 16". I take the wrinkles out of the head, seat (press down in the middle of the head with all my weight), and then tune as low as I can get a nice ring. Sometimes it works better to go higher than you want, then move the pitch down a few minutes later. Then I tune the bottom head a minor third higher. Then, I tune the rest of the toms up- 14" up a perfect 4th, bottom up a minor third and so on up the kit. For example, if the 16" is Eb top, Gb bottom, the 14" is Ab/B, the 12" is Db/E, and the 10" is Gb/A. I tune my main snare above that, and also use a piccolo snare well above that. I know, too much information. In short, I am looking for as much contrast as I can get tonally.

I was just talking about him today. I have NEVER seen a better soloist in my 20+ years watching drum corps. His semifinals performance in Buffalo will always inspire me- the stadium went dead quiet. When he was done, he had a look on his face that was the opposite of macho- it was like he just told me his life story. Magical!

I LOVED wearing the hat. It was unique, yes, but it also (in retrospect) made me feel more like a member of the corps (which, as those of you who were in the front ensemble know, isn't always the case). It probably only works with aussies, but I also think it is a cool uniform look from the stands. I also miss the aggressive style, which started in the 70's and continued until recently, thanks to Taras and his successors. It is what drew me to dedicate myself to the corps all those years ago- check out what 6 players could do in 1985...never topped IMHO. Taras, Chris Theo and Chris Thompson are back arranging the Alumni Corps rep for August. Look for me at semis- I'll be playing in the front ensemble (with my hat on!).

Hey, I was just the kettledrummer, but... The 8 mellos and 8 fh's in the hornline of the Madison Scouts were truly awe inspiring. I've been waiting since then to hear that sound.

I remember having free days with multiple corps a few times- mostly Montreal- A truly crazy place for 5 corps to have a free evening. We (the front ensemble) also took a coffee machine on the road in 1990, and at every show would go around the trucks to different corps with coffee and cups to say hi! (it looks like the Boston Crusaders could use a cup of coffee tonight...etc.). I wanted to savor my ageout year, and spread good karma- I hope it worked. Side note- I just officially paid up for the Madison Alumni performance- come on by if you need a cup of Joe!

I think that a corps is going to do it justice on Friday Night!!! :)

I am no Scott Stewart, but... As an '88 Scout my favorite memories of finals pale to the incredible welcome from the local drum corps welcome, and the crowd response at our performances and clinics. It was an incredible honor and experience to have been a part of that trip. Thank you Holland, Germany, and England!

I have never been a violent person. I will proudly sock anyone in the nose who thinks they are putting a mic in front of me!! :) And, god help those in the front 5 rows.