vferrera

BOO BLOG IS FULL OF WIN ALL HAIL BOO

2/3's of the spread between Madison and SCV was in percussion. Madison won GE Music, Guard, Brass and Ensemble Music.

The accountability is that each judge puts their name and reputation on every score they give out. If she's got the stones to give Madison a smaller number than Crossmen and take the heat, I don't have a problem with it. Just means that the boys have to do a better job of selling her. btw, she's not a big fan of Rosemont, either.

Compared to earlier this season, yes. Compared to last year, no. The worst you can accuse them of is coming out better prepared than many others. I think in the last week they might have had a little slump coming off an emotional early tour. Also, we had the first major "re-calibration event" which typically happens when the judges realize that scores are climbing out of control. As the Scouts tweek their show, I think they'll remain competitive with the 5-9 group and hopefully end up near the top of that pack.

aw shucks, then I guess you'll really hate my suggestion that when the horns take off their hats, they put on Yankee's caps. Cop, you live in LA, right? I'm really sorry about that ;)

This being NYC and all, it turns out someone has already sampled a number of subway announcements: http://www.nyctransitforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13198 This one would be particularly appropriate: http://www.4shared.com/file/133878784/2dc5872b/WTC.html

G0 is basically a huge construction site with a 10 ft fence around it. You can't go inside and there is always a huge mob outside leaving little room to maneuver. I could see them doing a performance in Battery Park. Plenty of room and lots of people around. Nice view of the SoL, too. I really like this show based on the clip I saw. I'm glad they went with ESOM rather than something old and hackneyed. I'd like to see them add more NYC flavor to the visuals. The newspapers are a good visual, but so 20th century. If they had one guy with an iPad, it would make a nice visual "joke." I should send them a recording of a subway announcement so they could play it just before the first music hit: "The next uptown A train is now arriving on the express track..."

Just wanted to mention that I made donations of $100.00 to each of the following corps: The Cavaliers, The Cadets, The Santa Clara Vanguard, The Madison Scouts, and The Blue Devils as thanks for sending flowers to Sal Ferrera's wake.

Excellent choice, especially considering that 2011 is the 10th anniversary of 9/11. As I recall, the rest of the Scouts 77 show was their unique take on WSS, including a stirring rendition of Somewhere.

I'd like to thank all of those who made Sal's wake and funeral a memorable occasion. It's a reminder that, despite all the bickering, the drum corps community is still a wonderful fraternity. Special thanks to: - those who attended the wake. - those who participated in the honor guard. - those who sang Rainbow at the funeral mass. - Chris Hartowicz for helping to coordinate all of the above. - Scott Rhebergen for bringing the corps flag. - Deacon Ray Loman for leading prayers the morning of the funeral. - George Barr for playing Il Silenzio at the cemetery. - Mike Boo for the DCI.org obituary Extra special thanks to those who sent flowers: - The Cavaliers - The Cavaliers Alumni Association - The Cavaliers West Coast Alumni - Don and Jan Warren - Rick Hagey - Clifford Stiner - The Blue Devils - The Cadets - The Santa Clara Vanguard - The Madison Scouts

One time when he was arguing with a brass judge, he said "If you think it's so easy, why don't you start your own drum corps?" The judge's name was Gail Royer.

Sweet!

....

Thanks for the kind words. I was one of the "siners." We had a great time and appreciated the crowd response. I think the mini-corps format is a good one, especially because it is indoors. Even in a large exhibition hall, the acoustics were pretty good. I heard the crowd was 3000. Not bad. I didn't get to see too many other minis except for the following: MinneBrass - They did a "saturday morning cartoon theme." I recognized The Jetsons, Dick Tracy, Simpsons and Family Guy music. I thought they were pretty good although the theatrics were sometimes a bit cringe-worthy. Mass Brass - Latin themed show. Very 90s Madison-esque. Awesome sops (I think they were playing on G bugles). Overall, my favorite. Ghostriders - Western themed show complete with Trooper style uniforms. Very nice original opening statement by Donny Allen into The Red Pony. Closed with Magnificent 7/marlboro man theme. I wish they had done more with the Copland piece. Good visuals. Their conductor was not very serious and detracted from the overall package. Star United - Best brass sound overall, better than most if not all DCI lines. Nearly perfect balance, intonation and tone quality. Also the best percussion. Most minis used a trap set, but SU had a real pit with keyboards and so forth. Typical "star" music - Pines of Rome, Granger, etc. I thought the trumpets kinda lost it in Pines. The Granger had an awesome trumpet solo backed by lush, dark mid and low voices. Best visuals by far - oohs and aahs for the counter-rotating boxes and so forth. Score-wise, Star ran away with it (99.5). Everyone else got about what they deserved, except there were a few boos when Sinewave's score was announced and most people around me felt that Freelancers got royally screwed.

I agree with this. However, I would add that fewer than 10% of alumni remain engaged and passionate about the activity to the extent where they are going to make monetary contributions. And along with the contributions comes a certain sense of entitlement to "chime in" on the corps' activities. I think that corps management is wise to engage alums in meaningful discussion, but ppl need to realize that a $100 check does not earn them the right to run the corps.

They did...in visual GE and M&M.

but did Madison's guard affect their percussion score? blurring the lines == good thing. Next year, I hear BD is going to bring out giant Fresnel lenses. Hopefully they won't have any daytime shows or they might end up cooking themselves.

Jubal did this in 2006. It was pretty decent for an open class corps. But it doesn't really have the kind of sustained power that says "Madison." Too cutesy. If I could pick one "retro" piece for the corps to re-do, it would be Numero Uno.

That's their full name. They are (or were) an official explorer scout troop. That's why they wear forest green.

Maybe it's fixed by now, but DCI's article on World Class Finals has no mention of The Cadets. http://www.dci.org/news/view.cfm?news_id=0...c5-14ce53536873 Also, Crown in 5th?

for sure it's the funnel cakes.

If you wait til finals, you will miss them because I believe they are performing at semis.

What I find interesting is that 75% of the votes are spread among only 5 corps. If everyone had their own individual idea about what constitutes entertainment, I would have expected a much more even distribution.

My view is that "effect" is every bit as subjective as "entertainment." If effect were at all objective, then reasonable people might be able to agree on what it is. I've never been able to achieve any such consensus despite talking to many very smart people. I think it's weird that people accept that "effect" can be judged, even though it can't be defined. Yet those same people will ridicule the idea that entertainment can be judged. If anything, entertainment is a more intuitive concept. Or at least more mainstream. Every newspaper has an "Entertainment" section. Few have "Effect" sections. Skinner? Jung? Were those our drill instructors?

fixed again.