rdeger1111

Hey Chris, Do you know of anyone that has a copy of the 1981 LI Kingsmen prelim video? I didn't realize prelims were video recorded and am hoping that I could get a video of our performance. I wonder how it will look compared to how I remember it, this could be a scary realization. I have an audio recording but it not of the Ken Kobald quality, sounds like it was from the stands with the background voices, but I am glad just to have that. If anyone knows where I could get prelim videos of 1981 I would greatly appreciate. Now, Chris, if we could find video of our High School marching band, Brentwood's Green Machine from that era I'd be a happy man. I always say the kids of today are raised like royalty, they have everything professional recorded on CD's and DVD's. I am jealous. Sorry, that's my dinosaur moment (As I stand on the front lawn shaking my fist).

I marched in 1981 with The Kingsmen, as we tried to keep them alive. Small corp that year but we had heart. I also marched with Mr Dewey (I'm 46 years old and would still call him that, talk engrained in my brain) at Brentwood HS on LI. I understand he retired last year. The Brentwood "Green Machine" Marching Band is still a very good competitive marching band. There aren't many on LI and the fact Brentwood is a very low income district with gang problems says alot for his ability to motivate kids. He had a lifelong impact on me from musical tastes (ala Mangione and Maynard from those great Garfield shows, they we always be Garfield to me) to my love for Drum Corp. Does anyone remember an instructor Joe Buccie (I think that's how it's spelled) Mr Dewey brought him in to help us at Brentwood and The Kingsmen and I haven't seen his name around. I'm pretty sure he had a Garfield connect from the 70's also.

Oh No, I'm in a battle with the Mighty "Boo" over the 10 points!!! Come on 709 who gets the points? OK, it's off season so this is Dinosaur Wars, it's as exciting as it gets

"Can we just call him Bud. 10 points to the first person who gets this reference"-709 I think you're refering to Adolph "Bud" Herseth- Former principle trumpet CSO Do I get the 10 points?

OH NO!!!!!! Not "I've Got Rhythm", hasn't that been done before and not more Copland, how many more times do we need these old warhorses to be dragged out and flogged again. Enough with repeating old material "Happy Days are Here Again"? for Who? I was hoping for a piece from that Czech composer Zchkwnklnzawiz. Now that's progress. J/K This is the first show in a while from BD that I'm hoping for some musical excitement. How about letting the soloist do some real jazz improve on "I've got Rythm" instead of just hitting some double A's & C's. It worked pretty well for Adam Rapa in 1998 @East coast Jazz, how about BD stealing back the idea of real jazz on the field again. I see a trend a comin'. I hope.

WOW, now that's creative, such innovation imagine a Billy Joel show WITH A PIANO. I only wish I had that kind of imaginative mind. /Sarcasm off/

Sorry I refuse to "Get over it" I really haven't objected to many of the past changes and I marched in the stone age of piston rotory bugles, but sorry we all have a line in the sand somewhere. Amped Vox & synth are mine. I've watch and listened to some of the top bands some of you have suggested and sorry the synth doesn't mix with everything outside. The horn line sounds like an accompanyment. I thought the creative aspect of this activity was to reorchestrate using the instruments that we had, which has been done incrediblly over the past however many years. Blue Knights have done piano concertoes before without a piano, WOW, what creativity. That's the inovation, SCV doing Adagio for Strings without..... You guessed it strings, hell I like their version better then the original. I thought Boston's Shinig Star with harmonies acoustically on the field were beautiful, no microphones neccesary. Next were going to have miced ensembles, the activity hasn't needed them ever before, now they're neccesary? I haven't heard effective use of smaller duets trios, octets in a while, the back field playing used by SCV in the past was staggering in it's effect, again that's innovation, working within the medium of the rules to create these varying effects. The staging of the players within the drill was the challenge presented to designers. I don't think I'm being a dinosaur just because this offends me, my 14 year old son is revolted by these changes, so instead of you guys tell us to take it or leave why don't you. You already have Marching Band for the other 9 months, why do you insist on making DCI the same as BOA? Sorry for the rant, but I'm frustrated reading the responces to this thread. if this is the "wave of the future" I guess I'll check out DCA as that circuit seems to be growing pretty quickly.

God Help Us all. I thought it would a few others but NOT SCV!!!!! Who's Next? Regiment? It's the end of the world as we know it (Cue up REM) I'm not happy

"What do ya like to do?"

How about a colorguard all dressed as Lilly Von Stupf "Is that a 10 gallon hat or are you just enjoying the show?"

The Olds Ambassador is a good suggestion, I started my son on an Olds cornet, but another suggestion Look for a Besson 609 made in the USA, these were actually made by Kanstul and are incredible instruments. I just picked up one on Ebay for $104 in good shape. My son is using it to keep in school and he keeps his main horn, an Olds Studio, at home. His teacher said it plays a little tighter then the Studio (which if you know the Studio is a very open horn) but my son bearly notices the difference. Many people will tell you the 609 and the Besson International (Also if the Made in USA ones) are sleepers in that very few people are aware of them. They are probably the best value for your dollar used. If you consider the Bessons, just make sure they're made in the USA. Check the Besson Loyalist website on line to read more about these. Just my 2 cents

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I still don't get why we need electronics to "expand" creativity. From what I heard in the example it was an easy way to accomplish a "textural" result. I guess the "Ends justifieds the Means" ($2 to Machiavelli.) Haven't we had textures in the past. what happened to backfield playing or playing to the end zones? What about the Dopler effect created by using acoutic bullhorns or whatbout the use of different mutes? Or what about staging of different emsembles(Quartets, Octets hell even Dectets). I haven't heard the use of small ensemble playing with in the larger corp used effectively much since the 70's or 80's. No that doesn't make me a dinosaur, I love what the 90's and new millenium corp shows have had to present. But, to hide behind the guise of creativity to justify the use of electronis bothers me. I find the introduction of "non-organic" sounds to be something eles other then drum corp. If the NY Phil or CSO came out with synths and samples it wouldn't be the Symphony anymore(I know somebody out there will quote a certain work done in 196? to prove me wrong) . I do like this merger in different genres (if you listen to older Alan Parsons Project albums it will serve as an example). But to change a whole genre drum corp into an existing genre marching band is a bit upsetting. I'm just bothed as others are by the slow basterdization of drum corp over the last 5 years. I'm not sure I can handle the morphing of it in to Marching Band, and I hope I don't have to find out. Sorry for the rant, but that podcast actually further solidified my personal stance, I love the jazz of the Crossmen and think it would take alot more creativity to bring something like Pat Metheny back to the field then using synths to go whooooooosh.

I just watched the clip of Madison from 1981 and I got goose bumps.... Man, that hit is what it's all about. Sometimes technique takes a back seat to emotion and raw power. That's one thing I miss from the "Legacy" (or whatever we are called now) Days. Happy Valentine Day to all, may Cupid's aim be true.

How does a "gang 0f 9" benefit the top? They can effect judging credentials. Example, amplification is used to benefit a corp we are told. It does because it is only used to increase (or benefit) a GE score. What if a proposal was made to judge amplification like acoustic sounds (brass, drums) and any static, pops or imbalance issues were not beneficial but cause deductions or "ticks" (to be a little old school). Do you seriously think any of the big boys would ever vote yes on a such a proposal? Never happen, never will. It will not benefit them, it will only help corps who can not afford or simiply choose not to use amplification. If this "gang of 9" comes into effect there will NEVER be any judging of amps, they will get a pass on any problems they have, such as the SCV "pop" or the problems the Cadets have with static in the past, and only get the benefit of "GE" points. This is only one example of the top of my pointy head. What about performance placement, we saw what happened in 1988 when the status quo of order placement was replaced with placement of by random draw. Madison shook up that evening like we haven't seen in quite awhile. Again with an elite board these things that shake up will be long and few between. Just my $.02.

To quote AC/DC "I'm Back, Yes I'm Back" This sounds like a potentiel classic VK show (we need another kitchen sink on the field) Sounds like their going to do it Their Way (to parphrase Frank) 2Kool

Long Island (Or Longiland as we pronounce it locally) How many million people live here & how many billion dollars do we have floating around? There are sports programs all over the place but not one drum corp. Last Open Class corp was the 1983 LI Kingsmen. I don't get it. For the population density and per capita income compared to other areas of the country we just can't seem to get drum corp going around here.

Congrats to Blue Star, welcome back. I love new (or atleast comeback) blood. It makes everyone work even harder and all shows get better. Yup, us fans get the benefit of that. :) This year sounds like one heck of a year and even last place is still going to be a #### good corp and have plenty to be proud of. I'm going to Giants Stadium tonight and can't wait to see Regiment and Jersey Surf, among others. Wish I could get to Allentown but I've got to pickup my son from Crane Music Camp.

Because I'm old enough for 2 age outs (I'll be 44 on July 7th) :sshh: My older son is born on May 30th, 1994 so he misses bonus year by 2 days if he decides to march. (I'm hoping he does next summer, for this summer it's Crane Youth Music Camp)

Hey Chris, I have the 1981 and 1983 shows on CD, I found them on EBAY. PM me and I'll get you copies, I have to help a fellow Green Machine ( if this is the same Chris P from Bretwood HS) member and LI Kingsmen. Unfortunately the '81 recording quality isn't the greatest but I'll take what I can get, I'd love to have a video of the show but I don't know if it exists. We had a pretty good sound for a small horn line, not to mention that a decent amount of us only joined in the middle of July, I know there were at least a half dozen of us from Brentwood. Let me know, Ray Deger Mellophone, LI Kingsmen 1981

My all time Favorite tune for power is Echano (Chuck Mangione). Yeah, I know it's old school, but check out '77 Garfield. The soloist kicks major *** and keeps real close to the original solo by Gerry Neiwood his sax player. The ending is essential '70's power drum corp. Close second goes to Spanish Dreams (Bridgemen Baby and another little corp know as the Blue Devils). I don't remeber if Jim Brady was the solist or what year, I'm sure someone can refresh my memory. Another great Latin rip your face off tune. (Check out Doc Severensin's oringinal version, you'll probably have to find it on vinyl) I still have it on vinyl somewhrer, I don't think it was ever on a CD. Honorable mention Legend of the One Eyed Sailor. Just checked Corpsreps.com Bridgemen '78 & '79 and BD was '87. Was that Jim Brady in 78 or 79?

Off the top of my head... Some out of the ordinary shows: 2004 SCV at finals when Sheherazade emerges from the tunnel with the sword-very cool. (OK, maybe this one isn't out of the ordinary choices but read on) 2002 Boston Crusaders-when they lay down and make the American flag-Holy ****, the first time I saw that it caught me by surprise and took my breath away. I love when a show ends low for a change. 1979 Bridgemen-when Jim Brady came down the 50 playing the Pagliacci solo and when he takes it up..OMFG First DC show I ever saw (and probably the last one held on Long Island) 2004 Phantom Regiment-the soli sectional parts got the whole crowd going, the horn line rocked that season, should have placed alot higher that year 1981 Long Island Kingsmen-OK,OK so not exactly in the history books,but the only year I marched so it was pretty spine tingling to me. That's my 5 right now, ask me again and I'll come with others. There's alot to remember and choose from.

This might be dark enough for some of you but I love to see Regiment do Lt Kije Suite by Prokofiev. Troika alone would be worth the price of admission.

I was thrown into the Drum Corp world very quickly when I was asked by my director if I wanted to fill a spot in the summer of '81 in the middle of July. So these corps where just names and seemed like gods to use newbies. I remember having a day off and going to see the Phantom Home (Ah, Spartacus live) and brought my boom box in with me and recorded the show from the stands. That's how I remember pre finals recordings. No one said a thing back then about recording it yourself, remember the size of those 80's boom boxes? (OK mine wasn't the size of the one that the guy on the rollerskates had but it wasn't a walkman size either). I wish I still had that tape, it got stolen with my whole tape case. It seems like a differnet world since then, the internet has definitely brought us all closer together, but these far off corps seemed bigger then life when you first saw them back then, I'm not still sure if it's the same. Oh well, Yesterday, All my troubles seemed so... Oops, back to your regularly schedule thread

We're all gonna be real cozy on the grass this year, so dig your heels in and try not to slide down. I bought tickets at the stadium last year and have to say the lower seats are terrible and headed up for the grass to get a decent vantage point. I had the splinter seats a couple of years ago and they are tight, the splinters are sharp (I think I still have a couple lodged in my rear) and very limited (they only go from the 40 to 40 at best). Not a heck of alot of premium seating for the last major show before finals. That being said, Allentown does have it pro's. The parking is not that bad, I parked across from the park for free and still didn't have to walk that far, the food prices in the stadium are about half the price of Giants Stadium. I don't feel ripped off for a slice of pizza and a soda (maybe $2.50). The park is also a great way to hear the Corps warmup. And it is a pretty area outside the city. I've got mixed feelings about Allentown, I hope DCI and JCB can find a solution to this situation. No matter what, I'll be there for the YEA show (The top seats aren't open for that show) and Sat night Eastern.