BigBoom

I planned on going both out of interest and in support of the DII/III activity. We then got word that the Colts' final run through would take place at 11 and I had a bunch of my friends there. By the time the run through and age-out speeches were over, so were DII/III finals. I regret missing them but no regrets about being at the Colts' run through and speeches. Though not present for the DII/III finals, my regards and respect go out to the members of all corps at all levels.

It's not a dead horse...it's alive and running. My self-interest is that if it grows, my 40 year interest in the activity will be over. I simply could barely handle 3 of 12 corps using some form of narration and there's no way I could survive 12 of 12. Ouch!

While I didn't care much for The Bluecoats' use of narration nor Crown's, I kept my mouth shut and politely but unenthusiastically applauded both corps' performances on Saturday night. However, once The Cadet's got going, and never stopped, I was genuinely irritated and annoyed. Without any doubt in my mind, sitting through their performance (I would have hit the tunnel if it wasn't so #### inconvenient to get in and out of the seats at the Rose Bowl and I didn't want to miss BD) was absolutely excruciating. For me, fingernails on a chalkboard would sound like sweet music compared to that nonsensical babble (i.e. "When I was in high school, I really liked band.... and drum corps.....and......." or some similarly inane mutterings). This was the first time I saw their show this year and I cannot imagine possibly sitting through it twice. The "story" certainly wasn't so complex that even a 12 year old couldn't figure it out the first time. For me, and many around me, the nauseating narration contaminated what otherwise might have been an excellent show. It's my opinion only, but based on this experience, I hope that DCI either bans narration or the judges dump it so far down the toilet that no one dare utter another word through a microphone during a corps' performance. During their performance, I was transported back in time to the Indy show 2 years ago when, during Blue Devils' narrated dance-a-thon, I was reported to have been staring ahead vacantly, fingers in ears, muttering in a plaintive monotone, "Make it stop......make it go away....." One can only hope...... Boom

I too just got home from the show. My opinions on a couple of things: Biased...but nonetheless, loved the Colts' show! I've never been a big Boston fan, but I really dug their music. Their drumline is REALLY good and I'm curious as to how they stack up with those above them. I've been a Crown fan in the past but really did not enjoy their show. Everyone has their own tastes but the whole horse thing just came up lame on me. Personally, I thought the spread should have been less between them and Boston and greater between them and Phantom. I was thoroughly impressed with both Phantom and Cavies. Both drumlines were smokin'......and that is a great thing to see and hear. It was awfully humid at the beginning of the show. The rain was awesome!

Projected high today is 106, which will be around 2-4 pm. The early corps on will be looking at the low 100s, but by 7:30 or 8, it'll be pretty darn nice--90s. Threat of monsoons are currently minimal, but as we who live here know, that can change. I can't wait for show time! Boom

I just returned from the Colts' practice in Surprise, AZ. I was VERY impressed with what I saw and heard. I haven't seen any corps other than The Academy this year. It is hard for me to imagine the Colts not getting into Finals based on my limited observations tonight. I can't wait until tomorrow night to see all 12 corps. Boom *Full disclosure=I'm a Colt alum from 100 years ago.

Stay confident my desert-dwelling drum corps compadres. Yesterday afternoon, I could barely get out of the parking lot at my school due to the ridiculous amount of rain coming down. My house is 7 miles away and we didn't get a drop. Let's hope the isolated nature of these storms leaves Sun Devil Stadium unscathed and that the show goes on without a hitch. Without a doubt, this is the biggest and best show to come to the PHX-metro area in the 25 years I've lived here. Let's enjoy! Boom

If we're going the sports analogy route, then how about March Madness? It allows a format that if you're good enough to get there, you can step on up and have a shot at the big boys. Many people tune in for this very reason as we get curious about just how far Cinderella can go.

Our difference of opinion lies in what you and others perceive as special treatment and what I see as DCI simply supporting a different model for getting a D1 corps up and running for the long haul. I am quite content to agree to disagree.

I have no ties to The Academy and am simply a fan of the activity for 40 years. Having observed The Academy put in 14 hour days over the last few weeks, outdoors in Tempe, AZ., in late June and July, with temperatures well above 105 for most of those hours, I will simply state my opinion that anyone who thinks The Academy has somehow had it easier than other D1 corps who have been conducting full tours during that period ought to spend a few hours at one of these rehearsals and then re-evaluate their opinion. I think physically and mentally, The Academy members are probably going to be harder than nails when hitting the relatively soft climates of other locations, like California in August. Kudos to the organization's leadership and the members for having the brains and long-range vision to build a corps on a foundation of financial responsibility and strength, as well as performance excellence. I am curious to see where they'll stack up today in SA. I am confident their placement will be earned and deserved, the result of their hard work; not because of any sort of imagined special treatment. Oh....I almost forgot: They're r-e-a-l-l-y good, too!

It would seem to make sense that BOB/Chase Field couldn't possibly host the August DCI event since that's 2/3rds into the major league baseball season and the time, effort, and $$$s that go in to maintaining the turf precludes any possibliity of turning it into a football field for the weekend. The band events and bowl games that have been played there have been done in late December or early January when there is no baseball going on. If it's not at UOP Stadium and it's held anywhere in the lower portion of the state of AZ., it will be likely not be a pleasant experience for participants or fans. Eagerly looking forward to my 25th summer in the desert...... Boom

I'm not into predictions but I had the pleasure of seeing and hearing their hornline last Friday night at their annual benefit fundraiser and they sounded REALLY good.

Below is an excerpt from the Argonne Rebels' website (http://members.cox.net/argonne_rebels/). The links are live on their website and the e-mails are quite interesting. Argonne Rebels Drum Corps and Civil Rights In 1963 the Argonne Rebels traveled by bus from Great Bend, Kansas, to Miami, Florida. They stopped for dinner in Birmingham, Alabama (Continental Trailways had confirmed it would be safe). While food orders were being taken, several members of the Argonne Rebels were assaulted by white supremacists because 3 members of the Argonne Rebels were African American. One Argonne Rebel was taken to a hospital for medical attention. Click here for email from nurse and sponsor Marcia Cannady. The Rebels went on to Miami and placed 10th in the American Legion National Championship. Click here for emails from eyewitness to the attack. African Americans were never bared from joining the Argonne Rebels. In 1958 the Rebel feeder corps had three African American musicians, there could have been others prior to that date. Sandra Opie gave music lessons to several Great Bend youths, so they could be good enough to march with the Rebels. One of her students was Phil Briscoe, a African American youth. Click here for email from Phill Brisco, one of the three African American Rebels assaulted in Birmingham Click here for a photo of Phil taken in 1962, the year before the Birmingham incident (also Joe Terry and Terry Lewis)

Great column! On another note: The Blue Stars started out as the First Federal Blue Stars, sponsored by First Federal Savings and Loan (may have been First Federal Bank). The Colts were at one time the Legionaires, with the name due to the Dubuque American Legion post being their primary sponsor. I think there have been several attempts along these lines other than those previously mentioned. Boom

I will cheer the day the 2 to 4 minute battery break/smoke break disappears. I remenber going to DCI Semi-Finals in 2001 for the first time in 6 years and sitting in shock as drumline after drumline parked themselves somewhere on the field and played nothing for extended periods of time. When I saw that every line did it, I started timing the breaks and was shocked at how much time went by with no battery. My attraction to drum corps has always been the drumlines because they played incredibly difficult charts that couldn't be heard in any other genre. That has changed entirely and I can accept the "it's so much more musical" argument but dang, can't they at least play something? Oh yeah: It really bugs me when they dance during their break. Just play the #### drums! Boom

It's likely, that as someone else stated, the 7 should be an 8 and BD is in first. Boom

There have been a couple of posts out here about Hot City needing baritone players and mellophone players. What's been missing is the fact that "Hot City" is a PHX-based mini corps with members from all over the Valley plus Denver, Indianapolis, and Las Vegas. If you're any where around, and interested, we could use you, especially if you play baritone or mellophone. E-Mail me at: hotcityminicorps@yahoo.com for more details. Patrick Hot City 2005-???? Cloud X 1997-2000 X-streams 1985-1996 Colts 1971-1977, 1980 Yes....All that noise IS really necessary....!

"pooh Bear is NOT coming on February 4th? That's got to be an out and out lie!

Right!?! And Chuck Naffier is writitng the horn charts......Dream on Hot City....

There's a craZy rumor running around that Doug "Pooh Bear" Kenyon is playing lead/solo baritone for Hot City. That can't be true. What's up with that?

I would throw out there the consideration of the idea of why was mini corps created? I don't know in that I wasn't there but what has driven me are a couple of ideas: 1) It's a lot easier to get 21 people together for this effort than, say, 125; 2) There are those that just want to get the musiccal ensemble happening without having to do the "full Monty" of marching around in a miniturized fashion. I've posted before to the fact that I don't want to march anywhere, but I'm big into the idea of playing music for me and others to enjoy. My opinion is don't kill the impetus behind mini corps by requiring full-blown marching/field shows. Let those of us who just want to "park and bark" the opportunity to do so, without killing us before stepping foot on the track. If you want to march around, do it. If we don't, afford us that opportunity. IMHO, it's all about the music! Boom a.k.a. Patrick Sweeney Hot City 2005-???? Without question: All that noise IS really necessary!

Here's some Hot City low-down: *We have a simple mission: Hot City is a unique, fun, and exciting musical experience for members and audiences alike. *We are planning on competing in the Mini Corps contest at DCA. We're also planning on performing around the PHX area along the way. *Chuck Naffier is arranging a kick-### Tower chart for our competitive program. The plan is to play Squib Cakes, Still a Young Man, and Stranger in My Own House. *We are also working up other tunes for non-competitive performances. These include: Don Ellis' Conquistador, Lucretia McEvil, Land of Make Believe, Get It On, and more, many courtesy of Chris Nalls graciously sharing the Renegades' charts. *We are planning for two contingencies: the 21-player limit for the MC competition and no-limit for other performances. *We'd love to add more horn players! There's room for drummers/percussionists too! Feel free to e-mail me at: hotcityminicorps@yahoo.com for more details. Our web site: hot-city.org should be up in the next week or two. Patrick

Here's some Hot City low-down: *We have a simple mission: Hot City is a unique, fun, and exciting musical experience for members and audiences alike. *We are planning on competing in the Mini Corps contest at DCA. We're also planning on performing around the PHX area along the way. *Chuck Naffier is arranging a kick-### Tower chart for our competitive program. The plan is to play Squib Cakes, Still a Young Man, and Stranger in My Own House. *We are also working up other tunes for non-competitive performances. These include: Don Ellis' Conquistador, Lucretia McEvil, Land of Make Believe, Get It On, and more, many courtesy of Chris Nalls graciously sharing the Renegades' charts. *We are planning for two contingencies: the 21-player limit for the MC competition and no-limit for other performances. *We'd love to add more horn players! There's room for drummers/percussionists too! Feel free to e-mail me at: hotcityminicorps@yahoo.com for more details. Our web site: hot-city.org should be up in the next week or two. Patrick

Rick Beckham

Sorry. We should have posted here sooner but another thread had gotten started. We have decided on "Hot City" and held our first rehearsal on December 10th. Next rehearsal is January 14th for anyone interested. We're working on getting our website up and running. As soon as it's up, we'll post here and let everyone know. We've got a couple of interesting pieces of info we're looking forward to sharing at that time. Thanks to everyone for the great name suggestions! Patrick Sweeney e-mail: hotcityminicorps@yahoo.com Hot City (2005-_____) X-Streams (1985-1992) Colts (1972-1977, 1980) Yes.....All that noise IS really necessary.