THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)
Fun Stuff => CHATTER => Topic started by: IronOxide on 09 Jun 2009, 19:08
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GO SEE A DRUM CORPS SHOW
So folks, I haven't been around here in a while, and part of that reason is because I have been busy.
As many of you know, I have always been big into the 'marching arts', and in particular Drum and Bugle Corps. These are organizations that every summer take thousands of people from around the country and world to put on a show that they will continue to clean and perform every day throughout the summer. The result is a musical, visual, and dance ensemble that is cleaner, louder (without amplification), and more musically expressive than most any group that I have ever seen.
There (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xyzgo2WgfFE) are (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ait0RWJpi58&feature=related) quite a few (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D4t5g2x_jE) videos on Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCBsdtAEYZA&feature=related) that demonstrate (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH-aDgFbzpQ) what you should expect (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZPkzPBaGwU&feature=related) from the end product. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfk3r7RbjjM)
Here's the trick though, these organizations, much like your average rock group make most of their money off of shows and the merchandise they sell there. The main difference however, is that tickets generally don't get ticketmastered, and instead sold from either the DCI/DCA website or straight from the corps, greatly reducing markup. For these shows of usually between 500 and 1500 musicians and dancers, tickets are usually between $15 and $50 (for the ultra-premium seats near the judges' box). Without people at these shows, these organizations could die out forever.
So, children, this is what we are going to do about it.
1. Go to the schedule for Drum Corps International (http://www.dci.org/schedule/) (A 'junior corps' circuit, where all performers are under or at 21 years of age) or Drum Corps Associates (http://www.dcacorps.org/?page_id=21) (A 'senior corps' circuit, where performers of all ages are allowed to perform) and look for a show near you.
2. Buy a ticket and GO SEE A DRUM CORPS SHOW
3. Feel free to use this thread to 'sell' some kind of performance or art that more people should be going out and seeing. Tell us about your favorite performance, how to find them, and why we should go. Visual aids will count toward your grade.
EDIT: It seems that nobody had a step three to post, so I can change the title for now until somebody does.
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Or, go see a drumcorps (http://www.myspace.com/drumc0rps) show!
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One of the band directors at my high school actually worked with the Cavaliers! Also, Bret Kuhn arranged the percussion work for our marching show this season. Serious business, it is.
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What amazes me is how time after time, the drill team always makes those damn rifles spin EXACTLY as fast as everybody else's rifles, and they're all pointing the exact same direction as every other rifle at any given time.
It's even more mindblowing in person, believe me. I saw some pretty amazing shit back when I was corps leader in high school. It worried me back when it was my competition, now it just plain stuns me.
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There is this thing called Battle of the Bands that takes place at the Georgia Dome every March I think? It is like less than $20 to see all the bands for the whole day. I try to go every year, except last year I didn't because it makes me kind of sad.
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It's been a while since I've been really into DCI shit, is Phantom Regiment still intimidating as all fuck? I saw them in the fall of 2000 at the Veterans Stadium in Erie, PA...during their on-field warmup, they were so loud that the lid on my cup of soda was rattling.
Incidentally, Phantom Regiment of the mid-late 90's has two of my favorite performances ever...I believe it was in '95 that they had a show based on the music of Sergei Rachmaninoff, and '96 was based on Shostakovich? Or the other way around, either way it was kick ass.
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Last year Phantom Regiment actually put on one of the most powerful shows I've ever seen based on the story of Spartacus and took first place from the Blue Devils by a fraction of a point. The climax came with one drum major charging from backfield and stabbing the front 'evil' drum major with a nine foot spear, and then conducted the rest of the show with a foot on his body.
In other words, yes.
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I will be Youtubing that shortly...thanks!
Still don't think anyone will ever truly top the '89 Santa Clara Vanguard show based on Phantom of the Opera. I know someone has since broken their high score record, but that show still stands in my opinion as the benchmark performance against which all other shows should be judged.
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What is this?
Some sort of militant youth movement?
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I was gonna say "oh yeah, drumcorp, just like my high school days." But holy freakin crap I do not even know what to say to that. This makes me miss those performances so much. I have to find one near me...
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You are actually very near several shows that take place in the LA area (check the DCI website for shows), but Califonia tours are usually a bit earlier in the season, to get a jump on them!
Also in terms of marching, SoCal Dream is a great corps still going very strong in the Irvine area. It might seem like a bit of a drive, but I know people who do 6 or more a weekend, and corps usually accommodate people and will help you find somewhere to sleep for the weekend. They might not be looking for more this season, seeing their first show is Saturday, I believe, but check them out, and GO SEE A DRUM CORPS SHOW!
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What is this?
Some sort of militant youth movement?
Yeah.
Man.
Fucking America.