Which is more corpsgasmic?
I can’t decide…
I asked my dad, but he’s a hopeless Phantom Regiment fan.
1976 Bayonne Bridgemen.
Ehh…my favorite Bridgemen would be '77 (never mind they were disqualified), but nonetheless neither one was an option 
I know I’ve seen both of them, but it was a while ago and I was young… sighs
I’ll have to ask my dad (the webmaster of corpsreps.com.)
I’m hopelessly biased, but…
Blue Devils, Blue Devils, Blue Devils!
(But then again, I’m just a WGI colorguard junkie, so what do I know? :D)
Holy crap! Your dad’s the webmaster of corpsreps?
I haven’t seen a video of '92 SCV in a long time. Musically, I must relucantly give it to Scouts…normally, SCV is much better and a lot less boring than the Scouts.
So, we’ll all just agree Star '93.
Awesome. Corpsreps is the most useful Drum Corps site there is.
I’m amazed to find all these Dopers who know Drum Corps. I thought I was the only one. Early in my SDMB days I’d post Drum Corps stuff and never get a response.
To answer the OP, I have to go with the Scouts. For two reasons: first, I’m a Scouts Alumnus; second, I simply cannot ever vote for Santa Clara because I still am bitter about them beating us in 1974 to grab the national title. I can appreciate them, but I don’t have to like them.
Madison Scouts, 1967-1974
Royal Airs Alumni Corps, 2002-2004
By the way Kurt, are you still a marching member of Southwind? How are you guys doing now that Madison has “cut you loose” to succeed or fail on your own?
I wish you the best. In my opinion (as an aside) Southwind has the best uniforms in Drum Corps. They’re a close match to the best uniforms in the history of drum corps (Blue Rock).
(Sheesh. I feel like I’m on the DC Planet message board. This is confusing.)
Yes, I’m still a marching member of Southwind. Although I’m making a conscious effort to stay out of the politics of it all as much as possible, I will say that from all indicators we’re doing well. We’ve got fundraisers left and right that appear to be bringing in a LOT of money for the corps (although I can’t say specifics, simply because I don’t know) and the show itself is light-years ahead of where we were this time last year.
Thanks for the uniform compliment, too
Good luck Kurt. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t give you a hearty welcome to the Straight Dope. I just now noticed that you just joined. Now you’re part of my SDMB "family’ as well as being a part of my drum corps family (once it’s in your blood it never leaves… I’m over 50 and still marching!).
Damn, when I answered (albeit not for anyone nominated) I figured the thread would die. I used to be into Drum Corps and my brother and father still are. I haven’t seen a show except the DCI Finals on PBS in 20 years.
I marched with a senior corps in 1976 and 1977 in DCA, the Baltimore Yankee-Rebels, but never marched in DCI. When I said the '76 Bridgemen, it was because I loved their show that year. I liked the 1977 show too, but it wasn’t as awesome.
And, Yamirskoonir, I got talked into marching Color Guard too by some very cute girls who marched in the NJA. We did some WCI shows also.
Yankee-Rebels? Was Truman Crawford (music arranger and instructor) working with you guys those years? He worked with the Royal Airs and numerous other corps including the Yankee-Rebels, but I don’t know what years. Col. Crawford then went on to be the director of the Air Force and then the Marine Drum and Bugle Corps. Sadly, Tru passed away last year from Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
I’ve always been a fan of Phantom Regiment since they stayed and rehearsed at my high school for a local competition in 1982. They did their Spartacus show that year, which I thought was the coolest thing I had ever seen. Classical music, ballet and marching all rolled into one. To this day, Khachaturian’s Spartacus Ballet Suite is one of my favorite classical pieces to listen to. I probably would never have known of it if not for Phantom.
I’ve also always been a little partial to the Troopers. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s the history, maybe the underdog aspect, maybe the cool cavalry uniforms.
I haven’t followed DCI much in about ten years or so. I have been under the mistaken impression that the Dallas competition had ceased operations, but apparently I’m wrong. Maybe I’ll check it out this summer.
Kepi, there are a number of shows in TX in early July.
July 8, Dallas
Cavaliers, Bluecoats, Magic of Orlando, Capital Regiment, Southwind (with Kurt Weber marching), and the Troopers.
July 8, El Paso
Santa Clara Vanguard, Seattle Cascades, Blue Knights, Esperenza, and Revolution
July 9, Houston
same as the Dalls show, except the Cadets of Bergan County replaces the Bluecoats
July 10, San Antonio (DCI Southeast)
all of the above corps compete
Unfortunately, Phantom Regiment won’t be at any of these shows. Here is Phantom’s tour schedule. There might be something within driving distance.
Tru left the Rebels after the 1976 season. I didn’t know of his passing, as I said I haven’t kept up with Drum Corps. While he was with the Rebels, I did get to meet his son David (?) also. He was Drum Major for the Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Corps at the time IIRC.
He was IMHO, one of a kind.
Who_me?, Tru was indeed one of a kind.
You might be interested in reading this Col. Truman Crawford tribute web site. Some great photos there. One of my own treasured photos is of me in my Royal Airs uniform standing next to Col. Crawford in his Marine Drum Corps director’s uniform, in Scranton PA 2002 (DCA Nationals).
Thank you. I remember during practice, with 65 horns playing, Tru stopping because he heard one off note by one person. Then he’d point out the culprit and have him play alone and would correct the flaw. I thought that was amazing.
In reading the tribute, it brought back memories I’d thought long gone. Remembering the “slide and glide” actually made me smile.