# Hands down, best drum corp performance I've ever seen **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 3, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-drum-corp-performance-ive-ever-seen/523524 "2010-01-03T18:50:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-drum-corp-performance-ive-ever-seen/523524/1 "2010-01-03T18:50:27Z")
I’ve seen a LOT of drum corps and drum and bugle corps performances, and many of them are quite the spectacle. [This](http://www.drummerworld.com/watchlistdrummers/Top_Secret_Drum_Corps.html) one however takes the cake. Top Secret Drum Corps out of Basel Switzerland. Even if corps drumming is boring to you, the visuals, effects, movement and theatrics here are sure to impress. It’s about 6 mins long, but of course the best part is at the end. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-drum-corp-performance-ive-ever-seen/523524/2 "2010-01-03T19:07:55Z")
Very impressive. You have it all - very disciplined drumming, sword fighting, bad dancing (sorry, it was hokey) and flaming drumsticks. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-drum-corp-performance-ive-ever-seen/523524/3 "2010-01-03T19:27:37Z")
**WOW!** My brother, a rudimentary drummer, played for The Spirit of Atlanta, and I just sent him that clip! Totally FRICKIN’ AWESOME! DANKE! Quasi ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-drum-corp-performance-ive-ever-seen/523524/4 "2010-01-03T19:39:51Z")
awesome…very very awesome! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-drum-corp-performance-ive-ever-seen/523524/5 "2010-01-03T19:44:05Z")
Crap! could a mod please fix the title to “…I’ve ever seen”? Stupid typos. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-drum-corp-performance-ive-ever-seen/523524/6 "2010-01-03T20:06:50Z")
Don’t worry about it, or copy and paste the thread and send it to a mod. We knew what you meant! 🙂 Q ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-drum-corp-performance-ive-ever-seen/523524/7 "2010-01-03T21:30:37Z")
> [@dnooman](#): > > I > > It’s about 6 mins long, but of course the best part is at the end. I think I know what you mean. That part just took this already incredible piece to a power of magnitude to the next level. Even with out THAT part, it was the best. I want to play with fire when I grow up! ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-drum-corp-performance-ive-ever-seen/523524/8 "2010-01-03T21:54:18Z")
When I was 11, I switched from drums to violin. When I see something like this, I regret that move. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-drum-corp-performance-ive-ever-seen/523524/9 "2010-01-03T22:15:25Z")
I can’t wait for my bro’ to see this (sent it to his work computer since his kids monopolize the home one). He is gonna have an orgasm! 😉 My brother’s the better drummer of the two of us. Rudiments. It’s _all_ about the rudiments. I got lazy, started playing in bands, but Skip went right from high school to The Spirit of Atlanta, and they _rocked_. Not like these guys, but they were great for the time. I’ve been playing the hell out of that clip you linked us to, **dnooman**! Got out my drum pad and sticks and played along the best I could. Made my day, sure did!🙂 Thanks again, Quasi ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-drum-corp-performance-ive-ever-seen/523524/10 "2010-01-04T06:35:46Z")
:eek: Frakking awesome. Very nice post. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-drum-corp-performance-ive-ever-seen/523524/11 "2010-01-04T06:38:32Z")
> [@dnooman](#): > > Crap! could a mod please fix the title to “…I’ve ever seen”? Done. If this happens in the future, you can get a faster response by using the “report post” button, which looks like a yield sign with an exclamation point in it. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-drum-corp-performance-ive-ever-seen/523524/12 "2010-01-04T06:57:35Z")
Right. Same thing happened to me in another thread, and I had forgotten the “report post” feature. e-mailed, got it fixed, but as **twicks** and now **Marley23** say, it is the fastest way. Sorry for the mis-information, **dnooman**! Quasi ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-drum-corp-performance-ive-ever-seen/523524/13 "2010-01-04T07:28:30Z")
> [@dnooman](#): > > I’ve seen a LOT of drum corps and drum and bugle corps performances, and many of them are quite the spectacle. [This](http://www.drummerworld.com/watchlistdrummers/Top_Secret_Drum_Corps.html) one however takes the cake. Top Secret Drum Corps out of Basel Switzerland. Even if corps drumming is boring to you, the visuals, effects, movement and theatrics here are sure to impress. > > It’s about 6 mins long, but of course the best part is at the end. I hate to be a buzzkill here, there are some nice effects here, but honestly, as a DCI open class competitor (once upon a time), several things jump out at me: #1 This is winterguard, which is about a tenth as tough to coordinate because there is like 20 of them vs 128 in a full corps #2 No music, and minimal flag work. #3 Not even a full drum line (no tenors? No Pit?) #4 because its WG you have minimal issues with things like crossfeild phasing and such, meaning the drumming _should_ be tighter. #5 I realize the rotating accelerando move is tough for anyone and even attempting it in competition takes balls, but that was musically messy. #6 IMHO half of those guys are playing with shovels to fling that much dirt, both visually and musically. Stick heights and interpretation of visuals are all over the place. ---
**Author:** ![xanthous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/53a042/32.png) [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-drum-corp-performance-ive-ever-seen/523524/14 "2010-01-04T16:00:55Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > I hate to be a buzzkill here, there are some nice effects here, but honestly, as a DCI open class competitor (once upon a time), several things jump out at me: > > #1 This is winterguard, which is about a tenth as tough to coordinate because there is like 20 of them vs 128 in a full corps > #2 No music, and minimal flag work. > #3 Not even a full drum line (no tenors? No Pit?) > #4 because its WG you have minimal issues with things like crossfeild phasing and such, meaning the drumming _should_ be tighter. > #5 I realize the rotating accelerando move is tough for anyone and even attempting it in competition takes balls, but that was musically messy. > #6 IMHO half of those guys are playing with shovels to fling that much dirt, both visually and musically. Stick heights and interpretation of visuals are all over the place. **drachillix,** please linkie to an example of what you think is great. I could watch this stuff all day! ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-drum-corp-performance-ive-ever-seen/523524/15 "2010-01-04T17:13:24Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > I hate to be a buzzkill here, there are some nice effects here, but honestly, as a DCI open class competitor (once upon a time), several things jump out at me: > > #1 This is winterguard, which is about a tenth as tough to coordinate because there is like 20 of them vs 128 in a full corps > #2 No music, and minimal flag work. > #3 Not even a full drum line (no tenors? No Pit?) > #4 because its WG you have minimal issues with things like crossfeild phasing and such, meaning the drumming _should_ be tighter. > #5 I realize the rotating accelerando move is tough for anyone and even attempting it in competition takes balls, but that was musically messy. > #6 IMHO half of those guys are playing with shovels to fling that much dirt, both visually and musically. Stick heights and interpretation of visuals are all over the place. OK, from a DCI point of view, yeah it’s missing stuff, but your points 1-4 are all personal preference and not faults per se. You thought the accelerando was messy? I thought it was practically metronomic. I guess I didn’t see the times when stick heights were off, but you have to admit with the copious amount of stick tossing, they were lucky to have only dropped 2 sticks. I miss the tenors too (that’s what I used to play 😃 though never in corps). I just can’t for the life of me recall any one performance that would be as captivating to the layperson as this one was. Flaming batons, everyone has seen, but flaming sticks? I’ve seen a show where the bass drums had snares in them, but never pyrotechnics. I thought the dancing was hokey too, but there’s not a whole lot you can do with a harness on, let alone a sound projector at the bottom. ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-drum-corp-performance-ive-ever-seen/523524/16 "2010-01-04T17:18:06Z")
I liked it, but I could listen to good drumming for hours. I did wonder about the relatively small size of the troupe probably making things easier. Didn’t I see a drumstick roll away off to the right about 6 mins in? ---
**Author:** ![Wheeljack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@Wheeljack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheeljack)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-drum-corp-performance-ive-ever-seen/523524/17 "2010-01-04T21:02:43Z")
> [@dnooman](#): > > OK, from a DCI point of view, yeah it’s missing stuff, but your points 1-4 are all personal preference and not faults per se. You thought the accelerando was messy? I thought it was practically metronomic. I guess I didn’t see the times when stick heights were off, but you have to admit with the copious amount of stick tossing, they were lucky to have only dropped 2 sticks. > > I miss the tenors too (that’s what I used to play 😃 though never in corps). > > I just can’t for the life of me recall any one performance that would be as captivating to the layperson as this one was. Flaming batons, everyone has seen, but flaming sticks? I’ve seen a show where the bass drums had snares in them, but never pyrotechnics. I thought the dancing was hokey too, but there’s not a whole lot you can do with a harness on, let alone a sound projector at the bottom. I only saw one stick. Eventually someone kicked it out of the way. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-drum-corp-performance-ive-ever-seen/523524/18 "2010-01-04T21:36:16Z")
Sent the link to my kid, the music ed sr/aspiring HS band director/DCI geek. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-drum-corp-performance-ive-ever-seen/523524/19 "2010-01-04T21:50:43Z")
My bro got his link this morning, and I thought he was gonna take my ear off with the “Spirit of Atlanta” yell! I know I’m not supposed to “gush” here, but this kinda stuff gives me goose-pimples and brings a tear to my eye, I ain’t kiddin’! That “dropped stick” thing? It amazes me to think how little time a drummer has to think about that mistake, because by the time he can formulate his “Awwww fuck it!”, he’s already into the next segment. THAT, my friends, is a **HELL** of a mental challenge, IMHO. Q ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-drum-corp-performance-ive-ever-seen/523524/20 "2010-01-04T21:59:57Z")
> [@xanthous](#): > > **drachillix,** please linkie to an example of what you think is great. I could watch this stuff all day! Slightly different beast, but go take a look at the Kodo Drummers of Japan (no sound at the moment, so I can’t tell what’s worth linking to quality-wise). Again, it’s slightly different, but for precision performance, there may be some at the same tier, but there are none higher. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-drum-corp-performance-ive-ever-seen/523524.md?page=2)