I tell you, band is just like football and just as American as apple pie.  I can remember a time when Drum Corps was not being shown at the movie theatre.  There was also a time when guard was just the flag girls behind the band.  Now there is a commercial using color guard to show the benefits of a product called Guardasil.  Images of our activity now reaches the Grammy's showcasing drumlines across the stage.  Why is this taking place now?  What is different about our social and cultural norm that is different today than it was yesterday?

I find it an intersting season so far with the beginning of the Drum Corps season starting.   My old team, Madison, has a new staff, new uniforms, and a new attitude from what I can tell.  Carolina Crown is off to a good start beating out the Cadets.  The surprise is Blue Coats has tied them.  Also, the recent post by DCI talking about the movement that is going on with the top 7 Corps.  Here is a shot of the Louisville show.

1975…. PBS broadcasts, for the first time, the Performance Society of Drum Corps International; and wouldn’t you know that the first Champion identified by a television audience is the Madison Scouts! As interesting as that point is, since that 1975 debut, there have only been 7 drum corps that have ever earned that coveted title of Champion for a Drum Corps International Finals: Blue Devils, Holy Name Cadets, The Cavaliers, Santa Clara Vanguard, Phantom Regiment, Star of Indiana, & the Madison Scouts.

With the reunion of family, and a collection of some of the activities MOST ACCOMPLISHED, INNOVATIVE, and SOUGHT AFTER Designers & Educators, the 2010 Madison Scouts, will for sure be pushing both the competitive and creative envelopes the way they did when announcing themselves some 35 years ago in Philadelphia.

Being THE perennial powerhouse of brisk, up-beat jazz or intense Latin fares, I believe it is fair to say that this summer’s audiences will be DAZZLED by the BEST of what we all expect and GLUED to what we couldn’t predict from this all male corps; a production that is entertaining, innovative, technically finessed, and athletically achieved with MASTERY & POWER! It has always been stated that from its ashes the phoenix will rise stronger and wiser. This analogy couldn’t be more truthfully told than by the history of the Madison Scouts 70 year lineage.

While it has often appeared as if this corps has taken back seat to their competitors, the truth of the matter is that this organization has been at the very epicenter of its’ competitors never ending push forward.

Being anchored in philosophical and educational symbiosis, Madison is Royal Blood that WILL NEVER and CAN NEVER die! This is an organization that has once again produced some of our MOST REVERED Pioneers: Dan Acheson, Scott Chandler, Charlie Gumbert and Mr. Jim Mason to name a few. I am proud to say that this is one Drum Corps Fan who can’t wait to see what the corps has in store, and I’d like to end by saying….

“This is the summer of the Madison Scouts! This is the summer that audiences all across the U.S. and around the world are not only reminded, but also inspired, by the true vision of our activities founders. And it is because of our love, and anticipation of something memorable, that the Madison Scouts will NEVER walk alone!”

I  believe that our activity had made many strides over the yeasr.  We continue to make it through after a faultering ecomony.  Some way we make it through budget cuts and the ever growing pinch on music programs.  Drum Corps and marching band is an old American theme that will continue to play again and again.  Have you notices all of the clips of cadences played in hip hop records and commercials?  There are even movies made now that celebrate our activity.  One of them is called "Drumline".  This is was more of a mega hit with super stars designed to appeal to the masses and generate cash flow.  Some may feel that it is not true to the activity.

I have recently met a gentleman by the name of Ed Maher.  He owns a production company called JEM Fils LLC.   Their movie is presented by John E. Maher and produced by Ed.  The name of it is called "Throw it Down".  Is is a film about Drum Corps and features the Blue Coats Drum and Bugle Corps from Canton Ohio on their challenging 80-day "Connexus" tour across America.  Brilliant widescreen cinematography and carefully mastered audio will immerse you in the Bluecoats' breathtaking journey into heat, pain , fatique and ultimately celebration.

Unlike the made for that masses version, this film is focused on the everyday aspects of being in a drum corps.  I was taken back through a time warp several times by watching the movie considering my four years of performaing with the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps.  This movie does a good job of communicating what communal living is like on and off the road. It is a core part of the experience.

If you are a drum corps enthusiast, I definitely recommend this for your viewing. www.throwitdownthemovie.com