Michael Carlson, DCW columnist
ricky@octaviaconsulting.com

Off the Line
The hot, Midwest sun gives way to another evening as excited fans settle into the stadium. The drab, hard bleachers will be their home for the next few hours. On the field, a slight breeze stirs the gathered colorful costumes, flags and uniforms. Though a relief from the steamy summer evening, the breeze does little to distract the concentration of the musical force positioning themselves on the field. This team fused together by a single...

by Daniel Buteau, DCW Staff

Circuit des associations musicales du Québec (CAMQ), the competitive drum corps arm of Fédération des Associations Musicales du Québec (FAMQ), is planning for a radical overhaul of its sponsored events for the coming drum corps season.

Faced with a continued downsizing of the activity in Quebec, one that leaves the province with only four existing drum and bugle corps, the association is ready to experiment with new formulas in both the presentation and judging of its events. Martin Labelle,...

by Fred Meher, special to DCW

We all have heard about the powerhouse staff Magic of Orlando has put together this season. But what some of you might not know is that Magic has a connection with the “Boys.” No, not the “Good ‘ol Boys” of drum corps past that sit around and talk of yesteryear, but the “Back Street Boys” of today’s pop music culture!

Most die-hard drum corps fans know that the Magic staff rivals any in the business, including such diverse members as caption heads Gino Cipriani...

by Chris Hollenback, DCW Editor
chrishollenback@hotmail.com

A funk-rock band with big time aspirations, a large following and two ex-Madison Scouts stars will open for the band Earth, Wind and Fire this summer and perform at a club down the street from Camp Randall Stadium after DCI Semifinals on August 9 in Madison, WI.

The band’s name is Phat Phunktion, and the two Scouts alumni are Jon Schipper, a soprano player from 1991-1996, and Sheldon “Ice” Allen, a tenor player from 1985-1990. Schipper is best known for...

by Chris Hollenback
chollenback@charter.net

A new motion picture from 20th Century Fox called “Drumline” will feature actor Orlando Jones (7 Up commercials, “Time Machine,” “Evolution”) and music from Grammy-winning producer/songwriter Dallas Austin. The movie is based loosely on Austin’s real-life rise from a snare drummer who couldn’t read music to a producer and songwriter for the likes of Michael Jackson (Too Bad), Madonna (Secret), Boyz II Men (Motownphilly) and TLC (Creep) and movies...