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Lest there be any confusion about it - please note that this site is an unofficial solo effort by myself and is not in any way connected to or supported by the competing corps of the Sunrisers Drum & Bugle Corps; or any of its principals, members, agents, or sponsors. The views and opinions expressed here are strictly mine, and mine alone, like them or not. You should not infer any official policy of the Sunrisers Drum & Bugle Corps in anything written here.

12/11/11 George Knoebel Jr. Funeral details

Bob Murphy - Georges brother in law - has passed along the details of the wake to be held for George on Long Island. They are as follows:

George will be waked on Sunday, December 18, 2011 at the Ruland Funeral Home
500 North Ocean Avenue,
Patchogue, N.Y. 11772.

Viewing hours are 2pm to 4pm and 7pm to 9pm.

This will be a sad day for all of us but George was too full of life to allow his wake to be a somber event so the family requests that you come prepared to share your "George" stories with everyone.

The family also requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the children's charities that he was involved with in Arizona. Details will follow in another post.

12/01/11 Shocking and sad news

I was shocked to hear that Brian O'Connell left us yesterday. Those of us old farts who knew Brian will always remember the big smile and sense of humor of this bigger than life horn player. Brian was one of the greats from the 60's. He will be missed.

Brian O'Connell
Oakdale, New York
January 10, 1945 - November 30, 2011

Visitation: Saturday, December 3, 2011 at the Raynor and D'Andrea Funeral Home at 245 Montauk Highway in West Sayville from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Chapel Service: Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home
Cremation will be private.

11/22/11 Happy Thanksgiving

Last year at this time I found myself in critical condition in St. Francis Heart Hospital after suffering my fifth heart attack - which came way to close to taking my life. I have still not recovered from that episode and likely never will, with my heart operating at just 15% of capacity. So at this Thanksgiving time, I am thankful to my God that he allowed me to remain with my wife and son for some indeterminable time that He has not decided on yet. I am also thankful for the well wishes of those few of you who wrote to my son in my absence with your support and prayers for me. To those ... my family and I wish you the happiest of Thanksgivings, good health, and the best of the coming Christmas season.

11/18/11 Maintenance and ...

Just doing some long delayed maintenance work on the site, having a few minutes of down time. All news listed before June of this year has been removed from this page and archived in a new page accessible from the menu named ... "Archived News". Duh. Anyone who hasn't been around a while or who just stumbles upon the site may read way back without the length of the main page being a burden on those who keep tuning in regularly.

Also, the remaining silicone bracelets are now in the hands of the competing corps. Not that anyone much has stepped up to contact me for any, just note that I no longer have them and they must now be purchased from the competing corps on their - not my - dime.

11/11/11 Unhappy? Too bad.

The site has gotten quite a few hits since my last posting. It appears there are some people who are "unhappy" with me for expressing my views (so what else is new?). Well, that's too bad, isn't it. Apparently some people don't like being called on their so-called beliefs of dedication to the corps. Comments and visits to the forum are down some, but that doesn't bother me at all. The forum is a place where members could debate the issue I bring up. The fact that not a single person has done so in this case only reinforces my belief that all these years of "I bleed....yada yada yada.." are just so much bullshit. Tell you what ... if you are so poor you can't afford a lousy 5 bucks for a band, I'l send you a free one from the 5 bands I withheld for myself. How's that? Otherwise, I don't ever want to hear any of this "I bleed..." bullshit ever again. Like it or not, visit the site or forum or not ... I don't care. You don't even have to wear a band - IF YOU'RE AN ALUMNI OR SUPPORTER, BUY ONE!

11/8/11 So ... where are they?

I suppose a few certain people reading this latest screed will arrive at their usual misinformed conclusions that I am badmouthing the corps in public ... "again". Nothing could be further from the truth - I am badmouthing certain members of the alumni and making a challenge, "put your damned money where your big mouth is!" Meaning what? Oh - it's so easy this time.

I've heard a lot over the years from people who will remain nameless that they "bleed blue and orange." Big words! Especially if backed up, and in many cases they never get called on it. I am.

I recently spent a nice chunk of my limited funds to have those silicone bands made up to benefit the competing corps. I wondered when I did it how many of the big mouths would step up, and how many would, as usual, spout their excuses. Well - I found out. Since advertizing the bands, 2 members - who I expected all along to put theirs words to work - stepped up big time and put down their cash for seriously large numbers of bands. Numbers so big that there is no way they could expect to use them all themselves. Others bought one or two - a smaller number - but names of guys who can always be counted on to help the cause. Ah yes - then there was everyone else - the largest number. Included are some of the biggest "I bleed orange and blue!" people around. Did they step up and buy even a single band? Nope! Not a one. A few inquired about them. "What do they look like?" was asked. Does it matter, really? They are to benefit the competing corps, dummies! Buy a few! and put your money where your mouth is! Go over to the competing corps home page (there's a link in my menu to soften your angst) and order one, or more if you can afford it. Just freaking do it.

It's astonishing, really, the crap you hear spouted over the years, and when it's time to put up or shut up ... nada. Few of us are loaded with cash at our ages. A few have absolutely NO problem in that area. These things were advertized on Facebook by Patty Ciccino for me and the corps. I advertized them here and on the forum. Want to take a guess how many of the alumni actually stepped up so far (keeping in mind that Nat hasn't told me how many people have contacted the corps for some yet)? How about 16 people. Sixteeen That's disgusting. For $5 lousy bucks, only 16 people stepped up so far. Big supporters out there!

I've heard a lot of crap over the years from certain people about me and what my dedication to Sun is and was. Cough up a lousy fin and maybe I'll pay attention to your flapping jaws. Then again ... maybe not so much.

10/31/11

I have cut a deal with my provider of webspace and domain registration for a two year extension at no increase in my rate, rather than going year to year with (of course) unscheduled increases. That being the case, no matter who comes around or uses the forum - it will be here for at least 2 more years - assuming I'm still around.

So ... use it or not, write or not ... whatever.

10/25/11 Bob Murphy UPDATE

Heard from Bob today! He is at home now and resting, somewhat uncomfortably, as anyone who has had open heart surgery well knows. Bob reports his hospital visit was pretty impressive, but of course the food sucked(always does, Bob!) All things considered he's doing well and should be up and around in a month or so. Of course he's most interested in when he can start playing his horn again. I wouldn't push that, because that chest is going to hurt like hell for a good while from personal experience!. Give it time, Bob, and get well on your own time.

We're all glad to hear Bob got through this so well and will be out front soon.

10/24/11 Bands are mailed

Please note that all bands that have been preordered from me are in the mail on my dime. I will no longer be taking orders and paying postage. Those whose bands are in the mail and who have not yet paid me should now make their checks out to the address on the CC website. I have told the CC that I will most likely not be able to make the open house and to have arrangements made to pick up the remainder of the bands from me.

Thanks to alum Patty Ciccino Bauer for helping out with advertizing and distributing the bands to Facebook people - you should have them soon.

HERE is a pic taken from my phone camera (sorry for the resolution) to check the bands out.

10/08/11 Sunrisers silicone bracelets UPDATE

Get them while they're hot! (114 spoken for already!)

Get what, you say? By way of making a contribution to the corps, I have just ordered 200 of those silicone bracelets you see everyone wearing to support different causes. My cause is the Sunrisers. Yup - I ordered some of what I think are really nice bands in blue and orange segments, with "Sunrisers D&B Corps" embossed and filled with white, with our classic fleur de lis' preceding and following the text. The sample on my order page looked really nice - hopefully they come out as good.. I was just notified today these bands will go into production in a day or so and should be delivered in about 14 days. One alumnus has already stepped up and ordered not one, but 60 bracelets to benefit the corps via my alumni forum. Another has just today ordered 50 bands! Nat Macyzk has just advised me to have any checks made out to the "Sunrisers" and that will suffice, so you can order them from me now via my email link and I will handle the postage (I will email you with my mailing address to send your check), or wait to order them from the corps directly; or at corps events like the upcoming rescheduled Comedy Club show. They will also be available directly from the corps at all rehearsals, and if any are left (hopefully not) by the time the next season comes around at a table at shows. ALL ... repeat ... ALL proceeds from the sale of these bracelets goes directly to the Sunrisers. I am even picking up the postage to mail any the alumni requests before Open House when I will turn the checks and remaining bracelets over to Nat and the corps. Each bracelet will sell for $5 and will be an inexpensive way to give something to the operating costs of the corps for the remainder of this year and into next. Sale of all these bracelets will give the corps a nice start of $1000 bucks of sorely needed cash!

Remember - these are not cheesy looking plain colored bands with printing nobody can see - these are nice 2 color bands with filled white lettering so it's clear who they are to support. Let's do what we can to make these a sell-out. If so I will order more. They will be advertized on the corps website as soon as they are turned over to the corps for sale.

Just a caution here. After reading the notice on the corps website, the impression was given that these bands are already available and to send the corps your checks. They have NOT yet been delivered to me or turned over to the corps for sale. I would not advise anyone to send money until I update here to note I have received the bands and that they are what was ordered. It would be bad enough if I was left with a $140 loss without others not getting what they paid !

When I do receive the bands, the first to be delivered will be those 114 alums who have already ordered through me on the alumni forum. This will hopefully occur before the Open House, at which time I will turn over what remains to the corps for sale directly. The $140 cost of making up these bands is my donation to the corps - the proceeds of the sale will also go directly to the corps - I make or recoup nothing from this deal despite what the corps website might lead one to believe.

9/20/11 The latest on the website, forum, and competing corps.

Yeah, yeah, I know ... I've said it before. Despite dire predictions/statements on the viability of both the website and forum, I now have to retract ... again.

During my long chat with Glenn Kubecki, I made a commitment to keep both functioning if it would help the competing corps with their recruitment and/or alumni donation efforts. I will honor that commitment, as I have tried to honor every other commitment I have made. To paraphrase the Loving Spoonful, "It's not always easy, not always kind - did you ever have to make up your mind..?"

So I made up my mind to help the corps after this years gallant efforts to keep their legacy going. I also spoke to Bob Murphy on the phone this afternoon, and he said in all honesty that he had never seen a bunch of kids so devoted to working their asses off without protesting to make something of themselves and to honor their legacy. My feeling is that that should be rewarded with extra efforts by the alumni.

I know what I've said in the past about DC in general, but I've been convinced that it is what it is and isn't going back the way I remember it. Been over that. Time to face facts - the kids did a damned fine job this year with relatively nothing behind them. They can and will do better next year with more support - be it monetarily or with volunteering. Maybe it's hypocritical of me to say - because I can spare neither - but there are those who can, and I'm saying now that they should if they can to do whatever they can do to help Sun survive and prosper.

If you can help in any way - be it through volunteering to man the souvie stand, donating a case of bottled water for rehearsals, dropping a sawbuck every month or so - or more if you are able - to please do so. My commitment to you will be to keep the website and forum going until "check-out" time and helping out as much as I can. I'm going to try and make Open House in November. Hope to see as many alumni there as possible to show the kids their alumni is behind them for the long haul.

I'm sure the kids will thank you, and so will I.

9/4/11 DCA FINALS Rochester UPDATED

Well, apparently I was mistaken in some of the Prelim results last night ... Sun did not make it into the finals, by a mere 4.17 - a very good showing for an essentially "new corps". But all indications are the corps was well received by the crowd, the "costume" idea was almost universally liked, and the kids did us in the alumni proud with a great effort and hard work. I hear many are enthusiastic about coming back next year and doing what has to be done to get into the top five.

I understand there will be some staff changes for next year as well. What they are I'm not privy too - if someone is, please let me know so I can post them.

The kids should know there is no shame at not making the finals this year. For a young, inexperienced corps they performed above what DCA regulars expected (me too, coincidently) this year and have formed a nucleus of talent for the coming season. Good luck to them and the staff - fine job done by all concerned!

If you haven't seen the corps website, there is a writeup and a nice pic of part of the hornline in the period "costumes" used this year instead of uniforms. First I've seen them. Nice! This is another "first" for the Sunrisers, and I'm left wondering how many corps will copy this idea next year - and what Sun will be playing an wearing. Checkout the corps site for the pic and story HERE

9/3/11 DCA Rochester

Just took a trip to Drum Corps Planet - which I haven't done in a looong time, to see if anything from the finals was posted. There was. I had to run through many pages to find Suns appearence on the field, but there it was, and apparently the kids did a hell of a job tonight! If I read it right, they are solidly in 5th place and should make the top ten for finals Sunday night, with many fine comments about them reading through the pages. Hope I got it right but their score appeared to be a very respectful 73.530. One comment recommended Sun as the "most improved corps" for the season, with many saying they have a great foundation to build on.

I didn't go on to see who the winner of prelims was, because ... well ... I'm not that interested.

So I will endeavor to find DCP's updates Sunday night for the finals. Granted the kids neither have - nor expect - much chance to finish in the top five in the finals, but I suspect that they may have a shot if they play as well as the prelims.

Good job kids!

8/17/11 Toms River show

Frank Cevasco was kind enough to send me a link to Sal Gambino's YouTube video of the Sun performance an Toms River, NY this past weekend. I have to admit I was both pleasently surprised and encouraged with the show the "kids" put on. Admittedly, drum corps for me is not - and never will be - what it was in its heyday - but the kids did their legacy well. The first "hit" was very nice, though here again I fault Bb horns for not giving the power that the old G horns would (I think) have provided. Still - nice job by all. A nice mello solo followed with the rest of the mello section coming through loud and clear through the next movement, which I admit I am not the least familiar with.

I now "get" the costume idea Gary came up with, seeing the kids in action. While not close up, it probably fits the theme well, if this is one of the new scoring memes DCA has come up with. Again, I'm not familiar with what has been going on in DC for a while now. Nat says on the corps site that this has been the corps best outing yet this year, and if so the outlook for the finals should be at least as good as the 2007 finals Class "A" win. Let us hope so.

It's obvious the kids are working hard to make something happen. Their performance sounded pretty clean to me - the drum line sounded tight and the horns played well together from my perspective. The new chrome horns looked good - better, I assume, than the mish-mash they were forced to use for the first few shows.

On my previous post concerning the trumpet leads, I have to say the kids did a nice job, pulling in the higher registers much better than I heard at the picnic. Obviously the warm-up was the issue. Nice job there, though I sure would love to see a few more leads to realy blow some hair back. The three contras also sounded nice, in tune and playing well together. With only 21 horns, a nice jon all around. Hopefully more kids will see the results of the tremendous effort being made by this years group (and staff) and join for next year. I'm not easily impressed, but the video changed my mind about a few things.

In short ...NICE JOB, KIDS - YOU DID THE ALUMNI AND SUN LEGACY PROUD.

7/16/11 Alumni picnic, etc.

I spent a few hours at the picnic and practice this morning - long before the picnic was to start - to drop off the car wash materials I promised to Nat. I had my reasons for not sticking around (other than I was feeling like shit) as you might guess. Anyway, the corps was equipped with the new horns that finally made it through customs. Chrome trumpets, etc. Okay. Obviously don't know how well they play but the kids seemed happy with them. Sound? They did the usual warmups and such and they sounded like ... trumpets, etc. The mellos (do they still call them that?) sounded strong with 3 girls playing, but I was situated more to their side. 21 horns altogether, with 7 trumpets, 3 mellos or whatever, 3 contra (tubas?) and the rest bari's. A few bars of Le Mis'. I like the song (I dreamed a Dream) but don't particularly like the arrangement much. Anyway, the sound was okay from my perspective - the trumpets (2,2, and 3) were a little weak - the 2 leads especially so. But it was early and maybe they weren't sufficiently warmed up. I paid no attention to the drum line.

Okay the uniform issue everyone is talking about. I think - at least on my part - it was misinformation (NOT attributed to any individual), which Larry Visconti tried to clear up in the forum. The corps is wearing "costumes" as a show uniform - not regular uni's. I can see Gary's point, to a point, but the execution would be more expensive than true uni's to really bring off. I didn't see them so can't comment further.

Ran into Larry Visconti - who kindly lent me a hat and chair (it was frigging HOT) - and proves we can all disagree on some things without being disagreeable. I appreciate Larry's courtesy because the heat was really getting to me and my oxygen ran out. Plus, he's a gentleman always. Also there was Gene doing drill, Glenn Kubacki, Joe Verlezza, and of course Nat. I wanted to thank the horn tech for coming over and introducing himself and thanking me for attending, but unfortunately I have forgotten his name. I think his last name might have been Adams? At any rate I appreciated the gesture.

I really admit to mixed feelings about the corps. On one hand my frequently stated objections to modern "drum corps"; on the other the fact that these guys (and the kids) are trying like hell to make something happen out of the dust of the China regime. Talking to Nat it's obvious that money is an issue. So is help running things - a monumental chore for only 2 guys, and Gary has once again stepped into the horn line. The kids do seem dedicated and serious, despite my concerns about converting, at least temporarily a high school band to ... whatever drum corps is now. But that's me, and my opinion is worth whatever the current price of dirt is. If you can or want to contribute something it's up to you. I know it would be appreciated and could definitely be used. I can't more than what I donated today so that's beside the issue. Follow your heart is all I can say.