Blue Devils La Fiesta 1984

One of the Baddest song that the Devils have ever played.Hope you like it

[@politicalsheepdog]

Now this is the real Blue Devils.

[@starstarstar42]

Let's break it down: conically bored G Bugles. They produce crazy beautiful buzzy overtones that stack, then stack again, then stackstackstackstack until suddenly 50 moderately good buglers are louder than 80 very good B flat brass players. That's why *I* love these old school vids. You can still hear that quality in the recordings. That's doesn't make "old-school" better than modern corps, just...different. Louder. Buzzier. I miss that, I miss it a lot.

[@veot.2869]

starstarstar42 I certainly agree. I would even say better because I played both and as lead soprano and soloist. But, when I played that G horn with that hornline something mystical, magical happened. It built something special with the audience that you couldn't tear down and it was memorable for the rest of the night, even year. And, there were more tears shed hearing and playing that G horn than the B flat! Believe that!!!!!!

[@Tapper7]

thats true, Bb cant overtone stack like a good ol' G Kanstul

[@holton345]

@@Tapper7 BD used only King 2 valved G bugles in this performance. When three bangers were legalized King dropped out, which was a shame. The King K-series bugles were a lot better than the ones produced by Kanstul.

[@kennethrountree5980]

Tapper7 I played on Dynasty G bugles in 2000. In 2001, we moved to B flat Kanstul horns. It was as close to being as loud on G than any other horn. In fact, we were louder on the Kanstuls than the Dynasty’s.

[@NotLost]

Don't forget the old Getzen chrome plated!!

[@piliage]

In my mind, this is one of the best shows ever played to not win the DCI title. The 84 show was superb. The opener Bacchanalia was brilliant as well.

[@samsignorelli]

A little fun fact re the opening trio. John Hendrikson -- far left -- was a complete rookie to drum corps...had never marched ANY corps before. We were in the San Diego State University Marching Aztecs in 83 and when he made BD, it inspired me to try out, even though I ALSO had never marched corps...hell, I'd never even marched a slide before I got to Concord! My only real regret at BD was not trying for the trio...the part I would've gone for was what Stymie (center) played....it was right in my range. but I declined to try for it, even though I HAD made the first cut for the Latin Implosion solo (back when it was a duet). Ah well...it would've been another great camera shot to go with the one I got in the opener.

[@agogobell28]

Did you play lead soprano, or another part?

[@samsignorelli]

@@agogobell28 Heh....I was actually a FOURTH soprano in that line! We doubled a lot of the parts to give proper support...I played a lot of the lead bari parts, as a matter of fact. For La Fiesta, tho...I remember a fair chink of lead sop parts an octave down, some unison lines, and a little harmony....probably the most independent parts of the entire show (independent of the other voices, that is).

[@1GunCat1]

I marched Spirit of Atlanta in '84, I still remember seeing BD the first time in Stillwater, MN and being blown away by La Fiesta. What a great tune!

[@officialnoslenj]

What's up Steve?

[@newtojo]

Sitting in the stands at Grant field that night, I was pulling hard for the Devs to win. High Brass (tie), high drums, and high colorguard, but an unbelieveable second place to Garfield Cadets. I still can't believe that result. What a great show to listen to, year after year! Magnificent arrangements and stellar playing.

[@RishiJalukar]

I’ve preferred modern drum corps for a while, but this performance is on par, if not better then anything from today. Amazing

[@samsignorelli]

As someone IN the vid....thank you.

[@RishiJalukar]

@@samsignorelli no, thank you :) from a music perspective, this is in my top 5 shows. Of course there have been a lot of changes since the 80’s, but this was so far ahead of its time that it could hold up in today’s competitions.

[@homfencing]

Steve "Stymie" Leanene....awesome player...we called his cam shot at the end "The Look," and seeing it on a replay on the way home was the first time I laughed since the show.

[@bassmangotdbluz3547]

It even sounds like the Jay Chattaway arrangement for Maynard Ferhuson. Incredibly well played!

[@scvanguard1]

This is by far, one of the best parts of a BD show ever....I could listen to this every day....BD rocks....

[@bobareebop]

The baddest of badass Blue Devils. My God, what a horn line. The end of this piece has been kicking my ass for 25 years, with the middle horns, then the baritones come in on top of them with the sopranos screaming at the very end...plus that totally off-the-beat ensemble percussion part...wow. Terific arrangement and performance.

[@supersop]

Man I wish Wayne still wrote like this !!!!!!

[@jasonhathaway9746]

La fiesta... Such good stuff. No microphones needed.

[@tsan3796]

Proof G horns need to return

[@jamess8566]

Amen!

[@jonyoung09]

Beyond exciting....I just keep playing it over and over. The intensity, style and pitch are just freggin' amazing!!

[@DennisJohnsonDrummer]

Quintessential Blue Devils.

[@leebyrd68]

I liked the show in 1986, got to see it in person 2 times and they won a DCI world championship with it, the closer for that show, "One more time chuck corea" was the best song Ive ever heard played by any corps or band for that matter ever

[@homfencing]

Oh man....I LOVED playing this chart. I'm the soprano at the very top of the "horn" on tihe right side at the beginning of the vid. The crowd response from the field was deafening.

[@bringndaruckus6956]

Your corps was electric that night

[@celeste8509]

High colorguard, I had the purple wings! BD changed my life 🎉

[@Benisuber1]

If I could like this 1000 times I would.

[@politicalsheepdog]

@SAFye I love the mean mug at the end. I played my video to threads back in the 80's watching the entire finals over and over.

[@allgames7]

@DarmokandJiladLLP Because the songs time signature is all over the place and the piece is very difficult to even play standing still. My high school played this in 1986. We got thrid place in State in Texas. We had to stand still much of it due to time and difficulty. One of the greatest latin jazz songs. We were very good - but Blue Devils were amazing.

[@brianhynes6493]

Never gets old. Don't know how anyone can give this a thumbs down even if they were kicking your ass. Just sayin'..........

[@samsignorelli]

Maybe the down votes came from people who didn't like that we pretty much killed the concert era with this chart.

[@paintpunk4ever]

G Bugles... Legendary instruments

[@knightflyte]

@homfencing I enjoyed reading your posts, homfencing. It's great to get an insider look behind the scenes.

[@Wahl95]

That baritone soloist KILLED IT.

[@earlviney5212]

That was a French horn

[@torqq]

HOLY CRAP. I was checking out some Maynard on YT when La Fiesta came one. FRIGGIN memories. I had to search for this, Im so glad this is here thanx. I get chills

[@samsignorelli]

Hell...I can still sing my parts to this chart!

[@molecular360]

Blue Devils 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2005, 2004, 2003. Can't tell me those weren't some badass hornlines. Nuff said.

[@justdriveon]

One of the greatest of all time.

[@samsignorelli]

Thank you

[@homfencing]

@bodyandsmarts Wow! Thank you! It was a blast to perform as a rook-out! The 2nd greatest day of my life was this show (the 1st being my wedding day, of course)

[@klaptongroovemaster]

84 was my first year in corps... I was in a dinky nothing corps. When I saw BD do this show it blew my freakin MIND.

[@JayScott-ze8mc]

No such thing as a "dinky nothing corps", my friend. You marched DCI. That's all that matters.

[@CaryHedges]

Back again to listen in 2018. Still awesome!

[@mwentink67]

I so miss BD of that time

[@clintrushing3786]

THE best stand still performing corps ever.

[@cainanuk]

If you look back to the 70s and 80s, corps had a distinct sound, none more so than the Blue Devils. The G bugle was an integral part of that sound. I also feel that modern drum corps are missing a distinct voice as well... the French horn.

[@earlviney5212]

Right on the all mello lines are too bright.

[@MarineBugler]

BD back in the day when DRUM CORPS WAS IN YOUR FREAKIN' FACE!!!!! ... No dancing, no chairs, just great MUSIC ...(not whole notes that last for 8 bars either) ... Someone should start a drum corps that is strictly OLD SCHOOL.

[@jeffe_77]

@@StephenKershaw1 ditto DCA

[@mrpoopoohead7668]

completely agree. the corps I marched with in the '70's folded after 1979 and I had a chance to start a new one with all the old equipment and uniforms, but a friend ruined it when he told them that we had to use the Thunderbolt name ( our old corps), so we lost out on all that stuff for FREE :( and I regret not being more aggressive and would still be doing drum corps today yet. the one condition was that we could not use the Thunderbolts name...I am still bummed. drum corps sucks now

[@bhkidd]

I wish someone would post the 1985 show. I loved Liferaft Earth.

[@cainanuk]

The reason the corps is not marching is because La Fiesta was their "concert" piece. Back in the 70's and 80's, Shows were broken up into 5 distinct sections.. The opener (or many corps referred to it as the "off the line"... harkening back to the days when all corps started on the goal line), The drum feature (where only the drums played... for an entire song), the ballad (self explanitory), the concert piece (literally "park and bark") and finally the closer.

[@homfencing]

My pleasure...always nice to have your work appreciated!

[@MarineBugler]

Great stuff ... THIS is DCI. :)

[@mikstertjc123]

Whoaaaa baby..

[@piliage]

The best show that never won the championship, the 1984 Blue Devils.

[@draeke99]

i marched this year and omf i loved bd. i will go out on a limb and say best show ever!

[@definitelynotcainan3353]

141 of the most badss seconds in the history of DCI.

[@samsignorelli]

You're welcome! (says the top point of the right devil horn at the beginning)

[@brianjungen4059]

@@samsignorelli I knew you would be on this post. :)

[@samsignorelli]

@@brianjungen4059 Well no shit! :)

[@GraysonBuzz]

Love this show especially because it was at Georgia Tech. A friend marched flugel in 84 Devs and another guy was an instructor at my high school band camp a few years later.

[@homfencing]

For those saying the horn Dean Bull is playing at 0:54, or the solo Preston Howard is playing at 1:10 are a mellophone and a baritone....trust someone who was there (I'm the top point in the right hand "devil horn" at the beginning of the vid)....they're both French horns. BD didn't use mellos until 1986. The alto line in 84 was a mix of Frenchies and flugelhorns (the flugs played the feature after Preston's solo) Sam Signorelli Soprano, 1984 Blue Devils

[@Mark-sj3xb]

Sam, Bonnie Ott would like to have a word with you.

[@samsignorelli]

@@Mark-sj3xb I'd forgotten about that....but Bonnie was before my time.

[@jeffk1482]

God I love this!!! Went to the finals my first time that year - and the Devils literally blew everyone out of their seats with this. THANKS for posting!!!!

[@twilightz0ne1]

I just got shivers. I love good marching music.

[@angelkilla245]

YEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!

[@Deltadivaix]

Memories.....We play this my Freshman year in HS....La Fiesta, Malaguena, and Spanish Dreams....I hated those hot polyester suites, but LOVED the music!

[@mjbari3]

God love the G bugle French Horns!!!! I know they were such difficult things to play, but MAN, there are about 5 guys from back then that could WAIL on those things. I believe that Renegades still march 3 or 4, in the Senior Corps circuit.

[@chr9s833]

I marched the French with the Chicago Vanguard Sr Corps back in the late 80’s. Super easy to over blow (bell was pretty thin) and tough to keep in tune but fun to play.

[@cainanuk]

Lots of 80's mustaches on display there... oh, and let's not forget the mullets! The 80's ROCKED!!

[@musicrinda]

So awesome!

[@rodwill007]

THE UNDERTAKER on soprano at hte end

[@samsignorelli]

Steve "Stymie" Leanane....actually appeared at a BD camp last week. First tie anyone;s really seen him since he aged out in 85. Hopefully he;;l reconnect with everyone....STILL has that glare.

[@ItssTaco]

I want this music so bad.

[@ExBuickRacer]

Hey Sam! I remember playing lead bari parts on my 2V King K-80 during the '07 BD/SCV Alum gig; playing "Free" was a dream come true for this Red Team alum. 8-D

[@knightflyte]

I got your removed comment in my YT inbox. You are correct 100% and sorry if my comment came off the wrong way. I love C because of the things you mention. Sure DC has changed significantly, and older members and fans may not appreciate that change, but ultimately it's about kids enjoying the experience and gathering the life lessons that DC imparts. Those things haven't changed in the last 90 years and should be looked upon favorably. That gets lost in the hub bub we see so often.

[@cbrentsmith]

SO much fun to hear old school drum corps

[@88Drumline]

This needs to be a BD encore piece.

[@mconfive2nine]

Proper bugles. What a sound! I did forget how common park and blow was in the 80s however.

[@samsignorelli]

Well....not after this. Garfield didn't have a concert in 84, and they went on last, right after us. The following year you saw a LOT less concerts, so we basically killed it with LF.

[@dmccalldds]

I imagine this sounded incredible live. However watching in 2013 I am amazed how little drill they had for a whole stinkin' song! You never see that anymore.

[@rdlcbrown]

It did sound incredible live. You didn't just hear it though. With the volume pumped out by corps like Blue Devils and Madison Scouts, you felt it. It was very loud and a lot of fun to be in a hornline of this caliber.

[@homfencing]

Who's the joker who disliked this? We rocked!! *must''ve been someone we cut that year*

[@rjwilloughby1213]

THE DEFINITIVE BLUE DEVIL CHART this is all you need to hear - case closed !

[@Fearlessnippz]

my band director marched this year

[@funkywhite]

As amazing at the Cadets were that year with West Side Story, my love was over the top for BD. I mean they owned it. No disrespect to Cadets, but BD was burning!

[@homfencing]

The only phasing I remember was between the brass and drums during one long halt in Latin Implosion (and yeah...it was bad), but that's about it. The last attack going into the last halt in the opener was kinda splattered. But other than that, I remember we all felt we'd had the golden show. GARFIELD thought they'd lost, tho.

[@michaelkeddy1893]

We left it on the field that night, to be sure!

[@homfencing]

I bought a King K-20 off ebay a few years back....same model I'm playing in the vid. When we did the BD/SCV alum ensemble in 07, I think I had the ONLY 2 valve G horn in the upper brass line!

[@dc62]

Great performance for the Devils that night...took one of the great shows in DCI history to beat them.

[@tommytimp]

Do you have the rest of this show? "Bacchanalia" absolutely fucking ROCKED.

[@homfencing]

@Offbeat1000 To continue...."Rock Encounter"? We had no such chart in 84. It was Bacchinalia, Latin Implosion, KE9, La Fiesta, Like a Lover.

[@homfencing]

@smn76 Actually,most corps did a concert up through 84....Garfield was the only one this year that did not have one, thus La Fiesta was the last of the true concerts. The move to almost constant movement took few more years to get set in.

[@homfencing]

Thank you! In any other year we probably would've won, but Garfield was VERY tough to beat...we only did it one time (Landsdale, PA....last show before finals week).

[@bdsnareline97]

YES

[@Benisuber1]

It's definitely a matter of opinion on what is "good" music. I agree with the older generation, music that has a meaning and feeling is what I qualify as good. I find it really hard to actually understand and get into any of BD's newer shows and it saddens me to see their talent used to cater to judging rather than fan enjoyment. Not to say anything against the members but recent BD shows have not been very captivating.

[@IsaiahSMC]

I wish someone transcribed that trumpet trio

[@homfencing]

Soprano bugle....same as the guys in the opening trio (in fact, John Hendrickson -- far left -- and I both came from San Diego State. He aged out with Madison the following year). I managed to find a King K-20 sop (same model we used in 84...the entire line was Kings) on ebay a few years ago....my preferred horn (it even belonged to BDB at one point). In the 07 BD/SCV alum corps, I think I was the only 2 valve G horn amongst all the sops/trumpets.

[@slappy1234567]

Great!

[@bobareebop]

Nice see and hear a French horn solo. No one uses French horns anymore.

[@Inspadave]

Though this chart actually had drill sets, a whopping three of them, I still consider this the last great concert number.

[@officialnoslenj]

I totally agree.......But when you are blowing like this, drill sets are not needed!!!

[@homfencing]

Jon Nelson And in fact, since Garfield went on after us and HAD no concert set, and no one really had one in the 12 thereafter, we pretty much killed it.

[@samsignorelli]

Uhhh...no. Garfield beat us by 0.1....1 tenth of a point. 97.9 to 98.0 Nice try, tho.

[@johncruz7923]

wow, yall were beaten by a cat? lol jk

[@feverpa]

@@samsignorelli This is '84. Cadets scored 98.4 that year. Don't get me wrong, This show, particularly this moment is LEGENDARY to me, but I believe you're wrong on Garfield's score in '84. That West Side Story show has been a favorite of mine forever - and I'm almost positive they scored a 98.4. I know it was very close though.

[@homfencing]

Remember also that all of these horns only had 2 valves, so a mello of the era had a LOT less tubing than a Frenchie. 3 valvers didn't get legalized until 1990...AND ALL brass until 2000 was in the key of G. Made it easy to swap parts (the flugel feature at 1:25 was originally in the sopranos, but we couldn't play it clean, so Wayne gave the flugels a shot and they nailed it.)

[@homfencing]

@crescendopez Oh yes....there were any number of people who looked overage back in the day. In addition to Stymie (the closeup guy in the opening trio...he aged out the following year), there was Ira, the balding blonde guy from 83 Madison (duet with Sean Owens in "Strawberry Soup") and a guy from 83 Bridgemen (closeup in "Waiting for Godot") who looked maybe 30!

[@homfencing]

@piliage THANK YOU!!!!! 1/10th still bugs me almost 30 years later.

[@piliage]

@homfencing Bachhinalia was a wicked great chart, I remember hearing it for the first time in a warmup arc at the Riverside show early in the season. Absolutely blew me away.

[@88Drumline]

In the 70s and 80s...first thing you thought about with BD was their horn line. Now, no so much. Wish they'd get back to that. Musical emphasis instead of visual.

[@earlviney5212]

True

[@michaelryan3061]

Old school Drum Corps Drive In. Park and Blow!

[@samsignorelli]

The last true concert number, as Garfield didn't have one, and they went on after us.

[@Blume43]

Of course, the first video I find that's better than Missouri State's is the Blue Devils. Very impressive!

[@mjbari3]

@1965bast The guy playing tymps near the begining. I don't know if Bob Bollman played this year, but I know him from the Steel City Ambassadors in Pittsburgh!

[@sideshowdrums]

dennis eckersley on timps hahaha

[@OmniChaosTheory]

i wish BD was still badass like the used to be. Now their shows arent memorable

[@arnoldbowie4520]

I agree

[@knarf714sc4]

As a B D fan u are so right!!

[@popeyesailor9571]

I marched in the 70's and my son marched 13-17. Bullshit! They are doing stuff now I wish we did.

[@homfencing]

Hanging over was somewhat common in drum corps...Hunter Moss at Spirit of Atlanta did it all the time. I don't think anyone was ever ticked for it (meaning a score deduction), as it was part of the planned performance and not an actual mistake. If it would've been ticked, no corps director would allow a hangover, especially at finals in the tic era.

[@clr550]

maybe why they are STILL my favorite corps

[@homfencing]

No...That was Stymie. I wanted to audition for the trio -- and had I gotten it, it WOULD'VE been me in the middle -- but I didn't go for it...don't remember why, as I DID try for the duet in "Latin Implosion" (back when Duane's solo WAS a duet) (2nd chart in the show) and made the first cut. At the very beginning of this vid, I'm the point in the right devil horn. My horn and left hand get in the frame during the last park & bark as shoot the bell WAY up while taking a breath.

[@homfencing]

*snort* As do we all!!! The vet who marched next to me, as well as myself, have both put on a FEW pounds since those skinny days! (Ahhhh...back when I was skinny & had hair)

[@brykundo]

I believe DC did this arrangement. Loved this show.

[@gregtyoung]

@Aaron5ash Actually, the french horn player was kicking IN his first valve slide. Normal position was 'out', and it had to be brought in to play high A-flats (which are normally played with 2 and 3 on a 3-valve horn but are playable but flat with 1st valve) in tune.

[@piliage]

@firefly09td Bo Dingus. Great guy. If you do a bit of searching, there is a wonderful photo of him when he was about 15 years old on the Anaheim Kingsmen website from the 1982 tour. He is standing with two french horn players from the corps. And Bo is one of my oldest friends in the world, send him my best regards from Belgium.

[@aliciagoldstein1054]

homfencing I know for a fact that Kilties still use G - I purchased a G mello bugle from them just a couple weeks ago :-)

[@molecular360]

Just a matter of taste I guess. I personally love every single BD horn line and I choose to not compare the differences. Just love the activity.

[@jesnderburns]

Last 5 seconds: "that's right b*tch"

[@piliage]

@homfencing Riverside was (perhaps is still) a great show. It was SO early in the season and most folks hadn't seen each other for over a year (friends, competitors, or otherwise), it always had something of a reunion feel about it. It also gave you a good idea regarding SCV and BD vis a vi who had the strong show for the season. However, it is damn year 30 years ago since I was last involved, and life moves on.