Saturday, July 30, 2016

Friday - July 29, 2016 - Tennessee Vanderbilt University

Music City - Nashville , TN - They are actually a fairly large corps - Open Class and they have a good following - it's cool to hear everyone cheering - For A Nation - flag line is a bit of a mess - flag line has 2 color flags in a horizontal line - makes the errors look worse - wow those flags are so distracting visually because they are not together - Opening was good - I certainly liked Young Person's Guide - Classic drum corps - I don't get the title - I guess the Nation was England?  But what happened to the King at the end - he disappeared?   
Score:   65.45 


Carolina Crown - Fort Mills, SC - Relentless - As we start tonight, Crown is sitting in 3rd place after being in first just a mere three days ago.    Decided to do multi view tonight and high tomorrow - Horn line sound is really amazing - so I finally get the entire show - I still don't care for it - which is odd because I have really grown to like their music - drill - color guard work - but the idea and stuff behind it not so much.  I know weird right.  I have to say they may have made a lot of changes because the horn line drill was probably the worst I've seen it - lots of people out of place or slightly out of place - so proficiency was not what it usually is 
Score:    89.8        Place:  3


Cadets - Allentown, Pa - Awakening  - Cadets start tonight in 5th place.  On the 26th they were in 6th, jumped to fourth and now back to fifth.  Keeps things interesting for sure.  I wonder what would have happened if they had kept the original name of the show?  T-shirst would have been hilarious - Get "Stoned" With The Cadets - I would have bought that shirt just because it would become a classic-  So they have added some statues onto the field - they changed the trumpet player on the prop's costume to the nude or bronze - and it looks like the statue on the other prop is wearing a speedo and a lot of body pant - Well it's about freakin' time the show made sense - I heard a judge saying about how much he loved this one part - I am glad the show makes sense finally - but it is still not my favorite show and nothing close to my favorite Cadet show.  For the Cadet show music the put up Crown's - that was pretty funny!
Score:   86.80         Place:  5


Blue Knights - Denver, CO - The Great Event  - BK starts tonight in 6th place and on the 26th they were in 7th place.  They fell to 8th place the next day and then back up to 6th.  BK is having a bit of a bumpy ride.  They do have a slick DM - Wow!  Love the new ending - Love the new drill - Love the way they turn the props now - some of the choreographic sequences the corps does is amazing - Just really a huge step forward. 
Score:   84.15     Place:  6

Bluecoats - Canton, OH - Down Side Up - Blue is currently leading the pack.  though on the 26th they had fallen to 3rd.   This is just the coolest show - The vibe to this show is so chill - I read on Reddit that their color guard is not so good - I am not sure who the writer of that piece was, but he clearly doesn't know a lot - their guard could hold their own against many- for some it is a matter of style depending on their instructional staff - I do wonder how critical it is to slide down eh slides together or if that is less important - anyway - just a way cool show.
Score:   90.80      Place:  1


The Vanguard - Santa Clara, CA - Force of Nature - Santa Clara starts tonight in 7th.  on the 26th they were in 5th after they had spent 3 days ranked 4th.  On the 27th they went to 6th - As this is one of my favorites (not that I really don't like all the shows - I just happen to connect with their music and style) I am wondering what on earth is going on.    I like the new ending - very Vanguardish - I have to say that I did not like it tonight as much as I have in the past - I suspect a lot changes and they were pretty tentative and some really glaring form issues - and tonight not just individuals - disappointed tonight 
Score:   88.225        Place:  4

Blue Devils - Concord, CA - Which Dreams Are Made  On- Speaking of favorite shows - The Devils have been in 2nd place since the 25th of July.  Anxious to see it tonight as it has been several days since I last saw the show.   Hmmm - wonder if they are ahead or the Devils are running late?  There has been a rather long pause between the corps - and it looks like maybe there is lightening out there ... have to check Nashville weather.  Nope just mostly cloudy and only a 15% chance of rain.   Saber feature was amazing - Really really liked the finale - what a show!!!!!
Score:   90.45       Place:  2


Phantom Regiment - Rockford, IL - Voice of Promise - Phantom was looking pretty cozy there for awhile and then suddenly they have been bouncing around.  On the 25th of July they were ranked at number seven, seeing their ranking fall to 8th the next day and to 9th on the 27th and 28th.  I can't imagine how they are getting lower scores than some corps in music.  I am not a musician so that is probably why I don't.  I don't, however, feel that this is one of their stronger shows.  Joyeux Noel is by far one of the most beautiful moments in the show.    The big question for me tonight is - will she or won't she catch her big rifle toss???  Inquiring minds want to know.  Nope she dropped it again -- honestly I can't believe she still has the solo unless they keep trying to find someone who can do it - The ending to the song before Joyeux Noel was really cool - They made their blue flags into swing flags and it looked much better - a nice show - but not overwhelming again tonight.  
Score:  84.125         Place:  7


Madison Scouts, Madison, WI - Judas  - Speaking of being all over the place.  The Scouts were in 12th place on the 25th of July, falling to 13th on the 26th, but maintaining their 12th place spot on the 27th and 28th of July.  The music has the Scout firepower, but I think they were moving in a new direction for a couple years, a direction they needed, and this show reminds me of the shows from the past.  I think the color guard is quite good, but the scaffolding and a hanging just, to me, is not enough .    Flag line is a bit messy - again could be new work - Judas's hanging finally made much more sense tonight - Again - not a bad show at all and some of the changes were really good - but maybe too little too late?  They seem to be fighting to stay in the top 12 this year.  
Score:  82.875       Place: 8



So they have about a four hour drive from Nashville to Atlanta - which is the show that will be Live Streamed tomorrow starting at 2 PM - this is a big show!!  I suspect there were a lot of changes made this week after the big Regional last week and to get ready for the one this week.  Everyone really had some tentative spots throughout their shows .    Two broke 90 tonight.  I will end this as I usually end each post - I have so much respect and admiration for the students who are involved in these groups.  The countless hours of practice and sacrifice they make is astonishing.  Lest anyone think that bands are full of geeks - just look at what these "geeks" are capable of doing.  Much more than the average person and much more than an average athlete - The responsibilities these students have when they perform are mind boggling.  Kudos to all the students - no one is a lose!!!     Best Wishes for tomorrow night!!!

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