22 corps are in this field today -
_____________________________ALL AGE CLASS____________________________________
First corps today is Carolina Gold, Raleigh, NC - Hero Hero - First time - high camera for the event today- Not a really large corps - Eric Whitacre - Fly to Paradise is their opening! Very majestic - They have a very large color guard - 11 rifles - 17 (that I can see) in the flag line - 20 in the battery - about 22 horns and 7 in the front ensemble - Color guard is actually pretty good - Like their use of the backdrops - A shame their horn line is not just a little fuller - some of the show lacks because it was written for more people than they have Not a bad show at all - bright future for this crew if they keep going!
Place : 3rd Score: 54.95
Alliance, Atlanta, GA- Spirit Animals - Another very small corps - 18 Guard - 23ish horns, 20 battery and 11 front ensemble - Using the pop song that has Animal in the lyrics - and there are occasional animal sounds - Nice use of the snake fabric to transition into the next animal - and introduce the sabers - now horn line is using the fabric so lots of snakiness on the field - flags have snake skin pattern as well - beautiful bird wings introduced - Great way to fill the field with these look to be maybe 10 ft. long wings - now everyone has one - quite lovely actually - Horn line was kind of hurting through the ending - but a nice show and they never got to the last animal so I am guessing the show maybe is not done? Well what was - not so bad!
Place: 2nd Score: 56.25
Atlanta CV, Atlanta, GA- Rhythms, Live in Motion - I think this is a Sr. corps but not sure - if I were on the multi-camera I could tell - nice rifle line - horn line sounds good too - Nice solo saber in ballad- did not muck care for the piece out of the ballad - I wonder how many of the members of this group were in Spirit of Atlanta at one time? Good show - enjoyable and pretty polished!
Place: 1st Score: 64.2
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Heat Wave, Inverness, FL - I forgot to write out the name of the show, but it has something to do with the dessert - A very tiny corps - 5 in the color guard - Looks like there are about 46 total musicians - Color guard is way better than the first time I saw them - the drum solo section makes perfect sense given their show but has to be tough since the Bluecoats play the same song at like 4 times the tempo - I know that world class corps all started somewhere - for Florida sake - I hope this group continues to grow -
Place: 2nd Score: 52.3
Southwind, Mobile, AL- no mention of the show title - This is exciting - to see Soutwind on the field again! Ride? Halo? Nice choice - ballad flags are really pretty the pink and the blue - Nice show Southwind - it looks like you are doing this comeback thing correctly - Congrats!!!
Place: 1st Score: 61.725
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Pioneer, Milwaukee, WI - The Story of St. Joan of Arc - I like the opening flags - problems with the sound and singer - that was unfortunate - PLEASE get shakos - these hats just make all of you look short - yipes some one in the guard went down - The vocal track helps make the show more understandable - but ... the burning at the stake was much better this way than the old way and not having the single involved in running back and forth is much better - The cross with the hats on the field is visual not appealing - I don't think you need the singer so much if at all anymore - You can tell that the show does not need the singer because it was just as good and understandable now with out her - The show has really come a long way - in fact almost a new show - what does that tell you about the design team? Yes you are in world class - but do what you can do to the best of your ability - Best wishes Pioneer - truly for a good conclusion to your season.
Place: 22nd Score: 64.95
Seattle Cascades, Seattle, WA - "O" - Love the O's - like the color guard uniforms too - I like the show so far but you can see that there are issues with technique in how the students approach certain drill movement - there is also out of step things going on - swing flag is beautiful - Horn line O's not so O - Liked the movement section around the O with the canned vocal - drum solo with the O's was really cool - should the O's be a different color on one from the other? I like the show - I wish it were better - they must be getting hammered in proficiency of movement -
Place: 20th Score: 70.35
Pacific Crest, Diamond Bar, CA- The Union - Love the guard's hammers - very cool - nice moment when they finish the railroad and the crossing sign goes up- ending drill combination looks really good - This is a group that has really improved a lot - still more room to grow - but from the last time I saw them - there has been a lot of growth.
Place: 19th Score: 71.8
Jersey Surf, Camden County, NJ - Ebb & Flow - Let's go surfing!! Can't get over how much more sophisticated the look this year - Love that opening saber toss and stretch thing - spacing and timing in the horn line at the end of the opener - Nice solo saber toss at end of ballad - This is a group that I see as really maturing through the season - They still have a lot of marching issues with forms and the color guard does too for that matter - The color guard is very pleasant to watch and man have they improved! This says a lot for the students and lot for the staff. Congrats Jersey!
Place: 21st Score: 68.55
Intermission YAY - reliable Rondo was announcing for SoundSport awards! I was just thinking about him!
Oregon Crusaders, Portland, OR - Hunted - Well let's see where they are now - Starting to think that maybe the uniform is kind of visually distracting - thankfully the props are not - you can see them but they don't suck up the field. Opening was really cool - they way everyone popped out from the backdrops - still don't get the significance of the girl in the long cape - forms are really a mess as a result of the choreographic movement - I do think the uniform is killing them because they are cut in 3rds and you can see that their body control is quite weak - So how did she just escape? and now has a whip - I know you have to do a bit of suspending reality - but ... and I get the guy is a bad guy - I mean he threw a net over the girl I- I really like the music - but the visual part of the show is just not to my liking - proficiency of movement - whew - I guess there are good things - but to my dummy eye - it's just a profusion of ideas that are not really well done. Sorry Oregon - loved you last year - had some of my favorite moments!!!
Place: 18th Score: 73.9
Mandarin, Sacramento, CA - Forbidden Forest - This show can be summed up in a few words - girl in over size pajamas spends show running around. I really like the Mandarin - but no where do I see forbidden - I see a forest - but I have no idea why it is forbidden - Like the music and guard work - drill - like it all - now the over size pajamas are a tear-away - so is the forbidden forest in her mind? Is the clothes she wears? Maybe if I had access to the drum corps yearbook I would understand the show.
Place: 16th Score: 75.85
Spirit of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA - Georgia - I miss my friend Angie who marched last year - it made watching fun! I am glad to know that they are getting back on their feet financially - I really like the opening set with the colors and coverage - The circle towards the end looks exactly the same as it did the last time I saw it - it is one guy who sticks out - not sure why they can't A - see it and B - fix it - It is things like that -which happened through out the show that is keeping them where they are - the music is good - guard work is good - but they need to work on details if they have an inkling to move forward.
Place: 17th Score: 74.325
Colts, Dubuque, IA- Nachtmusik - Nice opening - looks cleaner than before too - now my favorite part - Silent Night - nice drill moves out of Silent Night - not sure I get the snow flake anymore - the boxes don't seem to being utilized - but that could be the lighting - but they were left in a bit of a disarray - Really like their Nights in White Satin - I feel like they wee running out of steam toward the end - I really like the new ending - but hey I always like the Colts - Wish they had more success than they do -
Place: 15th Score: 76.775
Boston Crusaders, Boston, MA - Quixotic - Tonight they called it Qwe-otic- Still with the windmills - The Giants part was actually pretty good - the vocal tract really helps - Really they actually got the windmills off the fields and now you can actually see the drill and it is big and open like it should be OMG!!!! Wow - What HUGE difference the ending makes now - YES!!! glad they changed the end and got the windmills out of the way!!!!!
Place: 14th Score: 78.475
Troopers, Casper, WY - Heroes - From this height - I really get the opening even better - Nice opening flag statement!! yellow ribbon handled really well tonight - don't lean into step offs - Contas not following forms - Nice ending to first movement - guard work is nice tonight so far - there was a great horn line move that started as lines and moved to box then circle - I really liked the end of the AIDS section - made sense - the two that came to assist the guy who "has" AIDS - nice moment! Liked the fireman and the way his rescue ties to the next piece - I know this is Fix You and I love this - the soloist is amazing - The soloists need to hug at the end - I also like the way they get back into the show - goose bumps!!!
Place: 13th Score: 78.95
Madison Scouts, Madison, WI - Judas - Have not been a fan of the show this season but tonight was really good tonight - doubtful it will do well - but I really think this was their best tonight - really happy for them - and the show plays better the higher up you see it
Place: 11th Score: 81.5
Crossmen, San Antonio, TX - Continuum - They started the year like a house on fire, but lately they have not been scoring as well so they are dropping in the standings ... here is hoping that changes tonight - love the doubled side flags - and the entire kind of ballad thing right before them - I know this is an original composition - but it sounds like the Four Seasons are mixed in the music - not sure if there was a problem with the end form or if that was how it was supposed to be. I really like their guard - I like their style - In fact I have always been a fan of the Crossmen's guard - even as far back as my roommates were teaching them!
Place: 10th Score: 82.25
The Academy, Tempe, AZ- Drum Corpse Bride- Boy this show has come a long long way - Drum Corps that does not take itself too seriously - but performs amazingly - Finally the circle of chairs at the end was only off by a tiny bit - Wow - finale gave me goose bumps - Unchained Melody was just really special and one of the best arrangements I've heard - Really great show!!!
Place: 12th Score: 81.43
Intermission
Phantom Regiment, Rockford, IL - Voices of Promise - I like the way the opening form transitions in - very cool - YES!!!!!!! Best toss I've seen her throw !!!!! The red flag work at the end is really nice and so freakin clean it is crazy! Now if the girls could get the rest of the show to that level :-) This show was for sure better than last night - they were just really out of sync last night for sure -
Place: 9th Score: 84.05
Blue Knights, Denver, CO - The Great Event- what can you say about this show - it is very much not of this planet - most of the music is not something you would hear - Not sure I can say I love it - but I respect it and it has gotten better and better as the season has progressed - Their color guard is really quite amazing - really - I know that they have elevated themselves back into finals when things looked a bit gloomy for them - Should be interesting for sure!
Place: 7th Score: 84.938
Blue Stars, LaCrosse, WI - Le Reve' - Wish I had something to say - They weren't really bad - they sound amazing - color guard works its collective butts off - but the show just doesn't work for me - lots of interesting props - the bed, the walls that become beds, the garden bench, the odd twirling things - just really interesting things - it's just - I don't know - if you are a Blue Stars fan - don't take my lack of nothing to say really as a negative - I have been watching drum corps since 2 PM this afternoon and it is now hour #7 -
Place: 8th Score: 84.85
The Cavaliers, Rosemont, IL - Propaganda - That is just one hell of a show - there were a few glitches here and there - but the message and meaning behind the show - A lot of drum corps frequently try to tell social consciousness type stories - the Cavaliers not only do - but do it successfully - This is truly a show for our time - Bravo Cavies!
Place: 6th Score: 87.625
The Cadets, Allentown, PA - Awakening - violin in beginning is awesome - love it!!! they've gotten rid of the walk ways across the front from last night - Hmmm - The guys on rifle looked more confident on the ground with their work - You know it was better tonight for sure - but I think the black uniforms really turn me off - maybe I am a die hard - old time - Cadet fan - I miss the burgundy and cream - The show even makes total sense - but I just didn't care - I feel badly they have always been a favorite corps of mine - heck I even applied and was interviewed once for the job as tour manager - Well they did a great job - their fate is in the hands of the judges
Place: 5th Score: 88.05
The Vanguard, Santa Clara, CA - Force of Nature - I was stunned that the leaf flags were gone last night in Earth Song - I - personally missed them and they are not back - I'm sure it is less stuff to carry and the root skirts are really pretty too - just thought the flags were cool - I detect sound problems already - they are getting reverb big time - This is a very Santa Clara show - beautiful - subtle - elegant - slick - This reminds me of vintage Vanguard - The Tenderland comes to mind - Appalachian Spring - even Prayers for Kierkagard - just wonderful
Place: 4th Score: 89.325
Crown, Fort Mills, SC - Relentless - I will say this describes this corps this season especially - they have been relentless! I missed part of the beginning because I had to walk my dog - It seemed a bit stronger than last night, but not a lot - for me personally - If I don't watch the stage coach and the shootings and all that stuff - the show is amazing - as soon as I start to watch the other stuff - I lose my enthusiasm - maybe because they are not very convincing role players - but they are very convincing musicians and athletes -
Place: 3rd Score: 90.875
Blue Devils, Concord, CA - As Dreams Are Made On - The blue tarp is gone - it was way better without the blue thing - love love love the trombone in the opening oh my gosh it is so good - Love the blue girls - the double rifle is so amazing - Just such a beautiful show - they seem to be having kind of logistic problems - like they can't quite find what they are looking for - they know - it's on the tip of their tongues -I have a feeling there maybe some surprises left that they are still working on - the next few weeks will be interesting. I think I finally found my friend's son - who is in the rifle line at BD - so it was fun to watch him tonight as well!
Place: 2nd Score: 91.488
Bluecoats, Canton, OH - Down Side Up - The last corps of the evening and we are 10 hours and 36 minutes into this! I could never manage a live show that was this long - my back and knees would not take it - Oh My God - That show was different than last night in places - There is something about this corps - They all seem to be on the same page - You just get that feeling and I think some of that is because they have no hats on. The choreography that the corps does is just really amazing for sure! It never stops except during the ballad - where it is like sipping a nice martini -
Place: 1st Score: 91.713
Encore tonight by Spirit of Atlanta - which is really nice - Some have their Delta's showing - Spirit's color guard costumes are sooooooooo pretty - love the yellow on the field and the half skirt -
9th, 8th, and 7th place are kind of up for grabs - Blue Star, Blue Knights, and Phantom are all within in tenths of each other - Academy got in the top 12 and are breathing down Madison's back less than a tenth separating them. Troopers are barely in 13th, but to make it to 12th they have to make up nearly 2 points. The top 6 have been the top 6 now for a number of days. Santa Clara is widening the gap with the Cadets, and even though the Cadet drum major was talking about the massive changes (including an entire new ending) I'm not sure they will catch the Vanguard. The Cavies are within striking distance of the Cadets with their separation only being a few tenths. The top 3 are only separated by a few tenths. Reliable Rondo said that it would be possible for someone different to win each night going into the last contest. The corps are definitely lumped together in clusters and have been most of the season - there has been little change as they hoped by not publishing the complete recaps. Again as a fan, I want to see that recap so I know why things are going down the way they are.
In closing - the students - man I can't say enough about them. Kudos to all that participated in tonight's contest.
PS- Pictures from tonight will - hopefully - be posted tomorrow.
Cheers everyone!
