DCI Southeast Regional, short review

[ssorrell]

It's been a LONG time since I've reviewed a show, but I'm going to give quick impressions of the show at the GA Dome. Not an in depth review mind you, but a very quick, maybe even a one sentence review of the top 12.

Let me preface this by saying that I haven't missed seeing a show during the summer since 1979...until last year. The 2010 season left me angry. I sat in the Dome that year and all but one corps bored the life out of me, and I bet you can guess which corps that was (think fleur de lis)

Why the Top 12 only? I'm a Spirit alumnus, and during the day we had various things happening for Spirit alumni behind the scenes, so I did indeed miss a few corps. So sorry...

First, here's my take on the Top 12, or most of the World Class corps as a whole....

This is the year of hideously ugly guard uniforms. Wow...they're bad.

This is the year for corps members to lay down on the field.

This is the year for every corps to do ripples and waves down the line.

This is the year of the voiceover. enough of that already.

I thought that we were to be seeing more shows that kept the audience in mind beginning this year. Although there were more shows that I enjoyed as compared to 2010, it still was a relatively low number. Granted, the shows are killer and the competition is fierce, which of course is fun to watch, but many of the shows still left me flat.

Here are my corps' impressions:

Blue Stars. Why is this corps still called "Blue" Stars? How about Grey Stars? New World is indeed a well known piece, but you have to watch out...once a great corps has played something with much success, it's tough to bring that back out on the field again. Show design was okay, but they just didn't sell it to me.

Blue Knights. I wonder if they get penalized somewhat by not playing the first minute or more of the show? and wow...talk about weird guard unis, or headdresses at least. Stravnisky...I like Stravinsky, but I usually have to be quite drunk. I wasn't drunk.

Spirit. I admit...I'm a homer. See my signature. This is the best Spirit has been since the 80s. I'm proud to recognize that things are heading in the right direction for my former corps. They look and sound great. I thought they may have moved up a spot...but it was not to be.

Madison. Proof that an old fashioned company front can still get the crowd on their feet. Great show. No one works up the crowd like the Scouts.

Cavaliers. I couldn't get into the show, and the electronics was so dang annoying. Gotta give 'em credit though...at the end of a lackluster show, they pulled out their bag of tricks to get the audience on their feet. Nothing like a bunch of dancing dudes to make everyone scream...

Boston...I really wanted to see them, but I missed them. They were first after the break, and I was with Spirit, participating in a ceremony between the alumni and current members.

SCV. Loved it. LOVED it. Great show...wonderful brass sound. A bit weird hearing Music of the Night inserted into the middle of the Planets, but hey, it got the crowd up. Thought they should have been a couple places higher.

Cadets. I just didn't get into this show. Not once.

Bluecoats. OMG...more Phantom of the Opera. IMHO, any corps that plays even a portion of this musical that has been overplayed by high school bands for the last 25+ years should be assessed a penalty. Thank God it only lasted a few bars. Whew! Again, another show that I didn't get and didn't feel a part of. And the guard stripping down at the end? tasteless. I know they are still completely covered, but dang, those white unitards are quite revealing, and for many , not very flattering.

Phantom. One of the few corps that I truly enjoyed. Loved it.

Blue Devils. I'm trying hard not to be too critical, as the corps is remarkable at what they do...but it's what they do that is the problem. I might have enjoyed it if I had dropped some acid prior to the show. And all of those clothes racks all over the field that were made to look like horses....WTH? I'm mesmerized by them, much like watching a tornado...it's cool to watch and it leaves destruction in its path, but when it's over, you look around and wonder why it had to happen. They've won so many times and are so good at being the best, but the last few years they have gone so far over the edge that they've lost many along the way. It's like they don't remember how to be a normal drum corps any more. Bring it back, please.

Crown. Wow. Star of Indiana all over again. Wonderful show and the loudest brass of the last decade. Powerful. Too many guard gimmicks though. I thought they could beat Devils, and apparently by the loud voice of the crowd during the scores, I wasn't alone. I'm no percussionist, but as anyone can see from the recaps...their drumline will be the only reason that can't win the crown. That's just sad.

Those are my opinions, and I stand by them. I hope that corps continue to move in a direction that keeps the audience more engaged. This year was an improvement over the last few, but we still have a ways to go, IMHO.

[Magbo]

It's been a LONG time since I've reviewed a show, but I'm going to give quick impressions of the show at the GA Dome. Not an in depth review mind you, but a very quick, maybe even a one sentence review of the top 12.

Let me preface this by saying that I haven't missed seeing a show during the summer since 1979...until last year. The 2010 season left me angry. I sat in the Dome that year and all but one corps bored the life out of me, and I bet you can guess which corps that was (think fleur de lis)

Why the Top 12 only? I'm a Spirit alumnus, and during the day we had various things happening for Spirit alumni behind the scenes, so I did indeed miss a few corps. So sorry...

First, here's my take on the Top 12, or most of the World Class corps as a whole....

This is the year of hideously ugly guard uniforms. Wow...they're bad.

This is the year for corps members to lay down on the field.

This is the year for every corps to do ripples and waves down the line.

This is the year of the voiceover. enough of that already.

I thought that we were to be seeing more shows that kept the audience in mind beginning this year. Although there were more shows that I enjoyed as compared to 2010, it still was a relatively low number. Granted, the shows are killer and the competition is fierce, which of course is fun to watch, but many of the shows still left me flat.

Here are my corps' impressions:

Blue Stars. Why is this corps still called "Blue" Stars? How about Grey Stars? New World is indeed a well known piece, but you have to watch out...once a great corps has played something with much success, it's tough to bring that back out on the field again. Show design was okay, but they just didn't sell it to me.

Blue Knights. I wonder if they get penalized somewhat by not playing the first minute or more of the show? and wow...talk about weird guard unis, or headdresses at least. Stravnisky...I like Stravinsky, but I usually have to be quite drunk. I wasn't drunk.

Spirit. I admit...I'm a homer. See my signature. This is the best Spirit has been since the 80s. I'm proud to recognize that things are heading in the right direction for my former corps. They look and sound great. I thought they may have moved up a spot...but it was not to be.

Madison. Proof that an old fashioned company front can still get the crowd on their feet. Great show. No one works up the crowd like the Scouts.

Cavaliers. I couldn't get into the show, and the electronics was so dang annoying. Gotta give 'em credit though...at the end of a lackluster show, they pulled out their bag of tricks to get the audience on their feet. Nothing like a bunch of dancing dudes to make everyone scream...

Boston...I really wanted to see them, but I missed them. They were first after the break, and I was with Spirit, participating in a ceremony between the alumni and current members.

SCV. Loved it. LOVED it. Great show...wonderful brass sound. A bit weird hearing Music of the Night inserted into the middle of the Planets, but hey, it got the crowd up. Thought they should have been a couple places higher.

Cadets. I just didn't get into this show. Not once.

Bluecoats. OMG...more Phantom of the Opera. IMHO, any corps that plays even a portion of this musical that has been overplayed by high school bands for the last 25+ years should be assessed a penalty. Thank God it only lasted a few bars. Whew! Again, another show that I didn't get and didn't feel a part of. And the guard stripping down at the end? tasteless. I know they are still completely covered, but dang, those white unitards are quite revealing, and for many , not very flattering.

Phantom. One of the few corps that I truly enjoyed. Loved it.

Blue Devils. I'm trying hard not to be too critical, as the corps is remarkable at what they do...but it's what they do that is the problem. I might have enjoyed it if I had dropped some acid prior to the show. And all of those clothes racks all over the field that were made to look like horses....WTH? I'm mesmerized by them, much like watching a tornado...it's cool to watch and it leaves destruction in its path, but when it's over, you look around and wonder why it had to happen. They've won so many times and are so good at being the best, but the last few years they have gone so far over the edge that they've lost many along the way. It's like they don't remember how to be a normal drum corps any more. Bring it back, please.

Crown. Wow. Star of Indiana all over again. Wonderful show and the loudest brass of the last decade. Powerful. Too many guard gimmicks though. I thought they could beat Devils, and apparently by the loud voice of the crowd during the scores, I wasn't alone. I'm no percussionist, but as anyone can see from the recaps...their drumline will be the only reason that can't win the crown. That's just sad.

Those are my opinions, and I stand by them. I hope that corps continue to move in a direction that keeps the audience more engaged. This year was an improvement over the last few, but we still have a ways to go, IMHO.

I really appreciate your comments and review...and I agree with everything you have said. Thank you! I finally find a person who sees things the same as me! And as far as the Scouts are concerned...they always get low scores in visual effect. In my opinion, they have a classic look. And maybe they don't run around half naked, but at least their shows are tasteful. How the heck did the two corps that have been behind them all season suddenly move ahead of them? This is what people are so sick of...the slotting.

[mcjordansc]

Thanks for the review, but the whole Grey Stars thing is getting very old and over-used. I wish we could read something a little more original on here once in a while.

[ssorrell]

Thanks for the review, but the whole Grey Stars thing is getting very old and over-used. I wish we could read something a little more original on here once in a while.

In my defense, I haven't read much DCP in a number of years. Maybe if it's over used, there's some merit to it?

Even my own corps, Spirit...we affectionately call them the "baby blue", but yet there is only a very small bit of medium blue on the uniform jacket.

Is that better?

Edited July 29, 2012 by ssorrell

[trumpetcam]

Blue Devil used horses because "dada" in french means loosely "hobby horse." I guess you have to do some research to be able to appreciate all components of their show..

I agree with Spirit, on the way back and a solid organizational structure (for once) along with a unified design has them moving again. Looking forward to their progress next year!