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Akron Cinecast Review - 6/23


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Hey, everyone else was doing it...

Took my kids (12-Trombonist, 10-basketball) to the Austin/Southpark Meadows broadcast. They've been to one show (TOC in Houston in 2012), so they at least knew what to expect. Crowd turned out to be pretty big - the theater was about 75% full, and turned out to be mostly Crossmen fans, based on the massive cheers every time they were shown or mentioned. However, the manager informed us right at show time that due to a download problem, "8-10 minutes of the first band has been cut off." We did, however, get 2 free passes each in exchange. Oh, and there was a thousand-year old dude who came in with his walker behind us, wearing his pristine Madison Scouts t-shirt.

Cavaliers - well, we got to see from the marimba wheel on the field / end of Danse Macabre to the end, so about the last 3-4 minutes. The kids were terribly disappointed at that - they were looking forward to their show a lot. With that disclaimer, I *really* liked the parts I did get to see. It felt very much like a Cavaliers show, and after the last few years, that's a good thing. The music is a step up from previous offerings, the drill is much more athletic and what we're used to seeing, and the whole thing was fun - dark without going overboard. Both kids loved the show, the look, and the whole presentation.

Madison Scouts - I'm really glad that they had Jim Mason explain the black/white to color, 50's to 60's progression of the show, because I don't know if I really would have got it otherwise. The dude slowly walking through the field was an eyesore, a distraction, and should be cut completely - it serves no purpose, and quite frankly, as it is it looks silly. Two tenors - yikes. I know you can't control injury, but it did make the drumline look underpowered. That said, this is an enjoyable and fun show. The trombone feature was nicely done - it did in fact give the sound a 'vintage' feel, but let's be honest - it was hardly as necessary as we've been told all spring, especially because it was so short. (Much to the chagrin of my trombonist daughter) The arrangements felt kind of stop and start - you'd start to get into a tune, then it would end and they would switch gears. I don't mean to bag on Madison - I thought the white unis were nice, and I really did like the show! I wished they had more time to fill out the tunes they did play. They were my son's favorite corps of the night - he felt the "old style" jazz really stood out programming-wise, and he loved the melodies.

Boston Crusaders - I knew something was wrong as soon as the program coordinator said it's Animal Farm, but not based on the book. Then the dreaded words "visual color" and "moments." These are buzzwords for "you're not going to get it, and probably not going to like it, but it's art, so you wouldn't understand." Yeah, I didn't get it, and I didn't particularly like it, and I really don't understand it, for sure. Rondo and Dennis's reactions mirrored mine. It just felt like the little things weren't well thought out yet either - if you have the whole corps run to the bottom corner, point at the solo horn player and wait... the next note should not come from the pit back in the center of the field, you know? The good parts, though - the uniforms look awesome on the field, and the drill does hoof it (ha!) from one part of the field to the next. At the end of the day, though, for me it felt like one of those early 90's shows where the "intensity" is supposed to bleed through and cover all else. I really did not like those early 90's shows. Kids didn't like the show either - they didn't get it. <deep breath> Reading online today, though, I do recognize that I am in a minority here (most folks see the potential once it gets leaner and meaner), so I'll let it go from there. :)

Phantom Regiment - Kids loved this show. My daughter felt it was the best of the night. She was totally down with the storytelling, and thought the black uniforms and Aztec headgear were genius. My son thought the white/black unis looked great on them. I will give them the benefit of the doubt, as I am a Phan at heart, but this was a dirty, dirty show tonight. The opening percussion feature, right after the horn intro, was a complete disaster. Phasing was so bad it sounded like two pieces going on simultaneously. The big feature during the costume change didn't sound much better, honestly. But I'm with everyone else writing online yesterday/today - the potential is definitely there, even if the whole show did feel... predictable. Oh, and the big hoops they raise in order for the guard to change? Really unnecessary, especially as the horns have to hold those up for what felt like 60 seconds. ... I promise, I'm not a corps curmudgeon. I do like all of the corps - even Boston! Phantom (and Boston, for that matter) just felt really ... unpolished... going before groups that had a high degree of shine on their shows.

The Cadets - my kids kept asking "this is the Presidents show,right?" They are not Cadets fans in the slightest. They did not like 12.25 when we saw it in person, and were, quite honestly bored with Side X Side last year on video. So it was a great surprise to me by how much they loved this show. They loved the music, the narrator, everything about it except the guard uniforms (which I did have to tell them are changing later in the summer when they add more). Me personally, I thought they just did everything "bigger" than the other corps. More field coverage, more sound, bigger and brighter. Actually thought the narrator was really good, and it is evident a lot of thought and work went in to it. I appreciated that. As much as the Cadets use voice, it has always felt like an ad hoc sort of thing, and sometimes band directors aren't the best vocal and speech coaches, you know? In this case, though, they definitely got it right. I did feel the stage was under-used. I'm sure that will change over the summer, but it really needs to. That drumline - holy heck. Loved in the closer when the brass is playing beautiful, heart-tugging Appalachian Spring, then the camera cut to the drumline and they are just playing every note in the world, so there will be none left for the other corps.

Carolina Crown - the show definitely feels like a defending champion. There's a swagger to it. I thought the vocal intro was awesome - great singing (kind of rare for drum corps, honestly) and a neat otherworldly vibe to it. That said... while it's harder and darker than E=mc2, it doesn't have the emotion that show did. And I'm not sure it will, you know? I can't figure out what the show is trying to be, other than "hey, look what we can do!" Oh, and "Spaaaaaace." (Portal 2 reference there.) There were a lot of starts and stops in the show that kept it from getting any real flow, and the hornline in long stretches takes a back seat to the drumline. Considering the hornline is one of the best we've ever seen, and when they do play it brings the house down, they really need to push them more forward and the drumline a bit more back (and I'm a drummer, even). Aaaaaaand, after saying all of that... I absolutely love the show! I love the metal drum feature, the brass is unbelievable, and I thought they did some pretty difficult drill as well. Can't wait for them to put out a standstill recording (they *are* doing one this year, right?) so I can listen to it a thousand more times in the car. I'm guessing that on sheer technical ability alone they will pass The Cadets at some point. If they can manage to generate emotion in the show somewhere, they'll challenge again for first. The kids loved the show, but felt Cadets were rightly above them.

Bluecoats - I had never heard Dean Westman before, and now I'm totally a fan. Love the idea of "music first" - that's 'music' (ha again!) to my old-school ears. I appreciated the thread connecting all of the music they selected (American under-40 classical composers with pieces in the 21st century). The concept was easy to get, and boy do they hammer it in to you during the show. That's a good thing. Drum corps, at its' heart, really is not subtle. Anyways, yes, we all liked the show. It was fun, above all, and that will hook me more than any intensity or emotion you care to bring. Loved the ramps throughout the show. Everyone in the theater cheered for the pitch bend at the end. And was that one-handed alternating 16ths in the drum feature? I gave them a "woo" - embarrassed the kids. I saw on Facebook the new drums are in now - it's a shame they didn't have them for this show. They look incredible! Both kids felt Bluecoats should have won, just for the programming. I think they are definitely throwing down a gauntlet with this show, and could push their way a lot higher than we might have expected.

All in all, we had a really good time. This feels like a great year for corps, and the performance level has taken a definite step upward across the board. The kids did tell me afterward that they'd like to go to San Antonio this year, so maybe they're finally getting the bug... Anyways, there you go.

Mike

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Most people want the America is Great, wrapped in a flag, or more fairy tales for the umpteenth time. Too bad the minority is so poorly educated. The theatre in Knoxville was very full. I was pleasantly surprised at the attendance. The announcers though, were more than amusing, especially after Boson. Their comments were ludicrous and at best, ill-informed. To say "they have a long way to go" or whatever was a disservice to the process of DCI. It was if they didn't have any personal experience with DCI. Plus, the audio for their voices was too low; the music swamped them. They also had the BAC guy talk OVER most of the intro, which is poor post-production. I think they drink too much before going on air.

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Then the dreaded words "visual color' and "moments." These are buzzwords for "you're not going to get it, and probably not going to like it, but it's art, so you wouldn't understand."

Yeah, both Madison's and Boston's directors did themselves no favors describing their shows.

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Most people want the America is Great, wrapped in a flag, or more fairy tales for the umpteenth time. Too bad the minority is so poorly educated. The theatre in Knoxville was very full. I was pleasantly surprised at the attendance. The announcers though, were more than amusing, especially after Boson. Their comments were ludicrous and at best, ill-informed. To say "they have a long way to go" or whatever was a disservice to the process of DCI. It was if they didn't have any personal experience with DCI. Plus, the audio for their voices was too low; the music swamped them. They also had the BAC guy talk OVER most of the intro, which is poor post-production. I think they drink too much before going on air.

I'm not sure why you're posting this in every review thread, but ok. I'm glad you like Boston. But while it's still my personal opinion, I agree - they do have a long way to go. The show didn't communicate much of anything yet. Doesn't mean I don't like the corps (Boston was a very good friend to DCP when I asked for their help). Maybe it'll click with repeated performances / viewings.

Mike

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