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A fan's impressions of Southwest Regional


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First-time poster, here. Would like to add my own comments about / review of the San Antonio show (with a tangent or two or three)....

First, though, I will mention that I never marched in a DCI corps (just high school marching band [trumpet], in Texas), and I didn't even learn about DCI until I was already too old to audition. But a college friend of mine, who knew what a big deal marching band had been for me in high school, took me to the Dallas Highlands show -- this was in the mid-80s, a year or two after we'd graduated from college -- and I remember that he said, "I bought you a ticket. If you don't like it, you don't have to pay me for it afterwards." He knew me and drum corps well enough, respectively, to feel pretty certain he was going to get a full return on his investment. And, of course, I was utterly, utterly blown away. We absolutely had to have more after that show, so we wandered through the souvenir booths and found out that several of our favorite corps were playing the next night in Springfield, MO. We got a little sleep (maybe?), and then drove from Dallas to Springfield the next day, and then drove all the way back afterwards (which got kinda hairy towards the end, because we were both bleary-eyed sleepy). So, I've seen at least one show most years since then, even as I moved around the country -- Denver, Ogden, and all the Texas shows (as well as many cinema experiences and a few DVD purchases). I don't have the eye and ear for certain details that many of you veterans have, but I am an avid fan, with at least a little marching and playing experience, and am indulging myself with the review down below.

What I did last year and this was read through the comments on this blog, about the show, after the fact, and I have learned a lot by doing so. I especially appreciate the thorough reviews like the one here by TexasPRfan, and the one by BariBone on the "San Antonio Regional" forum (page 141), as well as others like these. It took me parts of 3 or 4 days to read through all 155 pages of that other discussion forum! Like I said, I learned a lot, and I was also entertained frequently by the wit of some of you (and, also, was occasionally disheartened by the few comments that seemed disrespectful of the drum corps kids or other commenters -- but, hey, it's the internet, I guess). So, thank you to those of you who contribute your thoughtfulness, wit, and wisdom to these fora. Your contributions have added to my already immense appreciation for this art form.

Anyway... family obligations kept me from leaving Austin in time for the beginning of the San Antonio show this year; I arrived during the first intermission, and so missed the several corps in that first block. And I didn't write notes down, which would have helped, so all of the below is strictly from memory (generally hazier and less specific now...), as well as not so much a technical review but overall impressions.

Oregon Crusaders was the first corps I saw -- and so one of the first "drum corps" sounds I heard this year was, unexpectedly, an electric violin (OK, viola). If I had known this going in, the drum corps purist in me might have responded with skepticism and prejudice against, but since it caught me by surprise, I responded only to the beauty of the sound, and was (still am) amazed at how well it meshed with the rest of the corps' sound. The rest of the corps was doing a good job, too, and, so pleasantly, the goosebumps were rolling over my body within the first minute (for me) of the show. Bravo, OC! I liked this show very much.

Colts -- I usually enjoy the Colts' shows, even as I recognize that, technically, they aren't at the level of most other world-class corps. Usually, they aim to entertain, and they usually win, with me, more or less. But, as others have said, there was just too much voiceover in this show, for my tastes. And, in the dome, I couldn't make out half of what the guy was saying (and I'm not sure it would have been better out of doors). So, my attention was torn between trying to figure out what he was saying and doing versus watching/listening to the rest of the corps, and I never could figure it out and then it was over. With multiple viewings, I expect my appreciation of this show could grow. Once was clearly not enough. Then again, I think the quantity of voiceover was just too much, and that might keep distracting me from hearing the music, regardless of how many times I see it. I appreciate that they experimented with so much voiceover, but I think that the result is not really successful overall.

Troopers -- Predictable but nice show. Their arrangement and performance of "America, the Beautiful" was my second major goosebump moment of the evening. Extra resonance for me, because my dad passed away about a year and a half ago, and he was a very 'patriotic' American, and during this show it occurred to me that he would have really liked it, but would never see it, and together with that beautiful Troopers sound, well, I was moved. Thank you, Troopers.

Spirit of Atlanta -- As they entered the field, I expected to like this show, as I am sometimes a sucker for some aspects of Deep South culture, and it appeared that they were going to play that up, but the show never really grabbed me. Not really sure why. Might still have been reflecting on the Troopers' show, my dad, etc....

The Crossmen were solid. As others have said, they seem like a lock for finishing in the top 12. I enjoyed being in the midst of a hometown crowd, for such a solid performance.

I took a bathroom and snack break during the Blue Stars' show, but caught the last few minutes of it from the corner of the stadium. For my tastes, there were too many props, but at least they were pretty inventive ones. Didn't see or hear enough to form much of an impression.

The Scouts are one of my perennial favorites, but I recognize that this show was not up to their best standards. I think it's great that they have a little in-state rivalry going on with the Blue Stars, and that the two are scoring so close to each other. Wisconsin bragging rights up for grabs! I'm rooting for Madison in that mini-contest, but am not surprised that, at the San Antonio show, they finished 11th, just behind the Blue Stars. There is a lot of talent in Madison, though, and polish potential in that show, I think, so I predict (hope) they will eke out 10th in Indy.

Phantom: Admittedly, another sentimental favorite of mine, but even still, I was thoroughly moved by and impressed with this show -- and I have been surprised at the number of negative reviews of it here on DCP. The show first grabbed me at the beginning, with the flags laid out like a pond and the ballerinas fluttering across and 'landing' on the pond like swans (really nicely done), and the gradual costume-changing from black to white totally worked for me (partly because I didn't realize it was happening for a while). And the snares re-emerging mid-show with the dark costumes, and the music turning so wonderfully darker and darker, it all got to me. I was thoroughly moved. I thought they nailed it, even if the sound wasn't as big as PR's has been in other years. Yeah, I get that thematically the show isn't a 'stretch' for Phantom, and yes they incorporate some 'signature' moves in seemingly all their shows, but that's what makes them 'signatures,' and anyway I didn't think they were overdone in this show. Though they could slip in the standings between now and finals -- the rest of the corps are SO good -- I thought they totally deserved their 7th-place finish in SA, and they could very well hang onto that place, as well.

The Boston Crusaders. Gotta say I was focused on the color guard most of this show (not usual for me), and so don't remember a whole lot else. I really would have to see this one again.... I thought the guard looked great, though!

Blue Knights: Regrettably, took another bathroom break here, as BK isn't usually one of my favorite corps, and now I read about their show and -- especially given the aforementioned loss of my dad fairly recently -- I really wish I had seen this show! Oh well... I didn't want to miss the final 6, and nature was calling. :-(

I usually have a "meh" reaction to Vanguard, even when acknowledging their technical prowess, but this year they really won me. So precise, so much talent, and yes, can they drum! I would have given them third place. A really amazing show!

The Bluecoats.... UNBELIEVABLE!! Good lord, is this the show of the year, if you ask me. I somehow convinced myself not to drive to Dallas the next day, mainly just to see this again. Inventive. Ingeniously-engineered and -employed props. Excellently played. A literally jaw-dropping show. As entertaining and mesmerizing as it was, though, I would have given them second place. But I definitely think they deserved that, over their third-place finish this night. (I know, I'm a layperson, and yes, I know how the scoring works, it's not all audience-impression, and also I know that it's not all about the scores. But given all that....) Infinite 'props' to the Bluecoats staff and performers! You wowed me, BIG time. I surely hope, and expect, that they will medal in Indy (hopefully silver).

The Cavaliers are another perennial favorite of mine, and I like this show. Like Phantom's, it has a 'darkness' to it that appeals to me and moves me emotionally. I found it entertaining, even if in a "less outstanding" way (how's that for a nit-picky adjective) than we've seen from then in years past. One particular memory for me, these few days later, is the nice recovery made by the guard member when the leg bone of the skeleton prop fell off. Ha! Nicely done, sir.

I loved Carolina Crown's show last year, and thought they should have won it in San Antonio -- and so I was very glad when they won the bigger contest at summer's end. But I was not surprised by their 5th-place finish this year at the Alamodome. But heck, 5th place in THIS group, THIS year, is nothing to be ashamed of! I think that 2nd through 5th or 6th place could be quite fluid these last 2 or 3 weeks -- which makes for an unusually exciting end to the season, one of the best in quite a few years.

The Blue Devils.... I am one of those who, most years, loves to hate the Blue Devils. They're so good, and so cocky, and it just doesn't seem like a fair fight, a lot of years. And they make it worse, to my relatively untrained eyes and ears, when they put on a show -- like last year's -- that has so relatively little general audience appeal (even though the judges like it a LOT). SOOOOOO.... I was SO pleased to see a Blue Devils show that exhibited their amazing prowess, while also being more entertaining in a general way. I loved it, and I have to say -- as much I loved the Bluecoats, and Santa Clara, and Crown, and Phantom, et al. -- the Blue Devils just seem to be operating on a whole other level yet! They seem to be in a league of their own -- and I agree with the many others on these fora who believe they are unbeatable this year. And, unlike other years when they have won gold, this year I will be happy for them. Excellent work, all around.

Cadets: Uhhhh.... Yeah, OK, I guess they were good, but -- as with the Colts' show -- I was so distracted by the voiceover stuff, that I never got focused on this one. It's not terribly unlike with movies: good movies and good actors and good film directors don't need to use voiceover, because the writing and the acting and the direction do the work of telling the story or delivering the message or evoking the emotions. In weaker movies, filmmakers sometimes resort to voiceovers such as "Henry was sad about this" because the actor portraying Henry can't portray sadness well enough on screen for the audience to 'get it.' I know this analogy isn't perfect, but nonetheless I would much rather a corps' message be delivered with music and visuals and design than by a 'lecturer' on a podium (especially such an unnecessarily huge one). I couldn't get into it (and, again, partly because I couldn't always understand what was being said, let alone what the point of it was). Maybe if I could have focused more on what was happening on the field, I could appreciate the Cadets' strong 2nd-place finish, but as far as my enjoyment level goes, at least, I would have put them several places lower.

Thanks to ALL the corps members and staff who work so hard to present such amazing experiences to us!

Edited by audsquad
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Cadets: Uhhhh.... Yeah, OK, I guess they were good, but -- as with the Colts' show -- I was so distracted by the voiceover stuff, that I never got focused on this one. It's not terribly unlike with movies: good movies and good actors and good film directors don't need to use voiceover, because the writing and the acting and the direction do the work of telling the story or delivering the message or evoking the emotions. In weaker movies, filmmakers sometimes resort to voiceovers such as "Henry was sad about this" because the actor portraying Henry can't portray sadness well enough on screen for the audience to 'get it.' I know this analogy isn't perfect,

Thanks for the writeup! One small quibble, and not about a corps, but the above...there are times when narration makes a film great...

I can't imagine "The Christmas Story" without the narration. :tounge2:

Edited by MikeD
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Nice review! Always great to hear from someone with new perspectives! Thanks also for the shout out personally. :)

One bit of advice - find a way somehow to go see Blue Knights in person. Especially with what you've went through (I'm sorry for your loss), you will be moved in incredible ways by that show.

Harvey

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Thank you all for the comments and the welcome!

Good point, MikeD, about narration and "A Christmas Story." I agree that it works in that movie, and is a strength, not a weakness, there. So, now my thoughts are: what is it about the narration in "A Christmas Story" that makes it a success, and that is, in my view and some others', lacking in the Cadets' and Colts' use of it? I will have to think on it some more, but a first pass: There is no difficulty in hearing the narrator's voice in that movie, for one thing, and also his voice is wonderfully warm, articulate, and animated (in a kind of understated way). There is also a balance, some back and forth, between the narrated portions and parts that go without narration (though, true, there is a LOT of narration). Plus, the narration in the movie largely combines with visuals, a combination that is less 'competitive' than the combination of two audio components of a drum corps show -- the voiceover and the music. Others, I presume, experienced this differently, and in any case Mike's point softens my perhaps overgeneral view of narration./voiceover.

And thanks, Texas PRfan, for the kind words. It is doubtful I will get to see their show live. Hopefully, the prelims at the Cinema will do it at least a modicum of justice.

**Peace**

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I was going to say, at times narration can be stunning. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it this yesr with Cadets show. So well written, artistic, and appropriate to the show, music, and the orchestral piece. I don't want Cadets to dumb it down for those who don't get it.

Casino would have been half the film without the narration. Goodfellas, too. Some of the best movies use narration. And the whole "I'm distracted" argument doesn't hold water. When the narrator is speaking, the music is written specifically to enhace the voice. In other words, there is nothing to be distracted from...you're not missing anything. They are creating a moment through voice that will eventually be enhanced via the brass and drums after.

I get that everyone has an opinion on this, so to each "his" own.

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Thanks, jwillis.

Perhaps pointing to the high importance of figuring out the technical aspect of voice amplification in a show that uses narration, because music can hardly "enhance" narration that is not clearly audible/discernible/understandable. Maybe the problem was my 52-year-old ears that have been listening to loud music for a few decades. Perhaps the feed is clearer online, or the audio waves arrive at other sections of the stadium in less disarray, but 20 rows up in the upper section, above the 35-yard-line, I was distracted by muddled vocals competing with percussion and brass.

Maybe they don't need to "dumb down" the narration for me, but "smarten up" the acoustic technicalities?

That's the view from where I sit....

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