luv4corps

This is the fact that bites hardest... the lost two weeks. And it IS sad because this is a handicap to an otherwise GREAT show loaded with good content. Seems to me this issue of time will have to be overcome in some way for OC to rise into the upper echelons. I agree that staff is also a huge factor. I once read a post about how Crown continued to rise when they didn't always get the best talent like BD does, and someone said they "taught their way to the top"... I really liked that. A super inspirational staff member can be a big "glue" factor for kids coming back. Great discussion!

All west coast corps have to deal with this same handicap. How do BD, SCV, Mandarins, PAC, Cascades... how do all of these corps deal with the same unfortunate school schedule? OC did start all days a week earlier than they used to.

Y'all are makin' me sad now...

OK all you marching experts (which I am most certainly not) ... I have a question I'm dying to get opinions on. In the final two weeks, should the goal of a corps be rewrites or just cleaning what already exists? At what point does a corps just live with the drill they have... and get it precise. Will judges reward cleanliness more... or brilliant design? I know many corps rewrite up until the end... Is it always the best idea?

Two questions: Can OC hold off the surging Academy? Will both OC and Academy pass Spirit? (trying to show a little love and interest for the non-finalist corps when all anyone wants to talk about is the color bloo)

YES! It would be a simple gift not to hear any corps play any part of it... for awhile!

Yikes.

Academy is up 2.9 tonight... and they hopscotched right over OC, who gained a respectable 1.5

Same here! The show is really starting to come together. Nice job PR!

I am trying to like this show... trying hard. Love Pink Floyd. Narrator is very talented but, I don't know, I want more fluidity between the narration and the music I guess. It comes across to me like: Narration. Music. Narration. Music. etc.

Yup. Home crowd. Love that pre-show recording.

Actually they go back to 1971. Several iterations, stops and starts, but yeah, they do. http://oregoncrusaders.org/about-oc/history/

Since semis went top 25, they have made it every year the past five years, even when in open class.

I love the changes for the most part... but I personally will miss that gorgeous descending line in the euphs - after the big blast, the actual ending to HofA. Will have to listen again but I think only the front ensemble takes that now. The subito piano brass ending to HofA shall be heard... nevermore :( As always... GO OC!

Go OC!!!!!!!!!!

Mandarins "shine bright like a diamond"...

Best Cascades show I've seen in the five years I've been associated with drum corps. Well done!

Has there ever been a year when at least one corps didn't do Simple Gifts?

I really like Pioneer's music book. Very familiar tunes done in unfamiliar ways. Nice.

First viewing of Pioneer. I like their music book a lot. Very familiar tunes done in unfamiliar ways. Oops... just realized this is the prediction thread.... !

Good point!

Yes! OC jumps SOA. That!

Here's to my beloved OC, despite their less than desirable draw. The only corps with a worse draw than OC is Pacific Crest. Phantom's position looks a bit back as well. I think Crossmen has about the best draw of the night. Looking forward to hours of splendid drum corps and may they all raise the level of marching arts beyond where it has ever been before. Go Coats. Go Crown. And of course, OC.

I fear to imagine what might happen if a whistle blower found him or herself on a brass bus for a day?

I have mixed feelings about this story, and I'm a woman. I am all for long standing traditions that promote unification and camaraderie. But so many times, what is "camaraderie" for some is a nightmare for others, and that's where this all gets sticky.