arabica

Narcissism is a hell of a drug.

Updated with Jersey Surf and Genesis announcements.

Now updated with Seattle Cascades and Troopers repertoires!

It seems to me guard and especially (battery) percussion members to commit more to their instructor than their corps these days. But maybe that’s only at the highest echelon (the Rennicks).

And this right here is the deeply-rooted, institutional cancer that I want to see driven out of any future SCV.

Updated with Seattle Cascade's show announcement today on IG, "Sky Above". No repertoire announced at this time.

@Cainan

With Cadets announcing inactive status on 10/13, Troopers' teasing their show title on 11/20, and now Madison Scout's full show release on 12/6, it felt right to get the 2024 edition started! Looks like another dark western from Troop and Scouts exploring a Spanish/Egyptian vibe...will be REALLY interesting to hear their take on "Momento Magico", Bloo 22's signature piece. Can't wait to see what else is in store for '24!

This serves as the master list of 2024 show announcements and will be updated only after official announcements from corps' websites or social media. Credit to frontensemble.com for the corps' logos used below. ======================================== The Academy Repertoire: TBD Announcement: TBD ======================================== Bluecoats Repertoire: TBD Announcement: TBD ======================================== Blue Devils Repertoire: TBD Announcement: TBD ======================================== Blue Knights Repertoire: TBD Announcement: TBD ======================================== Blue Stars Repertoire: TBD Announcement: TBD ======================================== Boston Crusaders Repertoire: TBD Announcement: TBD ======================================== The Cadets INACTIVE FOR 2024 Official Announcement [10/13/23] ======================================== Carolina Crown Repertoire: TBD Announcement: TBD ======================================== The Cavaliers Repertoire: TBD Announcement: TBD ======================================== Colts Repertoire: TBD Announcement: TBD ======================================== Crossmen Repertoire: TBD Announcement: TBD ======================================== Genesis "Signal" Featuring the music of: The Alchemist Todd Terje Cody Fry Abel Selaocoe Christopher Tin Official Announcement [2/9/24] ======================================== Jersey Surf "Surfadelic" Featuring the music of: Boogie Wonderland - Earth, Wind & and Fire What Is Hip? - Tower of Power Barry White Official Announcement [2/23/24] ======================================== Madison Scouts "Unholy" Unholy - Sam Smith, Kim Petras, Ilya, Omar Fedi, Blake Slatkin, Jimmy Napes, Cirkut White Rabbit - Grace Slick, Jefferson Airplane Asturias - Traditional Egyptian Danza - Al De Meola Momento Magico - Ulf Wakenius, Youn Sun Nah Sati - Salim Merchant, Suliaman Merchant, Berklee Indian Ensemble Official Announcement [12/6/23] ======================================== Mandarins Repertoire: TBD Announcement: TBD ======================================== Music City Repertoire: TBD Announcement: TBD ======================================== Pacific Crest Repertoire: TBD Announcement: TBD ======================================== Phantom Regiment Repertoire: TBD Announcement: TBD ======================================= Santa Clara Vanguard Repertoire: TBD Announcement: TBD ======================================== Seattle Cascades "Sky Above" Across the Universe - The Beatles Out of the Blue - Nigel Westlake Kaval Sviri - Le Mystere des Bulgares Sky Above - Jacob Collier Official Announcement [12/13/23] ======================================== Spirit of Atlanta Repertoire: TBD Announcement: TBD ======================================== Troopers "Dance with the Devil" The Other Side - Tim Snyder, Paul Rennick, Sandi Renneck, Justin Shelton Hyperlink - Peter Graham House of the Rising Sun - Traditional Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood - Bennie Benjamin, Horace Ott, Sol Marcus Wait of the World [I & III] - Stephen Melillo Official Announcement [11/20/23] & Repertoire [2/17/24]

Wishing him the best — it’s clear he made a significant impact on the organization and the organization made a significant impact on him.

Daniel Belcher stepping down as BK director.

That’s great. Less props.

Tell more!

Aside from pride and ego, what incentive has the BoD to stubbornly dig in their heels and not accept outside help or communicate transparently? Is leadership complicit in more than accidental mismanagement - is this intentional somehow? Make it make sense. Seriously hoping DCI dictates changes to BoD and corps leadership, a la Cadets’ split from YEA. Torch those in charge who created this mess, but let’s not burn the whole corps down with it.

When SCV announced their 2007 show “!”, they also announced 08’s “3hree” and 09’s “Clue”. 2007 and 2008 went as planned, but 2009 was scratched for “Ballet for Martha”.

It’s still there, just no longer pinned. Search “2023 Official Programs & Playlist” or click here:

Really quiet in the known "free agents" so far this year. Does that mean everyone is just keeping tighter lips than usual, or that corps are hedging their bets with the teams they already have?

I want that for Madison again too. And I agree with you about Bloo, they are filling a niche from an energy, repertoire, and yes - swagger - standpoint that feels like an evolution of Madison. Mandarins in some ways too, this year at least.

Preach! They need to focus on eeking out just 4-5 more points and then they're comfortably in that 10-12 range. Live in that space for a couple years while developing their identity and consistency [and gelling as a design/instructional staff], then start thinking about how to push higher.

The name of the game these days is variety/diversity of styles and effects. But "in your face" can still be conveyed many ways thru different styles, pace, and yes, volume. I feel like SCV '17-'19 each were basically just one dynamic - fortissimo, and Mandarins this season brought intensity start to finish, so it's still possible to score into the upper echelon with "in your face".

It pays for itself very quickly with even one decent gig.

I started following DCI in 2002, so I've only ever known Madison to be in the sub-6th range. Because they'd won championships in the past, and based on how passionately folks here tend to speak of those glory years, I assumed they were typically in play to medal or win it all most years. So I went back to 1988, ran some numbers, and...that's not the case: 1988-2002 [the Stewart years], their average score and placement was 91.080 and 6.9th 2003-2006 [the Salas years], they averaged 90.263 and 7.8th 2007-2009 [Spanos?] was 83.158 and 14th 2010-2014 [Komnick w/Mason & Co] was 88.435 and 9.8th place 2015-2023 [Komnick w/o Mason] was 84.443 and 13.9th I don't know what to do with all that, other than I guess I was surprised that with the exception of 2005, 1995, and 1988, they've consistently lived in that 6th-8th range. And it's been 22 years since they really were locked in to the 5th-7th. Don't get me wrong, I want Madison back in Finals, but knowing this, there's really only a gap to close of 4pts to get them back in, and 6pts to get back to 6th-8th range. Not nearly as dramatic as I let myself be led to believe. So...how to close 4-6pts?

Hopefully they have been able to shadow a good portion of the season to learn the ropes!

Not at all. My intention isn't to shut down conversation: let's absolutely discuss whatever needs to be discussed good, bad or ugly. But I'd like to think everyone here is capable of elevating the conversation above simply shouting into the void, which is what the Madison thread feels like year after year.

Sounds like Bloo is already onto something here. Given the activity is indeed quite insular, do you think guard judges are currently prepared to assess and reward increased diversity of movement techniques/styles if outside that studio jazz norm [assuming most corps derive movement from that -- I honestly don't know?]?