The Masters of the Summer Music Games - Nashville, TN - July 28th

[geluf]

10 hours ago, jsd said:

Because it doesn't align with how they are being scored in the other subcaptions. It didn't last weekend, either. 

You understand that its a completely separate subcaption, right?  Otherwise why have it?

[kinetic inferno11]

These are MY reviews and MY opinions. You don't have to agree or like them, this is just how I felt about these shows last night.

 

Music City - Dang this group is good!!! Comparing them now to where they were last year is night and day better. I've heard rumors of them going to world class next year, and I support it. If they improve that much again in a year, look out. Whole show had an amazing energy. Guard was really good, emotion and weapon work was outstanding for them. Brass and percussion were sounding very world class level, and I dig it! This was probably the biggest good surprise of the night, awesome job!

Crown - BRASS BRASS BRASS!!!!!!!! The opening hit was by far the best one of the night, and got an amazing crowd response. They had a wonderful run and honestly I love the show everytime I see it even more. Guard was spot on too, I know and understand that that aren't at last year's level, but they don't seem like a 5th or 6th place. Their execution seemed really strong tonight. Percussion is the most improved section from last season. Such a great sound and technique. Was expecting more changes given the past 2 days, but oh well. The singing certainly isn't as bad as I expected live. Seems pretty well integrated, but still too much of it to me. But I enjoy her voice.

Bluecoats - Opening thing under the prop is genius, and it sounded wonderful. This show seems geared towards trumpets and seems very trumpet heavy. Not really my style as a horn player but it's not bad, they play REALLY well. I could only hear the tuba in their opener feature, somewhat in the ballad, and the closer soloist. That's it. They are the 2nd worst about having too much synth bass to me. It wouldn't bother me so much if you could still at least hear the Tuba. Also there were times the synth bass was playing and the tubas weren't. And as someone said around me, "why not just leave them out all together?" It's true to me, and it's kinda sad. They have so much talent! It's obvious in their feature, so why not leave all the bass parts to them? Other than that, the show itself is really cool. The guard was magnificent, such high execution. Amazing drumline. LOVED the hat stuff, cool visual effects!!! Closer was also great, favorite moment for me. I also like the turn back around in the ballad. Much better than all turned around. Ending hat toss was a great moment with attitude. Well done!

Blue Knights - Weirdest show to me over the last 2 days. I love the uniforms from the stands, they make the show a lot better visually. The guard is good, but clearly the weakest link. The drumline was an absolute treat. Brass was also very good, especially the ballad, but not so much in the closer to me. I don't get the pool noodles, kinda distracting. Overall a great program, just weird.

Cavaliers - this show was top 3 for entertainment tonight. They had a great run and the crowd loved it. I don't really see how the guard got 1st last week, they didn't seem as good as SCV or BD. They certainly aren't bad, just not as good as I expected. Brass was louder than I expected in a good way. Mars sounded absolutely great! Spinning drums were freaking awesome too. Favorite Cavies show since 2011, and I started out hating it on the preseason viewing. Really great things happening, but I think Boston may be able to catch them in the home stretch.

SCV - This show is SOOOOOO much better live than on flo! The small ensemble surpringly added more to the program than I thought, and they sounded fantastic! I can see why they are dominating percussion. The drumline and pit are top notch and have wonderful writing. Guard was super good, not as clean as BD, but I would have them higher in content.  The brass as a whole was so great and enjoyable to listen to. Probably most incorporation of props tonight. Bluecoats used the stage well, and was used throughout the show, but SCV's work with theirs was masterful. Ballad is my favorite moment of the show and probably was my 2nd favorite moment of the night (after Crown's opening hit). Everything about it was graceful and impactful. Wonderfully done. I am rooting for them to win it all this season. GREAT show!

BD - same issues I had with Bluecoats, synth levels were wayyy too loud. Not good at all. I don't really understand how the staff thinks it's good or cool. People around me were mouthing "too much" or just shaking their heads, and I agree with them. Tubas may as well just do guard in this show. Didn't seem like they had their horns up for 1/4 of the show, and there were parts synth played and they didn't. That aside, the show itself is championship quality. I love how it starts out with the old announcement of the corps and then ends with their name, it's a nice touch. The brass (what I could hear of it) is very good. I enjoyed crown's brass more, but I understand how they won it last night. Flight of the bumblebee was REALLY good, they killed it. Percussion didn't really grab my attention at all in this show, but they have improved. Guard was certainly a highlight, favorite moment from them was ballad flag work, absolutely stunning. I surprisingly really enjoyed the jazz section, and I'm not usually one to listen to jazz for fun. Closer definitely still feels unfinished, but a spectacular performance. I won't be mad if they win it in Indy.

The Cadets - yes, I am a fan of this group. The show is really good and executed well too. The amount of progress they've made is astounding, and the brass sounds great. The guard is a huge asset, they perform great and the rifle line in the opener was absolutely wonderful. Percussion was really good in the fallen movement. There were quite a few moments of applause from the audience around me, and a few people down were on their feet before the last chord ended. The ending is better than it has been all season. Now the one prop not turning was kinda sad to see, but it didn't ruin the whole performance or anything. The robes were a little weird, but drill was still effective. You can see the gold shoes very well from the stands. The transition of outfits in the closer is still awkward and needs tweaking. The incorporation of the pews is also a nice effect, the snake drill through them was clean. They are getting more hate then they deserve, and the show is easy to understand and is straight forward. I don't understand how some people can praise the Blue Knight's show for being wonderful and great designed, but yet the Cadets have a simple church theme and it's a trash bag in design quality? No. The crowd stood and applauded louder this year here than in Atlanta last year. Keep going Cadets, love this show.

Phantom Regiment - The guard is the standout section, they were very good and staged nicely. I think this is another show really designed around the guard, as they keep taking my attention away from the marchers. The show does seem very high school, but I really don't mind. They did a really good job with it. The ballad and ending were the 2 big moments of the show for me. I think the guard flags at the end are beautiful and add a nice touch. Brass surprisingly wasn't as quiet as I thought, they can project very well. Percussion was good, but really listen to them so much. Favorite Phantom show since 2012. Another group I feel is getting more hate then they deserve. They are so much better than they were on the west coast on video. Keep the momentum up, Phantom!

[George Dixon]

28 minutes ago, kinetic inferno11 said:

These are MY reviews and MY opinions. You don't have to agree or like them, this is just how I felt about these shows last night.

Music City - Dang this group is good!!! (huge snip)

Thanks for your review. It seems that we agree on many of the shows this year - there are some terrific shows throughout the standings and the diversity in the programming is fantastic. Glad you enjoyed and took the time to share your thoughts! G.

[BRASSO]

35 minutes ago, kinetic inferno11 said:

These are MY reviews and MY opinions. You don't have to agree or like them, this is just how I felt about these shows last night.

I don't understand how some people can praise the Blue Knight's show for being wonderful and great designed, but yet the Cadets have a simple church theme and it's a trash bag in design quality? No. .

 

 Perhaps these are not the same people and/ or this is more hyperbole/ criticism than is either taking place or is warranted. In any case, like your heading here states, its just your opinions and their opinions, and how people feel about the respective shows. Thanks for taking the time to post your reviews. I enjoyed your take !

[Bachstrad]

Not thrilled with all the different corps over-use of monster-synth... yet am thrilled with the variety of ideas and styles in the top eight or so scoring corps. SCV had me from the opening hit, to the gorgeous ballad, through to the new heart pounding closer... 

[kinetic inferno11]

1 hour ago, BRASSO said:

 Perhaps these are not the same people and/ or this is more hyperbole/ criticism than is either taking place or is warranted. In any case, like your heading here states, its just your opinions and their opinions, and how people feel about the respective shows. Thanks for taking the time to post your reviews. I enjoyed your take !

There were quite a few whose wording of their criticism went a little past constructive... But they have a right to say what they will. I'm not gonna lose sleep over it lol.

[littlejaw]

7 hours ago, xandandl said:

Are they still holding that police incident against DCI during the Cavaliers' nude rookie run when BD bombarded them with super soakers filled with questionable fluids?  Cavaliers dropped the initiation "tradition" immediately afterward. It was around 2008 or so.

Not quite on the details there. Certainly was never a thing and never happened. But if it happened, it wouldn't have stopped shortly after 2008.

[xandandl]

1 hour ago, littlejaw said:

Not quite on the details there. Certainly was never a thing and never happened. But if it happened, it wouldn't have stopped shortly after 2008.

Unfortunately I saw far too much with my own eyes while delivering food to Cavies buses with their BoD members. I had a sponsoree in the Cavies line and another from years back on their BoD.

Ask Bruno Z and why he had to make a public statement later carried on DCI.org.  

Research before you clap your jaw and rebutt. You contradict yourself. "never happened. But if it happened,.." 

Edited July 29, 2017 by xandandl

[littlejaw]

5 minutes ago, xandandl said:

Unfortunately I saw far too much with my own eyes while delivering food to Cavies buses with their BoD members. I had a sponsoree in the Cavies line and another from years back on their BoD.

Ask Bruno Z and why he had to make a public statement later carried on DCI.org.  

Research before you clap your jaw and rebutt. You contradict yourself. "never happened. But if it happened,.." 

Obviously you can't read subtext.

 

It's of course one of the topics you don't acknowledge taking part in because of the cops stationed by the buses at the MTSU show.