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First, I am not predicting a placement for SOA nor trying to create any DCP hype controversy. I love drum corps and feel fortunate to have been able to attend this event. After moving to the southeast three years ago, I have been able to see Spirit early season all three years. In 2010 I felt I was watching a corps that was really trying to improve itself. In 2011, that was of course much more evident and I must say I loved the show and felt all three finals week performances were terrific; making finals was clearly deserved. I do have a close friend with a son in the group, but other than that, if I have any real bias, I do love any comeback story. I took some notes so I could give and remember some facts and my impressions accurately. The event started without a spoken introduction. The brass played Tara's Theme from Gone With The Wind. It was loud but not over done. It got everyone's attention. Following Tara's Theme, the brass immediately played an extended version of Salvation is Created. The arrangement is clever and exciting. More volume was displayed. Before getting to the rest of the performance, I want to state that of the four staff members that spoke (board president was one of them), it was clear that these people were intelligent, professional, and clearly passionate about the organization, its history and future, and the young people it serves. After a brief welcome, the color guard performed. I counted 37 members. They spun in a block with bright pink flags. They did a basics routine that isolated upper body and lower body responsibilities. Though not an expert, it was incredibly clear that this may be the most improved section of the corps. I was further convinced of this when they spun the opening phrases of the show. It was very athletic and very clean! When I saw them spin with the music later, I would add that the work is also dead-on musical. Time for some show explanation and music. So a Vegas show, but not your typical approach to this theme. The opener hits you immediately in the face. Shocking. The main theme to Luck be a Lady is used for the introduction. I don't know if you can get more Vegas appropriate than that. Again, it was great to hear this intro and see the guard perform along with it. Stand-outs of this intro: Very clean beats already, brass volume, and holy mellophones. Wow! Without pause, the rest of the opener starts with a cool groove based on a bass guitar like sound that totally places you in a cool vibe, or, walking the Vegas strip as their program coordinator later described. The opener has three or four sections that continually build on each other until we get to what I expect is a big park and blow moment as the corps put feet apart and showed us they already have a confident swagger to them. This was the loudest moment thus far. After a huge release. We returned to the bass groove from the start. Percussion and then horns layer in, again, very cool vibe and fun. There is a build to the last punch. Huge crowd reaction. Stand-outs of the opener: front ensemble licks, every section of the brass are featured very successfully, an appropriate Vegas vibe throughout while still sounding modern, and I must say again, holy mellophones. I was already thinking that this is not 2011 Spirit, but a big step forward. Luck be a Lady was next. The program coordinator set us up well. If you know Sinatra's Live at the Sands version, the arrangement starts and ends that way, with a clever and extremely fun Latin treatment in the middle section that uses some well thought out clave grooves and dead on stylistic brass writing. The performer that plays the trumpet solo at the start of this tune was fantastic. Spot on style and what confidence. I love that the arrangers kept the brass stabs from the original Sands version. LOUD! I was amazed at how relaxed the tune sounded, in the best of ways. Nothing forced, just grooving along. Lots of tasty dynamics already showing up and some very clever battery writing. A bari trio is featured on the melody. The Sinatra ending is slick and after the tune ends, a trumpet held some ungodly high note that ended with a great kiss off release. Again, huge crowd reaction. Stand-outs: the soloist, the attention and effort to being stylistically correct, lead trumpets, and the great battery writing. Can't wait to see this color guard performing to this tune. I must admit that I was one of many thinking, Lady GaGa as a ballad? Well, to say they nailed the arrangement is an understatement. Simply gorgeous. We were told that the inspiration for this section of the show is the seduction of the city, "the opportunity to fall in love, or at least in lust." Yes, that got a good chuckle from the crowd. A beautiful pit intro followed by a lush brass octet (I think. Maybe a few more players?) leads right into the main melody of Poker Face. A trumpet duet in the middle changes the pace a bit in that it has some appropriate attitude to it, followed by a hit of sorts (the "real" one comes later). Each brass section gets the melody as does the pit. The big hit comes after silence. Very loud but played with great quality. Piano and one trumpet soloist ends the tune quietly. The program coordinator pointed out that the show features a dozen or so different brass players, a display of talent depth. Each was quite excellent. Stand-outs: the brass and pit arranging, the control the horns are already displaying. To not give too much away, the closer starts with a very familiar segment from the rock/rap genre tune. It caught me by surprise, but as I listened and considered the show theme I thought, perfect. We were told the closer is about going to Vegas to live it up. To go big, expect big return for big plays; the excitement and attitude/philosophy of how a high-roller approaches Vegas. After the short build up and a short brass and battery punch in the face (this one was hugely loud), the tune went into a groove that seemed straight out of any Vegas movie scene where a high roller has pulled up to the casino curb, stepped out of his expensive car, and walks in ready to be noticed while he plays it cool. I loved the appropriate use of vibraphone here, the quintessential Vegas soundtrack go to. Instruments layer in and layer out, electric sounds add to the slick Vegas attitude, and some awesome battery exposure and great writing connect it all together in very feel-good, logical way. The need to bob your head takes over as the tune quickly builds to a sudden halt immediately followed by a timpani roll (how Vegas of them). It was explained that this moment is the "gag" of the closer. What followed was a loud and creatively arranged recap of the opening of the show based on Luck be a Lady. I was struck with how my ears immediately linked the two together and how my mind immediately thought that in keeping with the show theme, "someone" must have taken a risk and hit it big, thus the timpani roll and recap of Luck be a Lady. A drum corps ending appropriately plays the tune out. Big sound, big confidence, big standing ovation. Stand-outs: the percussion has more than taken a step forward this season and this tune really shows that off (wow bass drums!), cymbal line is scary good, stamina of the brass, attention to show theme detail and making it evident even without the visual component. Simply put, I was blown away. And, they had only been together three days. Alumni joined the brass for Salvation is Created and of course Georgia. Having all the members, staff, and alumni sing Salvation was a heartfelt bonus to the event. Great food, a great sense of excitement about where the corps is going, lots of baby blue everywhere, a genuine sense of family and member centered goings on, and many mentions of thanks to the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country clearly communicated Spirit of Atlanta as a class act. I can't say I have always seen the corps in that light and that makes me feel somewhat guilty. Thanks for a great performance and a great experience Spirit of Atlanta 2012! Well worth my drive. Ride this wave of forward growth as hard as you can. Best of luck, can't wait to see this one on the field.

( a silent thread to pause... reflect... and give thanks to those who made the Ultimate Sacrifice for our Country )

New Jacket

I'm really happy to see this community get behind us so much this year! You all may be pumped to see us perform, and trust me when I say that we are really excited to perform it for you. There's absolutely nothing about this show I don't like! And it's a show that is very challenging, but one that the crowd will understand and (hopefully) enjoy. PS: Almost up to the ballad on the field :D 2 more weeks!

as someone who often thinks Crown has gone a little too far to the cheese side of things, I feel obligated to say that I am super pumped for this show. I expect it to be awesome, and it might even be enough to win, depending on what BD and Cavaliers have to say. I don't think Cadets will be in the running this year.

Phantom Regiment's 2012 Uniforms...

Ream probably owns all posting records...

I'm particularly excited to see Spirit this summer as I have a student marching there. I have a ton of respect for the people teaching their program and can't wait to see what the corps looks like this summer. Thanks for the post.

Thank you - it's nice to hear something definitive.

On the show that shall not be named...... Truthfully BK has not announced so that I can have a bit longer before I'll tuck people off with my -Get________Baby- slogans!!! We've had-Get Evil Baby, Get Darker Baby and of course Get English Baby!! Hahaha love that it always annoys some!!!! GO BK STAY SILENT BABY!!! Wes P

I really haven't noticed that big of a difference from this year to last year to tell the truth. Really only one corps that's different and that's blue knights. Like I said before no big deal. It is nice when corps are open about things though. Some corps take themselves way to seriously... as do some of us fans... So whatever...

Never said any of that - just curious about the change that's all. I'll still go see Finals this year, I'll still enjoy the shows, and above all, I'll still sleep at night.

No worries, didn't give a red mark - don't even care about what a red mark means on here. You haven't given any real reasons why show announcements have gotten delayed so much more this year. You gave speculation and a suggestion to write a corps director to try and find out.

I see what you're driving at, and I'm fine with corps being open and honest, but I do find a problem with the people who come on here and complain and throw little tantrums when corps haven't completely announced their rep by their first audition camp. Those are the people that I think need to take a breath and relax. When the corps releases their rep, they release it. Madison hasn't released a full rep, and no one is saying a thing about it. All we know is that they are doing Pictures at an Exhibition, mixed with a bunch of other stuff. But they haven't said a word about what the other songs will be. Fans can ask more of drum corps, but if you really think about it, DCP is a tiny slice of the drum corps audience, yet this little micro-cosm seems convinced they control the flow of DCI. It's not really like that. I'm sure the people on here have affected some opinions, but I still believe that getting worked up about a corps not releasing their show information isn't really warranted. Patience is a virtue so many people seem to have lost.

Geez, people are sure taking summer marching band overly serious aren't they? Guys, don't worry about it. If the Blue Knights wants to wait until their first show to announce, more power to them. Madison still hasn't fully announced a rep, and people aren't crying over that. Usually, we're waiting on the Blue Devils to announce last, usually around the time of move-ins. In 2010, Madison didn't even have a title to their show. Does that mean people shouldn't have gone to go see it, because they didn't know what it was called? NO! That would be stupid. I don't honestly know where people got this crazy sense of entitlement to know exactly what every corps is doing at every moment, maybe that's why some corps are traveling away from their home bases for pre-tour to stop people from spying on their shows and how they develop? The first shows occur in three weeks, right? Blue Knights first show is on June 18th. Either it will be announced on that day or before it. If they want to wait, that's their decision to make. Guys, as much as we try and paint ourselves as some high class art-form, we're still just a summer marching band sans the woodwinds. Just take a deep breath and relax

Never mind the Jupiter horns - what is Blue Knights actually playing for their show this year??? It's only May 1st... Sorry - didn't intend to highjack the thread, just thought I would throw that in. Seems like the show announcements are a matter of national secrecy this year.

Back to 2012 This show is REALLY exciting. Already a lot of great moments on the field. It reminds me a lot of Cadets '98. First time I saw that show it seemed as if the Cadets were moving and playing at an entirely different level than the rest of competitors on the field. Can't WAIT to see the entire show!

Trust me sir, He NEVER runs out of things to say Lol! That's the real problem.

One of the NorCal groups. I'll go with SCV. Just a feeling.

Almost sounds like a riff/expansion of Phantom's 2007 show. This is not a bad thing or a criticism.

Blue Knights 2012: Avian

Let me know and I'll try and break them...

Almost. God Bless the Marine D&B, but their drill is hardly top-DCI caliber. And by definition, their musical selections have to be slightly restrained. However, note that the only way such an organization can exist these days is with military funding. That right there should explain why nobody else has done it. Mike

Totally agree.

I guess the corps management and staff felt like an 80-person hornline was part of what they needed to move up out of that grouping of corps fighting for the 12th spot and into the next echelon. I think it's just more evidence that the corps is looking ahead this year, and not looking back.

..

Gotta love it when someone disagrees with you and that person runs out of things to say - usually the "troll" argument gets pulled out...

No, still waiting to see if someone has a real reason for the big difference from last year to this year. So far it has been just speculation.

The amazing thing is in this Internet age, when the slightest detail about anything spreads like wildfire and everyone wants to be the first to break any news, the members and others close to the corps have kept quiet. That's quite an accomplishment, especially when compared to organizations that post pre-season updates whenever a member passes gas.

In 1984 (1st tick-less year), the corps deemed most effective for the year had a 9th place drumline. Luckily for them, their ensemble was tight. Garfield absolutely WAS rewarded for difficulty that year (and more so in 1985). Sadly, many groups immediately copied what made the Cadets successful, and that didn't work for them.

Bluecoats have great openers, and have a really electric tone and aura about them. You can feel however you want about them though. Personally if I lived closer to Canton, I'd audition myself.

then i'll say it again...stay the #### home

well i just gave you 1 of many reasons..you dont want to hear it .

If it weren't for those pesky little mosquitos nibbling on my bits, I think I would do it. Perhaps DCP.com and OFF Deep Woods could get in a bidding war for which side of my torso they want to sponsor. Trust me...it would be money WELL spent...just ask Mr. Boo.

Oh I get it. Its a tribute show about us here in the Drum Corps Planet Community... Cool !

But 10 difficulty at 90 effectiveness loses to 9 (or even 8) difficulty at 100 effectiveness. Cleanliness is next to godliness in DCI. I agree about Crown 2009 being much more difficult...but WAY dirtier. Their issue lately has been staging and motivated movement. The judges have to see the logical link from movement to movement within context of the music. This is why Regiment was so successful last year (in addition to their guard!) and within three-tenths of Crown.

Thank you for answering that direct question. The reason I asked is because that while I believe your Foundation to help small corps is very noble, I also agree with Kamarag in that if you do not already have your form 1023 filed and received your 501c3 determination letter, if you do not have your bylaws, a board, legal and financial council, a fundraising development officer, along with a short term plan and long term goals in writing then you really have no business collecting donations of any type of capital. And the lack of taking care of those issues *first* eerily reminded me of what happened to Eclipse/Accent.

select members of the Cavaliers, Murfreesboro , after the show, parking lot. every year.

Memo to Blue Devils Staff: Please cut all 37 pieces from your 2012 theatrical production with the exception of two. Instead, just fill up 11 1/2 minutes worth of "Peppy and George" and "New Arrival", create whatever storyline you want, and give it whatever title you want for this year's drum corps show. In fact, come to think of it, you can completely forego the storyline and title too, as those aren't really necessary either. Sincerely, Your Ex-Diehard Fans

Great - now we're down to LESS than one minute per musical selection. Can't they fit in a few more pieces?? There's still time...

Well....the Montague crest wouldn't really go with a story set in China....

Well, that looks like it will be the coolest shirt of the year from a drum corps. That looks great! And the show sounds pretty sweet. I wish them the best summer, and maybe I'll see them at one of the shows, depending on performance orders.

I totally agree with "as much as we try and paint ourselves as some high class art-form, we're still just a summer marching band sans the woodwinds. Just take a deep breath and relax". I think Michael J. Cesario said it best last year when he said that this activity plays arrangements of classical music on a football field, and a lot of times not even on an outdoor football field.

I'm not one to encourage repeats, but I'd like to see a more talented Phantom corps redo the Berlioz. "Spartacus" seemed to work for them. The Cadets could really make "On the Waterfront" work better. And I've always wanted to see another version of Crown's "Stormworks" which first got them into Finals.

The last time someone wanted to donate me instruments they were so torn up we made lamps out of them as souvies; and we turned down a set of donated unis because the orange with green trim wool along with the qutip hats were a bit painful to the eyes. Point is, free is not always worth the price.

Me reading this thread: wince, wince, wince, ah!, wince, wince, wince, cool!, wince, wince, wince, sigh...

I have really enjoyed the Boston Crusaders the past few years. Great drum corps coming out of that team. Best of luck to the Boston Crusaders members, staff, administration and volunteers!

You honestly believe this? Really?

Butthurt Homer alert incoming: I've made it a point to meet this hornline, especially the mellophone section. Compared to last year (four ageouts, including me), they are younger (two ageouts), but half the section is vets and several, regardless of drum corps experience, are very talented horn/mello players at the university level. Additionally, this year is the first time in a long time that SoA has had a mellophone instructor that actually has experience playing mellophone (nothing against our excellent trumpet playing techs of the years past). Sectional time has provided me several opportunities to hear individual players as part of instruction, and I can vouch that all have done immense amounts of work across camps to become very strong players. This book has some very exposed mellophone parts (opener alone has a section high C and B natural tritone sustains), and this section is not only confident enough to go for them, but think about little things like intonation and simultaneous releases. As for woodwind players with no brass experience in the hornline, so what? In my opinion, these are the hardest workers, and from this pool of people, you'll find several unexpected pleasant surprises. Future drum majors, section leaders, or in the post ageout arena, instructors for other drum corps, accomplished performers, or people who just plain love their corps and give back so much. Technically I was one of these, so I'll go ahead and take personal offense. :P Speaking of Bob Smith, he was in for two separate weeks last year. He certainly was interesting, and I love how well he did attempting to learn some of our names. (- What's your name? - Swindle! - Swinger? - Sure. - Okay, Spinner, on this set...) Anyway, I'm probably way too excited about this corps and show, but I can still probably say for all you drum corps fans out there that Spirit of Atlanta will find some way to engage you. 2012's gonna be a great year for drum corps.

I could have added Catholic Daughters of America too...oh well