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I know nothing about percussion, but Cadets perc gave me a Woodrow Wilson.

At least in NJ, despite a pro-Cadets crowd, we get actual reviews, not this hacked negative review on every corps but their own.

I think we tend to compare everything to August of the previous year and obviously, not a fair comparison. Crown's brass has been and still is, IMO, the best DCI has ever seen and I don't think this line will disappoint in that regard. You may not love their book and some have stated that is it too much of a good thing (the almost constant runs) in the show, not sure, probably not. Crown's brass this season, will not be their problem if a problem even exists.

So what's this I hear about there being some kind of traffic jam between all the Crown props and the Cadets' stage?

Uh oh... mu wife just informed me that if I don't get out there and do some yard work today and soon that.. " there is going to be another beheading in Drum Corps this season ".

Isn't there a penalty already in place? It's called the "You won't be getting the score you would get if this show was complete" penalty.

I'm not sure what SCV's show is about, no one was telling me ...

tough crowd in here tonight.. LOL

According to my files, the first time Blue Stars and Phantom Regiment faced each other was: July 5, 1970 Dixon, IL Cavaliers--76.65 Troopers--76.2 Blue Stars--75.9 Madison--72.75 Black Knights--56.8 Racine Scouts--56.5 Phantom Regiment--42.5 Perhaps the most amazing thing about this lineup is that 6 of the 7 corps are still on the field 44 years later!!

I'm sorry for posting this, specifically after it has been beaten to death in years before. But - there are corps in many areas of the US who hold camps in some of the most awful weather conditions who still perform a full show on their first judged viewing. I seriously think DCI should impose a penalty for standstill uncompleted shows.

1. Drum corps is not really a storytelling medium, and generally shouldn't try to tell stories. (Crown 2013 is an exception that is rarely going to be matched.) Even the rather excessive narration in BK's show amounts to a couple paragraphs at most--that's not much of a story. 2. You say "evolved"; I say "changed". If drum corps aren't using narration very much in five years, would you say that drum corps has evolved past narration? Does anyone seriously believe that the Blue Devils evolved from "The SummerTrain Blues Mix" to "Dance Derby of the Century"? Does this year's Cavaliers' show demonstrate that drum corps has evolved to a point where pit instruments in fact are going to be marched around the field again?

"That is what he said. That is what Woodrow Wilson said."

They have awesome roller coaters in OHIO!

So excited to not get scores tonight. Said no one ever.

I always love that statement- This is the dumbest topic ever! But then u proceed to post more than once on it! Hehehe Dumb u say? Get a life? I have a great one and am blessed to watch and talk about drum corps on a World Class DISCUSSION Forum! That's the best life my friend. We are not attacking, merely discussing! Debate is a lost art and one more people should learn. What better way than to engage in meaningful discussion about something that is so passion filled.

It's not about tickets and disrespect towards fans... It's about keeping young people safe while dealing with uncontrollable situations. People going to early season shows know or should know that what they see may not be the final product. A corps could change their closer or part of it mid year/adding to it etc, that make it unacceptable to those that didn't see it live. Sorry but it's a marathon and you don't win a marathon by killing your runner before the race. You pace how you need to taking into account variables such as injury/sickness/weather etc to making your training the best it can be to prepare for the race... Then you pace yourself. These are not garbage excuses they're the truth.... If South Carolina had a Huricane during All Days you gonna penalyze Crown for that? Corps goes down with Swine Flu- 2010- lots o corps, u penalyzing for that? Judges and Contest Dorectors jobs are not to crap on corps....They start doing that and you'll see no corps going on tour til late June/Early July. Lincoln I respect you, you've had many posts that I'm right on board with, but this is not one of em

thank God those days are gone. It was a hot mess with little to no accountability . it was interesting for the sudience I suppose but made no sense to a corps. Horrible.

Slotting is a word people use when the corps the marched for/like/have a kid in doesn't score well. I think overall DCI judges do a good job of ranking corps. This first week or two of the season and always interesting, because it's when all the off-season hype meets the reality of not actually being that good.

I was at the show last night and have just a few thoughts on the Madison discussion. This show is awesome and definitely got the biggest cheers throughout. It is packed with energy, come mid July they will be peeling paint. Drums, coming from a drum guy were in my estimation the best at the show, much cleaner than everyone. Horns sounded cleaner. Musically, Madison's Brass/Percussion/Battery were more in time than anyone else. Best first show I've seen from then since I can remember. The biggest thing I came away with was how much this show can grow compared to other years. I'm telling you, this show is vastly different than the prior 3-4 years. I didn't come away saying, you know, I love the first few minutes and the last few minutes. The show is musically great throughout. They look great in white, but it's too much white. Pants need a stripe or something to separate themselves from the jacket. It looks like they are not very well fitted, especially the pants. Whatever material Crown has with their space pants would look much better. I look forward to where this show will go this summer. Cavaliers also have a vastly improved show. They are looking like the Cavies of old. This show is also going places. Guard looked great, marching looked great and horns sounded great. They have the best Pit feature I've ever seen and won't ruin it for those that haven't seen it, but it was freaking awesome. Glad to see Cavies this strong, this early. They have a ton of content to work with. I enjoyed this show much more than anything they have had recently. I see them easily passing Phantom. Crown. Yep, horns are the strength again and drums need big work. A lot going on visually and the trampolines, at least from my field perspective got lost. First percussion feature with the mufflers is better in person than the broadcast from GW the other night. I would love to play Mellophone for this corps, wow that section rips. Like the blue pants, it shows well on the field. Horn book is very good but not at the same level as last year. Drums were very sloppy. Phantom. Those dangly things need to go. Brass, especially Baritones sounded great and guard commanded your attention. It was a home show for Phantom and judging by crowd reaction you would have thought differently. Madison and Crown had people on there feet much faster. This show is ok for me, but not as memorable as the 3 above. Stars, Troop, Spirit and Pioneer were enjoyable. And will try adding something on them when I have more time. Glad I drove the 2 hours to see the show last night. Very enjoyable.

They were top 5...........in Open Class;)

oh but werent you the guy that said BDB's percussion was top 5 last year?

from Blue Stars FB page A heartfelt thank you to the Phantom Regiment for the recognition of our 50th Anniversary. It's been an honor sharing the field with you through the decades.

Holy BATBALLS BK is for real this year!!!!!

Stop the presses !!.... BD has rediscovered melodies again !

Needs some hard scrubbing, but this '04 alum couldn't be happier. Def got some chills. Lots of amazing memories from that summer 10 years ago.

Pete Weber is officially a drill writing GOD!

SCV.... Ouch my ears heart in that goo before the start of your show.

Crossmen definitely have some moments there at the end! It seems like the show has some potential - I liked a lot of the music arrangements. It's awesome that they are on the west coast this year, and even doing the NW tour!

I'm waiting for a corps' narration to be all about what they are doing and why at that point in the show. "Now we're going to play a run of 16th notes up and down all the voices because that helps us in Box <x> on the sheets" "Now watch as the horns do unnecessary and low-quality body movement and dance to enhance the GE score" "Here comes the mandatory solo dancer"

I got my glass of wine.. my live feed on from Stanford, and reading the posts in here = very entertaining.

Did you get a Woodrow Wilson ?

There is a lot going on, but it is not a distraction in the same way the cadets are. I can look at different areas of the field, there aren't interruptions being made to my viewing of the show or the listening of it. Just like cavies XtraordinarY. A lot going on, not distracting. When a narrator goes up to speak, just like a soloist, you are drawn to them. At the expense of watching what else is going on the field. Guard members doing guard things is not a distraction, you are supposed to notice their actions but not necessarily be drawn only to them. Exceptions being a narrative story. Crown had no real narrative. They had features you were supposed to notice. Cadets' had an abstract narrative where you are taken on a lecture that seems to be interrupted by the corps playing music. If you can't see the difference, or feel it, then i can't really help you.

Cadets Promise: An American Portrait Soooooo much narration. SO. MUCH. NARRATION. It's like they decided to make a show around the über American in all of us. Besides that, the brass was fantastic. I hope another top 3 for that horn line. But really, this show is basically a narration of a 10th grade history book with a sound track. Want to win GE, Cadets? Have Morgan Freeman narrate. BOOM

Madison was orJAZZmic. Boston was WTF.

BAC time. Eat 'em up!

I have to say I somewhat agree with the "dated" comments floating around. I know it is the nature of Copland that this show is not going to be the 'run and gun' Cadets. This being said, I guess I do struggle to see the demand in the show that I used to view as a hallmark of the Cadets. It may not have always been clean, but you could count on Cadets to put a show out that made your jaw drop with regard to the demand placed on the members both musically and visually. I get that feeling more now when I watch Crown. Yes, they tend to play notes for the sake of playing notes (even if in the originals), but you sit there and think wow, they are actually playing that while balancing on one leg and bending down. How do you judge one against the other and not give more credit to the more demanding program. I agree that there is more subtle demand with a Copland show, but it is too slow paced overall for my taste. I think it will be hard for the Cadets show to keep pace mid/late season with Crown and BD, but I would love to be proven wrong.

Just saw a video of last night's show . . . WOW, that color guard is going to be one for the ages! From the staging of the opening hit on the ladders to the closer flags that say "The End" - what an enjoyable flag book; this has to be one of their most difficult in years. And the men's rifle life during "Be Italian" . . . just incredible! I can't imagine any other guard getting close to these guys.

Just watched rehearsal for colts and stars since they are at same school. 1) best ballad of 2014 2) French horn duet is amazing and he does tune before he plays 3) so much going on but not to much and the music leads you to what to pay attention to 4) hornline is way better than last year at this time 5) drumline and guard are just as good as last year Gonna make this place our home! #FCO50

No, they deserve to see the corps who were advertised to be at the show perform to the best of their ability with what they are prepared to present.

I think most fans who attend early season shows do so knowing that there is a high possibility of seeing an incomplete performance.

So to paraphrase what I feel the OP is saying here.... U should rehearse in flooding conditions/ignore fire warnings and evacuation orders/tell school children to quit school early and whiz on the public education system? I know you didn't say these things but these are exactly some of the reasons why SCV and BK don't have full shows on at this moment. Last year BK had to evacuate as did their famines due to horrible Forrest fires. This year there has been the opposite. They've had a ton of rain that kept them from getting it all on before their first show. BKs snare line has many kids from California and of course most of SCV hales from Cali and schools do not get out til the 2nd week of June. Is it disappointing? Sure. BK would tell u flat out they would've loved to have the full deal on before tour but they prepared differently. They got great time with music and fundamentals/sectionals which put them ahead. Behind the scenes they are getting their show ready and will have it ready for the public soon. Penalize? No, but I think the corps will tell you they understand that their scoring can't be as good as it could or should be! This isn't a slight to fans, it was a choice in safety of corps members. Wes P

Great early season show.... My guess: 1) Crown- 73.7 2) Cadets- 73.5 3) Bluecoats- 72.9 4) Boston- 71.5 5) Phantom- 70.9 6) Cavies- 70.5 8) Madison- 68.0

I wish they chose a better guy to model it. I don't knowif it's the uniform but the guy looks super scrawny and that makes the uniform look 3 sizes to big

full panel. good thing. seeing people freak out over scores on the 5 person panels amuses me

Must give the folks at Rockford the nod for better updates tonight gang.

But seriously, can we talk about how AMAZING BK's show is this year? This is the quickest I've fallen in love with any show other than Crown's and I can't wait to see it live!

This will be one of my favorite shows this year. I LOVE "Kaleidoscope of Mathematics".

It would probably be best to see Phantom and Cavaliers for yourself. You may not find their shows to be as "unspealing" as others have.

Boo INT, Overrated