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OMFG BLUECOATS!!! They. Were. FANTASTIC!! Trumpets almost caused an ensemble tear. Ballad almost had me in freaking tears. LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS SHOW!! Cadets up!!

In soviet boston, corps cheer you.

I think a lot of kids today would look at a show from 40 years ago and think the fans THEN would cheer for anything. Seriously, for marching in a block? For making a straight line? For spinning a rifle they didn't even let go of?

I don't understand the big #### deal. So what people cheer and YOU may think its obnoxious. You have no way of knowing what's in these people's heads when they're cheering. Perhaps they are actually ENJOYING what they're seeing and hearing. I'm sure the corps love it. I know I did when I heard them cheer and I didn't care whether or not they were cheering just to be obnoxious or just doing it because they enjoyed it. It helped ups perform better when we heard it.

show is great btw it's "Bluecoats" the tilt chord is the moment of the year right now -- this show will rock LOS come championships!

I marched in the 70s and am a longtime participant in online drum corps forums participating in RAMD as a grad student in the 90s. I rarely read or post here because year after year 95% of the posts are about how horrible modern day drum corps is, the decline of the activity, what's wrong with the activity, etc. yawn. That negativie view does not square with my feelings about drum corps so I don't engage or even read very often That said, during the season I do appreciate hearing others views on show they've seen, learning about staff changes etc. So there is some wheat among the chaff. FWIW there are two things I don't understand about all the negativity. In an activity that has always had artistic creativity and innovation as a core value why would you expect or want the activity to remain fixed in some particular era? Why do you assume that your preferred tastes in drum corps should reign supreme throughout the activity? Peace out drum corps brothers and sisters. Drums on parade tonight!

Wow freakin WOW CADETS!!! They are just EXCELLENT!! Trumpets almost gave up on a section they worked thru rehearsal. That guard is phenomenal. Drumline is CRAZY good!! Hornline is incredible!!! Phone is dying. Not staying for scores. Driving back to New York City.

Why do I stay? I enjoy the technical and musical achievement that is only reached in Drum Corps. I'm a drummer so I enjoy the musicality and expertise of 9 snare drummers sounding like one. Seamless Bass drum ripples. Tenors with octopus arms. Did I enjoy Drum Corps more 10-15 years ago? Absolutely. It's just different now. Not worse, just different. The aspects of Drum Corps that thrilled me back in the day are absent. No one is interested in just blowing your face off with a wall of sound. Even if they were, they couldn't because of the change to Bb. Anyone remember when corps were so loud you could literally feel it inside your chest? I do. I'd love some of the newer fans to be able to go back in time and see a show live from say the mid 90s or so. Then they would know what I'm talking about. I almost feel sorry for the newer fans that enjoy today's Drum Corps......I look at them and think to myself, "you have no idea how much more thrilling it was to see a live show 15 years ago"......I stay because each year I hope to feel that thrill once again.

It's easy for me to remember being a high school student at DCI shows. It was THRILLING! I didn't necessarily care if it was a 'top corps' or not - it was all WAY better than most of the small town bands I had seen and competed against. DCI was thrilling, especially for a kid who loved music and could imagine the amount of work that must have gone into each show. Give them a break for cheering. They don't see this every day. They probably see one show every year. They're not paying for Fan Network. They're not on DCP. And finals aren't televised anymore. So they aren't jaded or highly critical. They're just band kids who are enjoying the hard work and thrill brought to them by kids they admire. Let them cheer!

For what it's worth, this is one of the few shows since 2008 that I've actually enjoyed musically. A bit miffed they didn't go with Bulgarian Bulge's original 16/39, 16/36 time signatures, but 16/32 and 16/36 still kept it pretty close. It's still remarkably close to the original and that's still quite an accomplishment. Plus, holy smokes brassline. Where was this the past few seasons? And why aren't they getting rewarded for it? (Especially in content?!) It's also incredibly frustrating that no one seems to be giving them the praise they deserve for the exotic rhythmic things they're doing this year. I suppose when you're not Blue Devils, Cadets, or Crown, people just won't give you instant credit for being "innovative" (in quotation marks). I honestly can't think of a show with this much time variation in recent history. Cadets 83 comes to mind, but nothing much in the last few decades. I'm also kinda confused at the backlash about the arrangements. We hear worse from the top corps each year and they do just fine. Maybe Madison is being treated differently by expectation? I don't know. People don't seem to realize how dependent they are on a cheap 8 count fff Major Chord to the box at the end of a phrase despite it not fitting the music, or a N6 resolving downward to tonic despite it being cheap Michael Bay-esque solution to a problem that needs more finesse and creativity. For the most part, musically, this show delivers what DCI has needed for quite a while. I also tend to agree with the criticism of the single colorguard member slow-walking. But even though the slow-walking towards the later half of the show just doesn't work, I applaud them for truly doing something completely different and committing to it. It worked for SCV 06 because it wasn't invasive to the show (it occurred on the outer perimiter), and it's not quite working right now because of the duration of time. I suspect they'll figure it out and change it for the better sometime this season. From the videos I've seen, there's still a ton of guard stuff to be added. As for the whole "explosion of color" thing: It's... kinda working... but it's (let's say) muted due to inefficiency. Crossmen 2003 is a great example of a color explosion, Right now the color choices seem faded rather than dynamic and explosive. Part of the problem is the actual design of the flags and outfits. While Crossmen 03 uses larger squarish sections for their climax, Madison 14's uses shapes with far less area. Unfortunately the end result ends up being washed together in a sort of "mixing paint" effect that makes the color look grayish to me from farther away. There's not enough surface area to let the color develop, so the effect becomes muted. But again, this is one of my favorite shows anyone has done since 2008. I've generally avoided following DCI for a few years now because the rule changes aren't for me, but I guess I get to follow at least one corps this year.

Or perhaps they know all to well about DCP and choose not to post. hmmm?

DCI reporting scores with erroneous percussion score entries. Scores should have been the following: Cavs 75.65 PR 74.90 Scouts 72.55 BStars 69.2 Troop 67.95 Colts 64.1 Pioneer 54.00

I think you're mixing up MY comment regarding the flu bug in context with Crown. Cadets have been sick and battling 2 injuries - but personally I think Coats battery has a much more mature presence and sound than Cadets right now. They may not beat them this season. Regardless - Bluecoats are the real deal. I'd love them to win it all this year.

When BD and SCV lines get into the mix it's going to be fun to watch. 4 AWESOME lines this year.

Understatement of the day. Cadets are really something this year. They are performing at an extremely high level this time of year. They seem to have no weaknesses. I wasn't surprised Coats took them in drums although Cadets' drumline is freaking AWESOME. I can totally see it being a tradeoff for the rest of the season. My biggest shock of the day is how great Cadets' guard is.

Was there an invisible brass judge and they didn't tell us???

Congrats BLUE!!! Drumline is for real.

Pretty much. Boston done. Excellent show concept. That block moving across the field had feet all over the place. Guard is fantastic. Drums came to play. Horns have a lot of dark moments. It's great! Bluecoats up.

BAC!!! Eat 'em up!!!

2000Cadet will probably have a better answer, but it means as the kids march, some of the movement is messing with their chops and it shows up in the sound. You have to keep the top half isolated even though the feet are going 200 bpm.

Spirit done. They have a good LOUD show. Horns need to get the feet out the sound. Screamers are great but had some points where notes were cracking. Overall, enjoyable show. Boston up next.

I go with some friends to drums along the Rockies every year and we cheer for every corps. They work their butts off all summer and deserve the applause.

With so much competition for the entertainment dollar, and with drum corps costing so much to stage and tour, DCI needs to not just impress people in August with great performances but needs new fans who are passionate and excited enough to want to keep coming back. If young people get excited watching shows in June, even over stuff that wouldn't get us dinos excited, that's a very good thing.

Drum majors blank, blank, and blank - is your corps ready? THEY'RE ALWAYS READYYYYYYYYY! http://payload83.cargocollective.com/1/7/251238/3970279/jump1_3_o.gif http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA3LzA1LzUzL0VsZi45ZGQ2OC5naWYKcAl0aHVtYgkxMjAweDk2MDA-/1d3e18ff/b06/Elf.gif ^That needs to stop.

Don't jinx anything about the weather. I don't want to see anyone attempting rain dances when I get to the show site

I upvoted you in case you are hungry...

Some people have invested quite a bit into the activity, probably FAR FAR FAR more than most modern marchers as they probably marched over 10 years. Not to mention, the time after they were out volunteering or other things to get the corps down the road. This is REAL personal investment and commitment. These people I can actually listen and relate too regardless if they like modern marching band or not. Newer age outs I can listen and relate too as well as they have walked the walk. I suppose the twist side would be be people that come here in their teens (or later), never marched, seem to know everything about drum corps and bring up older people dying off and being irrelevant. THAT is some serious trolling folks. I suppose as a side note, some people live in the past. Just like the guys you meet at your high school reunion still talking about a football game from those years. Or the other people in their 40's trying to relive their youth by posting in face book how much they workout everyday or some ironman or marathon they are in. I suppose I am lucky I got it out of system when I was young. Sort of, been there, did moved on.

I have to agree with this. I thought it was a beautiful show from top to bottom. I personally know a few DCI fans that did not like the show at all and though it to be strange that I liked it. When I volunteered for a certain corps back in 2010, there was a competition where there was ample seating and I was able to find a good seat near the top to watch. There was an old guy sitting behind me and just to the left. Every few minutes he would grumble to the guy next to him (I believe they came out together to spectate) about this or that, or how this was crap, that was crap, this corps doesn't even move, he was laughing and tearing Crown apart at that point in their show where they were doing some kind of somersault on their back, kicking their legs up in the air. He didn't seem to care that he was annoying other people. He was upset that the corps were not marching 160bpm 90% of the time. Even when Blue Stars came on and did their show, which was actually a pretty fast-paced show, he ridiculed the wooden boxes that the guard would occasionally get locked into and escape. He applauded for nobody except... when Madison Scouts came on and did their relatively easy program, he couldn't get enough of it. So you see how I see a lot of the "old timers". I guess I would say, if you don't like the activity now, you don't have to pay money to come out and watch. There's going to be another fan to take your place. I love the activity because of the quality of programs and loud brass. Even some of the lesser corps I have enjoyed immensely at times. Loud brass, story-telling on the field, watching the corps become better night after night, watching those kids sweat and suffer through 12 weeks and pay $2,000 + to do it, just for the love of performing and making themselves better people. If every kid joined a drum corps at least for one year, the world would be a much, much, much better place. This is the best thing about DCI. And like I was telling someone earlier, drum corps often evokes such a strong emotional response in their fans. This is a good thing. There are activities that are worse off than drum corps. DCP is an outlet for us fans to be able to have an outlet for our strong emotions. Outlets are needed. This is why we stick around.

Minus BD because you know, they barely ever perform.

It means you said something bad about Madison. That's really one of the few ways to get one. I've been here for what feels like a decade. One colored comment about Madison got me sent to the hole.

for you... not for everyone...

This is all a little too "tin-foil hat" for me. Corps get recruits willingly from other corps when they are successful. (Sarcasm mode on) Surely young people have NO interest in joining successful organizations... I mean "loyalty" is the TOP priority of every young person that I know. (Sarcasm mode off) It is no conspiracy that a drumcorps attracts talent when they do well. It's also no conspiracy that a drumcorps goes belly-up when they stop doing well and lose any relevant sense of vision (not to mention good business practices). The Bluecoats... for example, started retaining members (in recent history) consistently after 2001. And this happened because they proved after 2000 to 2001 that the new model of business was to be competitive. That is around the time when the corps leadership stopped saying things like "If you want to win... you came to the wrong place... that's not what we are about". Yes, they used to say things like that. It was around 2001 that the discussion turned to focus on naming brackets where the corps would like to compete. To my knowledge, this is how it has been ever since, and this is much more appealing to young people who want a return for their investment. Winning isn't everything... because nobody has such control. Contending, however, IS everything (and it should be) to the design team of a corps that is mature and serious.

I stay because you never know if the new season will bring something of great beauty or excitement. It might or might not, so you have to make the effort to see. In 2010 I heard THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MUSIC I've ever heard in my life when I heard Phantom Regiment's "Into the Light" show. It placed 6th in finals, so a show doesn't have to be a medalist to deeply touch and inspire you.

The Biggest Fan, If scrolling on a computer is annoying, and you can't get over the fact that there are more important things to worry about, log off, and go for a run. Signed, A person who couldn't really care less.

Chambersburg, PA. Was a beautiful night for Drum Corps. Not too hot. Sun behind a few clouds. You could hear the sounds of drums thundering a few blocks away on your way to the stadium. There were only 4 corps performing - but they did so in a slightly different format. Each corps performed twice! "After traditionally judged performances by The Cadets, Bluecoats, Boston Crusaders and Spirit of Atlanta, each corps will re-enter the field for an encore performance of their full program, this time with live commentary from their programming staff. The show designers want to answer your questions, so be sure to play your part in #TheFanShow by submitting feedback and questions on Twitter with #TheFanShow" Spirit of Atlanta "Magnolia", 4th place - 66.9 The warmup was quiet, with only a recording of Alison Krauss' "Down to the River to Pray". The front pit very subtly joined as more voices join Alison's. Felt like I was sitting on a plantation porch swing at sunset - the drenched hot summer air hanging in stillness amongst the giant magnolia trees. First time I've seen this show. Thought it was really well put together and enjoyable. The flags were perfect throughout the show. They were not bright flashy stab-your-eyes colors. Very soft and natural looking as if they had broken the flags right off a tree or shrub. But they still had enough impact to get your attention. The opener started with a little Porgy and Bess - drawing first goosebump of the night! Boston Crusaders "Animal Farm", 3rd place - 72.7 I saw Boston at the Preview show in theaters earlier this week. Music and drill are very difficult, dark and symphonic. The show takes its imagery from the Orwell book of the same name. The guard does well taking on characteristics of the animal masks. My favorite point of the show is when the guard makes a human windmill 20 feet tall. Happens at a nice swell in the music, drawing applause from the crowd. I wasn't thrilled about the show in the theater. But it started to click in person. I'm sure this will pull together really well by finals. Bluecoats "Tilt", 2nd place - 77.6 I personally thought Bluecoats should have won the theater preview show. Entertainment wise, I felt they should have won tonight as well. "Orange Is The New Blooo" is their show's tag. They surround the field with an orange border skewed a few degrees - effectively tilting the entire field. Large wedges are put to great use during the show, permitting guard, brass, and percussion to tilt in different ways. And of course the big corps pitch bend in the finale brought the crowd to their feet! It was nice being in person so the brass could blow in my face! The Cadets "Promise: An American Portrait", 1st place - 79.8 Clean and laser sharp already this early in the season. But this is the norm for the Cadets. The show is based on Copland (God I love when they play Copland!) Lincoln Portrait forms the backbone of the show. They take quotes from Lincoln Portrait, but add on quotes from a few other influential presidents in the same line. The narrator has the perfect voice for this show. He does a great job in the spotlight. Throw in a little Appalachian Spring, Symphony #3, and The Promise of Living and you have all the ingredients for placing 1st or 2nd in Finals! Commentary half The second portion of the show had each corps come back on in full-show exhibition (a second viewing of each corps!!!) The difference here was the live commentary from a show designer or director. Each corps gave an initial intro describing the show in general and some things to listen/look for. They would play one or two pieces and then stop. They would offer a little more commentary about the next section, and the show continued. They did this a few times during each performance. Corps put so much blood, sweat and tears into the design and performance. So much is probably completely lost on the casual fan that attends once a year or that is attending for the first time. A couple quick things I learned: Boston's new uniforms have the corps song written on the inside of their jackets. Each time they put it on it ties them to the long history. Bluecoats show started with only the music. All the design and drill came after the music. The show format could to a lot to interest and pull in new fans, as well as help the hardcore fans catch something they didn't know! I hope this show idea continues.

Permanently deleted IRS e-mails, erroneous scores? Stuff happens.

Thank God. I was freaking out. No way that all the corps dropped all the way to where they were two weeks ago! DCI - get your scoring #### together. You're better than that.

ok. Great judge. Saw Coats/Cadets live Friday night. Coats beating them in drums is zero surprise - their battery is excellent esp the snares.

Well... all of those posts that I have made about 'Coats lacking competitive scores... Different story tonight. Now if they can latch on to a caption or two and get a lead, they will be there. I recommend that they tune in to the GE caption.

Oh lol. I'm actually at the show. Sorry. Thought you were too.

So what happens when you have people that dont like jazz at all? I know its early season but the show just left me in a huh? state. Im sure ill see it again and it will make some more sense but after watching it i should have something stuck in my head that makes me want to listen again right? Like BDs opener i love or Blue Stars closer (its a song i heard on the radio so it sticks) even Crowns muffler feature(dont really like the show). I want to like the show from what Ive heard from everyone. And the guy walking is like a dropped drumstick in WGI. It isnt moving but you watch that to see if someone will step and fall.

I'm actually on my way right now. Making the 3 1/2 hour drive with a break to watch the Colts practice this afternoon. Very much looking forward to seeing this great lineup tonight!

This VIDEO was TAKEN a week before their first show. Of course they have Mr. Beat.

When I think of "ruins" I think of Cadets 1998.

The corps in the first & third tiers

Crown's musical closer this year with that brass playing like that is da ballz, imo

Looking forward to Saturday night in Jackson with perfect weather too.....Coats, Crown, Cadets and some DCA goodness as well....should be epic on the DCI side....innovative and blow your face off Coats; smooth as butter brass line with Crown and kick-butt old school corps show from Cadets with a battery racing diagonally nearly 50 yards across the field while playing highly technical embedded diddles trying to dodge any ticks.....I'm openly biased for Cadets based on my son; but you gotta love the diverse approach and creativity of all three monster corps!

To me, it appears to be spinning nuclear atoms: http://www.wpclipart.com/science/atoms_molecules/nuclear.png