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That is true, but the initial Toy Soldier idea was pretty cool. I know this from a friend of mine on staff that year. The show turned into a mess when George had his ideas incorporated...just saying.

I have spent many hours (during the season and off season) with the Cadets over the years. George's ideas are usually pretty easy to identify. I do understand what point you're trying to make though.

Quiet is the way Bloo likes it.

I had one of those cool random DCI encounters tonight when eating out at Mod Pizza. Two of the guys working behind the counter are current marching members, one in BK and the other in Boston. I was good, and didn’t harass him for the theme... but I did get a hint. Two, actually.

Of course, DCP members don't necessarily know which ideas come from Mr. Hopkins or from someone else, so what this really means is that "If we like things, we'll say that he stayed out of it, and if we don't like things, we'll blame him for it."

It's not the people playing that need to shut up though.

More like shut up and play is an apt statement.

All’s been quiet with Bloo this winter. Looking forward to creative and innovative stuff from them in 2018.

Just watched the video of Troop's 2014 "America the Beautiful" closer. That was a great show.

When I watched them play and heard more of the show, I wondered how they were going to pull off playing AND marching some of this music on the field at the same time. This brass book is just insane. Definitely one of the hardest books ever to come out of Rosemont that I can remember. Of course this is only at this time. ...and they keep adding difficulty in ways that maybe I'll explain after they announce their show. I'm super stoked about how much this hornline is playing. Right now, difficult passages aren't being sent to the pit ( this was a brass only camp), and there weren't that many empty sections where the hornline was tacit. Anyway, I'm hyping a little bit, but it's our 70th anniversary, and so far things are going very well musically. I can't wait to hear them next month and then finally in the summer!

I’d like tighter spandex and covered heads but not necessarily hats. maybe fruit bowls or viking horns. I just don’t like seeing the marchers’ faces

it's pretty obvious actually, plus he'll talk about it online and only mention where ideas came from if it was his idea

And an apt show title.

I remember last year and in 2016 they announced around the 21 or 22 of April. Hopefully that trend continues because I caught myself recently getting excited that it’s a little over a month away from any kind of announcement. I’m so ready for this upcoming season, I’m having major withdraws. I already got my Finals tix too. It put a smile on my face when I read that they’re making a lot of progress for March. I cannot wait to see what this 70th edition of the corps does.

The Cadets are in a good place right now. They have the framework of a really good show. In my opinion, if Hopkins stays out of the design process, this will be a strong show. If not, this will be a mess of a concept and show...time will tell.

They were much heavier back then ;)

Two Trooper moves I always loved: the sunburst, and the rifle toss-across with someone in the middle of the circle.

Best piece of good news I've heard in a long time. I hope you're right.

Hey guys.... who is going to finals? Looks promising for me this season!

MikeD-I agree with you and my 1st show was 1964.

Supposedly they practiced company fronts with each member's feet tied together by yarn of the appropriate step size. They kept repeating the move until everyone had unbroken yarn at the end.

What Guardling and others have said about the Troopers' signature "Sunburst" visual. For that era, that was the real deal, no doubt about it. In an era when most drills were of the "file and column" variety, a circular/curved move like the Sunburst, executed at such a high level, was stunning.

Music City’s 2018 show will venture into new territory while honoring the drum corps’ roots and its members’ experience, according to visual designer Jeffrey Thompson. The Lexington, Ky. based designer wrote the drill for Music City’s 2017 show “Tribe,” and returns in 2018 as both Drill Writer and Visual Caption Supervisor. “This season brings many […] View the full article

New YEA job openings...

Blue Devils the most. The music book = LOVE! I do love watching Crown's opening 3 minutes or so, SCV's last 4 minutes or so is sheer amazement, and Bluecoats music in the opener and closer is a thrill.

Add me to this sentiment. I'm puzzled why anyone would feel the need to be a naysayer and/or pessimistic towards genuine efforts shaped for a corp's betterment?

It's an old winter guard tarp they use to protect the super shiny floor at Rosemont school. They also play a mass game of Twister on it before lights out.

OK, I can see some of that...not sure about #3 until the past two shows on Bloo's account, but they are clearly moving that direction. I think where Bloo stubbed their toe is by looking back at last year's show and attempting to "bottle" some of that. Watched the opening theater show, and I found myself saying at about 2 minutes into their show "this is the same show, just different music". They did go a different path after that, but they and Crown both fell into the same trap. You just have to keep moving forward and not look back. The only beneficial looking back is to take notes of things that didn't work...such as the massive, unmovable prop occupying the middle of the field. They did some cool things with it, but something that big, and that is static, you have to account for it at all times. I pretty much called it at the theater...wasn't going to be a repeat. I like the direction that Bloo has gone musically...they've always had a unique bent to their style that I've liked. My most listened to show (besides the new BD offering) is Kinetic Noise. Always entertaining from a musical standpoint. Some neat visual ideas from time to time, but this year just didn't seem like a wholehearted move to where they wanted to go. They had the musical ideas and they had the Fosse thing - but still tried to incorporate some of last year's visual approach. So they dipped their foot 50% into one visual pool and 50% in another. They should have gone full Fosse visually but didn't. The music was cool, but probably didn't square well with what really wasn't jazz for most of the show. Lessons learned, most likely. I fully expect them to bounce back next year. Great horn line, great drum line and some very creative visual and program personnel on board there...not to mention a great organization. Best to them.

Like I said in another thread, Bloo doesn't need to change much in terms of their style. They just need to come out with a more achievable product. Jagged Line was fun, but it was also quite dirty because it was such a demanding product for the members to tackle. If they fix this (and I have a feeling they will), they'll be back on the medal stand in 2018.

Let's start making show predictions. I feel it will definitely continue with the theme of diverging and variating, like Tilt, Downside Up, and Jagged Line.

I hope that Bloo continues to do their version of drum corps, and if their version is good enough to win the judges opinions than great. But I'll take a seating dancing toe tapping standing ovation audience screaming show again in 2018. Bring it on Bloo

Bloo's design team is f*cking amazing and I have no doubt they're going to come out with a highly entertaining and unique show for us next year. Im optimistic.

May 2018 bring back a lot of talented members and a lot of new talent. May 2018 be another fan favorite and fantastic, fun show. May 2018 hopefully add to the Bluecoats medal count. A little less amp affect wouldn't hurt but I have honestly liked the direction this corps has been going since 2001. Here's to the only corps that has had one of my top 3 favorite shows since 2012.