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A few initial comments from being at the show live. It was a great show, great venue, and there are things to enjoy about everyone. From a live perspective my placements would have been as follows: Bluecoats Carolina Crown Crossmen Phantom Regiment Cadets Genesis I will write a more detailed revue for tomorrow, and I must mention the Sound Sport group that performed tonight sounded excellent. Forgetting the name but they had some excellent brass musicians and fun music. Also, Bluecoats alumni corps performed very well and pulled out a few new twists in terms of repertoire. It was nice to hear some of those older charts. The soloists were all excellent with the alumni group. Great stuff! This may be one of my favorite Bluecoats shows ever...even over Tilt and Downside Up. Once you see Bluecoats live you are drawn into this show and taken for a ride. It is fantastic in every sense!!! The brass is one of their best lines yet. Percussion will improve and lock in, and the guard was much improved over the YT video I saw from Detroit. The drill is perfectly staged and flows so well with the music. The props are used well, and all in all I feel this may be a potential Gold Medal show. It has that kind of potential. A must see this summer. Carolina Crown is another fantastic show that screams unique and daring, and also has that edginess to it that you would expect from a show called The Beast. The music is wonderful, staging is also amazing, and I just love watching the colors mix as they move to that drill. This is another show you must see live. This show also has medal potential and should be a strong contender down the stretch as they finish the closer and fine tune all the details. Loved it! To say that the Crossmen put on a show would be a understatement. I honestly would have had them 3rd, but I am sure that the excitement factor helped me put them there. They are playing some of the best music on the field this summer. The drill, guard, brass, and percussion are all solid and will mature into a killer ensemble come Finals. But it's the GE with this show that I feel may push them up the ladder once cleaned. A super fun show! Absolutely one of the best shows of the summer and you simply must see them live. Phantom Regiment is definitely stronger for this time of the season vs last year. They should finish strong. This show has legs and much room to grow. Visual and GE will need the most work. The brass sounds very good already. Guard is beautiful and staged well. I love the music and feel with the right changes to visual and staging that this should could be a top 7 show. Not wild about the props. The Cadets are interesting to say the least. For starters they got a wonderful reception from the crowd when entering the field. Fans are genuinely happy to see them out and performing. I'm happy for the MMs and hope they have a fantastic summer. We are all rooting for them. Competitively, however, the staff will have some structural work to do. The show feels unorganized and choppy for the first half. I imagine all the changes they had to make in the winter has slowed their progress. The best part of the show is the closer which is really nice. I am not wild about the uniforms. I had them in 5th for tonight but they have plenty of solid material to work with. Genesis continues to grow and mature and they put on a fantastic show tonight. They have a rich, dark sound and feature the guard and percussion in fine fashion. They have a big sound and yet I felt they held back some. Very controlled, and I liked that. I actually really like the uni they are wearing. I am not wild about grey, but it was dark enough to really present the corps.

This is an amazing season so far for the Cadets, imo.

Eat 'em up BOSTON!!!!!!

I’m waiting for a corps to do something REALLY edgy to turn the system on its head....like, play sustained segments of melodic music. I don’t think we’ve advanced that far yet, unfortunately.

After being at Stanford and seeing the Detroit show, I will honestly be surprised if SCV doesn't run away with this thing. Of course, it would be foolish to proclaim it is a certainty, but that's not what I'm doing. Every single second of their show last night was just spectacular. I've seen them almost every year in June since 2004 (only missed 2005 and 2008). This was by far the best I have ever heard this hornline at this stage, and those mellos - WOW! I always love a sick mello section. Incredible. In fact, this was the best I've ever seen them as a whole in June. They will without a doubt be challenging for every single caption award at finals, as I'm sure BD will too. There is just something so special about this Vanguard show. I'm just not sure it is beatable, especially considering every section is running on all cylinders. I expected BD to win last night, but ONLY because they had a complete show on the field, where as Vanguard didn't. This is one of those legendary shows that everyone is going to be talking about for years. It was a complete 180 from last years show from the look to the music to the visuals. Last year's Vanguard was my favorite since 1999. I think this year's show might be favorite ever. Not just favorite Vanguard show, favorite show period. It's crazy to me to think that what was on the field wasn't 100% complete, because I can't imagine what they are going to do to enhance this. BD is just BD (and that's a compliment). They are so #### good. Dazzling. I think them, along with Santa Clara, are just simply out-designing everyone else. If one of these two don't make the top two, I would say right now, BD will be the one out. But, they haven't missed the top 2 since 2006. That will happen someday - I'm just not sure this is the year it is going to happen. The show was very entertaining and their guard book is wonderful. Sadly, I do not think Academy has a realistic shot at finals. Why? Because I do not think they will beat Mandarins, and if they do not beat Mandarins there is no other way in. The Mandarins were spectacular. Their uniforms were dazzling from the stands - my favorite of the night along with Vanguard. Great hornline! JW is superman and with him at the helm I am not at all surprised about their upward movement. They are much better than last year. With everything I've seen, I am super happy. What a great year for drum corps.

Their hearts go out to you.

Or is it guessperts at this point?

It is when you round up. ;) Besides, stop giving them hell. They heard from someone there. Someone asked for scores and they were nice enough to send along information they had. Jeez.

The correct answer is “ it’s june. Lots can and will happen”

I thought this thread would be about Boston's fire prop.

I just watched Madison and was expecting the worst. I'm pleasantly surprised. The color scheme of that prop is heinous, but from a music, drill and color guard standpoint this show is definitely better than last year. The uniforms, while I think hideous in close up photos, read quite well from the stands. The music is definitely Madison music, so in my opinion this show is more Madison than last year's was.

That's why you should never buy shoes on credit.

All we can do is guess at this point. BD and SCV will certainly be in the running for Gold again, like last year; but I think Bluecoats and Crown are there too. My guess for now is this: Tier 1: SCV, Bluecoats, BD, Crown Tier 2: Cavaliers, Boston Tier 3: Cadets, Phantom, Crossmen, Blue Knights Tier 4: Blue Stars, Mandarins, Madison Tier 5: A whole lot of fierce competition coming from many excellent units! I saw an early clip of Spirit of Atlanta and they are really strong and fun!

After being in Detroit on Thursday, I wouldn't count any of the top 3 there ( Coats, Crown, Cavies) as out of the mix with the California Corps until we see them all head to head. And while I'm thrilled that Cadets have fought through the adversity, something serious will have to happen to that show for them to hang anywhere near Boston or Blue Knights...and they might have Mandarins overtake them. Still interested to see what Spirit of Atlanta does on their first night out...I've heard some pretty good things. Who knows?

.

Nearly 14 years to the date. posted from the DrumScorps app

With voiceovers, of course. "Breast. Wing. Gizzard. Feathers." ....

I just absolutely when Cavies play SOTR...

Got to watch Cavaliers just now...they're getting better every time out...I guess just like everyone else is.

GO GREEN MACHINE!!!!!!

FCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

I am actually thinking about making a trip to the Allentown show this summer.

This may be the best comment I read this season. They should have done "I, Tonya" instead of "Heart & Soul."

OK, so I'm a total dino, in terms of age and tenure in drum corps, but I don't get bent out of shape over costumes, trombones, singing, et al. Some of it I like, some of it I don't. That was just as true for me in, say, 1979, though. But THESE?!?! It's like they put someone with Johnny Weir taste in charge and gave him a Tonia Harding budget!

They lose half their value when you walk off the lot.

Given this show some more listens, and I've come to the realization that I'm not sold on the first half of the show but I absolutely love the 2nd half. The vocalist works so well and I can't believe I'm saying that honestly. Also, listen closely to those mellos, they are a REVELATION. Absolutely amazing. Rivals SCV for best mello line this year

Chadwick and Kurt are artistic geniuses! How dare any of you question their brilliant show concept and costumes! They know what the Madison Scouts need and if you criticize them, you are a closed minded dinosaur and you don't know what art is. By the way, neither do they! Congrats gentlemen.....You've put your agenda against any and all remnant of tradition! And for something that looks absurd and embarrassing! And I can see you both rolling your condescending arrogant eyes at me for daring to question you. Well, you can both do something that I won't mention here.

So much to love about this show! Horns are superb and those bari features, wow! Staging is such a departure from last year but it works so well. Looking forward to the closer!

I'm all in with this year's design (hence my new avatar). A potential masterpiece in the making and again my favorite of the year so far. A few bits here and there to work out and I'm still trying to get a good read on the perc book and the way it is integrated, but I'm optimistic that I'll be amazed as usual by the Bangers. Kudos Bloo!!!

So, after 3 nights, out of all the corps that have competed, only one is currently undefeated.

Wow we certainly have our share of experts

47 feet? Wow!

I'd put Mandarins in Tier 3, and since I'm an unapologetic homer...the Cavaliers in Tier 1. :-)

I loved just about everything about SCV last night, and was pleased they finally broke that BD win streak over them out there on the West Coast. I " get" that modern day DCI wants to go with " theme inspired " attire now. On the other hand, I fail to see how SCV 's show last nite would have been diminished in any way had they simply gone out in performance last nite with their classy and iconic attire and Aussies headgear. Do I think the SCV show was enhanced in any manner with the attire they did choose to wear last night ? No. Did the attire add anything to the theme ? If it did, i failed to see where it did. Did the attire look rich in quality, color, texture ? Sorry to say.. No. Was the attire an advancement over previously worn attire by SCV ? Only if we consider perhaps the better ability of the performer to perform in performance. But did the attire become an improvement in visual appeal to audiences ? Thats hard to say, as that becomes a matter of personal taste, I suppose. But for me, the SCV chosen attire for this season is a step down in attire both in attractiveness, in advancing the show theme in any substantive manner ( the main reason we've been told SCV has gone to "theme specific attire " ), and in use of color in the attire choice. The pants/ leggings looked rather substandard in quality for the lower torso in material utilized too, imo. All this said, despite my criticism of the attire choice here, I enjoyed just about everything else last night regarding the SCV performance. They deserved their fine win with an outstanding performance for the 1st week of the 2018 season, and I really enjoy their 2018 show as well.

Just got back from Stanford (and am hyped up) so I thought I would share my thoughts. I watched the Periscope of Blue Knights and SCV from Clovis last night, and I went to a BD rehearsal the night before Family Night, so I had some preconceived notions going into tonight. All in all, it was just a fantastic night. Here are my thoughts (in order of finish). SANTA CLARA VANGUARD: I will never say a show is unbeatable, but #### this really is going to be a tough show for anyone to beat. I watched the Periscope last night and wasn't that impressed. In person, they completely blew me away. I was completely spellbound and in awe-shock throughout their show. This show is amazing from top to bottom and left to right. There just isn't a design flaw to be found. It is so exciting, innovative, and just plan cool. They are once again taking the use of props to new levels. The uniforms are perfection live. The props are perfection. The guard book is perfection. I've seen Vanguard in June almost every year since 2004, and their hornline this year is without a doubt the best I have ever heard at this stage. Their hornline is for real. Crown they are coming for your Ott. I don't know if they will win brass at finals, but they certainly have a championship caliber hornline to compliment their championship caliber drumline, their championship caliber colorguard, and their championship caliber design. I think this show is absolutely a masterpiece in the making and this is going to be one of those legendary shows that people talk about for years. It is just that #### good. I had to buy a Babylon shirt after the show, and there were tons of SCV alumni who were so happy and excited. I heard many, "I've been waiting for this since 2007" and "I've been waiting for this for so long." If you get a chance to see them live this year, take it, and buckle up. Absolutely a championship caliber show in every single way. BLUE DEVILS: As I said above, I went to their ensemble the Friday before Family Day (had a birthday dinner the night of Family Day). I didn't post anything on here about it because I had absolutely nothing nice to say. I hated the show. I was not happy that I took BART out to Concord and then an Uber to their practice site, only to be so disappointed. Well, tonight I was anything but disappointed. The show has come so far since then and there is so much to enjoy about it. Of course, it's BD. It's so #### good too. The recreation of the painting was pretty cool, but if you know the painting it is no surprise. Most people won't know the painting though, but you could tell that is the direction they were going with the props. Right now, at least, I didn't really feel the props added much to the show like Vanguard's did, but I am sure that will change. I had heard reports that their guard was not nearly as good this year as in years past. I think those reports were grossly exaggerated. Lots and lots of tasty guard work. I was really pleased with what I saw tonight. It's a great show. I just think SCV has the edge in design and has now matched BD in brass, guard and drums. I think SCV and BD will go 1-2 at finals. BLUE KNIGHTS: I watched a rehearsal video of them earlier in the week and the Periscope last night. Like BD, I had nothing nice to say about them after those viewings. And, like, BD I was very pleasantly surprised tonight. They have a great vehicle - better than last year. I LOVED the uniforms from the stands, and the backsides being different were utilized pretty well for effect and I think they will enhance that as the season goes on. Loved the silks and the guard book. As the props get utilized more they will of course enhance the show. The seemed pretty solid across the board. I really liked their show. I think they will be 7th or 8th at finals. MANDARINS: Ok - I'm going to get this out of the way. Their uniforms were AMAZING - probably my favorite of the night. They looked so cool from the stands, both the main corps and guard. The show. The show. The show is wonderful and is a huge step up from last year. I think they will absolutely be in the running for finals, and could potentially finish as high as 10th. I was very impressed. Those guard uniforms looked gross from the pictures, but they were spectacular from the stands. The design is great, and a design I feel the judges will eat up. Their score was definitely deserved. It is going to be a great year for them. JW - you are a stud! ACADEMY: Sadly, this was the only show I did not really like tonight. I feel the theme is a huge misfire. It's just not compelling at all. In comparison with everyone else it just wasn't interesting. What a bizarre theme to chose for a show. I just don't get the thought process behind making these choices. The narration is intrusive and destructive in my opinion. They have such a beautiful ballad, but the narration ruins it. I also felt the narration was pointless - well rather its only point was to make sure the audience knew what the theme was. Over and over and over and over. Not effective at all. I did like the silks, and again the ballad was beautiful, but all in all I'm just not a fan of the show - from a design and theme standpoint. I really do not see this show challenging for a finals position. They will not catch the Mandarins. The Mandarins design is superior to Academy's. To me, the Mandarins were definitely a step up from Academy. So, if they don't beat the Mandarins, I don't see a way into finals for them. Maybe it's just so hard to live up to their amazing 2016 show. I wish them the best, and hope they can find their way back to giving us such unique and interesting shows as Drum Crops Bride. TROOPERS: Another pleasant surprise. These guys are an old, sentimental favorite. How can anyone not like the Troopers? The sunburst was cool. I took my roommate to her first drum corps show tonight, and I was telling her how they used to do the sunburst and then they did it. Really liked their show. Changing the tops of the uniforms was nice and they did it in a way where they really didn't draw attention to it, so it was hardly noticeable that they were just pulling their old tops off. Well done. Really enjoyable show. Not as good as those above, obviously, but enjoyable. BLUE DEVILS B: Man they are great. Nice show. I really liked it. Of course they will be battling Vanguard Cadets for the Open Class title. I remember the midwestern cadet corps of the 80s and these two are on a whole different level. VANGUARD CADETS: Thinking their uniforms aren't in yet, but these days I'm not sure. Loved that they blew the house down form the first note. I think their show has more potential in it, right now, then Blue Devils B. But, it's earlier. They'll no doubt be duking it out until the end. BLUE DEVILS C: Oh my, these little dudes and ladies were so cute. There were a couple trumpet players that were so small it looked like the trumpets were weighing them down. There was a tiny little guard girl too just rocking it with her flag in the opener. Really awesome of BD to have this program. Very enjoyable to watch really young people be so engaged in this activity and the crowd just at them up. All in all, it was one of the best DCI West shows I have been to. Despite my criticism of the Academy, there really was something to like in every show. My roommate loved it. SCV and Mandarins were her favorites. She couldn't get past the BD guard member in the red dress the whole night. Lastly, not sure if they showed the encore on Flo, but was glad to hear SCV's closer. It is fierce.

Oh boy...you must have HAAAAATED the 70's and 80's then!

Except it's not Stravinsky. None of it is. It's Thomas Doss' "Spiriti." And which artist do you hate: Cyndi Lauper? Because it's clearly not her version. Shame you're gonna hot dog during their show from now on.

Just got back. Absolutely LOVED SCVC, Mandarins, and SCV. SCV really should have done their closer standstill but that's just me being selfish. Too bad I won't be able to catch it live. But among my friends who are new to the activity, they enjoyed Mandarins the most, which I have to agree. These are not the Mandarins of yore.

VANGUARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Holy ####, congrats SCV on your win tonight!!!!

This bodes well for SCV with a closer still left to put on the field

uh the Vanguard ballad is definitely the best movement this season. the dueling baritones were incredible, the brass hit was even better, and the trumpet screamers had me saying "wow" out loud multiple times while watching the stream.

I done told y’all

YES!!!! SCV!!!!!

I think a lot of those saying this BD is “no 2017” are comparing this June product to last year’s August. Metamorph was skeletal way past the halfway point of the season. To me this show feels way more fleshed out already than where they were last year. Now it needs focusing and improved transitions, and of course a lot of gap filling. Entertainment wise, it is off the charts! This and Bloo are going to be crowd favorites.

Honestly, I don’t think the George Hopkins bait is going to be very welcome this season Gang. If you have a GH response that you really feel the need to post, you might want to think long and hard about that.

GO CAVIES!!!!! WOOOO

Up first, the division III podcast commentators.