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Bloooooooo! Love the addition of INT to the show! Good for an 81.80! And how about that top guard ... and everything else!

Yes, penalties are rare. Just don't use baby powder on the field.

My Kind of brass...Gino I LOVE it!

Scouts are decent this year. Like their show much more than last year. Uniforms are better too. posted from the DrumScorps app

35 years have gone by but she still holds up as one the greatest soloist ever to have graced a football field.

They had the best golf shirts that we bought in 2014. Men and women styles. These ones.

I don't think the Bluecoats members or staff think they are #1 overall, and I don't think they care. They have other things on their minds right now. And, besides, none of that matters. They had the overall number #1 score, at various points, during first tour in 2017 and 2018 and look what happened. I think their show this year is fantastic and they have a chance to win, but I doubt very much they themselves will think they are #1 until they beat BD, Crown and SCV head-to-head. (I know they've beaten Crown at the first show, but that was a while ago). Boston also is not the #2 corps. They may be the #2 corps, but they may be the #5 or #6 corps. Until the beat Crown, SCV, BD and Cavies head-to-head, then you can't possibly say they are the #2 corps. Vanguard doesn't think they are sitting in third. All they know is they are even with BD and there is work to be done. How is Phantom now sitting in 12th place? I don't know how you can possibly make that assumption. A more correct assumption would be 13th - behind last years top 10 and Crossmen and Spirit (both whom have beaten Regiment head-to-head). I think they don't care. It's a long season, and all they can all do is worry about themselves. They can't control what other corps or the judges do. Every single corps out there is going to work their butts off and try to do as well as they can. Every one of them. Whether you're in 1st or 20th place, that doesn't change. The best thing any corps or fan can assume is that if you haven't beaten BD or SCV in head-to-head competition you are behind them. In 2017 and 2018 Bluecoats fans were excited because they were posting the highest scores and undefeated. In both years, as soon as BD and SCV headed west, Bloo was immediately dropped to 3rd. I can assure you, Bluecoats members and staff are not going around with their chests pumped out thinking they are #1, they are doing what everyone else is doing - working.

Exactly. Only twisted minds can enjoy both at same time. Ensure that they are up to speed on everything people perceive is ruining drum corps. Also, if your favorite corps is there, let your family know that they are the hardest working and best corps by far, and all the others stink. If they don't win, then explain how it's all a rigged system and just politics. This will forever endear them to the activity.

Guess Cadets v Blue Stars is gonna be a sled race to the end. Can't wait for them to get together.

Not enjoying INT this year. Same show as last year and seems to last forever. posted from the DrumScorps app

Jeff Ream, the Boston Crusaders thank you for your concern about their props and whether they are OSHA compliant. Here is what I can say...all five were designed by a mechanical engineer and constructed by a professional fabrication company. Each has a complete structure of handholds and footholds front and back which the members were trained to use while still in Vetmont, and each actually locks into its own docking structure in the truck. They are completely DCI Rules Congress compliant. Also, the Corps Director is a member of the bar in Massachusetts as well as being a former prosecutor for the Commonwealth. He just might be familiar with the legal liabilities and responsibilities of the organization. And in any case, as you have so eloquently pointed out in multiple threads here, most of the drum corps members are wearing "Marvin the Martian" helmets so head injuries will be averted as well.

one of Cadets very best - 1984 Upscaled!

This is all exactly right, other than (speaking personally) I wasn’t overly excited about Bloo scoring highest in the early going of 2017-18 or even now. I understand it is impossible to compare scores until corps meet head to head. I am excited that Bloo is doing well on their tour but I am not about to say they are better than those on the West or Midwest tours. We will all be getting a clearer picture as the tours meet up

Ah ok, well, enjoy yourself thoroughly. We'll all expect a totally unbiased review after the show.

As has long been noted on these forums: DCI and/or the Corps are one or two major injuries (due to props or otherwise) from being sued out of existence. Designers sometimes do not think about what the Law and a good Lawyer can do to their corps, the activity, and their career.

I would let them know that they might see people in the stands who appear to be having a mental health crisis - assure them that this is normal for some Bluecoats fans --

I brought my husband to a drum corps show once when we were in the US, visiting from Scotland. ( He'd never seen or heard anything like it as the only marching we get around here is pipe bands. He isn't a musician either (but loves music) So he watched with great interest and laughed at the end looking at me in disbelief, going 'You used to do this?' And I laughed and said, yes, but our bugles were in G. Over his head. I let him watch without telling him anything about the scoring. I did have to explain the evolution though with military history up to the present day evolution and the instrumentation, how it's all conceptual shows and storytelling, etc, etc. Once the corps were done and we were waiting for the scores, I told him about the judging in general terms (music, visual, how well they march, how 'cool' something looks, how well they play together, etc), so he at least understood what the scores meant at the end. I don't think he could have placed any of the corps in any order, but he enjoyed all the shows. Now he watches me in brass band competitions, where he has to sit most of the time, through the same piece of music played by 20 different bands and appreciates the variety in drum corps! (I wish our judging criteria was as transparent as DCI criteria!)

Really enjoying this show more and more as it cleans. Frankly, there just isn't a down moment --- the whole thing is relentless and really MOVES. The visual design is so insanely engaging, and full of great drill. Brass sounds phenomenal. Guard is aggressive. The 7/8 time Party in Steerage is a blast. The ballad is spine chilling. Gorgon bookends the show super intensely. That's all! Just loving this show.

PLACE CORPS SCORE 1 Blue Stars 77.850 2 Crossmen 75.900 3 Phantom Regiment 75.050 4 Colts 71.450 5 Madison Scouts 68.600

I did not get to the stadium in time to see the first two groups. Sorry, Colt Cadets and River City Rhythm. Madison Scouts: The uniforms look sharp but don't elevate the theme or vibe of the show. And like when PR came out in all white or all black, a singular color head to toe really exposes dirt, and Scouts unfortunately have a lot of that. There were a couple of times that the Madison machismo seemed to appear, but the show was pretty shaky for the most part and seemed really long. I do not get a theme, not that such is everything, but it might would have helped the corps do a better job of selling the production a just that, a production. Percussion seemed quite strong. Colts: They really came out swinging. The theme is super clear and easy to follow. The best they have been in a while. Some transitions to work out and cleaning to do of course. I particularly liked the pacing and commitment to performance. Good job, Colts! Phantom Regiment: I wasn't able to make it to SoS so I was eager to see the old team. They were really really really good and I am glad to see and hear that the rumors of their disaster of a show is anything but. Some really smart choices and great staging and pacing kept me plugged in the entire time. Clean this up and I cannot see it not making finals. The beginning needs to grab us better as does the end. Crossmen: They reminded me of PR in a way. Aggressive and trying to prove a point. I have not cared for them at all for a long long time. I enjoyed tonight a lot. The narrative is not so detailed that you get caught up in it. It is pretty clear. All sections seem fairly matched in talent and performance capabilities. It seems the ending works well. So is it a matter of changing, cleaning, or a combination of both? Blue Stars: A whole notch up in performance and design from the previous groups. There is so much detail and nuance that one viewing is certainly not enough. They sound AMAZING and look about three weeks from being visually in control of this visual monster of a show. Just wow! Musical and exciting. This day and age they may end up in the same spot as last year, but with a better corps. Eager to see and hear it again and again. As always, I will stick around tomorrow for a Fourth of July that only Cedarburg can provide.

Two small details that I just noticed and really love: 1) The wall of props inching forward during the bari feature in the opener 2) The drumline during the big Britney hit. They squeeze into a pod and suddenly start charging stage left with their heads cocked towards the sideline. So much attitude!!

Tenors. Always watch the tenors.

I've taken a couple newbies to shows over the past few years. I usually showed them a show or two ahead of time that I find particularly engaging so they are oriented to the concept. Other than that, I just try to give them a really basic overview of each show so they have some sense of what's about to happen. However, I avoid getting too much past that because I don't want to prejudge them. It is also really interesting to hear what someone new picks up on. For example, last year the person I brought to an early season show hands down felt Music City was the best corps because of its entertainment value and couldn't really care less that several other corps at the same show were superior in performance quality. I found myself loving Music City more as a result and they wound up one of my "must see" shows all season long. The best shows, in my opinion, are great at face value without any hard thinking and are also great on the deeper levels that fans and aficionados appreciate. If I bring a person to another show, I start to dig in a little more. I basically let them guide me. I answer questions, share tidbits connected to comments they make, etc.

Why can’t more corps just do fun, yet technically awesome shows? Look at how much fun the Bluecoats kids have and how much fun the audience has watching them. Why not follow their lead? Being dark and angry doesn’t make you more artistically relevant.

Wow. Blue Stars were impressive. The outdoorsy theme worked for me, including the uniforms surprisingly. Marching booties! The shows was very good. They are strong this year. posted from the DrumScorps app

I've watched quite a few percussion judges, not one of them has hit a corps member. Any interaction I've seen between a drum judge and the corps has been beneficial to the corps (picking up sticks, Crown's snare, etc). So yes, I'd say there's very minimal risk. How do you know judges can rank and rate percussion lines at this level properly sitting at the front sideline? Maybe right now when lines are relatively dirty sure it may be possible. How about when lines become extremely clean and the very miniscule differences between lines cannot be determined without an up close look? Percussion is unique from the hornline in that it is partially visual and partially auditory. You take away the visual, you take away a part of the adjudication process.

Considering all your snide comments about the intelligence of drummers, it is clear you aren't even close to objective and haven't contributed a single meaningful thing to this discussion

I'd tell them that everytime a fan yells, "They're always ready" an angel is denied wings.

I may or may not have just had the chance to watch Surf's show, and I had a few thoughts. First, thinking back to the past few years, it was obvious they were on a downward trend. I feel like everything was working against them: design, instruction, and, even though I typically refrain from commenting on members, the talent just wasn't there. There were many times where I would watch and wonder if many of these members had ever even marched or held a horn before. This year is a total 180. First, the numbers are way down. Looks like 42 horns, ~25 guard, ~35 percussion. Let's call it roughly 100 total members. I don't know if that means they simply didn't get the audition numbers they used to or if they made the conscious decision to go with fewer, more talented members. Whatever the reason, it seems to have worked in their favor. I didn't watch them thinking that there were obvious weak links like in previous years. The smaller size actually suits them in this case, and kudos to them for making the decision to close holes early to allow more time to refine the product. The members are already truly holding their own, and that also says something about the quality of instruction. On the design side of things, the show feels fresh and doesn't follow a specific formula - it just flows nicely (hah, FantaSEA...flow...). It's not your typical in-your-face drum corps type of experience, and I salute them for that. Why play everyone else's game? It's just a really enjoyable experience from beginning to end (and still more to be added, I'm sure). There was a point not too long ago where Surf was doing better competitively and had an identity that I'm sure helped with recruiting. After the past few years, I was worried that it would start being an issue for them, but this seems like the type of show that will be capable of reigniting potential members' interest in Surf, especially so if they are able to gain some ground competitively. I'm hoping this is just the start of something wonderful for them. They've got a fan in me, for sure.

I appreciate your concern, of course, but it replaces judging competence with institutional arrogance about what is "safe" in the activity. I'd be more convinced if presented with one, just one, actual incident of a judge interfering with a member or performance in the last 20 years. The only one I'm familiar with is a judge restoring a winning performance by retrieving and delivering equipment BACK to performers, thereby justifying their presence on the field but, actuall, demanding it. Members put themselves out on the edge in every performance; judges have the same capability because of their age and experience, not despite it.

Here's to hoping! I'll be watching on Flo.

My wife has zero marching background. She had no preconceptions. After seeing her first competition, the first thing she said was how much she hated voiceovers. She much preferred hearing the musicians play.

Will you be stalking seeking out any Cavalier rehearsals?

It's a strange thing to see. Kind of like when Taco Bell and Long John Silver share a single restaurant.

Saturday CANNOT get here soon enough! I wanna see these new additions to the stage! This many rehearsal days in a row should prove to be fruitful, so I can't wait to see all the changes made! Matt said they're ahead of where they want to be, which is VERY exciting!

Why penalize a corps for protecting its' members? The corps did the right thing. Stop, and startup again when you can. The judges understand and can score effectively even with the break.

Sorry to interrupt the thread, testing photo upload ability (it is a picture from this show at least👍) posted from the DrumScorps app

I saw Bloo in both Lawrence and Lynn. I saw more nuances in Lynn than I saw in Lawrence. That could be due to differences in where I sat, but I believed it was due to additions to the show. I also live within walking distance of where Bloo practiced in Monday, and while I was only able to drive by and could not stop, I heard them all day and they worked. The performance had energy as seems to be the case with every show they do, but it was more fine tuned. So I would be inclined to think the weather delay hurt Bloo slightly scorewise which only makes what they accomplished more impressive. Regarding Boston Crusaders, they did not have judges feedback from Beanpot as Bloo did, but they had more rehearsal time. All the scores and comments in the world will be of no use without rehearsal. I think their score reflectscthe progress that are making, but Bloo’s show is just getting more powerful. For me, what happens on Friday: Crown v. BAC in Lexington, SC and SCV v. Bloo In Lisle, IL will be interesting.

Gino does amazing things with high brass. It won't be too long before Boston eventually wins an Ott

well, when far more respected than me have trashed the guy in various online forums, i'll stand by what I have said. The noise truly increased the year he was....evident. There is risk anywhere. Good judges have eyes and ears and use them and don't get tunnel vision. In the history of the activity, I have only ever heard of 3 or 4 collisions that caused any kind of injury, and none were major. Judges on the field have far more often retrieved equipment or sticks that have hit the ground that could have caused serious injuries. Like at a 100 to 1 ratio. Headgear or sticks go down out there now, who is there to get it? No one. Another snare falls off? No one. The risk is minimal if you do your job right, period. The good ones have proven it for decades. There is far more risk placed on the performers themselves than a judge on the field can create. Because if you want to talk about putting members at risk, talk to the design staffs for what they are making the kids do. They create far more risk than a guy talking into an ipad.

Please, sir, a little respect. Those kids work their buns off.

Bloo takes guard tonight!

Carbs and sugar are the enemies, not fat.

OK... if Joey Chestnut got up to hit the concession stands during a corps he didn't like, that would give new meaning to the term "hot-dog corps."

It’s a conspiracy

Nicely played.

I only want to lose ten and I’m almost there.

If a lot of folks are "losing" it while watching The Cavaliers show this year, then I might actually lose my mind. Hahaha! Honestly, I don't care which corps fans were cheering louder for. As long as as we all enjoy the shows, make new friendships, and learn from each other... well, then we are doing something right! But to be fair..... I love that fans are crazy over The Cavaliers this year.