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Friends, can we all agree that Blue Knights are just a joy to watch this season?

Alright folks.... review time. I am still in awe with what I witnessed. Wow. Ok, I will be reviewing in order of appearance, but The Cavaliers will be last 🙂 (surprise!!!!) Phantom Regiment- the first thing I noticed is how young this corps appeared to be. That is actually a great thing! If their staff can manage to keep a big chunk of the current members then you have a great shot at growing. The show was ok, I think they might need to tweak a few things but I can see them remaining in finals. Less synth bass and give me actual contra please 🙂 oh.... and that guard... Incredible work! The Cadets- I am still scratching my head about this one. First of all, you can feel the passion coming from those kids. I am just disappointed in the design.... I know they have a good chunk of former Cavies staff, but it felt, as a whole, like Cavies 2012 and I am actually not fond of that show. Does anyone know why they formed a big X and Y on the field? Overall, this staff needs to sit down together and ask themselves "what can we do better? How should we approach cleaning this show?" And I mean this out of peaceful concern. The Cadets have an incredible history and I just dont want them to throw that away..... keep your heads up and march on! Blue Stars- Easily my favorite show from this corps. The uniforms or costumes looked.... well they were wearing them. I really like the flow of this show and the members are eating it up. Very impressive hornline and a well thought out show theme. I am a forest, hiking mountain man, and this show reminded me of all my trips to Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park Colorado. Lots of great family memories there, so thank you for that! I was also impressed with their drumline!!! Wowza Carolina Crown- The hornline is still as solid as ever! Lots of energy being projected by them and I loved it. Still not sure what the show is about, but I liked it. I was extremely impressed with that opening statement as it grabbed my attention immediately. Not sure if they will crack top 3, but they should remain in the top 6. Bluecoats- Ok ok... I am extremely impressed with how well the show was executed and how clean it was across the board. By just watching them march I was reminded about how important it is to focus on fundamentals and how crucial it is. The corps would NOT be in the position that they are in if they didn't focus in that area. But as a show..... it isn't my glass of beer. Unfortunately I am just not a Beatles fan. Dont get me wrong though, I like certain songs from them, but I just dont care for them. Interesting arrangements too... I imagine the corps paid out the rear for copyright too.... right? Either way, I noticed the kids around me ate it up and I feel like they designed it for that specific reason. That is NOT a bad thing! Keep up the good work coats! SCV- That is one big tarp. Like, it is really big. They have another incredible hornline this year and how about that screamer? SUPER C!!!! I would like to view the show again while focusing more on the visual design. They were a little dirty, but if I were them, I would consider that as an opportunity to improve in as the season goes on. Not a fan of the sousaphone though.... needed some contra. As a whole it was my second favorite of the night and I was impressed with how clean and balanced it was. Melos might need some work with balancing and tuning in a couple of parts, but bah! Didn't ruin the experience for me! Blue Devils- Easily my third favorite of the night. Awesome show concept and I actually hoped that they would have pulled ahead of the Bluecoats tonight. I absolutely love the use of their props as a visual effect and it was executed extremely well! There were some timing flaws and what actually helped this corps was that the wind dimmed down as the show went on. BD fans, be VERY proud! They have something special this year. And the sousaphone needed more contra And lastly..... :))))) The Cavaliers- As soon as I started this tears began to form. This show is just so freaking good. I am sure that I was annoying the folks around me with my facial expressions and my ooo and awes. Firstly.... LOW FREAKING BRASS!!!! LOW FREAKING BRASS!!! Shoot, I stood up in the middle of the opener and yelled "TUBA!!!!!!". And that baritone section, the trombones.... THAT DRILL DESIGN! What?!?!? I loved every moment and every aspect about this show. 16 contras.... keep it like that folks! How about that upper brass soloist section(s)?!? I really really really really really want them to clean the heck out of this show... to the point where those judges HAVE to move them up in placement. Guys, was this how it was like to watch them in the early 2000s? If so, I am glad I experienced that. Lord I love this show. A side note for those that are still reading... thank you for all the kind words. I wish I could go back in time and experience that show live one more time. One of my favorites that is for sure... and it was awesome meeting fellow drum corps fans!!! I learned a lot from yall and it was a experience(s) worth remembering. Lol... by the way, I noticed a few folks turning around looking at me after my posts and when I was walking in the lot or booth area I also noticed a few double takes... LOL it is ok to say hello! HAHA! My friend, muffin_man, thought it was silly too. Come by and say hello! I am ALWAYS down to talking about drum corps, DCI, or music in general. Guys, I am a clarinetist that is in love with marching and brass... I promise, in terms of music and being a nerd, I am just as weird as you are. Either way, thank you for the memories everyone. I promise I won't forget it! Now, let's head over to the SA thread

I.... I mean..... I have to process what I just experienced. Give me a moment.

Consensus is BK passes Cadets.

Alright everyone, I am headed out.... what a special year... I am holding back my tears right now. It was awesome meeting fellow fans and I want to thank you all for the kind words. The way I see it, I am a fan just like you and I love music, marching, and this activity. The Cavaliers have one heck of a bright future and so does everyone else! Thank you everyone! 🙂 Splooie

It’s encased in amber.

Santa Clara in the end zone watching bluecoats pick up their orange dots. Oh you’ve got tarps? Here hold my beer.

I’ve seen that Crown show at least 50 times this season and that was by far their best run. So proud of these kids!!!

Ok, my kid is the dogsled driver, Side 1, in the back.

I'm very pleased to say that I provide a scholarship to the PC center snare. This year that young man is one Mr. Lucas Bollenbecker. Go dude.

Ahhh, I think. WGI show just threw up on my field.

No consensus here. Try again.

Crown is sensational

Hello Alamodome. :) posted from the DrumScorps app

About to make the final leg of my trip down to San Antonio! I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited top to bottom. I’m just as excited to see if Bluecoats keep their undefeated streak as I am in the 7 - 11 bloodbath as I am about Pacific Crest gaining some ground in 15th. Going to be a FUN day.

So this was my first view of the Blue Devils ... and all I can say is "oh my god" ... its so good. If heaven is watching the Bluecoats and Blue Devils over and over again, I'm totally in for it.

Yeah, my money is on BD. Winning GE and topping Bloo in all content sub captions in visual bodes very well for BD, and not so well for Bloo. BD cleans up their brass (which they will likely do) and it’s over. No one knows how to put it together down the stretch like BD does. Any other corps 0.2 behind me, maybe I’m not so worried. BD 0.2 behind me and I’m terrified.

BD 5th in brass and still closing the gap. Loving this. DO IT UP DEVILS!

I think Steve Rondinaro’s phrase “This place is electric” would apply this evening in San Antonio. These corps were on fire and brought it. A big thank you to all the corps. What an exciting evening.

Scary thing is BD has room to clean and may win tonight, if not, good chance they will at Finals.

Jim likes the Brittany. I’m pulling his mancard.

I, like a lot people don’t want to see BD win since they always do but, man....this show has way more emotion, excitement and energy than SCV and BC. Really like this show. I mean, all three have crazy high talent, staff and designers. Gut feeling is that this BD show takes first by finals.

What SCV thinks their body rolls look like: What I see:

REMEMBER WHEN THEY LOOKED LIKE THIS?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Again, whatever they do with the ending, that bow needs to stay.

Man I love this Boston show! I’m hoping there is a new ending coming soon as this one is leaving me a bit flat. What a powerful hornline and the guard is flat out amazing!! as for the top 6, so far I have: 4. Crown 5. Cavaliers 6. BAC

The bravado with which BAC performs this show is super fun and very BAC vibe.

Feel like this show would be competing for gold most years. It’s amazing what’s been going on at the top of drum corps the last five years or so.

Wow, CROWN IS ON FIRE 🔥 TONIGHT!

Whoever ends up sixth this year is going to be way better than a sixth place corps.

Such an amazing group of performers In this corps, but (from a design standpoint) it feels really forced.

I disagree.

Bones sighting in the back stands

This is not the same Corps I saw in Detroit. Bravo!

Quick Poll: I HATE DRUMLINE BATTLE!

You are the only one prognosticating or jockeying for a favorite. I am merely doing math. And I'm telling you that what you saw in the sheets tonight can absolutely happen at finals. It could be BD that wins no captions and wins the show... It could be SCV, etc. But the most likely to win without winning a caption is Bluecoats... they are pulling the most consistent high rank across captions. You are playing this off of historical statistics... But I'm looking at the situation for this season as it is shaping up.

I’m surprised at some reactions to the recap. THIS is how it should be - judges calling it like the see it.

WOW again!!! Lol so close. Congrats Bluecoats beautiful show, i love it even though i hated it at the begining of the season premier. But WOOOOOOOOW THE DEVILS ARE COMING! Congrats BD for narrowing that gap again.

Oh my goodness! So close too. Congratulations Bluecoats.

Kids, we just watched the future 2019 world champion Blue Devils.

Considering their "same old" is usually one of the most entertaining products on the field year after year, I'm okay with it 🙂

The only thing that shows up clearly on these tarps are the wrinkles.

Masterfully designed production performed at the highest level. The guard is as good as any too. If my naughty little Devils don’t win the consensus is Bluecoats.

I think Crown has a better chance at finishing third at finals than falling below fourth.

Crown is having a great run!

Alright. here's the ballad I"m here for this year.

This is the best San Antonio I’ve been to.......####!!!!!!!

Hello from San Antonio!!! posted from the DrumScorps app

They just took those out last night because of the high winds. It's a really dangerous blind toss where they throw them over the flats without being able to see them until the doors open. There was a major issue at a previous windy show where the rifles were all blown backwards and went careening off the open doors in all directions. Fortunately no one was injured and it seems they have cooked up a "soft" opening to use when conditions don't allow for the real thing.

So adorably enthusiastic. Somewhere someone is talking with their friends, "Man that was a great show last night." "I know, but what was with that guy next to us?" "The Cavies superfan?" "Yeah, I mean he was just..." "TUBA!" And for the next week they'll interrupt one another at random times yelling "TUBA!" and then all laugh.