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Well dang, y’all crashed dci.org 🥴

I think it can win. I’m an unapologetic fan girl but it clicks with me more than most have early on for me.

You're not the only one, just the only one brave enough to say it out loud. Lol.

Boston. I know I’m going to get roasted for this but I’m not loving it. Felt more from 2022. Don’t like the juxtaposition between the modern corps uniform and steel ship prop with the colored wood pier in front and guard uniform. Imho doesn’t blend well. No doubt they excel in all captions. Guard felt stronger last year. Just not my favorite show design nor design choices.

"Will the viewer in Section F, row DD, seat 1 please report to the ticket gate, your car is being towed."

Crown so far: No GE Boring drill Unclear show concepts Poorly conceived props FIRST PLACE Did I miss anything? WOW CrownGuard! WOW CrownPercussion! WOW CrownBrass! What a season this is going to be!

My only other remark about tonight (everyone was great!!!) is: I think it’s time for Troopers to revamp their guard program. It’s not just a cleanliness issue. The rest of the corps is edging up to the big boys and the guard design feels like it’s stuck in open class, including staging wise, and that additionally hurts GE. I think it’s gonna put a limit on how far Troopers can go this summer. I mean absolutely 0 disrespect to the kids — this isn’t about them, it’s about guard program as a whole.

1 - Crown 80.15 2 - Bluecoats 79.85 3 - Boston 79.75 4 - Troopers 72.05 5 - Music City 66.25

Boston’s Uniforms seem so out of place with the theme/music - just me?

Just some random thoughts that I was noting while watching the show tonight on Flo. All just my opinions and from a Flo perspective. Troopers drum color, that rustic orange/brown is awesome dark warm sound from horns gold brass works for this show major cleaning already noted in the visual one heck of a percussion section Prop is awesome harmonica solo feels relaxed and fits the mood Some excellent solos in the ballad. French Horn and then trumpet ending of ballad is staged well and has a beautiful build and climax Very impressed with the brass line tonight. cleaning nicely, big open sound, dark and not forced until needed. there is a lot of material in this show. It is full if great drill, music, staging, and it all adds up to a wonderful GE program. As this cleans even more it will be difficult for anyone to knock them out of top 12. CAROLINA nice horn solo to start, Bjork voice over is so cool and used really well slow build with the music, horns are so warm and grow the opening phrases until they finally hit you and it is just sublime -- so much control with this brass line. Really nothing like it on the field at the moment. Love the uniforms I like how they move the two halves of the prop to reveal the underlying prop. Nicely done. Tristan und Isolde is flat out amazing. Not sure any other brass line could play this with this sense of musicianship, control, and clarity. Euphonium and Trumpet Solos were outstanding. There are some excellent musicians in this ensemble nice use of the herald trumpets as we get into the battle music after the ballad Love how the guard is covering the entire field in the closer, and I love the silks. It's a stunning show with an amazing music book. Certainly a top 4 show and I would have no problem if this show won, or if it was any of the others. But Carolina is capable of winning. BOSTON baritones - WOW visual needs lots of cleaning guard is unreal! So good! Lots of physical rifle work for now their visual is not as polished as Carolina Love the music. Tubas are incredible in their sea chanty soli Not buying the props. Not sure if this enhances this show. They seem wobbly at times. The corps moves the props very well and I see what they are trying to do with them but I think something more visual and colorful might have worked better. Mellos need to tighten up some in the closer, especially the high long tones that are exposed. Overall not much to complain about. This will be an exceptional show featuring an amazing brass line, percussion section, and perhaps the top guard on the field. I would have prefered different props but short of that they have to clean the visual. Some tough drill and until that cleans it will be tough for them to top Crown, Bloo, or BD. Tons of talent for sure and I love the music. BLUECOATS From a visual standpoint this show has the freshest look that just kind of grabs you. Visual analysis is strong. Constant motion, fluid, and always shifting and making use of the field in unique ways. Music is a real highlight. Constant grooves. As the visual flows so do the grooves. Brass line is outstanding. Lots on dynamic control. Not quite yet to Crown's level but heading in that direction. Certainly a more open jazzy sound. Guard is staged super well and I love the colors and silks Percussion is top notch. Could make another run for high drums. The transitions from one mvt or song to another is just top notch. excellent programming. The show just flows so well. Some may not like the theme of the show but if you don't take it too literally (and I do not think Bluecoats are) you will learn to love this show. I know I do. It is unique, colorful, fun, exciting, near perfectly staged and very fresh. It has character. I imagine these marchers are exhausted from all the running and constant movement. Ballas is wonderful and will crush when cleaned. After the ballad the trombone ensemble rhythmic growl on the low notes with mellos and tubas is just awesome. You can just call this the Dark Minimalist Rhythm Machine. I think it's already one of my favorite tunes on the field. Dang Bluecoats! Love it. Still plenty of work to do on the closer but this is shaping up to be a contender for sure. The closer just doesn't have that spice to it that will be needed to bring this home. All I can say is WOW WOW WOW! As I was finishing this I heard scores and I agree with them. Carolina absolutely should have won. They are the cleanest and it's a great show. Bluecoats may have the most upside visually and with GE. Boston has a lot of visual dirt and will need to clean fast to hang in there until they can address the GE. Love all the shows. Congrats to all the corps.

I’m not a Bloo fan girl, but I find it to be the most exciting show of the season so far. It keeps my attention better than anything else I’ve seen. Love it!

Will get roasted but don’t GAF. BAC is so underwhelming for me and I’m really trying to like it.

I just want to know why we need 3 predictions threads?

Don't let the door hit you on the way out... Seriously where have you been? None of what you just complained about is new this season at all or even in the last few seasons.

BRB, gonna go buy a scratchie.

I feel like out of assumed top 4 this show has the best flow and continuity. Feels like a complete thought.

For those of you familiar with the BOA world, Crown’s solo French horn player was one of the featured French horn soloists for Marcus High School’s show in 2021.

lol been waiting for this annual post.

Oh this season’s gonna be crazy 😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈 finally some drama, you know I live for that

Crown guard is having a great year.

I personally don’t fault BD for being formulaic. If Bluecoats get lumped in that too so be it. I don’t think it’s any coincidence that the two being accused of that have had their design teams in place the longest (God knows how long for BD and this is season 11 for Bluecoats). I’ll take it 🤪

Wish the cameraman would check his exposure settings; he’s way under.

Brass and guard are both in the hunt for trophies, but somehow the GE in this show never really pulls me in...

Watched their preview show online. I was very much prepared to dislike the show; last year was very hit or miss for me. I was pleasantly surprised by this one, which in retrospect I probably should have had more faith. Once again, they bring spectacle to the field, and it feels like it's built for the biggest of venues. They move so well you stop focusing on individual technique and just take in the art. They've dialed back the voice over quite a bit from last year, and it's much more effective at just setting the mood and getting out of the way. If anything, they could cut back even further, as it's the same 8 lines over and over throughout. The ballad is gorgeous, and I love that they're unafraid to just hang the brass out there and have them own the moment. The closer (well, closers) are the highlight of the whole show to me - that's where they finally just let loose and fly. With nothing else but my own opinions (which were that they should have won in 19 and 22), I am afraid they're going to end up with the same issues as last year - they do what they do so well, and it's a musical and visual feast, but they may end up second again behind a BD show that might be less complicated but more visually clean. Just my initial opinion though, there's lots of race to be run. Mike

All fair critiques but don’t forget that it’s early July! Inconsistent heights are definitely normal in the first week of competing. Sloppy release timing, audible fuzz in the catches, etc. is all super normal. BD’s guard style favors very clearly articulated prepping for tosses because they’re all about showing off their great control and technique, and it always looks a bit sloppy for about half of the season until everyone’s technique is finally consistent. IMO this year’s weapons are way ahead of recent years — this is the least concerned I’ve been about a BD guard since probably 2014, if I’m being honest. They’re going to clean up fast.

How well designed what you’re doing is and how effectively you’re communicating it.

4 posts since 2012. 🙄 Dragged this account from out of the grave to complain about drum corps. It's as if someone were forcing you to be here and watch.

'Cause if there's one thing DCP was lacking...it was drama. 😝

This show is really growing on me! Seeing Boston right after Crown tonight, the difference was pretty striking to me. Crown connects with me much more at this point.

I find Bluecoats creativity so much above the other two, which doesn’t mean they will outscore them at this stage. It’s an endlessly interesting and intriguing show that flows so organically. Boston and Crown are more what you might expect from a nautical or King Arthur type show. Well done, but not very surprising.

We get it. You don't like the Bluecoats. 😉

as usual, never a dull moment for bloo. Always something interesting and fresh to see or hear pretty much every second of the show.

Would like to see Bloo get out of their psychedelic phase. Same since 2019 with the Beatles show

Bloo dance block with no percussion is outstanding.

the multi-meter stuff in this show is so hard and doesn't seem to get mentioned

Finally some color!!!!!

Great guard and great horn line. Crown loses me with their drill almost as if it’s lacking something. Am I alone with this thought?

I'm not a guard person but they seem to have made HUGE Strides..leaps and bounds from the last few seasons past.

This guard came to Play!

It's not the total package/lightning in a bottle last year was. But that ballad makes it special for me. Also I love the prop. And it doesn't distract for me.

I tip my cap to these small ensembles. I remember my days performing in my 20 member high school marching band. Super exposed musically and visually. Worst performance times. Minimal audience participation. I know they can’t hear me, but I’m clapping for them in Texas!

Columbus Saints size makes me sad because they are literally making their fees free and people still arent going. If you are reading this and can do it DO IT!

Not really sure what to expect from tonight, but if anything, I hope the scores are close and that Crown's subcaptions continue to be high. I would not be surprised with any placement from 1-3. It is just so hard to tell at this point. Have a great show tonight Crown!

Whatever you do, don't watch scholastic wrestling, swimming, diving, track, or any number of sports! Somehow, people have managed to keep their cool about those.

Agreed, and I was thinking yesterday that the entire show is reminding me of 2014 in the way that, even this early, it is a very consistent design thought. Everything refers to the Matisse motif, like everything referred to the Fellini film idea. Some of the more recent shows have been mashups that they made work, but this concept is very, very tight. It's also pretty simple for audiences of all knowledge levels to get. The shapes are everywhere - drill, props, costumes, flags, body positioning. And it will only get more enhanced and defined. Potential for a very high ceiling by the end of the season.

Got to watch them online this weekend for the first time this season. Short version - fun, good and athletic show with lots of growth potential. Wonderful use of legacy music by the Cavs, and there are a lot of easter eggs for astute listeners. The show is very high energy throughout, which is great as there's a lot of source material to pack in there. Drums are aggressive and hot! Brass doesn't feel like it's taking a back seat, but does seem a bit like a work in progress. Best part of the show - the drill! It's a little bit of a throwback when you compare them to the top end of the Finals pyramid in that they're doing a very aggressive set of drill, across pretty much all of the field. The whole thing just comes off as insanely athletic, and that's good! Only a few corps so far feel like they're going that route (Cavies, Troopers, Cadets? Still watching others to catch up). Overall, I don't see this group breaking the top 5, but I think 6th isn't out of the question if their execution clicks. They've been given a racecar of a show, now go drive it. 🙂 Mike

Go Crown!

1. Boston Crusaders - stellar show design, off the charts talent levels, no weak sections 2. Blue Devils - excellent as usual, ramping up visual design, last 3 minutes holds them back 3. Bluecoats - continues to be BLOO in all things, entertaining but relying too heavily on bright colors to achieve effect 4. Cadets - great repertoire, vastly improved, controversial uniforms cleverly designed to show off vintage marching excellence 5. Crown - great drum corps talent, lack of visual cohesion continues to hold them back 6. Phantom Regiment- continues to climb, this will be their final year not in the top 5

I've read this entire thread with great interest. I struggle with dividing up the amount of angst I see thrown Madison's direction by so many and wanting to remain positive about the improvement I can see in this corps. I feel for these kids busting their butts daily only to come online and see so much anger and judgement. Even if it is aimed "at admin" its still mud in the face. My favorite comment was "they had 3 years to turn it around. So was that 2020 year that should have been the magic year when we all lost 50-70% of our revenue AND a lost season to recruit with? Or was it in 2021 when we had a 5 week non competitive "season" with about 8 shows and oh let's say 5 months to plan for it because nothing got decided until Januals? Should THAT have been the magic year to turn it all around? Or was it in 2022, amidst a season where most corps barely held it together while bleeding out money trying to mitigate COVID outbreaks? Was THAT the season of the magic turnaround? Last I checked they improved by 3 spots last year so maybe it was. Troopers and Colts both spent 10 years at least down in those 13-17 spots. But I guess we are okay with that because they've always been bubble contenders. Madison has 2 championships and spent most of their history in the middle of the pack ranging from 4th to 8th so I understand the frustration. In the 22 years of the 2000's, they've mostly languished in the bottom 3rd of the top 12 dipping in and out of finals 7 times in 19 seasons with 2018 being a historical low. Yet they improved 3 places last year. Yes i realize they aren't back in 12 yet but I have faith it's coming. I just take exception with a ton of people seemingly expecting some miracle there instead of just supporting the corps as they turn the ship around.

I must be a terrible judge, but I think Bluecoats are going to take it tonight and establish themselves as the current season leader. Boston will be a close second, and Crown third.