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  1. If they've been giving MMs a strong, fun, and educational experience, then I'd say they've most certainly been productive and have advanced the activity.
    38 points
  2. I have seen quite a bit of confusion on Facebook and Reddit on the Blue Stars props and role of absinthe. So since I do pre prohibition bar tending as a hobby (its better than saying drinking) I thought I would clear a few things up. First, absinthe is not illegal in the US. In 2007 the ban on the import or production of absinthe was lifted. Between 1912 and 2007, there was an anise liquor called Pernod which was a replacement for absinthe. The reason why the ban was in place was the presence of wormwood, a bitter aeromantic. The funny thing is that only absinthe was banned, even though wormwood is in other products such as genepy and vermouth. It could be in Chartreuse as well, but since only 2 people in the world know the recipe, we will never know. However some people believe the absinthe ban started in France to preserve the wine industry and the rhetoric used was just imported to the US. There could be more to the story, but I would have to do more research. The absinthe ritual is what is being displayed in the Blue Stars show. By itself, absinthe is a transparent liquor with a green tint. When combined with cold water and sugar, the liquid becomes opalescent and opaque. The ritual is done by using a special spoon in which a sugar cube is placed on top. The spoon is placed on top of the glass with the absinthe and very cold water is then dripped onto the sugar cube to break it apart and drop into the liquid. Once the sugar is dissolved, the drink is ready. You can find very ornate contraptions that will drip the water, but some will just use a straw. By itself absinthe has a strong anise flavor with a bitter finish, but after the ritual, the finish is smoothed out and it tastes like a good liquorish candy. So you either love it or hate it. I prefer to use my absinthe as a wash in several cocktails such as a Sazerac or Corpse Reviver No 2. This has been my Ted Talk
    31 points
  3. When we last saw our intrepid hero, he was undergoing a battery of tests (some of which involved objects being shoved in uncomfortable areas). On August 1st, 2022 the verdict came back: stage 4 colorectal cancer that had metastasized to the liver. Not the news I was hoping for. I was three weeks shy of my 46th birthday. A large part of the past year has been spent in hospitals and cancer wards having gallons of poison injected into my body. The goal was to knock the cancer down enough that they could perform a bowel resection and remove part of my liver. Seventeen rounds of chemotherapy and one week of radiation later, tests in May, 2023 could not detect any signs of active cancer in my body. We actually overshot the goal: both of my oncological surgeons agreed that surgery was no longer necessary, at least not right now. In June we decided to shut down chemo to let my body recover. My next round of tests is in early August and, if those come back clean, I will officially be in remission. Far too early to say we've won the war, but the first major battle has gone as well as we could have hoped, literally a best case scenario. I thank you for all of your prayers and good thoughts. To the delight of some and the dismay of others, I don't intend on leaving any time soon. So, in the words of Meatwad from Aqua Teen Hunger Force: "God has allowed me to live another day, and I'm about to make it everyone's problem." In DCI, everyone is facing the usual perennial problem: how to catch up to the Blue Devils. Forget going undefeated: will Concord even lose a CAPTION this season? Also, while Vanguard is inactive, another corps is stepping up to try to ensure that California continues to have three finalist corps. 99.045 Blue Devils 96.742 Bluecoats 96.517 Boston Crusaders 96.180 Carolina Crown 93.180 Phantom Regiment 92.078 Mandarins 90.711 Cadets 89.567 Blue Stars 88.956 Cavaliers 87.689 Troopers 87.433 Colts 84.440 Pacific Crest 82.923 Crossmen 82.736 Blue Knights 82.571 Madison Scouts 82.121 Spirit of Atlanta 81.582 Academy 79.217 Music City 79.185 Blue Devils B 76.129 Gold 75.215 Genesis 74.731 Spartans 73.194 Jersey Surf 71.011 Golden Empire 68.106 Cascades 67.426 Impulse 66.947 Southwind 66.894 River City Rhythm 66.191 Vessel 64.830 The Battalion 64.468 7th Regiment 63.830 Guardians 61.947 Colt Cadets 60.095 Blue Devils C 59.726 Heat Wave 58.979 Raiders TBD Les Stentors
    30 points
  4. @spacewill @MandarinMom @DAYGO @Metalbinky @Jnecker @Maleguena1988 I just want to salute our kids and say how proud I am of all the performers who absolutely killed it today! Never in a million years did I think I would be a DCI Dad, but seeing my boy out there tonight, giving it his very best and bringing 14,000 to their feet, I wouldn't trade this feeling I have right now for anything. I hope all of you are just as proud as I am.
    29 points
  5. 2023 was the first time in over 30 years that I was not a DCI spectator in any way, shape, or form. I didn't go to any shows. I didn't go to Big, Loud, Live in the theater. And I didn't purchase video performances (live streams now, replacing the DVDs and VHS tapes of yore). Because the drum corps atmosphere--not the corps themselves, but the overall drum corps environment--has gotten truly, stiflingly... Boring. 1992 was the year I was introduced to DCI. 1993 was the year I became a super-fan. I think I still have those 1993 tapes memorized. In 1993, the build-up style of judging was only about a decade old. I remember the interviews with Jeff Fiedler and Gene Monterastelli on those tapes, and Monterastelli in particular pointing out the big flaw of the tick system: it was beating down corps trying new things in favor of corps who weren't doing as much stuff but were doing it cleaner. And it really did lead to a revolution in drum corps design. From 1988 to 1992, five years, there were five different champions with five different and distinct styles. And 1993 promised to continue that trend: Cadets, Star of Indiana, and Phantom put out three fantastic drum corps shows that were completely and totally different from one another. It was an exciting era. It was partly because you didn't know who was going to win from year to year, but even more so because you didn't know HOW that corps was going to get to the top. The Blue Devils won in 1994, 1996, and 1997 with three entirely different show designs. Ah, the Blue Devils. So much dislike of that corps and resentment of their recent success from the peanut gallery. To hear some people talk, the Blue Devils are everything that is wrong with modern drum corps. And that's KINDA right, but probably not in the way you'd expect. The 2005 Blue Devils changed drum corps probably even more than 1993 Star of Indiana did, though it's not recognized as such. After that lackluster season (by their standards), the Blue Devils changed. The Blue Devils have the smartest design staff in DCI, have for a long time. 2005 made them re-evaluate everything they did in show design, whether it was a conscious decision or a subconscious recognition of reality, I do not know. But the Blue Devils were the first, the fastest, and the best at recognizing what DCI judges do and do not want, and they simply trimmed everything outside of that from their shows going forward. They found the one major, hard and fast rule of modern DCI judging and had it pretty much locked in by 2007. They've finished 1st or 2nd (by tiny margins) every year since. What is this magic rule that the Blue Devils learned over 15 years ago, that other corps either haven't figured out or refuse to abide by? Simple: THERE IS NO EXTRA CREDIT IN DRUM CORPS. There's no extra credit! Don't do anything you can get away with not doing if you want to score well. Judges want variety of demand and cleanliness, the Blue Devils provide that in spades every season (it's usually the SAME variety of demand... but I get ahead of myself. More on that in a moment). Anything beyond that, difficulty for difficulty's sake, is just going to drag your score down unless you can get it as clean as the Blue Devils. Which, let's face it, you probably can't. Look at 2023. The Bluecoats had, in this idiot's opinion, a lot more visual difficulty in their show. But the Blue Devils were LOADS cleaner. The miniscule spacing and timing problems that popped up here and there in the Bluecoats' show simply weren't present in the Blue Devils' show. And, of course, the Blue Devils guard was near flawless. I think corps feel the need to try to do MORE than the Blue Devils to beat them, but I think it's the exact opposite. They need to do LESS, and make it CLEANER. The Build-Up judging system has fallen into the same pitfall the old Tick system had: it is beating down corps trying new things in favor of corps who aren't doing as much stuff but were doing it cleaner. Full circle. Now, this next sentence will probably surprise you, so I hope you are sitting down. I love the Blue Devils. Seriously. 1994 Blue Devils remains one of my Top 5 shows of all time. I CHOSE to audition for the Blue Devils over any other corps (back when I had that youthful naivete that hid from me just how awful of a visual performer I was). And I love the Blue Devils design concepts. I just wish it weren't pretty much the same thing, year after year after year. The same staging concepts. The same visual elements. The Blue Devils are a truly awesome sports car, but all they do is change the paint job each year. Because they know (consciously or subconsciously) they can't do much else without getting hammered for it. Who's to blame? The Blue Devils? DCI judges? I feel it's kind of a chicken and the egg situation. On one hand, the Blue Devils have heavily influenced the course of DCI judging. On the other hand, many of their design features became mainstays solely due to positive reinforcement from the judges. I would absolutely LOVE to see what the Blue Devils staff would come up with if the judging system gave any signs at all that something different would be acceptable. Even the most recent non-BD champions (2018 Vanguard and 2016 Bluecoats) have strong Blue Devils influence on their design styles. And that's why 1993 and the years surrounding it remain such a fond memory for me. Sure, those G bugles sounded dreadful, and even the top corps made performance fracks that you wouldn't see or hear in ANY finalist corps today. But year after year after year you not only had no idea who was going to win, you had no idea HOW they were going to win. Cadets' style? Star of Indiana's style? Phantom's style? Blue Devils' style? But today, there is only one winning style: the Blue Devils' style. All other styles have been judged and found wanting. Everyone is trapped. Even the Blue Devils. And that makes drum corps boring. ************** "It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it." --Maurice Switzer "Hold my beer." --Hostrauser
    27 points
  6. Mandarins - Just incredible. They are absolutely living up to the buzz, and delivering well beyond that. I adored Mandarins in 2017 and went nuts for them in 2018 - I actually listen to that show frequently. It was fantastic. While I still was thrilled for the corps, their 2019 & 2022 offerings didn't wow me, and I almost never find myself revisiting either one, although I enjoyed each during their respective seasons. 2019 & 2022 both seemed too light in meat & potatoes compared to their neighbors and compared to what you could tell the corps was hungry for. Especially "The Other Side" - despite all of the early-season hype, by Finals, it was clear to me that the design wasn't competing with any of the 9 above them, and that the corps was begging for something more. Well, they got it in spades this season. All of the flash of "The Other Side" but with content upon content upon content. Demand is through the roof for every caption and the corps as a whole just took this on without batting an eye, like, ok, what's next? The design itself is a sleek, laser-like jaw-dropper: everything works so well and is relentless in both pacing and detail. So much happens that you don't notice but the progression is clear and the details come together to constantly create a defined, tightly-plotted journey that reads as lithe & nimble - a programming skill I am stunned they could create so early on in their meteoric growth and one that, frankly, Boston's designers should be envious of. There just is no down moment in this show - it's a masterclass in both intricate & audience-friendly designs. The opener is chockfull of demand for everyone and has so many cool little visual moments, like forming crosses for the marches still in white, as the corps progresses from white to red. The whip work in the second movement is fabulous, and I'm thrilled that I got to type that sentence. The overlays of Smile are vexing & bizarre. Love it. Readings from the book of Isaiah leading into Take Me To Church impact with the corps in a tight circle surrounded by white silks who are in turn surrounded by rifle work - look me in the eyes and tell me that's not a top 4 moment right there. Love the breakneck closer with the Nina Simone voiceovers that slowwwwws down so generously to a hot & heavy finish. I was hesitant to buy into the top 6 hype before last night - hopeful, but hesitant, especially with how last year's hype didn't pan out, and considering they really have not met any competition this season. But, it's real & legit. I am not one for predictions - I usually just enjoy the shows - but there's no way in hell Mandarins are finishing outside of the top 6 this season. It's just not happening. There are zero caption weaknesses and the design is just so tight. Take it to the bank. I adored everything about this corps & their performance. Blue Devils - I get it, I really do. In my younger years, I wanted anyone but BD to win. It didn't help that my first ever live drum corps show was 2008 Finals night at IU. I came of age when BD was in their Through a Glass, Darkly period, and I was obstinate and not interested. I'm ashamed to admit that I even snubbed Ink because I couldn't appreciate it until a few years later. Finally, in early summer 2017, I was properly schooled on these forums regarding BD's masterful process of putting a show on a field, and that opened my mind. I would implore all those snubbing BD this year to take a step back, take a cleansing breath, forget their tiresome winning history, and just view this show as a single, masterful offering in a one-summer vacuum. It is undeniable perfection, and per their process, will only get better from here as more moments are organically created while Boston tries hard to tie their existing moments together. I'm sorry, but that's just the way it is. No one wants to hear it, but to watch this show live is an absolute treat, and I can't imagine anyone arguing with that if they take the BD name out of the equation. It's a supple, limber vehicle that is far from formulaic and is engaging as hell. The guard writing in particular struck me as a massively fresh step outside of their comfort zone, and wow is it paying off. So many group tosses & intricate partner moments that stick out in my mind today. And yes, the hype around the Both Sides Now ballad is well-earned. It's truly everything a drum corps fan wants - musical, breathable, airy but powerful, an impact that modulates into a stronger impact instead of ending, and an easily-identifiable & hummable melody that binds it all. Simultaneously gossamer-like lightness paired with elegant muscle -- a ballad for the ages. I loved Moon River last year, but it ain't got nothing on this. Grand Canyon Fanfare is an odd yet appropriate closer, adding in some needed bold & rough brass color & texture to an otherwise glossy show. As always with BD, and the strength that other corps struggle so hard to replicate, the show design is just tight, tight, tight from top to bottom. A densely-packed journey that reads very light upon first glance, but still portrays its density. You don't have to catch all of the density to appreciate it, but there is so much to explore upon second viewings, and every detail serves to buttress the design instead of detract from it - but you don't need to notice or absorb any of that depth to appreciate it upon first read. Everyone from grandma to the judging box can enjoy this show. As we know, the design team will just fill in moments (especially in the closer, I imagine) from here, while the ridiculously-talented corps continues to perfect their skills, all while performing a show that the members themselves & the crowd can sink their teeth into. I get that everyone rolls their collective eyes when they come out ahead year after year, but they were unquestionably the clear winner last night, as EVERY caption showed, and they only get better from here. Again, just watch the show without BD blinders, and please experience it live! Last season felt a little safe, but was still incredible. This is a fresh, masterful, enjoyable show that I look forward to seeing throughout the season. Boston Crusaders - I do want to preface by saying that I cannot WAIT for the day Boston finally claims their first championship. I have adored watching this corps skyrocket up to the top; it's been so much fun to see. Last year, watching San Antonio over Flo, at the ending Lacrimosa hit with the company front, I said to myself, ok, there's a championship-worthy corps right there. That's the moment - they can handle it and it's going to happen sooner rather than later. That's such a terrific memory for me!! So cool to see the first shades of a new champion. That said, this year ain't it. I hate hate hate to say it - and it's a great, audience-friendly show that is absolutely among their best offerings and unquestionably worthy of a medal - but it's not "it". It just isn't. There are some major construction issues with this show that won't be fixed by reworking transitions (I do want to be clear - I mean "major" in a medalist sense - again, in the entire scope, it's another banger of a show). I loved the source material preseason, but it translates to a clunky, meandering, unfocused first half of the show that delivers BEAUTIFULLY with performance captions but does very little to portray a tight, focused, intentional design (again, relative only to medalist designs). None of it particularly ties together - the Thomas Tallis opener is mysterious & shimmering & graceful (I really love it), but then leads into what I would call simply basic drum corps "busy work" after that without much intention or direction. The drum break immediately following, the Swallowtail Jig, The Wellerman, & Shipping Up to Boston are four REALLY cool individual segments, but there is nothing tying them together organically, and again I think it's an architecture issue that adding transitions isn't going to fix. But from there, the ballad is absolutely delightful, and the On the Waterfront hit in the rotating circles is FIRE! Love it!!!! The story definitely becomes clearer from the ballad onward. I could go on and on but I will summarize with this: there are a lot of moments to love (like, really really love), and the corps proper is so talented across every caption. But right now (and I hesitate to say, for the season), you really see more the sum of the individual parts rather than a big picture/greater whole. It's not that I'm not hopeful that the design team will add in elements to tie the show together - of course they will - but I do feel as if it's a structural problem, made even more glaring directly following the tightly-plotted, streamlined, purposeful, efficient designs of Mandarins & BD. I will still enjoy watching this show and its many toe-tapping moments throughout the season!! It's just not going to claim them their first championship. Blue Knights - Ok, I actually really enjoyed this performance, even following BD & Boston!! I do think that the show, while INFINITELY better-written than last season, has design issues that are quite noticeable next to The Academy's & PC's sleek offerings, but BK certainly has the energetic, raw power edge over these groups. A bit unrefined, but raw power nonetheless. The kids clearly enjoy what they're selling and take a lot of pride in their attempt to get their corps back into Finals. I will note that the guard has really cleaned up - the writing is still a little light & amateur compared to their neighbors, but I caught them a week or two ago (I think the show where Impulse beat them?), and they are now light years ahead of that. Kudos to the guard - excellent cleaning work and those caption numbers have improved tremendously. The show itself is intense and unbridled (unharnessed?) and the corps honestly followed up the two big dogs well, if for no other reason than the energy they brought. The Verdi opener was nice. I gotta say, as much as I miss the pre-Covid BK design team, I really noticed from the ballad onward how they are still playing heavily with pacing in bizarre & interesting ways - I love that!!!! That gave me hardcore BK vibes and I was happy to see it. The back half of the show is intriguing. Full brass ensemble sound at times is way overblown, but it's a MASSIVE sound, and I am interested to see how they end up sounding when refine all of that raw energy and power. The Crown-like brass demand segment in the closer is bold and big. I don't know if they will make their way back into Finals with PC fielding such a smart show and talented corps, but the season isn't over, and I think either way, BK seems to have sustainable, hungry energy that isn't just a flash in the pan. I don't know if my expectations were low or what, but really, this BK group held their own at the end of the line up and entertained. It's a scrappy group of kids with a bad ### drum major and a high-powered show. I was happily surprised at how much I enjoyed them!
    26 points
  7. BD is putting an amazing product on the field and dang near every corp has gotten a standing ovation except for the blue devils. I’m between the 30s i would say maybe 10 percent stood it really was disgusting and people need to grow the eff up. I root for all corps cause the kids deserve it. and yes I am in the stadium
    25 points
  8. Don’t forget to cancel Flo everyone…
    23 points
  9. Tom Blair is not replaceable. His impact on the activity is not able to be measured
    23 points
  10. If it weren't for Surf, I wouldn't have marched Cadets, wouldn't have done so well in the Navy, and probably wouldn't have the life I have now.
    23 points
  11. You know, considering that just three years ago most of us weren’t sure if drum corps would ever return…I’d say I’m pretty #### pleased with this summer’s slate of shows!
    22 points
  12. Looking for spoons for your 900 ft tall baby? Call 1-800-BLU-STRS Need a squirrel proof spinning jumbo sized suet holder for your bird feeder? Get yourself to the store in Sacramento while supplies last, only 7 left!
    21 points
  13. Ok. I'm home. Here we go. Overall impressions. If you can get to a show live, do it. Figure out the trip, the costs, etc. This season seem special as everything is back in gear. The stands were like a reunion. I went alone to this one but all around me people were, "Oh hi! i haven't seen you in ages." Also, you can tell the corps are all hitting a new gear with the break in the heat. The energy was so good tonight. It's truly worth going even if it's "just 5 corps." It's been since...forever it feels that i've done a live show. I didn't do last year because I am techincally on an immunosuppressive med and last summer was still feeling 'iffy' about big crowds. And of course, the two years before that, and I didn't do 2019 for whatever reason I had that year that's been forgotten. The difference of being there live is wild. On Flo I was listening to Atlanta and Nightbeat and noticing that 'processed sound' in the balance between pit, brass ensemble, and electronics with some corps. Cadets were one of them and frankly so was BD. In person it's nothing like that at all. Everything sounded well balanced and mixed tonight. Even in comparison to past years where I could recall Cadets in person sounding over balanced with the electronic sound support becoming overbearing at times. None of that this year at all. Corps are figuring this stuff out across the board and for all we can listen on Flo and kvetch over it here, in person I just didn't hear it that way. I dunno if it's Flo's mic placement, their mixing of the corps sound board inputs, or the compression to stream it but .. it was wildly better in person across the board. Lastly, I am amazed at the dedication and commitment and sheer talent all these kids have across all the corps. They strike me as so very young at times. But they are peforming absolutely buying into their experience and performing the heck out of them with verve and passion. Now for the shows! Jersey Surf THANK YOU for keeping a spirit of pure fun in Drum Corps! This show is a delight to watch, particularly for those of us who remember the 80s music it uses (which I've learnt from my neices is fairly popular among a number of the youngster sets too actually.) I've only seen them once on Flo so there was a lot going on I was seeing that was new to me. There's a guard bit at the start of the show where one guard member is restrained and pulled back by two others, then struggles her way loose, dons the hat (fedoras are VERY in this season across a number of shows...heh) then they open with Church of the Poison Mind while in the all blacks for the corps and all whites for the guard. The guard struggles a bit with the looseness of their uniforms at the start and handling things like the back spins of rifles and if the silks rub on the uniform sleeves and pants that flow. But they didn't have drops that I saw. They go behind the Black and white wall props and True Colors begins as colors emerge. They really do 'burst through' the uniform reveals with a sense of individuality. You can tell they've told them "do your thing as you burst into color" or something similar. Its very effective with the theme. The build from the solo to the ensemble for True Colors is lovely. From there, they go to Express Yourself and Born This Way, which have some melodic similarities that work real well together and the show ends with a lot of joy. Blue Knights All season I've been watching this show grow from a rough skeleton to a sense of "ok, this is back to the 'BK being weird' thing that catapualted them up the ranks since 2014." Yet it didn't seem to a make a cohesive whole. I'm pretty sure it's not supposed to fully "make sense" and perhaps "unhinged" would be a better title than "unharnessed" or even "undone." But in person, when you can pick and choose where your eye wants to go and gets guided to at times, it made more sense! By which I mean it read as a more coherent presentation of weridness and unhinged moments on the edge. There's some really good use of weird percussive things (pots and pans, gongs, wind chimes) in the props that add to that 'what ... IS this?' feeling as it pulls you through a variety of sonic soundscapes. The viz body movements pull them along as well as some increased clarity in the guard work that I could see too. I'd say it's still not 'clicking' as a whole entirely, and I'm frankly not sure it can get there. But it does work better in person than it ever did for me on Flo. Lastly, a few shows ago, they had a fairly flat performance and there was some chatter of "uh oh, the kids aren't buying into the show and selling it." After tonight, I think that was largely heat/sick effects. They're perhaps not cleaning as fast or locked in as they could/should be, but they're definitely buying into the show and selling it. Mandarins Whew. This show does NOT stop. I think this crowd was savvy to Mandarins' rise this year because there was a lot of buzz as they took the field. Mandarins are NOT sneaking up on anyone anymore. They have served notice that they have arrived and this crowd saw that and appreciated it. They come on with a swagger and confidence of what they're doing that is definitely NOT a "we're still new to the top 12 and can't quite believe we're here." Nope. They came on with a "we belong in the race we're in and we're here to win it." Everything cooks so well. I was noticing a fair few visual things done around the props that help them make a ton more sense to me. They're definitley representing the 7 deadly sins and becoming entrapped in them. Our Original Sinner struts into the circle of them and entices the guard in then slowly the all start turning red. The wall in the center separates the red from the white and they take their turns making their case. FIrst the Sinners then the Saints. When the Saints are making their case the Sinners are clawing at the wall then break through and we get that intermixed Angels and Demons style drill. Finally the wall falls and they do that interweaving between them as they start spinning for the frist time. Then it's all in to sin! But it's not a sense of "fall from grace" as it is a "reconciling with the messy realities of life rather than an abstract ideal of a moral life." I'm Tired is where the exhaustion of trying to 'be good' against one's messy reality falls apart, and Take Me to Church is where they reconcile with the passions of life. And the Sinnerman comes out to finish the show. The 7 that go on the props actually struggle around them climbing in front, then back and getting enmeshed as they grab hold. They're pushed forward by the guard THEN the spin begins (or at least tonight) so it seemed that the actually spinning isn't going on for all that long. Crowd response to the ending was basially OH god that is CRAZY! Blue Devils Ok all season people have been saying "you have to see this one live, Flo can't do it justice." I'm like "well Flo doesn't do anyone full justice so its all relatively 'lowered' in similar ways." But...nah, they're right, you gotta see this one in person. There's something about the tonal quality that is really different! I mean, everyone was improved live compared to Flo, but Blue Devils MORE so. The show viz was much more locked in than I've seen the body motion during the Speech and Drums that comes into that big column was much more locked in than Nightbeat. It was super impressive. Because they're not in lines or a grid, they have to NAIL the synchronicity of person to person motion and tonight, the got there. Jojo's had a LOT of people bopping their heads. It's every bit a 'musical moment' as Bloo's Bump is for me. There's not the weird syncopation overlays but there's a groove...for ...days. The ballad made me weepy. Wow. There a LOT of people of my generation and older just giving a sigh with a far away look of wistfulness. They're selling the feeling of what that song means to so many with that oh so delicate arrangment. Innovations in Jazz is really really really coming together. I still think they have more up their sleeves for the end of the show. I mean when has BD not... But they have upped the temp and groove of Innovations in Jazz now and it is a toe tap to foot stomper. The tubas had it locked in tonight too for the latter part of their feature. The back end of the show is cleaning up FAST. That said, I'm not sure the percussion is cleaning up as fast as the rest of the corps. Their book is .... frankly ambitions as h_ll. But there was fuzz in it here and there. It's not terrible by any means, it just sort of sticks out. I dunno if they'll take the hose to it a bit so they can play clean as we approach Allentown or keep trying to clean it. It's been a discussion about BD's battery book recently. I also dunno if it's a 'weakness' to exploit necessarily but given that Cadets and Cavies lines are able to play WELL above where their corps tier is, and Bloo is able to best them in percussion too on some nights...yeah their ordinal may end up being...a bit weird if they can't get it cleaner. And given that drum judges will use the tenth of a point to separate lines, falling down the ordinals can mean...a fair few tenths potentially. This is not a dig on the Blue Devils! I'm aware that its probably the most critical thing I've said in this review. The only reason i'm bringing it up here is because it was asked about in the previous discussion. The other corps have their caps and issues as well. BD can win outright and by a point+ even with the drums not fully cleaning their book. it's just frankly kind of weird to see a BD section be somewhat inconsistent at all...let alone in August. Cadets This is a home show and home crowd for Cadets and they always turn it up a notch with the crowd response. Allentown is another venue like this and this is part of why Cadets tend to have a 'bounce' about this time of year, which, if they can carry as momentum into Indy, does them well. The crowd was vocal for them taking the field and anticpating the opening hit for sure. When they hit it, there was crowd roar that came right into it. The kids definitely felt that and fed off that energy! They were on fire! Two things on Cadet's viz this year. On Flo, the exposed ankles bother me at times because it seems that while they all end 'x inches above the ankle' the fact that some people have longer legs mean the pants end at different heights from the ground. On Flo...its almost hyper visible...parituclar up close. Live form the stands...its a total non issue. The visual continuity down the leg to the feet is clear and the white reads like the classic cadets light pants in so many ways. Their feet are getting MUCH cleaner too! Second, the props made more sense (finally!) in person. Tonight they finally stuck out as "Oh! These are the mountains around Mt. Olympus." They are at times an entire mountain range, and at other times in the S from above, reading from the stands like a clustered mountain peak with varied highs and lows on the way to the summit. This said, they do sort of just 'sit there' in their various formations. There was more narration but as mentioned, there was a speaker issue so it seemed sort of muddy narration wise. Overall the theme reads less as an 'all sports show' and more on the Atlas mythology in a "show of strength" that appears in various athletic posing and such. Note the ballad, while the horns are being lovely and that soloist is mesermizing us...the battery is over to side one in a bicep flex for days...hah! (Although I do wish they were doing some light playing under parts of the ballad, they have the "percussion breaks are for percussion and ballad is for brass" arranging. Which works for them obviously. Percussion was ON FIRE tonight. They had that section where they get in the judges face up front and just laid it down. People around me who were clearly 'drum people' were bouncing out of the seats a bit as the hit the punctuaion mark and flexed before marching back into the field. Last thoughts... On the drive home, what show was playing in my head? Mandarins, interestingly enough. I think of all the shows I heard tonight, Mandarins have not just 'musical moments' that are memorable but really good musical transitions that make that whole show a soundtrack to what they're doing. The race for 5-7 (maybe 8 as well) is going to be incredible.
    21 points
  14. So far we’ve had: 1. Judges are not judging right 2. Top Corps are just following the same formula + too much guard spinning 3. BD is too good, and the music and performances of the other drum corps are not good enough on their own to keep my interest. Let’s kick BD out and pretend the second best is the best. Each one with exponentially higher word count… Y’all are on a wild one today!
    21 points
  15. We will see how this plays out next month in Indy.................. But for right now, today July 16th, 2023...........it sure brings a smile to my face to see Mandarins sandwiched between two heavyweight prize fighters Crown and Phantom. Keep it up Mandarins!
    21 points
  16. Right... This thread has devolved into personal attacks and bickering (as virtually every other SCV thread has on here in the last year). As and when there is any new information that is noteworthy regarding Vanguard, be that source from Santa Clara themselves or from DCI, I have no doubt a new thread will be started and the topic discussed to within an inch of its life. Thread closed.
    20 points
  17. Finally back home after a 14 hour drive from attending finals, as the dust settles on a whirlwind season and a total of three seasons as a DCI dad, I am filled with sadness to an ending of a era as my son aged out (my cadet is second from the top right in the picture below), relief that he is back home after being away since May, and pride at the job he. his fellow Cadets, and staff achieved this season helping bring the Cadets back to the top 5. I know some feel that there should be an asterisk due to SCV not fielding a corps, but this show was special, and they deserve all of accolades due their top 5 finish. The season started with a lot of criticism of their show; be it the props, the brass not being large or playing as much as other shows, and we all know the uniforms were much discussed. Even with all that, the Cadets weathered the headwinds and after consistently playing from an earlier placement at most regionals, being behind two awesome corps {Mandarins (Kudos to them for their record breaking season) and Phantom Regiment (the obvious fan choice at each regional)}, they continued to add content, gradually improve, and true to the theme of their show they rose to the occasion at finals with their best run of the year to answer all of their critics. I am very proud of all the staff, their rookie Corps Director, the BoD, the volunteers, the donors, the supportive parents, the alumni that continued to support the corps, and most importantly the marching members that gave their all for the last 3+ months to put an awesome product on the field that achieved the corps highest score since 2015. The Cadets are back where they belong. They have made me a lifelong supporter of the corps and my son an honored alumnus. Here is to a bright future for the Cadets and their faithful fans!! FHNSAB!
    20 points
  18. OK here is the combined nights for shiggles: 1 Blue Devils 95.775 2 Boston Crusaders 95.475 3 Carolina Crown 95.438 4 Bluecoats 95.25 5 The Cadets 92.125 6 Mandarins 91.988 7 Phantom Regiment 91.975 8 The Cavaliers 91.05 9 Troopers 88.525 10 Colts 88.163 11 Blue Stars 87.55 12 Crossmen 85.388 13 Blue Knights 84.688 14 Spirit of Atlanta 83.938 15 Pacific Crest 83.825 16 The Academy 82.025 17 Madison Scouts 81.913 18 Music City 80.25 19 Genesis 78.275 20 Jersey Surf 74.975 21 Seattle Cascades 74.625
    20 points
  19. Blue Devils - perfect setup for the show with the angelic voice and saber tosses - guard staging is wonderful - Big brass hit exposing a full range with superb control - the way the brass runs out and into those boxes is stunnig when you look closely at how they have to orient themselves and still play - sheesh - love the guitar is the front ensemble - trumpets that was TIGHT and effective - I like to call that the Crossmen set and it is visually almost perfect - looks like even BD has 1 or 2 holes in brass - talk about a flowing visual program - OMG that whole percussion feature section is fantastic! Percussion are sounding fantastic and the body work in the brass was very creative. The staging is just sooooo GOOD with BD - Love it with the horns back to back until the first hit in the ballad - soloist was great - THIS BALLAD!!!!! My heart can't handle it!! - That last form really cleaned up. The flugel and trombone soloists are wonderful but the screamer (only 1 tonight) is likely not needed. If anything have him stick to octave work in tandem with brass and not in the open. That will ruin the moment. It's not a Maynard Ferguson chart. - My goodness the front ensemble here is just first rate. Some of the most creative and unique scoring going when it comes to the front ensemble. - Goodness Gracious...GET IT BD! That jazz chart is HOT and the visual is just emphasizing what they are playing so well. - AH...The Mattise Star. So well done, this closer is becoming a real winner in my book. And those silks and the guard performance. JUST WOW! - Blue Devils continue to be masters of the body, legs, control, timing, and staging. Not too mention they have a fabulous music book. They are still the corps to beat, but I was pretty blown away by Boston tonight. What a great year.
    20 points
  20. Either we hate slotting or we don’t! But if we hate slotting, judges calling it as they see it on a specific night based on soecific performances should be seen as a good thing.
    20 points
  21. We’ve had corps fold, corps take a year off, etc. What I have noticed to be constant is people coming onto this site to air those corps’ dirty laundry. Don’t get it confused. I am all for holding corps accountable for what happens with their finances, ESPECIALLY when much of their coins are from donations. But if we protest to love this activity as much as we do, WHY are we trying to destroy the reputations of corps we claim to love? Drum corps is still a niche activity. We don't get much support outside of those who already know about us. With all the changes that have taken place just over the past 20 years, we STILL have a relative small group of people who watch and enjoy this activity. Pandemics, inflation, and other things have have caused so many issues with in society so it comes as no surprise to me that drum corps is feeling the same pain. Maybe instead of pouring salt on the wounds, we should be talking directly to those corps and possibly provide suggestions on fixing the issues issues they're facing. Not saying it would be an easy task, but anything is better than coming onto a forum and posting terrible news just to get a rise out of people. Just a thought.
    19 points
  22. If you are talking about the Pittsburgh show tonight I will explain. 1. I was there tonight and because of many factors the parking was crazy. Most of the corps were locked into a small area and there was no room for them to move various sections to appropriate warm-up areas. For BD they got stuck in a small lot to one side of the stadium where the other corps were up the hill or far down the street. There simply were no other places to go. 2. So I do know that DCI did their best to have people communicating with the corps. BD was doing their best to only warm up when a corps finished and while the next corps was setting up. I think for the most part the team on hand did a good job with the communication, but there were two small moments when BD's brass cut through. For about 5 or 6 seconds at the onset of Cavaliers show and an even smaller few seconds into Carolina's. 3. It was wild tonight because even the fans could not park at the H.S. We had to park down the street at a car dealership or one of two churches. They then provided school buses that picked up the fans and shuttled us to the stadium. It was a zoo. So yes, BD had a really bad spot being closest to the stadium and essentially had very little warm-up time they could use. There was just no where they could take the brass or percussion. None of the corps could really move anywhere for warm-ups other than guard who did have a field behind the stadium. DCI realized this and knew there would be some bleed-over with warm-ups. They did their best to communicate and because none of this was the fault of the corps - especially BD who had no where to go and were confined to a small parking lot south of the H.S. and directly to the side of the stadium -- I believe penalties for this sort of thing were waived for tonight.
    19 points
  23. It might not happen the rest of the season, heck it might not happen again till 2033, so I will celebrate this now............... Mandarins beat Crown in two subcaptions. That is all.
    19 points
  24. Overall... wow! What a night!!!! Every corps was amazing!!!! Definitely worth the drive!
    19 points
  25. Y'all, While the alleged suspect has been named in a public venue (Twitter), DCP will not allow suspects of SA nor the victims to be named here until put forward by law enforcement or credentialed media.
    19 points
  26. I always appreciate reviews throughout the season from those at the show, so I will contribute. It was an absolutely terrific night of drum corps - not a snoozer or a "bathroom break" show in the entire line up. I truly enjoyed all 9 shows I saw last night!! Now for the novel. The Battalion - It has been so fun to watch this corps start and then grow, and I am thrilled they are traveling to OC Championships for the second season in a row. I hope that's a yearly goal as they continue to explode in growth. Smart uniforms, excellent color choices, a HOT brass line (I really expected them to be closer to Cascades in brass), and meaty brass & percussion books. Color guard writing/general strength & more complex/interesting show designs seem to be their two areas of opportunity as they continue to grow with the next few seasons, but I really enjoyed what I saw tonight. RCR has been pacing similar numbers, and Columbians won't debut for the season until they start making their first trek toward Indy, but I do think a top 5 OC finish behind Gold/Spartans/Guardians/Southwind could be in the cards - that would be a massive feather in the cap of a blossoming young group. I really enjoyed watching them tonight. And again, sizzling brass line! Seattle Cascades - Super happy that these guys are back on the field, and frankly, not in any worse shape than 2019, the last time they fielded a corps. Not bad to come back around or better than where you left off 4 years ago. Their conductor is FANTASTIC! He is passionate, animated, and knows how to get the most out of his group. That said, everything visually is filthy dirty at the moment (some of the drill even looks new? Legit missed transitions abounded in spots), but with massive headroom to grow as they continue to clean. It's a solid design underneath all of the dirt, and there are moments that are already firing on all cylinders, like the low brass chords to begin the Ticheli ballad. They sound shockingly rich & luxurious on those lines. Mmmm. It was unexpectedly good. Keep refining the rest of the show to that level. Guard needs to be grown as a caption in future seasons - they are clearly young with just basic writing this season. But, Cascades seem really healthy! Sustainably healthy. This seems to be a get-back-into-it year, and is going better than I anticipated. I'm looking forward to the finished product. Nice job from this group, and pending their ability to elevate the bulk of the show to the solid moments already coming through, should be able to secure a Semifinalist position. Pacific Crest - They are indeed the real deal this season. They seem to be following the Colts' lead from last season - steady, noticeable strength in all captions - as opposed to exploding forth a la Troopers with an insane show & high GE. I'm here for it!! After last season's young corps struggled all summer to get ahold of the show, the designers seem to have met their group perfectly this year, giving them PLENTY of meat to chew on but pared down enough to be approached & cleaned a little earlier on. The corps is gelling together fantastically. The ballad is sensational. The corps' brass sound is balanced, controlled, and blended beautifully. Guard work is intricate and punches above their weight. Drumline writing is exposed & musical. I also like that the concept is nebulous enough to be presented clearly, but can be layered in as the season demands. The Porkofiev Scythian Suite hit in the closer is FIRE now that they've moved the drill inward, and I look forward to the design team highlighting & bringing out a few more of those moments as the season progresses. Everything is just working well for PC this year, and they very well could earn their first Finals berth, and it would be well-earned indeed. This is a great show & corps with which to do it. I'm ready for it - they are fresh, nuanced, and firing together on all cylinders. It's a banner season for PC, and the scores are not lying. The Academy - Of the PC/Scouts/Spirit/Crossmen/BK/Academy tier, I think it's easy to say that The Academy has the "raw" design that looks, sounds, & works the most like a top 12 design. Of course PC has organically layered in or rewritten areas enough to have handily claimed that title by now, but Academy's raw design, which doesn't seem to have evolved much since my first viewing of them, is a really smart show filled with clear detail. They are certainly not maxing it out - the corps seems to still very much be in cleaning mode - but the design really is there. I would venture to say that if the corps can figure out how to max out the design that they already have on hand - as opposed to their neighbors who will be rewriting & reworking all season - The Academy really could make some noise, and at least move themselves top 12 adjacent. PC is probably too far gone to catch at this point, but they've got the leg up on design to the other 4 corps fighting to get close to the top 12. The performance was terrific to watch; they are starting to cook & gel together. I'm actually surprised the brass content scores aren't higher - the back half of the show is full of long, regal phrases mixed organically with solid brass demand, the front half of the show has the brass exposure, and the ballad is full of luxurious, slow, vulnerable builds, both large & small. Guard & percussion contents are quite respectable and right where I would imagine them to be. Every caption is solid all around. The Academy has rarely demonstrated themselves to be a clean-like-crazy corps, but the content is more than present - I'd like to see them polish this and rise up the ranks. Oh, and as one who is screamer-averse, the screamer in the closer nailed it both times. Crowd loved it, as did I. Honestly, it was a really enjoyable show to watch!! I look forward to seeing it again throughout the season. Troopers - I'm not sure why this show is getting more mixed reactions on the forums than last season's masterpiece - maybe it needs to be seen live? The mixed reactions from DCP could not be further from the case when in a stadium - they got the first standing O of the night (slow build to the company front near the end of the show), and had the crowd in the palm of their hands, and I'm not talking just cheering - the entire ballad had everyone around me listening in and focused. Troop was the first corps of the night where all phones around me were eventually put down and no one was fidgeting - especially in that closer. I absolutely LOVE seeing an audience captured like that. Troop has quickly developed this ridiculously effective swagger that allows the corps to command the field immediately and totally capture the audience - any corps outside of the top 6 at the moment should be envious of this. It's dangerous, and they're not stopping their meteoric rise any time soon. Rewatching today didn't have nearly the same effect on me - good god, if you get the chance this season, see Troopers live. Their performance capabilities are almost unmatched. Ok, on to the show itself - love love love it. Probably because I got so tired of season after season of forgettable, mediocre Troopers shows, and still loathe a forgettable, mediocre show from any group (hi 2023 Scouts & Crossmen!), but it's just so satisfying to watch a group completely rewrite their trajectory and burst out of their prior constraints. I do think this year's offering is a mature step up from last year's winner, and the corps is handling it well. They are hungry (starving?) for more. It's a masterfully-constructed design (with a few major kinks - we'll get there in a moment). The journey is clear, palpable, and without question as it gets fleshed out. Harrison's Dream is a beefy opener, and the tuba feature at the beginning is nails. I think I was most disappointed in rewatching the video that the harmonica/French horn duet didn't come across anywhere as nuanced as it did live - THAT is some perfect writing. After the swirling, intense opener, the entire auditory field just strips down to absolutely nothing and you are allowed to breathe and exhale while still being completely captured. The duet is a magical timbre - a longing or nostalgia for a West or Youth that strikes a universal note. It's incredibly stirring writing. The corps is spread out & encircling the entire field at that point, and they've added (or I've never heard before) some simple drumline rise & fall lines that travel around the perimeter of the field in pods, totally encompassing the harmonica soloist & the sun in this incredibly breathy, open, airy way. All of this pays off in a giant build & release that embodies the same out-West openness. Seriously, I cannot stress enough how none of this was noticeable when I rewatched this morning - SEE THIS BALLAD LIVE! And, finally, the two builds in the closer. The first one with all of the brass staccatos & block marching with the tutti pay off - love it!! But, the **minute & a half** build to the company front that immediately follows the first build is just jaw-dropping, and resulted in that first standing O of the day (and the only one mid-show). When do we ever get something like that in our activity? Shows are packed full of demand by nature and have a time limit - to devote a full 1:30 to a simmering build is a bold design choice, and one that is paying off in spades. You can tell the performers are nuts about that whole segment, and the crowd just ate it up. Myself included - chills throughout! Take me, Daddy. Enough gushing and a few notes - god they have got to get that guard figured out. It's not going to happen this season, but I imagine the caption will have new staff moving into next season - honestly, it's the writing, not the performers. There were moments where they just weren't really doing anything. Others mentioned the closer flags - the multi-colors didn't work. I do expect some uneven caption growth as a corps skyrockets up, and their INCREDIBLE drums with non-stop notes more than make up for it, but it's a noticeably weaker caption vs. their design, brass, & percussion strengths. On that note, I still need a proper ending. The 1:30 closer build that got the crowd on their feet was pure joy; anything following that was an afterthought that I hardly remember. This show is a brilliant undertaking and deserves a massive finish. The current iteration ain't it. They are so close - get an ending that finishes me properly and there's no reason to think that 10th is their ceiling at Indy.
    19 points
  27. Imagine traveling halfway around the world for a band contest and it is in Buckhannon, WV.
    19 points
  28. This is my review of the Castleton Performance last night, as well as my final Castleton update: At showtime, it was 65 degrees and sunny with a light breeze. The corps performed in their gray member shirts and the guard had ALL of their 2023 show silks on the field. The 2023 BAC is comprised of 80 brass, 18 battery, 15 front ensemble, 3 dms, and 46 guard with 10 alternates. And before anyone asks, no I do not know how long they'll carry that many guard alternates, but I have the impression that number will decrease tomorrow since their spring training ends today and the corps leaves Vermont tomorrow. The show is complete Parts 1-5, all guard work is in, and the body/choreo for the hornline and drum line is nonstop. The props are amazing and are used and moved throughout the production. There are still front set pieces to be introduced which will extend end zone to end zone, and the harpoons are still in production. Every section of this drum corps is a level above Boston's 2022 product, including, amazingly, the guard. The show is a General Effect feast, taking the audience through a series of emotions, and the visual design features some very aggressive "run and gun" drill at times, particularly during the opener and On the Waterfront. The rifle feature in the opener is mind blowing, but the guard is omnipresent throughout, and drops last night were almost nonexistent. The hornline is very mature and the new horns have a very bright sound and the volume levels at times far exceed last year's line. The drum line showed off their new drums, which are sort of a white marine pearl. The entire percussion section is a level up from last year, and the members who came over from Crown (there are 7 of them between battery and pit) tell me they love the "Boston Vibe". So, what is my prediction? Can this 83 year old drum corps win their first DCI ring? I have concluded that time is upon us.
    19 points
  29. Reminding folks who I am. Richard Lesher, CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) and prior board member/treasurer of Vanguard and from 2006 to 2012. I'm also currently a commissioned officer in the US Army Reserves. So I guess that gives me some legit credentials to have certain opinions. I've recently been censored from the SCV Alumni Facebook forum (which is under control of SCV the organization with a director level employee still as an Admin). So I will now voice my serious concerns here for the whole Drum Corps community. As of 14-April-2023 Vanguard is Delinquent as a Charity in the State of California. https://rct.doj.ca.gov/verification/web/SearchResults.aspx https://rct.doj.ca.gov/verification/web/Details.aspx?result=42a872a8-e982-469d-9401-bfc112f97bf4 The problems started as far back as 2020 with Vanguard's failure to supply the State Department of Justice with audited financial statements. At this point the Attorney General is merely pointing out that Vanguard failed to provide Audited Financial Statements. A year passes, and Vanguard has still not provided Audited Financial Statements to the California Attorney General. Now the Attorney General is warning Vanguard of penalties to include up to having their status Revoked. Vanguard is no longer in good standing. We are now at September 9, 2021. This is a very important date folks as we all know this is basically the start of the drum corps season for the year 2022, and we all know what happened after that. Oh and the following month we have the Attorney General reminding Vanguard they still haven't provided Audited Financial Statements. Here an indication of a duplicate payment for registration (I guess they get "some credit" for trying), but a reminder they not in compliance without independently audited financial statements. ***************** What does this all mean? Being delinquent in the state of California with this Charity Registration means that: 1) Vanguard cannot solicit donations. They are, and they have been, and it's reported on their 990 filings (Grants, and such). 2) They have been delinquent since 15-MAR-2020, so all solicitation thereafter is in violation of the law. 3) I will bring up the Bingo Salaries again here and I will not take it down this time. a) Bingo employees cannot be paid with bingo income. b) OK, Bingo employees "are not" being paid with bingo revenue. c) Well, if Vanguard cannot solicit donations, and they cannot disperse donations then what are Bingo employees being paid with? i) where ever the funding came from it's an illegal source ii) even if the funding was from savings and investments, those funds originated from donations and bingo, neither of which can be dispersed while Vanguard is delinquent Remember, Vanguard operated as like nothing was wrong during the entire competitive year of 2022 and was in violation the entire time. Vanguard also took audition fees for 2023 and right on the heels of that terminated the season. So someone high up knew where they were going in terms of finances and decided to take money in anyway for services they new they couldn't provide. Jeremy Van Wert is not the singular cause of this gross mismanagement. OK, I'll be back later with more. These three letters from the California State Attorney General give me a lot of coverage and protection from defamation. So my future posts should be fun read for you all.
    19 points
  30. Not only is this out in public but it is literally ON the public record. While the subject matter certainly makes for uncomfortable reading, so long as the Community Guidelines are adhered to and the thread doesn't veer wildly off course, I see no reason to close this.
    18 points
  31. I swore I would never post here again but I have to say something. Jesus H Christ, who would go through this scrutiny and revisit the trauma only to burn it down, although that may be what it takes. They want to institute real change and protect the present and future members of drum corps from abuse. That’s why people go through this fresh hell of picking off the scab. I'm done.
    18 points
  32. I'm incredibly hesitant to wade into this but I'm going to address a couple of things that popped out to me. More just a curiousity than anything else. 1- SCV's new treasurer is in North Carolina and you point at that as a bad thing. My organization's board is literally scattered across the country. Our Treasurer does NOT live in the same state as the Org. As a matter of fact, MOST of the board doesn't live in or near the home base of the org. It's a digital zoom kind of world and access to financials and the ability to do a job well no longer demand you be in town where the office is so I do question why you paint their location as a detriment as they are not in CA like the old treasurer apparently was. Especially since (IMO) the old treasurer catastrophically failed at their job. 2. The hiring and firing of Brett B- I'm surprised you didn't bring up his past involvement with his BFF's dalliances with a member of their community theatre that got him in hot water (once again IMO) far more than the rumors circulating that he wanted to disband the A corps. In fact, the theatre drama only exposed a lack of due diligence on the part of the hiring committee that to me was a bigger issue. 3. (or maybe 2.5) Also in regards to the hiring and firing of Brett B- Drum corps as a hiring practice is incredibly nepotistic and full of cronyism. We all talk about back room deals. Everyone has a friend that would be perfect and half our design staffs bring their own down chain staff. As orgs transition from kitchen table drum corps to fully realized multi-million dollar Non profits with not only a touring group but community centric programming, educational programming, and god knows what other revenue earning ventures, your buddy from Black Knights or whatever may no longer be qualified for the job. It forces organizations to diversify and look outside the bubble. Hiring Brett B the person turned out to be a disaster. But hiring a CEO that had a performance education and theater background was not so outside the box for an org like SCV that had been expanding into community rooted performance ensembles beyond the A and B corps. Phantom Regiment just hired a CEO that has little to no experience in Drum Corps but comes with OODLES of experience in revenue diversification and Youth Education programming. This is a good fit for an org trying to expand revenue streams and community programming while re-establishing its roots and involvement in Rockford. Build a team around her to worry about the nuance of drum corps. Maintain a supportive BOD that can guide and support someone like her successfully and the fact that she came from outside of drum corps won't matter. 4. Lastly, I understand you're wanting to bring this all to light. But your ego is a turnoff. I don't care that you are tired, or numb, or feel like your website move should get more attention. Do it for the work and less for your standing. When you insert yourself and what recognition you think you should be getting for all of this, it's a turn off and makes me thing you are doing this more for your own grandstanding and less for the good of the organization as you claim.
    18 points
  33. So who gets to count the guy who was in both BD and Boston, or does he count as 1/2 an ageout in each? 😁 Apparently the story with that is (and you can see him in a Boston uniform in the BD ageout picture) he was an alternate with BD all season. Boston had a mellophone hole, I'm assuming late season, and BD sent him over to them. So Boston didn't have to do their final shows with a hole and the guy got to perform on the field for championship week - a win/win for everybody, and just a pretty cool thing.
    18 points
  34. Cadets in their traditional uniforms for retreat.
    18 points
  35. "...why not support them so that they can survive and grow in the next few years as high school bands come back to life and get back to pre- Covid numbers? " If the entire activity is ever going to show positive growth again, it will require corps like Surf to persevere and thrive. May they live long, prosper, and sell many T shirts at Indy. Save an XL for me, please.
    18 points
  36. I’m not a hater. But don’t love it as a whole product. I’ll keep it to myself since apparently that makes me stupid or something (not directed at you fyi) 🤔
    18 points
  37. It’s a slow night in the drum corps world, so I thought I’d take the time to thank Dan Acheson for all of his hard work and dedication to our activity. He successfully navigated DCI though 2 extremely tough seasons during Covid and IMO this season our activity has come back stronger than ever. He had a strong corps background starting with the Queen City Cadets and marched 2 seasons with Madison including 1975. He was a successful director of The Glassmen also before taking over as Executive Director. i sincerely hope they find another director with the same passion and love for the marching arts to replace him. Enjoy your retirement Dan! It’s well deserved.
    18 points
  38. As a new BOD member of SOA… and a fan of the corps since I was 15 years old ( I’m 60 in a month), I’ve got some dust in my eyes right now. These kids have worked super hard… like they all do. It’s just so good to be BACK. And I’m going to do everything in my wheelhouse to maximize Atlanta support for these kids and staff…
    18 points
  39. Review time! IDK why everything is bold but we will go with it. Overall - Shocker shows come across a lot better live than online! 😮 The only show I’ve spectated since San Antonio/Mesquite 2019 was this same show in 2021. The stadium is small enough to feel intimate and close to the field, it’s super high energy. The front of the top section where I love to sit is so close to the sideline. Great audience that is very appreciative of the activity stopping at WT. Thank you to BJ Brooks of WTAMU for bringing this amazing thing back to West Texas. Guardians - Really impressed with their front ensemble and percussion overall, great teaching going on there. Brass had a good full sound for so many holes and they cover a lot of ground for their size. Excited to see what they do the rest of the season! Seattle Cascades - Great to see them back after four seasons! Big jump in volume from them, they're actually fielding a larger corps than I remember them doing pre covid for awhile. Nice to see those numbers. It's a well put together vehicle for their venture back into the activity. The Academy - I liked this one a lot more in person than online, the uniform design is not my favorite but the colors work really well on the field, the unveiling of the blue looks great in person. BIG full sound from them, visual performance is getting there. Battery was very solid. A little bit of a safe show that I've seen before, but fun nonetheless. Pacific Crest - Not the most exciting show, but not all shows have to be. This show is very nebulous and vague but in the best of ways, the tone and purpose is pretty apparent across the whole show. It’s just so well put together musically and visually, everything is exactly where it needs to be from staging to musical moments. It’s an airtight design in a tier that a lot of other shows have problems in. Brass is incredibly lush, balanced, and blended. Not the loudest, but I’ll trade this approach for volume any day. Percussion is very exposed when it needs to be and very solid, and the guard is great. Highlight is absolutely the Vienna Teng ballad, love the trombone usage. I think they end up in 12th, the only other challenger I personally see is Blue Knights who have a lot more content, but whose show has some bigger issues than this one. I have loved PC since The Maze, The Spectrum, and Transfixed way back in 2010 - 2013, and then fell head over heels in love with in 2019 with Everglow. I want you in finals. Jay Webb, WTF were you watching??? Blue Knights - I found this to be one of the hardest to watch shows I've ever seen live in terms of knowing where to look or what is happening in terms of visual events. I found the staging pretty horrid. Soloists were really hard to find, big rifle tosses were happening in obstructed visual lines, the guard costuming made them completely disappear among the corps. The gong at the end in the center of the radio tower was a WTF. Also found the theme/voiceovers really muddy and feel slapped on to try and give the show more meaning. Positives? They're loud. Big presence. I like the uniforms. The Doors was fun. Ballad was pretty. Trying with some varying success some unique percussion instrumentation and playing techniques, the bass drums were really cool in person. I think this show has enough content to get them in finals, but as a package it's another miss IMO. Best of luck on the rest of the season. Troopers - I’ll get the negatives out of the way right at the beginning. Still really don’t get the show theme at all and the colorguard is a total afterthought from staging to costuming to silk design. And the prop doesn’t do a lot for me except sit there. Okay? Loved everything else. The ballad is a highlight of the activity for the whole season, the harmonica and trumpet duet there is to die for and the build underneath that is spine tingling good. They sound AMAZING, brass and percussion are top notch, especially the percussion. What Lauren Teel has built there over the last ten years deserves more recognition. Absolute icon and star in the percussion world IMO. From the tuning to the arranging and the performance, the percussion is top 8 quality. I think this show has some growing pains for sure, especially on the visual side of things. But they’re growing into being a perennial finalist and top 10 corps in more than one caption. Congrats Troop. Mandarins - This is the best arranged show of the year for me hands down. Vince Oliver, you’re an evil genius. It’s a 12 minute roller coaster of a movie soundtrack. It’s seamless. Take Me to Church is the highlight of the production for me, but so many amazing moments. The section in the second production with the props spinning and the corps weaving in and out is jaw droppingly good in terms of how it builds tension both musically and visually, reminds me of the section right before the ballad in Down Side Up. The solo/small ensemble work in this show is some of the best out there this year, the BONES ARE FIRE! They’re better in every caption this year, percussion was a little bit of an issue the last few competitive seasons, not bad by any means, but was usually one of the lower captions, they’re awesome this year. Attitude and deadly accurate. Brass sounds MUCH more mature in person, full and aggressive. And the guard is wild, so much energy and skill. If I had any complaint about the show, I’ll find one, the yellow guard costuming is not my favorite. Gives McDonalds against the corps proper. But that’s it. Favorite show I’ve seen live in awhile. It’s a RIDE!
    18 points
  40. Just an update on the recent march camp they had. After becoming a recent alum, contracted in 20, 22, and 23, I decided to drive to the camp site to see some old friends and see what the corps was doing. I was only able to make it to the end of camp but, luckily, I was able to listen to all of the music they had up to this moment. They only had 2 parts for the camp which went up to the ballad surprisingly which makes me suspect that the son lux residency will be the star of the back half of the production obviously. Part one is in your face and guns blazing with great energy due to temp AND technique! This book is already miles harder than 23 and I'm a little jealous I aged out in 23. The second part of part 1 gives me the feeling of Kinetic noise with its intense rhythmic challenges. Part 2, the ballad is just gorgeous. It reminded me as a brass player why I wanted to march this Line in the first place. Doug Throwers chord progressions and focus to writing as close to the source music as possible is just amazing. The lines tonal accuracy is phenomenal and dynamic shaping is just as strong. I am truly pleased to be on the other side of the field and once again be a fan of this organization and wish them all the best for this season!
    17 points
  41. I rather have the best corps win even if one corps won every year than not.
    17 points
  42. They aren't 1.5 better than the Bluecoats, they are 1.287 better than the Bluecoats.
    17 points
  43. Hmm do I watch this in a movie theater filled with annoying teenagers who won't get off their phones or in the comfort of my own apartment on my Apple TV with AirPod Maxes on? Tough one
    17 points
  44. Full disclosure my son is a Baritone for the Colts. I really liked the changes and a few more voiceovers helped I think to understand the overall show tonight for them. I just texted with my son who was happy as he'll about the jump in score but then said, we have better runs in us. Gotta like the attitude. The Colts best ever finish I think was 9th, they might have an outside chance to get that placement this year, dare I say 8th with the run of their lives. I really love the music they put put it is a fun show. Very Midwest if you ask me. My son is 18 and a first year DCI kid, he loves it, the talent put out there and all these shows are so good. Really fun to watch. Go Colts, Go Red Team.
    17 points
  45. The duality of man.
    17 points
  46. Very proud Mandarins Dad right here! So proud of my boy!
    17 points
  47. I will be staying up until midnight to watch 🫡 I am getting old and don’t really do that anymore wish me luck.
    17 points
  48. Blue Stars behind Cavaliers in brass is a huge WTF for me.
    17 points
  49. I will take the liberty here and mention that each year ( and for decades ) Craiga helps defrays the cost of financially needy members at the Boston Crusaders as designated by staff . He is not wealthy , but his generous donations to a designated marcher has usually been in the $1000 or more realm. I think such support entitles him to receive harmless periodic updates via texts from such recipients and fellow current marchers . His character is beyond reproach , and he has been a devoted marcher alum of the crusaders ( and a former staffer at Boston in the 1980’s ) for 40 years . As a current high school marching band director in Maine , he has sent several of his students to march the Crusaders over the decades , and they text him on occasion while there too. He knows well the current administration and all the current staff there , and they him . He is a recent retiree and there is nothing “ Ewwww” with any of his behaviors with the current Boston Crusaders . Far from it . Just wanted to be certain we squelch any hint of impropriety with Craiga and any marchers at the Boston Crusaders or that his behaviors texts are of a “ Ewww” variety as posted by poster Algernon here above .
    17 points
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