shawn craig

Josh Early Chocolates :thumbup:/> Folk music festival in neighboring Bethlehem takes place at the same time. Lots of crafts and some nice shopping on main street where the festival takes place. We always go Saturday. Around 11:00 you can hear the Moravian brass choir play from the top of the bell tower as the festival gets underway.

Amplification and electionics have mostly gotten much better since ther first couple of years. Some corps, even top ranking corps, use too much for my personal taste. With so many VERY talented young adults performing out there, I don't understand wanting to cover up their talent with synths and such. I understand applification for the front ensemble, but sometimes it's over done. My biggest issue is with narration. In genereal with any type of music I'm not a fan of it. For me narration rarely, if ever, adds meaning to the music. Rather the opposite is true for me: music adds meaning to words. IMO to date the ONLY voice in DCI that was at the same level as the music ensemble was the narrator in BD 05 (even though I disliked the show and narration itsetlf) He had a voice! Tone, tibre, pacing, diction, inflection, everything. No other narrators have come close! Why add an element of inferior quality to such EXCELLENT musicians?

Chambersburg 3 Nights in Allentown Big Loud and Live

It was lots of fun Saturday at the inner harbor. 275 tubas, including 5 double belled euphoniums, 2 or so helicons, one horn from the cival war era and one serpant. 2 players that were 80 years old!

This, as well as many times over the last 30 plus year, Phantom was my favorite show! I love that the all female guard was 2nd on Saturday. Especially after all the talk the last two years, after Phantom chose to go back to an all female guard, that they couldn't be competative; you HAD to include males.

I buy souvies and support corps that do shows I like; Phantom, Crown, and Madison the last couple of years. I stopped buying souvies form certain corps several years ago. That's the only way to make a statement. I know one person's spending doesn't amount to much, but at Allentown the BD souvie both wasn't busy, at least when I went past. A big decline in sales is the only thing that might make a difference.

Folk Music Fest[/url]Bethlehem fold music festival starts the same weekend and goes for several days. My favorite place is the Celtic shop on Main street. Fabulous tea room!

You beat me to it Josh Early has excellent choclates and other candies. Lots of stuffed animals and gifts. It's also not far from the stadium.

Saw the show in Chambersburg Sunday eve. IMO, best Crossment in a long time. Especially best show design in a LONG time. Full rich brass sound.

I wish! It's just the heat

My first show of the season. Several commented on the scores being down. I think it was due to the Eash Coast heat wave. While is wasn't as hot last night, the previous three days most cities have had record tieing or breaking temps which I think finally took it's toll. Three emergency units were called to check on members; at least one went to the hospital. Several holes in each corps. Some may have never been filled, but in Cadets and Crown I'm sure injuries and sickness. Raiders had a lot of holes nice brass sound for a smaller corps. Main problem is a small trumpet section. Mellows were very good. Not much to say about the visual program. As others said, Teal has a great musial program but konw need to get the visual program going. The Colts have a colorful fun show. Perhaps the best show design in a while. Best Crossmen in years!!! Great sound! Great DM trumpet solo at the end of the show. I think their best show design in a LONG time. Crown Cadets? I mostly do like this show and the arrangments are very good. Love the opening with Ding Dong, a favorite Christmas tune of mine. Great jingle bells. But the Ballad doesn't quite work. They're playing a beautiful song that tells the religious Christmas story, introduced by Linus (from a Charlie Brown Christmas) while the gaurd is playing on the ski slopes??????? Needs to change. Hark The Harold Angels starts great but the ending seems to go a little flat. Crown has more difficulty, Cadets are cleaner. I see Crown staying on top.

I was so disapointed when I found out about this. I was hoping it would be in a much better stadium and planning to attend. For now I'll stick with Allentown as my show/venue of choice.

Be it drum corps at the movies or a movie, It's art, and it's peformed/filmed to get emotional responses from the audience; laughter, tears, cheering, applause etc. It doesn't matter that the performers can't hear you, it's simply responding to music and art. If you aren't responding in some way, why are you there?

Has there been any rumers about where finals will be in 2013 or 2014? (I never can remember which year it can't be in Indy.)

when you add in the physical componant of drum corps it's even better! Musicians Are Probably Smarter Than The Rest Of Us

As always, I'm looking to forward to Phantom's show! I'm curious if the guard is to remain all female or not. Nothing on the website or audition information about it.

Very true. I know the operatic female voice doesn't mature until the late 20's almost 30. I'm guessing it would be similar for the male voice.

Mine came Saturday!

I haven't gotten mine either. I called a couple of weeks ago and they said there was a delay of some kind. Hopefully soon!

My favs in to paticular order Finis A 2nd Chance Triple Crown The Mask of Zorro

Went to the theatre last night. However, I saw all the corps live in Allentown last weekend. Just some random thoughts. I really enjoed Cavies, Crown, Phantom, SCV, Madison and Blue Knights. Phantom's show comes across much better live, or perhaps would have come across better on the screen with much better camera work. Blue Devils? Enough's been said; great corps, great execution, not entertaining to me. Desent crowd in the theatre with a nice mix of young to old. I'd say Cavies, Phantom, Blue Knights, Madison, and Bluecoats got the best responses. BD and SCV had mixed responses, some really liked, others were left confused. Overall sound quality was good except something went wrong during Phantom's show. Just before SCV there were some blips on the screen but we got to see the show (possibly something to do with the thunderstorms going through the area).

It's the staff's decision to not let her march, not her's. She's a four year vet (I think) and an age out. And from comments in her blog I'm sure she's in the horn arc for sectionals and close by at visuals catching the changes and doing the body movement to the extent she can. When the corps has to run, she does push ups, so she's not lounging in the cool gym while everyone else is roasting to death on the field.

Yes, that's the guy. He's awesome to watch!

There are always holes in Allentown. I always figured that they want anybody that's injured or not quite healed/feeling better to rest and be ready for finals week. The only infury I personally know of is Lea, the trumpet player from Phantom who is doing the blog this year. She has a stress fracture and a second stress fracture that turned into a brake in one foot. She's only allowed to march run throughs and shows.

Oh and I forgot to mention the guard was excellent (as always) with I think several of the best silk unisons! Who is the guard captain? He's been in the guard for several years and is always a JOY to watch!