bradrick

In SCV we did pushups in between running the show music in the horn arc to acknowledge a frack. Was the "honor system". We also did pushups during visual rehearsal to acknowledge a mistake of some kind. By late in the season, the pace of rehearsals had picked up so much that there was simply not much time for it. And later on during visual or ensemble rehearsals there was more honor in being first back to your spot than dropping and doing 10 or 20 - which made you an obstacle and probably the last person back to your spot.

Corps are already changing design to accomodate the crappy accoustical situation at LOS. It happened to some degree in 2009. SCV Brass Arranger Key Poulan's designer commentary on the Fan Network for the San Antonio show indicated that SCV's show this year was exactly that. Designed for the domes they would be competing in - and with Indy specifically in mind too. I think it was a sign that SCV's design team was actually thinking ahead and anticipating how the show would sound in these boomy venues. Especiallly with the final show - that is so important - being in a boomy dome. While I understand that every show is not inside (the only times I got to see SCV were outside), I think you HAVE to take the "dome reverb" into consideration because so much hinges on a judges perception of the show. The guys in the green shirts are stuck in the dome trying to sort out the sound they are hearing - and the corps has to be taught how to play in that venue. And the show was brilliantly design for that... in my opinion.

I absolutely agree with this one. It's pretty frustrating to have the DVD's be such a poor representation of what the shows actually should feel like. Some of them these days are just not worth paying for.... at all. In my opinion the audio from the DVDs and live theater events since at least as far back 2004 don't even come close to recreating the sound balance of being in the stadium live. And it seems to me it's actually gotten worse consitently more recently instead of getting better from year to year. Or certainly not changed much. It baffles me how the audio could have been better 20 years ago. But that's the way it feels to me. Kinda defies what you'd expect right? I have no problem putting in a DVD in of 1988 Blue Devils and showing it off for a friend or relative - and being confident that it represents an exciting and somewhat authentic representation of what it felt like for me when I was there in person. But when I use recent DVD's, I feel like I have to throw in the caveat that "It's too bad the audio isn't better. The horns and battery percussion really sounded louder in person. This is not really an accurate representation of what it felt like for the live audience. I think the amps for the pit must have been too close to the microphones or something." I'm really hoping that SCV's recording turns out good from this year (2009) because they were obviously one of the corps that had the balance figured out this year. The hornline came through beautifully and allowed the audience to enjoy the nuance of the music. Was quite stunning actually considering how bad amplification has been managed in the past (not just for SCV either).

I have yet to experience ANY hornline of ANY size overpowering an amped pit. Seems to me that the balance is completely whacked for most corps as the pits are all much louder and overbalanced than they ever were before amplification. At the same time the hornlines are all playing (I suspect due to teaching) with a much more "careful" and "precise" technique. That scenario doesn't really set the stage for a hornline to be too loud. An 80 member hornline today doesn't play anywhere near as loud as a 60 member hornline did 20 years ago... except for maybe a handful of impact points that last only a few beats. (But that's not the wall of sound that I'd tend to label as "loud". It's more the brass version of banging the side of a dumpster with a sledgehammer. Good impact, but not really the same kind of musical power at all.)

Ummm. Wow. That's really sad news. Chris and I actually went to the SAME elementary school in DeSoto, TX before he moved to the next town over Lancaster. We remained aquaintences through the years. Heck he even got to stand right beside me at retreat and blast my head practically off my shoulders with the rest of the excellent 89 Regiment hornline playing part of their New World show. (Was either their opener or closer. Can't remember which.) What more could anyone ask? Here's his bio from his Jester Marching website: http://jestermarching.tripod.com/id1.html And here's a link to a thread where he had to correct some bogus critique being made by a "yungun" about the 89 Regiment corps. http://www.drumcorpsplanet.com/forums/inde...t&p=1963706 I responded to his post by offering to buy him a beer and stating that even though I thought his response was most excellent "as far as I'm concerned, 89 Regiment doesn't have to defend itself for anybody." Rest in peace buddy. Mr. Opus. We never got to have that beer together but I'll drink one in your honor tonight. You'll live on every time anyone settles down in front of the TV to partake of the awesome Phantom Regiment show you were a part of.

I believe all of that to be true. I'm pretty sure the only time Glen spoke to the entire corps (of my two years in SCV) was in 90. He was focussed on the drumline in 89 and the whole corps vibe was pretty solid that year. However at some point in 90, the staff felt the need to give us a "reality check" kinda talk. The kind of talk that every corps needs from time to time. I remember Glen saying something like (and I'm sure I'm paraphrasing due to time clouding up the actual words): "I get the feeling that some of you are kinda bummed right now that you're not winning. I like to win as much as the next guy. But all any of us should be worried about is going there and being AMAZING. Because that's what Santa Clara does." That's the kinda vibe Glen carried with him.

My pics (obviously slanted towards my favorite DCI years) 1984 Garfield Cadets – pretty much the entire West Side Story package. If you have to pick a moment – the company front to the Z pull. 1984 SCV – Company front and down ending to "The Promise of Living" from The Tender Land. Simply stunning. 1985 SCV – The pants machine. 1986 Cavaliers – snake drill in “Korean Folk Song”. 1987 Garfield Cadets – dissolving/reassembling company front with all the ballet stuff happening throughout. 1987 SCV – "Russian Christmas Music". Possibly the best performance of an opener I’ve ever seen live. 1988 SCV – Illusion of entire corps disappearing under the parachute at the end. 1988 Madison – end of "Malaguena". The mello solo to the end defines what “Throwing Babies” actually means. 1991 Star of Indiana – Zingali’s drill. Last 30 seconds. TIE (because they both belong on here): - 1989 Phantom Regiment – end of “New World” show – with the wedge. - 1991 Phantom Regiment – "Bacchanale" closer. Honorable Mention: 1984 Suncoast Sound – Vietnam show. Totally groundbreaking. The shape of things to come. 1985 Star of Indiana – First year corps makes finals 1985 Suncoast Sound – The lick in “Midnight in Miami”. 1987 SCV’s hornline. 1988 Suncoast Sound – “Symphonic Dances for the Contemporary Child”. 2005 Cadets owe much to this show (Sylvester doing drill too.) 1988 BD – Hornline. Ridiculous. 1989 Cadets. Slow motion mob stuff to the drum crashes. 1990 Star of Indiana – Zingali’s drill. End of show. 1990 Cadets – rewinding Z pull. 1991 SCV – Helicopter drum effect entering the field.

Definitely agree there too. They were way better than the scores they received, in my opinion.

Truer words were probably never spoken on DCP.

This poll is missing the corps that I think was definitely the most under rated in the G.E. caption: The Boston Crusaders Fantastic show with lots of coolness, great crowd-grabbing design and a big energy backing it up.

I was thinking the exact same thing.

I was thinking the exact same thing. Absolutely dead on analysis. Perfectly put. I will love LOVE LOVE both 87 Garfield AND 2009 SCV till the day I die. 2009 SCV was being Vanguard in such a beautiful way. Channeling Vanguard’s soul through the “Ballet for Martha” material. I think to really relate to SCV’s interpretation, you kinda need to be able to relate to the SCV identity. It was brilliant. It was musically stunning. A show and performance that honestly took my breath away. And likewise, I think to relate to 87 Garfield in the context of the whole “then versus now” debate” - it’s important to realize they were doing that production as themselves and pouring their corps identity into it too. Instead of relating to it as a competition or decide if either of them “ripped the other” – I view it as Garfield does their thing and SCV does their thing. Both absolute bullseyes. I also want to point out that the OP’s report that “The Cadets made a change to the show that night, where they finished playing their show as they left the field” is inaccurate. I’m pretty sure that endings to the show every time I saw it during the last two weeks were the same that they performed on Finals night. And there’s no doubt it was the same in Semi-finals. (DISCCLAIMER: The rest of this is kinda off topic because it relates to my memories of seeing 87 Garfield live. So feel free to stop reading here if you aren’t interested.) I've had much to say in the past about 87 Garfield’s show. One of my all time favorites for sure. Prior to my 1987 rookie year in drum corps, I had never seen anything that could even come close to Garfield's "Appalachian Spring" show that year. And in my opinion, very few non-Zingali shows since have been able to conjure up the same artistic brushstroke that Zingali and company delivered to us lucky Drum Corps fans and members. It was really a small miracle that the Sky Ryders we were able to make it on time to compete at DCI East in Allentown PA - but we did. And the bus breakdown odyssey getting there was totally worth it. Because on the evening of Saturday August 1, 1987, I saw the Garfield Cadets live for the first time in my life and also I saw their production of "Appalachian Spring" for the first of 6 live viewings. Garfield NJ on Monday August 3 ...DCI Midwest Prelims, Saint Louis MO on Saturday August 8...Ankeny IA on Sunday August 9...Stillwater MN on Tuesday August 11...DCI World Championships Finals, Madison WI on August 15. Each time, I raced back up into the stands to get to see that show again. Some were from the side, more or less. But a few were from the front. Each time I saw that show, I just sat dazzled by the beauty of it all. I'm not even sure I knew the name George Zingali at the time, but I knew I was seeing greatness. The moving forms (more like earthworms in water than what I expected from a corps) and the colorguard always integrated into the drill. My expectation of drum corps was that it would be loud and "in your face" and precise - but Garfield's visual element was so different from what my naïve 18-year old mind thought was possible on the field. Finals night I saw it from WAY up high in Camp Randall and knew at the time that it was an amazing accomplishment of drill writing, drill flow and (especially at the end of the season) execution. You can still hear my screaming voice on the CD/Video at the end of the "tag ending" as they are collapsing the block down and preparing to march off leaving behind those of us in the stands lucky enough to have seen it and felt it in person. So for me, it was the visual element of that show that made it unforgettable. It was such absolute PAY DIRT from a design standpoint. I've always considered Garfield's show to be a "Visual Masterpiece" that I feel very privileged to have seen from up top to fully appreciate (and Thank The Gods recently got my hands on a High Camera tape of the Semi-Finals performance). Heck! I even started my own poll to see how many other people agree with me. ( 87 Garfield – “Visual Masterpiece?” Poll Here) (Looking back at the scores now, Garfield actually seemed to get dumped a little in GE Visual and that's the very caption I would have expected to give them the edge on finals night - if it was destined to happen... in my opinion. )

Probably the best quote I've seen regarding this show all season.

SCV placed 2nd in Brass in Quarterfinals and 3rd in Brass in Finals. So I believe the design of the music program was a resounding success. (The execution was, of course, a factor as well.)

I wasn't there. But it appears it wasn't a matter of needing to rush. It was a matter of rediculously screwed priorities. The reports I'm hearing (some of them from phone conversations with people who were there) was that the corps entering the field one at a time to smoke and music etc. took at least 25 minutes. Versus a retreat entrance that takes 5-ish and then letting the corps play off to their nastalgic corps song (that probably makes some die hard corps fans even weep) and the die hard fans would probably rather hear than some part of the competition show - which takes another 3-4 minutes per corps.

SCV Brass Arranger Key Poulan's designer commentary on the Fan Network for the San Antonio show indicated that SCV's show this year was exactly that. Designed for the domes they would be competing in - and with Indy specifically in mind too. I think it was a sign that SCV's design team was actually thinking ahead and anticipating how the show would sound in these boomy venues. Especiallly with the final show - that is so important - being in a boomy dome. While I understand that every show is not inside (the only times I got to see SCV were outside), I think you HAVE to take the "dome reverb" into consideration because so much hinges on a judges perception of the show. The guys in the green shirts are stuck in the dome trying to sort out the sound they are hearing - and the corps has to be taught how to play in that venue. And the show was brilliantly design for that... in my opinion.

In 87 Sky Ryders we WERE supposed to be street gangs with instruments (...doing our West Side Story show). So this happened after 87 then?

Me too

Awsome review. Thanks for posting it. I sure hope the recordings (both DVD and CD) don't remind people of the years DCI was in the dome in Canada. The reverb in those is pretty bad. My favorite quote from the whole review According to Key Poulan's designer commentary from San Antonio, they intentionally crafted the whole show keeping in mind all the domes that the corps would be performing in - with Indy being the last. (...and obviously very important final venue to understand accoustically as well.) Beating Cavaliers last night in GE Visual while performing such a beautiful and "non-gimicky" program must feel pretty rewarding, I bet. Well maybe not 7th, but certainly not a seemingly safe 1st place.

(Will preface by saying: I probably agree with the need to ask many of the questions you are asking. ) If the guys in the green shirts viewed those things as a distraction, there's little chance any corps would be incorporating them into their show. When the designers add those things to a show - ANY show - they appear to get rewarded. When the designers make so many shows that focus on a special character and that special character's journey or something like that etc etc., the camerawork always tends to focus on that aspect for much of the show. It makes me crazy. But it's inevitable. One of the reasons I don't attend Quarters in the theater anymore is because I know it will be the "first attempt" at packaging the show into a multicam mix - and also because it WILL be a multi-cam mix. I will be watching the High Cam feed on the Fan Network for Semis tonight because it keeps me from wanting to pull my hair out.

I don't know the answer to your question. But in my opinion the audio from the DVDs and live theater events since at least as far back 2004 don't even come close to recreating the sound balance of being in the stadium live. And it seems to me it's actually gotten worse consitently more recently instead of getting better from year to year. Or certainly not changed much. It baffles me how the audio could have been better 20 years ago. But that's the way it feels to me. Kinda defies what you'd expect right? I have no problem putting in a DVD in of 1988 Blue Devils and showing it off for a friend or relative - and being confident that it represents an exciting and somewhat authentic representation of what it felt like for me when I was there in person. But when I use recent DVD's, I feel like I have to throw in the caveat that "It's too bad the audio isn't better. The horns and battery percussion really sounded louder in person. This is not really an accurate representation of what it felt like for the live audience. I think the amps for the pit must have been too close to the microphones or something."

They're not even a real country anyway.

Good point. I answered "Yes regarless of cost" ... But after thinking about it, the real answer is: If people review the DVD's and say that some of the corps are completley drowned out by the over-amped pit, (as has happened in multiple seasons since pits began being amped) then I will do exactly as I do now. Which is keep my money for the years that are badly produced/amped/managed. I love drum corps. LOVE IT! But I am not going to pay money for Blu-ray or DVD of any year - regardless of the price - if the audio is completley FUBARed in the quest to give a couple of guys in the pressbox a manipulated sound balance.