NakedEye

😃👍

Honestly, this may have been the first woman I can remember hearing, and she really was excellent. I meant to comment on it last night and forgot with the typhoon distracting me.

The woman who announced the (non-canceled portions) of the Akron show last night was fantastic. I hope they recruit her for more shows in the future.

An interview the other day said they have at least one from EVERY year 1972-2021.

The writing’s on the wall.

Now I see. That is some ugly radar. 😬

Is there a weather issue? I went out of the room as the Colts were approaching and now.....empty!

So, to really enjoy an alumni performance, you have to have enough seasoning to remember when the selections in the show were performed for the first time. It will instantly transport to you back to the wonderful time you had in the past, plus fill you with appreciation for the now, much older folks who have changed so much, putting in this tremendous effort to give you that trip. Or, just have an open enough mind to recognize quality and dedication when you see it. I have a friend of a friend in the guard (on one knee replacement) who says this is the hardest thing she's ever done in her life, but is loving every minute of it. She also chose to do flag, rather than rifle as apparently the rifles get on the ground and she said "there is no getting up from that." LOL I can't wait for this and I never even really liked Bluecoats that much until the last decade or so. Apparently the current design staff created this show, so I expect it to be magical.

From what I remember, this is not atypical for them. They never do the Ohio show leading into Finals and usually squirrel away some place to tweak and detail. The nature of their constantly evolving designs somewhat mandates that and they are usually not completely finished and locked in until Prelims.

You are reading waaaaaayyyyyy too much into a general observation, which was not directed at any particular corps. ✌️

If the conditions on the two nights had been more comparable, I would agree, but Friday had huge storms just before the show, a delay, and then everything wet and really soggy air. The top 3 were all noticeably off their game. I have no doubt the panel tried to honestly rank all they saw as one group, but tonight’s corps had a clear environmental advantage that resulted in stronger relative performances.

I’ve been waiting for them to restage the ballad, but looks unlikely to happen at this point. Ever since they added the tarp, I’m unclear where to look - the moving tarp full of heads on the right, the roughly same size blob of low brass and sabres on the left, or the battery inching forward in the back. There is a lot competing for attention and an odd split focus arrangement.

Much better weather tonight.

This is probably a dumb question, but...does a war happen? I can’t tell. 😂 There is discussion in the bar and factions and I think sorrow, but I’ve been unclear if there is an actual battle. Maybe a very polite one? 🤔

I think I actually preferred the show with the tarps missing during the recent wet shows. The have plenty of visual complexity without them.

I would add to this that Boston has to perform their show with 100% intensity or it doesn’t work. The first half of the season, their show didn’t grab me at all. It just seemed to lay there, but then something started happening in TX and it became a completely different, riveting animal. Tonight it felt like early season again. If they don’t put the fire in, it doesn’t engage. In contrast, BD has such deep content layering that, even on a flat night, there is just so much in it visually and musically that it will still communicate. Their staff filled the show with fail-safe moments as insurance. Next week they are in their comfort zone with the indoor rehearsal space at the end of the week, so tonight may have been the best chance to knock Blue Kong off the Empire State Building.

Perhaps flight cancellation? There were tons today, but you would think they would have a few subs on the ready as well.

The intensity Boston had the other day felt smothered under a humidity blanket. Other than some solo gargling, the BD first half seemed pretty solid, but then they went under water in the second part as well. But there weren’t a lot of high-profile visual goofs.

I called them the “sleeper” the other day, and not just because of the PJs!

Especially if it has interval errors like it did tonight. Hopefully a one-time thing.

Event concluded without scores? 😑

Everyone after Phantom seemed flat to me, and maybe Flo is the source of the weird sound stuff as I didn’t think Bloo, BD or Boston sounded that great. Perhaps the long day of challenging weather? Boston’s guard had quite a few uncharacteristic errors and BD’s guard seemed the strongest they have been, so no idea how that will end up.

Bloo and BD have first rate dance folks on staff. Anyone who wants to get close to their level of movement needs to follow suit.

6-10 is going to be a bloodbath. Phantom will really be able to launch off this show next year.

I’m not entirely clear on what theme is supposed to convey, but it seems to be sending the message that bad things happen to you when you wear a red scarf! 😜