Jump to content

ApathyJones

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    642

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by ApathyJones

    Calvalcade of Brass, Lisle Illinois July 6th, 2014

    in DCI (All) Corps Show & Event Reviews

    Posted

    Quick review of a great night of Drum Corps here in Illinois. First, severe thunderstorms were supposed to roll in and ruin everything, but instead the sun came out and it was a perfect night!

    Racine Scouts were up first. Small group but big heart! I think this was maybe only their 2nd or 3rd show this season and they had some jitters. Some tentative brass as the show got into the latter half of the show but overall a nice showing. Guard had some issues with drops but I am sure the wind had a lot to do with that as it affected pretty much every corps tonight! Always great to see a young group enjoying themselves and giving it everything on the field. Special props to the baritone soloist who had some chops :)

    The Troopers came next and the opening hit was nice and powerful. Had some issues with the prop screens lining the front sidelines on Side 1. They pretty much all fell over, but it didn't seem to bother anyone too much. Again, screen props were blowing all over the place all night, so it wasn't just the troopers that were getting it ;) Guard wore really striking yellow dresses that matched the corps proper and had some nice moments. Percussion played with confidence as well, but the brass sound was what stood out. Lots of big impact points. Seemed to get a little tired towards the end of the show, but nothing that a week or two worth of reps won't fix. Overall a very nice show, but lacking a little in depth IMO.

    Blue Stars were on after Troopers, and they opened with The Chairman Dances, one of my favorite pieces. Was a little too chopped up for my liking personally, but had some relatively difficult exposed parts all over the hornline that were nice. Hornline and percussion were way more controlled and polished than Troopers. Definitely a step up in content and difficulty as well. French horn in the duet was barely able to be heard despite being mic'd and didn't really do anything for me unfortunately. The whole corps started in blue jumpsuits covering their uniforms like a moving company and at some point mid show, sections began removing them to expose the corps unis. Very cool moments when small groups would be in their uniforms and others were in the blue jumpsuits.Neat contrast. Also they get my vote for most ingenious props...lots of carts and dollies...not hard to pack up your props when they are moving equipment :) Color guard had a GREAT show and was probably the biggest standout.

    The Madison Scouts were up next and they were light on props but big on hornline moments. Percussion was pretty clean and have a fairly demanding book. The trombone feature was not as offensive as I thought it would be going in (my primary instrument is trombone, so I can say that :P). Not really digging the arrangement of the opener (Fanfare for the New). It gets a little square in parts and kind of meanders. Back half of the show shines with some strong brass work and a trio of trumpet players that can bring it. Not 100% sold on the down ending, but the trumpet player that closes it out is a beast. Guard had a rough night and they seem to have some issues that need to be worked out in the coming weeks.

    Short intermission and then Phantom Regiment was up with Swan Lake, though you would be hard pressed to indentify it except for the closer. Hornline was pretty good though the book seems like it might not have enough meat in it to go much further. What was there was played pretty well however. Uniform change was kind of ruined due to the screens blocking the transition being blown over but was a decent effect. There is a portion of the show where some members of the guard are covered with big black tubes held by horn members that seems to go on for wayyyy too long, totally ruining any effect it would have had. Overall a nice show, but I don't think they have the vehicle to hold off the pack and unless they get going on the rewrites and additions I think they will end up on the lower middle of the pack come finals night.

    Next up was the Blue Devils, and while I'm a bit of a homer, I have to say it was a massive step up in performance level and content. The opening trumpet feature is super impressive and when the full corps comes in for the first big hit you can tell they came to play. All sections are super strong and the show flows naturally, with almost no noticeable breaks or transitions. The Gordon Goodwin piece is straight ahead big band jazz with lots of meaty baritone parts (which I love). Percussion has a serious book that should be in contention for the trophy come August. Color Guard is typical Blue Devils. Tons of exposed work with lots of different styles and effects. What is being asked of the individual performer is huge. Guard highlights were the huge rifle tosses from atop a ladder to waiting members a good 15-20 yards away (two drops on that tonight which seemed to be due to the wind blowing them off course) which elicited a lot of oohs and ahhs from the crowd and the tambourine segment. The ending is the only part that I feel needs a bit of a change. Not that it isn't satisfying, but it just reads like a placeholder until something better comes along (which I expect will). Easily thought BD were 4-5 points ahead of anyone up to this point.

    Last was hometown favorites, The Cavaliers. BIG step up from last couple of seasons! The Immortal theme comes across well and the hornline came to play. They were on the loud end of the spectrum for Cavies (but there were a few moments of some individuals sticking out of the ensemble, especially in the low brass, and 1 pretty bad release that marred a pretty good night for the hornline). Favorite part of the show was Danse Macabre which is just awesomely arranged. The on field pit tears it up with some insane mallet work! Another super cool moment is when the guard pulls long black silks from the chest of the hornline, which I assume is symbolic of pulling their souls from their bodies. Really cool effect! Percussion was a little off tonight in the battery I felt (though to be fair I'm really a horn guy) but nothing major that can't be cleaned up. If they can get the hornline a little more under control and polish for the next few weeks they are within striking distance of 4th-5th (I just don't see them getting into medal contention, but you never know!) but they are gonna have to fight for it. Great to see them back on track!

    Overall, great night of drum corps and can't wait till next sunday for the Tour of Champions show!

    • Like 1

    Does "Lisle" rhyme with "aisle," "drizzle," or

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    Scouts just finished up and were IMO a clear step up from the previous corps. Not sold on the down ending but the soprano soloist that closes the show is a monster. Lots of meat in the horn book duringvthe latter half of the show. The weird arrangement of the opener is a little off putting but a nice vehicle overall. So far I have it Racine, Troopers, Blue Stars, then Madison. Weather is holding up so looking forward the rest of the show!

    DCI West - Stanford, CA

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    Vanguard will be fine. They are super dirty right now, and there is no way the show is done because that ending is an anvil drop. Spread makes sense to me base on BD being the much cleaner group.

    Rennick takin' names again in drums I see.

    Recently they win drums early season cause they are cleaner but then start to fall when other books with more meat start to clean up. If they are still winning drums 4-5 shows from now then they may make it. BD and Cadets could sneak past them later in the season if they aren't careful. Killer line though.

    DCI West - Stanford, CA

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    Which is weird, because last years' drill was incredibly easy.

    Ok, yes sorry, with a few exceptions...like last year, which was pretty easy (and look at where they placed). Tonight reminded me of 2003 and the like, where the drill is cool and all, but just stays dirty all the way up to finals. 2003 was one of my favorite SCV shows musically, just dirty as all hell.

    Hopefully they can clean it, because I love SCV but it was just awful dirty tonight. Long way to go.

    • Like 1

    DCI West - Stanford, CA

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted · Edited by ApathyJones

    Well, that was pretty enjoyable, will obviously win tonight, and could very well win it all in August, but I feel in some ways like BD already did this show (largely sans props) in 2008. And I'm someone who really, really liked "Constantly Risking Absurdity"--which since it didn't have any synthesizers will probably remain musically more appealing to me than this show. But can we all agree that SCV's drill is much nicer than BD's?

    I love SCV (not this years show yet though) but their drill looks typical of their past 10 years or so, which is too difficult for them to clean in time to be a contender. I know it is their second show, but it was DIRTY with a capital D.

    Blue Devils 2014 Thread

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    This is a complete program! Everything flows nicely, music is super engaging, guard, brass, and perc are all unreal. Props are used tastefully and are fully integrated with the program to where it never seems like anything is out of place or there just to be there. All the transitions are seemless. IMO this may be one of the best programmed DCI shows of all time, if not the best. Anyone that complains this year about BD not playing to the crowd is insane.

    • Like 1

    Madison Scouts 2014 -- Playing the Music of Stan Kenton and Don Ellis

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted · Edited by ApathyJones

    Those who said the music was easy. ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME? There's some technical playing in there, especially Open Wide and Bulgarian Bulge Only Crown has harder stuff that I've heard. BD stuff doesn't sound quite as difficult to me.

    Dude, are you serious? I just listened to the whole Scouts show via youtube and that is a pretty easy horn book! Difficulty wise it can't be spoken about in the same breath as Crown or BD. You need to go listen a few more times.

    Oh, I should add that is not to say it isn't entertaining or that there aren't licks here and there that are difficult, just there overall book it isn't remotely close.

    • Like 1
×
×
  • Create New...