ExPitster

@mingusmonk Dude, thanks for all the hip links...love discovering new artists whether they make it to the field or not 😉

Dear Boston corps, Your show is absolutely championship worthy in both design and execution, bravo... Listening to your Concert In The Park performance I was impressed by the flow and variety of the musical book and could easily envision the production coming to life on the field. I was then fortunate to witness your show live in Lexington, SC and you had me completely entranced from start to finish. The showmanship in all sections is jaw-dropping and I appreciate the way the show engages all the senses without overwhelming or assaulting them. The baritone/percussion exchange is quite fresh and exciting; probably my favorite moment in the production. After seeing the Denton broadcast last night , this Bluecoats alum thinks you have the cleanest and most cohesive product on the field this year. Best wishes for the remainder of the season.

To @Cadevilina Crown Wow, thanks for hipping us to this band! 👏 Even if their tunes never make it to the field, it's terrific workout music...got some quality minutes on the treadmill with that entire "Masterpiece Theatre" album.

OMG Cadets!!!! i was screaming for y’all like I did back in the 80’s and 90’s. Favorite show of 2022 without a doubt Congrats on a triumphant return to the completive scene and have an amazing summer!

Just posted by the corps...great hi camera angle on this.

Blue Devils 1996 maybe?

I searched and could not find a current thread for this corps...how is that possible? Favorite show of 2019 and check out this clip....(!) (NOTE: This was originally taken from the corps' IG feed, should be ok to post here I would think) Bravo folks, wishing you an incredible summer!! 👏

Very interesting...this is a different story than what I heard back then. I had a good friend who marched the '90 show (same year I marched 'Coats) and can't remember if he told me this or someone else...but the explanation I got was that Marc Sylvester wanted to do an entire show based on Bernstein's "Mass" which would be an in-depth exploration of good vs. evil. Supposedly the BOD was uncomfortable with some aspects of what was proposed, thus the change to the tribute show. I'm not one to post gossip or idle speculation, but this seems long enough ago that I thought it would be germane to the conversation. Funny how in later years, both the "Good vs. Evil" (2011) and full on "Mass" (2017) concepts came to fruition anyway. Eagerly counting down to the start of 2022...

I searched for this and didn't see it. Perhaps you could post a link?

Sorry if I missed this, but I didn't see anything in DCI's recap about this proposal...was it not even voted on?

Nail it Bloooooooooo!!!!!!!!!

Blue Stars, glad to see you getting out of the house and exploring different terrain with your usual class and taste...where will you take us next year?

Mandarins, how about a "Crouching Tiger" show next year? If there's one corps that could get people flying it's them...

Phantom, have not loved you like this in awhile...despite the position one of my favorites from you all...keep pushing forward!!

2016 Bluecoats... Runner-up: 1983 Garfield Cadets

Crown....OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your description of the Blue Knights show is right on point! Enjoy reading all your witticisms...cheers.

Thank goodness for Blue Knights!

Thanks for that posting... Always loved that move right AFTER the original snake in '86 where the straight line rotates into a block in 4 counts...I know it's basic as hell but it sets up the next musical phrase so perfectly.

Right, but that is after he gets knocked out. They do use the rifle with the sound effect to simulate "the shot"...just think it might be more convincing to see the real thing.

A fantastic night of drum corps viewing...hard to imagine a better non-regional venue than BB&T Stadium, and the weather was just about ideal. I actually went with my dentist(!), who I've known since we graduated from rival high schools the same year. Just some random thoughts... NCA&T - Glad to see these guys performing here, perfect way to start things off. Of particular interest were the 8 or so marching floor toms (at least that's what they sounded like, looked like mini-basses) SPIRIT - Love the big dual flag work in the ballad, interesting musical book, and handled all the costume changes well. The ending moment with the door was a nice surprise. I really need to check out the source music. PHANTOM - Absolutely one of my favorites this year (bought my first ever Phantom T-shirt). For everyone ragging on their design, it is one of the few shows that holds my interest musically AND visually the whole way through. I just about lost it with the trumpet/mellophone horn switching...brass players, how hard is that to do? Love seeing the male guard members in the regular uniform in the first part of the show. The ensemble vocals in the closer have a raw energy and you can tell these folks are pouring their hearts into it. I cannot believe this is 12th place. BLUE STARS - Fantastic full ensemble brass sound, though I miss those lush major seventh chords from last year. Like the way they take the theme to the hilt. This was the first group that got me scratching my head trying to figure where the soloist was (we were sitting low side 2 just inside the speaker placement). The uniforms look good up close but man, so much detail, so busy when trying to take everything in on the move...does saturation = effect? BLUE KNIGHTS - OMG...you can actually still design a music book like this??? Where each musical moment flows organically into the next without any contrivances to ramp up the content scores or just provide filler for the visuals? Hard to remember the last time I was so emotionally affected by a show like this...thank you BK, simply spellbinding! CADETS - Much, much more well received live than in recent broadcasts. Brass playing with greater control this evening. No need to repeat others' criticisms, I'm sure lessons have been learned. Did they remove some of the ending from Atlanta? CRUSADERS - I really like this design team's approach. The show is clear, powerful, easy to follow...not just a random assault on the senses. I wish the music book had a little more depth to it. Percussion sounded just fine from my vantage point. My big question, why do they not use an actual slingshot prop?? Is it safety concern? CAVALIERS - Favorite pit of the night! Low brass is also to die for. Unquestionably high energy, feel like it all just whizzes by you before you can take it all in. A few too many visual transitions with the horns running/scattering from one side to the other...used to seeing more craft and cleverness from these guys. Kinda feel like if you put this year's music with last year's visual (minus tarps of course) they could be medaling. BLUECOATS - Smiling, cheering, roaring, stomping the whole way through for my alma mater. "Within You Without You" is my favorite section, show is over too quickly. I am a little concerned by how much pre-recorded material is featured. A few loose moments between brass and percussion, feel like there is more to be achieved on the Music Analysis front. The homer in me would like to see them win, however... BLUE DEVILS - ...are making a believer out of me. So many amazing things large and small. Each musical section has its own distinct groove to it. This is the most ever I have enjoyed the BD guard, especially the saber work in the ballad...reminds of the Cadets flag work in 1997 - so active, yet tasteful and elegant at the same time. Hoping they will turn off the ghost light for finals week. VANGUARD - Yeah, they play the snot out of everything but it just seems like a tale told of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Trust me, I have always ADORED SCV and last year was the bomb, but I'm hoping this angry hipster rebel phase wears off soon. Showing my age here but I remember when Don Angelica referred to them as the "Rolls Royce" of the industry...not sure what make and model would be appropriate now. I did enjoy hearing that screamer trumpet from last year again...does he have bionic lips or something? CROWN - I was ready for that opening hit and they did not let me down! Wish they had used more of the minor mode from the original in the rest of the opener. Intonation in the ballad is just jaw-droppingly pristine, maybe they can get just a little more crescendo out of it? Closer does indeed have that Madison-esque vibe going for it, on our feet well before the end. USMC - G Bugles!!! That is all. Despite my reactions probably being typical of an early 90's FMM slipping into dino-dom, there is nowhere else on earth I would have rather been than last night. The intensity and artistry of today's performers is still as thrilling to see as ever. Thanks to all the corps for making me feel like a kid at Christmas, and to the Crown folks for hosting such a first class event. Here's hoping for all great performances as the 2019 tour winds down, all too soon.

Bloo under the lights 😎 posted from the DrumScorps app

Blue Knights!!! Thank you for playing MUSIC! Completely drawn in from start to finish, goosebumps and tears, just WOW!

The very first show I ever saw at DCI Championships! Little did I know then that I would be marching there 4 years later 😁

Thank you Blue Knights for bringing the slow, sustained musical build back to DCI...wasn't sure if such things were allowed anymore. Best wishes on the rest of your season and I can't wait to hear it in Winston-Salem.