ExPitster

Hard to top ‘92 VK but some others I like: 1989 Freelancers (John Williams) 1997 Bluecoats (4 Seasons)

Since this is a prediction thread, how about an actual prediction...😉 Without knowing everyone's music/theme, this is a shot in the dark. Likely tight competition at the top and in the 10-16 range. Could be one of those years like 2007 where a top 5-caliber show places 7th. So doing my best to balance emotion and reason: 15. Academy - loved their show last year, pretty much holding in place 14. Madison Scouts - slowly working their way back up with a young group and a much more crowd-friendly entry 13. Spirit of Atlanta - knocking on the door yet again 12. Phantom Regiment - in a by a whisker 11. Blue Knights - not knowing much about them it's hard to say if they are recapturing the momentum from years past 10. Crossmen - a dark horse to move up, hopefully another great music book 9. Mandarins - their flavor really seems to be catching on 8. Blue Stars - perhaps another stretch like 2008-2010 7. Cadets - looks to be much improved yet again but the groups above just have too much of an edge 6. Cavaliers - I really would like to see them higher and was a huge fan of their (admittedly over-designed) show last year...but hearing too much hype from the other groups 5. Bluecoats - Ok, as an alum I am officially hedging my bets...can they find and max out another cool off-the-wall concept? Is percussion regrouping after last year's dropoff? Hard to figure with this intense cone of silence. 4. Boston Crusaders - This staff sure knows how to make a show flow so seamlessly...if the music captions are stepping up as have been reported and the guard remains on top this one could be very interesting 3. Vanguard - It seems the pattern for non-BD groups after winning a championship is to double down on all the effects that got you there, with mixed results...can't really count them out with Gaines in the mix 2. Crown - Thank you CC for introducing such wicked awesome tunes to the field this year and they are finally hitting their stride 1. Blue Devils - Hearing the pre-season clips left me feeling that once again they have the winning concept and book (plus they seem really PO'ed after last year) Very excited to see how this all shakes out! I honestly think we are entering a golden era of 21st century drum corps.

Man, talk about a sound for sore ears!! Really loving what the Devs are putting out these days...let’s get this season started already!

The "Avalanche" piece harkens back to Blue Knights in 2009 with their "Shiver" show. Come to think of it, the announcement seems to me like a cross between that show and the Cavaliers' mountain-climbing escapade from the same year. Love the music selections and I'm anxious to see what cleverness the BStars have cooked up for this summer...

Haven't thought about it much until now, but I realize since I started following DCI in the early 80's the Cavaliers have been for me the most consistently enjoyable corps from year to year. I don't think there's a single show of theirs that I DISlike (2009 might be the closest). With all that being said, here is a personal top 12...biased towards the years I have seen them live: 1. 2000 Niagara Falls - still blows me away in terms of music and visual working so well together 2. 1992 Revolution - always remember the hypnotic effect of the backfield guard staging during the ballad portion of Peterloo 3. 1986 - very first live finals...this was a favorite for many years; Canzona was a very underrated opener and the first appearance of the collapsing snake drill IIRC 4. 2003 Spin Cycle - this one spoke to me so much more than the previous 2 championship shows 5. 1995 The Planets - cannot imagine this being interpreted any better, that double helix move had everyone's jaw on the floor 6. 2018 On Madness - favorite modern show from them, just crazy and so much to take in 7. 1989 Gloria - IMO the pinnacle of all the Brubaker drills 8. 1998 Traditions For A New Era - Unexpectedly brilliant...introduced the concept of corps past to corps future 20 years before Metamorph 9. 2004 007 - Yeah, you can't argue with Bondness 10. 1990 Cavalier Anthems - Tough call between this one and 1991, just loved the opener so much this year 11. 1991 Cavalier Advent Anthems - A little safe musically but you could sense their visual possibilities just starting to open up, plus windsocks! 12. 2008 Samurai - Maybe if they had a little more blood on the field they could have topped PR! (hah, jk!)

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1. SCV 2. Cadets 3. Cavaliers 4. Bluecoats 5. Pacific Crest 6. Blue Devils HM: Boston, Blue Stars, Music City, Crossmen All in all one of the most entertaining seasons this century...

OMFG SCV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pacific Crest, easily in my top 5 of entertaining shows this year...thank you for such a lyrical and fun music book from beginning to end.

Also in Raleigh, NC

I just have to say this: I aged out in the pit 28 years too early...thanks Bloo crew for taking me back

BStars sounded amazing in the theatre...when they hit those lush major 7th’s in “Close To You” it gives me all kinds of warm fuzzies. Wish we could here more of those sounds in modern DC.

Thread is surprisingly slow for such a big day...

AMC Brier Creek, Raleigh, NC

Yo Vanguard... y’all owe me a new set of eardrums seriously, the most aggressively awesome drum corps show ever

I have a single ticket available for NightBEAT next Sunday (July 29) in the premium seating section, row YY seat 19. Asking price is $70 (I paid $72.50). Please PM me if interested, thanks...

Wish someone had done that for Zingali. Your comments are most appreciated.

That would be Chip Crotts, BD and Phantom alum (soprano, ahem) from the early 90’s

Yay Trittico!

Tommy Keenum I'll bet...been doing that stuff for a long time

Cannot get over what an amazing job Chip Crotts has done with SCV's hornline...jaw still on the floor with the full corps re-entry following the baritone duet! So many musical textures and effects that I've never heard on a football field before

Kudos for tackling a risky concept, and that drum line is kickin' it!

Frankly I am digging PC's music book...latin grooves, fun whimsical moments, great lyricism and power in the closer, so enjoyable! This is way beyond their "Catalyst" show from a few years ago. Great job, PC!

Wow, I was going to say the exact same thing...my fav since 2006's The Godfather. So many juicy nuggets in all sections and just love the way it's put together! Now if they could just notch the synth bass down during the ballad...

Thanks for getting Music City...have been very curious about them as I know someone marching there