jonomaphone

Karma note: this thread went up and Madison's score jumped. LETS KEEP SENDING GA (good attitude) TO THOSE GUYS!!

Pretty sure Glassmen '97-'02

Scouts '03 - '06

thanks tim

about BD's drill: i went down to the front rows (section c) for their show and didnt get to see the drill really (actually, as my face was melting, i couldnt see much of anything). so - how is the drill? im generally hearing much of the same from past years.

madison scouts.

I dunno if you stuck around for America, but right before they started, someone in the stands yelled "Go Blue!" Aside from having my face ripped off by BD, it was my favorite moment of the night.

Madison's Drums on Parade is, in my opinion, one of the best local shows of the year. They've always had a nice site and the staff is one of the best. This year at Memorial High School, the show was incredibly well organized and run. Something to note for other show sites: the seat numbers were marked in chalk on the concrete floor and were EXTRA WIDE. Very comfortable. I arrived at 6:50 and bought a ticket from the "$25 tickets" line that put me halfway up and inside the side 2 40. Additionally, parking was free and programs were only $1. All together, a great site. Now to the corps. I'm going to give my impressions of their program from more of a GE/performance perspective and then thoughts on design (I'm a hornline guy, so this might be a little light on guard thoughts). Unfortunately, I haven't yet evolved a system as elegant as Hrothgar's for this, but I'll do my best. Capital Sound Impressions: This show is just fun. Playing some standard "oh, that's French" music, their program keeps you smiling throughout. From where I was, the audience just ate it up. Thought the corps was a little percussion heavy, the 16 member hornline did not fail to impress. Though there was alot of dirt in the performance, everything going on was very clear. The brass were a bit tuba heavy, but as soon as I heard the first tuba solo, I understood why. The girl playing the solos really has some pipes. There were even a few points where she over balanced the entire corps at ff. Awesome. The jazzy trumpet solos in the opener were well played and fired up the audience. The pit of 4 (..or 5) really held their own and proved again that pits don't really need to be amped, especially with the quality of instrument they are playing. Lots of battery features. Pretty clean too. Guard was fun, especially with the costume change near the end. Most importantly, the kids seemed to be having fun. Design: I was a little worried at first about a 16 member hornline standing up to 17 in the battery (7 s, 3 q, 4 b, 3 cym), but it worked out really well. Most of the time, the battery played under the horns and played out during features. The drill really worked for them, making the corps seem much larger than the usual 'variations on a line' drill that smaller corps tend to have. The horn book was not too challenging and I think they will be able to clean the heck out of it by late July. The drum book was much the same. From a programming standpoint, their selections fit perfectly with each other and the minimal transitions work. The music is at a happy medium between straight and over arranged, leaving the program interesting and full of changes. That was actually one of my favorite aspects of the show, as the music changed styles about 10 times throughout while sticking to about 4 or 5 themes. The staff at Cap. Sound has given these kids a great program that is very accessible to everyone in the audience. Scores: Judges gave a 52.850. I had them at around a 55, so it seems about right (I would have scored them higher in GE music, but everyone dropped down tonight). I have no idea where this corps could be come August, but if they keep having fun with it, it really wont matter. Honestly, this program/corps is perfect for the beginning of the show. It puts everyone in a good mood and gets them pumped for more drum corps. Great work, Capital Sound. Pioneer Impressions: Ah, G bugles. The first hit was awesome and raw. Just what I was looking for. From there, there were alot of great performance moments. Drumline is VERY solid, as is the guard. The thing that stands out most in my mind was the intensity of sound from this corps. Clearly not a full hornline, but a very solid corps tone. Loved this show. Fun. A favorite drum corps moment occurred tonight. In fact, every time I see Pioneer I realize that this is one of my favorite parts of corps. They played themselves off while trouping the stands. I always forget about it until right before it happens, and it always puts a smile on my face. Wish more corps did this... Oh, pit was over amped, and it bugged me throughout...staffer just stood at the mixer and stared at the audience... Design: The reason my impressions section is so short is due to this. There are alot of great kids at Pioneer, and a really solid staff. Unfortunately, year after year, they are given a show that is stylistically very similar to every other year. Thats what really gets me. Their book is, at times, very difficult (both visually and musically) and they usually perform the heck out of it. They play interesting music every year that is always very hummable, and the show is lots of fun to watch while you're there. However, I forget about the show within hours and confuse it with every other show I've seen, all the way back to 95. They're all arranged very very similarly. Its not the same as BD '03, '04, which I mix up all the time, or Cavies '01, '02, '03, which were orig. shows by the same guy (so they sounded relatively similar in style). Its that these shows are voiced so alike, and arranged using such a similar formula that they get lost in my mind. Now, before flaming me, let me say this: I love Pioneer. Not only are they one of my favorite early show corps, but I've marched with at least a dozen members. I'm not a hater, just saying that there's something wrong with their design formula. Ok *stepping off soap box*. Flame away. Scores: Judges gave a 60.300. Pretty much agree (I had them at 61). Guard was great. I had the drumline higher than 'scades, but it was so close anyway. Good show. Cascades Impressions: Out of the gate, a very mature and LOUD sound. Enjoyed the program. As the show went on, the hornline got weaker and there were more obvious brain-farts from the corps as a whole. As this corps cleans and gets used to being on the road, they will take off. Lots of first show jitters, so I won't say too much about performance. Just know that it was good. Design: Great concept. 'Three' is such a simple concept that they can tie it to anything. And being in the audience is nice because you notice all these allusions to it. 3 hits, a triangle, 3 statements of a theme, 3 lines, etc. The book is currently a little over the heads of the hornline right now. They are having trouble with notes in the meatier passages. Will clean up and be a good show. Same goes for the drumline and the guard. Scores: Judges gave a 63.950, I had them at a 64. At their next show, they will probably be at a 65-66. Southwind Impressions: The yellow team was on their game. This was my second viewing, and it was much more enjoyable. The horns have really started to take hold of their book and and play. A few minor performance issues, but nothing that stood out. Design: They might be struggling a bit with their custom show concept. The issue with original shows is that if its not very melodic, people forget about it and its hard to be intense about. This showing was much better than the last and I think they've had some changes to solidify their concept. Will get better as they continue to adapt the program. Scores: Judges gave a 64.500, I had them at a 65. If they can solidify their concept early enough in the season, they will be able to build alot of consistency and might push their way into semis. Blue Stars Impressions: The rumors are true. Amazing show. Really entertaining. Great solos. Great music. Great arrangements. Nothing else to say. Design: Very mature design for this corps. Their new uniforms add to the visual package by giving some pop to what would otherwise be a pretty standard drill book. My only beef is near the end. The corps falls into a company front circa Cavies '00 on the front sideline (ish). Beautiful music and all, but nothing really happens for about 40 seconds. There is a guard soloist, and the drumline is in the backfield, also standing still. If the design team is planning on adding some body here, great. As it is, it really needs something. A thought: if they are trying to emphasize the guard soloist, maybe have the rest of the guard lift a black curtain in front of the corps proper. This would help my confusion alot, as I wouldn't be expecting the hornline to do something. Also, it would give a neat effect (beautiful choral coming from nowhere). Otherwise, an amazing show. Scores: Judges gave a 71.000, I gave a 73. Close enough. Great show. Great kids. I hope they get to play Saturday night, if not just so the program gets to be heard. Madison Scouts Impressions: Hometown corps came to play. Second viewing. Awesome. The changes make the program more intense and enjoyable. Biggest problem for this corps right now is individual meltdowns. lots of guys missing releases and forms. They just need to tighten the mental screws. I have to head for Kalamazoo now, so I will finish the Scouts and MBI sections tonight before I write my next review. PS - sorry about the lack of detail for a few corps - due to a 2 hour traffic jam on the way home, i didnt get back until 5 (supposed to be a 3hr 30 min drive, became 6) so my brain is a little gooey today. PPS - also, my first review. woot.

last night in madison i was sitting in the middle of a rather large cap. sound parent group. im pretty sure it was their first show as they were asking the stock questions: "do they get bigger?, how do they feed everyone?, does everybody in the corps have to audition?, do they do the same show all summer?," etc... And they were GREAT during the corps performance, with lots of 'oohs' and 'aaahs' and no extraneous talking. however, their son came up after their show and brought his girlfriend. he was fine, but she spent at least 2 or 3 minutes of every corps performance berating the corps that didnt have a cymbal line. loudly. and comparing them to bands. boo corps kid girlfriend. you should know better.

intro to madison's show at decatur. it may have been dirty, but it was intense.

fantastic

Ok, so most people can somewhat agree that 2006 was a great year for DCI. Pretty much every corps had a very competitive and enjoyable show, regardless of amps and other controversial things. Most every show was, in some way, progressive and unique, whether it be in: program design, volume, maturity of music, fun level, visual, retro-ness, etc. Also, I think that we can all agree that even the 13 - 17 corps had very strong shows that were probably of finals caliber for many other years. This brings me to my question: where do you think they would have placed in any other year? This doesn't need to be a specific year that they are all competing in, just where they would have averaged in the past. Here's mine: Cavies: 1st Phantom: 1st BD: 1st Coats: 3rd Cadets: 3rd SCV: 4th BK: 5th Crown: 5th Madison: 7th BAC: 8th G-men: 8th Spirit: 10th (in the 80's would have been 6th or higher) Colts: 10th Blue Stars: 11th X-men: 11th Cap Reg: 11th Mandarins: 12th Honorable mention: Academy: 10th What's your idea?

what if we were still on a full tick system, where heel heights were checked? what if there still had to be a concert number? what if something happened at a show and all the corps went on in rehearsal outfits? what if shows were during the day time instead of nite (mostly)? and most importantly, what if (while still having a full pit and such) corps were still on no valve/rotor bugles?

I see where you're coming from, but I've got to point out that the pit balance won't be one bit of a problem, what with amps (for the pit instruments) and all. In fact, with proper part writing and good amping, the pit could probably be reduced by 2 people. Also, the drum line balance shouldn't be much of a problem, with relatively good staging and a will written part that corresponds to the horn book. I figure that if star 91 could win w/5 snares that could be heard 99% of the time while staying out of the horn line's way during hits, a 9 man line could do just fine with 81 horns. If you really wanted to balance the line though, you could take the 2 dcp nerds and those 2 displaced pit folks and have an 11-6-6 line, or just add 4 cymbals, all while still preserving the 36 member guard (I think guard blocks are a terribly under-used idea). -jonomaphone

I'm surprised that no one has considered the awesomeness of the 81 member brass line (9x9 block). 23 trumpets 16 mellos 18 baris 10 euphs 14 tubas ------------ 81 brass 9 sn 5 quads 5 basses 10 pit ------------ 29 percussion 36 guard 2 dm 2 dcp nerds to sit at home and flame the other corps :P -------- 150 members -jonomaphone

Georgia On My Mind. N'uff Said