Room_101

Does this mean that Regiment is in 46th?

He can't match pitch, either. Please tell me someone else witnessed that atrocity last Saturday evening?

I LOVE Phantom...but when is this not the case?

Tez, that's a very interesting point that you make, one that I admit I've never considered--thanks for speaking up! I MIGHT be wrong, but I think I saw some members doing it even when they weren't playing. I might be mistaken, and I might need a second look, but I think I remember that happening. That being said, they're USUALLY playing, so it might just be an automatic thing they do even when not playing. I have a few friends that march there. I'll have to ask them!

But being 2nd in GE by 0.05...it might as well have been a tie. Tieing BD in GE while KILLING them in Music (mainly Percussion), that's how they got the title. That being said, I still say last year should've been a tie. 0.025? Come on.

After the show tonight, I have a few thoughts. Unfortunately, I was only able to see the Blue Stars, The Cavaliers, and Phantom Regiment. Sorry I couldn't see more, but parking was ridiculous! When reading, please realize that I was on the 30 yard line, right side of the field when you're in the stands, the THIRD ROW UP. My comments will have nothing to do with overall show design or visual ensemble, as I saw very little of either. I did, however, have a very interesting glimpse right on the field. So: Blue Stars: Wow--this is a different Blue Stars than I'm used to seeing! It's definitely an aggressive show, and they aren't asking you if they can play with the big boys...they're TELLING you they ARE playing with the big boys! The opening hit is quite powerful after some pretty difficult drill--great first statement. After that, though--they have some issues (but who doesn't right now?!). My two biggest complaints (again, coming from field level) are a)Individual Visual Performance and b)the tuba section. As for Individual Visual, there were several, several instances where I saw members simply running to their set. Not marching, not jazz running, not even jazz walking--RUNNING. Toes up, bouncing around, everything. Their drill is quite demanding, but if they can't clean up the Individual Visual Performance, they're going to have a tough time. As for the tuba section, they are powerful, and have some incredible potential, but I hear a bit of high school sousaphone out there! I know Donnie VanDoren isn't teaching you that! Otherwise, tremendous show from a corps that I couldn't be happier to see back in the mix. The mellophone section was the best of the night (yep, you read that right)! Final Thoughts: Clean up the visual, and the sky's the limit. The Cavaliers: This is also a different Cavalier corps than I'm used to seeing. And hearing too! Two (or was it three) tuba features (from The Cavaliers?!) throughout the show. Very cool to hear, but they gotta clean them up. Visual Performance was definitely a step up from the previous corps. I had them winning this caption (on the field), but more on that in Regiment's review. I hate I missed seeing their show from up top, but there was plenty to enjoy just by listening. A lot of people think The Cavaliers are boring--far from it! Their rendition of the Debussy, while not necessarily "true," is still very beautiful, and they sound excellent doing it. THE BEST MUSICAL MOMENT OF THE NIGHT was a baritone soli from The Cavaliers right in front of where I was sitting. It was near flawless. It wasn't loud, it wasn't forced, it was just matched and totally locked in. I would rather listen to that anyday than FFFFFFFissimo Canon into Firebird. VERY well done, Cavaliers. My biggest complaint from them--fix the transition after "Engulfed Cathedral." It's so abrupt, and really kills the flow of the show. This must be fixed. Final Thoughts: Overall, they have incredible Visual GE and Music GE. People think they aren't in contention this year? Those people are way wrong. How are titles usually won? GE. Phantom Regiment: So I never saw Spartacus. Crazy, right? I was so pumped to see this show. And you know what, it's good. It's not stellar, but it's not terrible. I think they're suffering what The Cavaliers experienced in 2003. Right after a history making year like 2008 (or 2002), there's no way for them to go but down. It's just how it works. Sorry. That being said, I'm going to make some people unhappy. This is probably the PHYSICALLY easiest Phantom Regiment show I've ever seen, and the easiest show I saw in the night. Apologies all around, I'm not knocking them down (look at me, I'm sitting on my butt while they're working), but this show is physically a walk in the park. They march halftime all over the place, they stand quite a bit, and (here's the kicker) when they jazz run, THEY SHOULDN'T BE JAZZ RUNNING. I watched a line of trumpets in front of me JAZZ RUN A 7 TO 5 STEP SIZE. It was a little bigger than a 7 to 5 (they were moving upfield as well) but it was NOT something that should have been jazz run. I noticed this trend throughout their show, and I'm not sure why. From up top, it might make total sense. From where I was sitting, however, it looked like a cheap attempt to make the show look more difficult than it is. Please don't think I'm bashing them--just my own opinion. With that in mind, THEY LOOK BETTER THAN I'VE EVER SEEN THEM LOOK. If the Individual Visual judge was only judging clarity, he was right on. Once judges begin to balance difficulty versus clarity, however, these guys don't stand a chance. Now, onto music. Yes, they play more notes than the two previous corps combined, and usually, it's very well done. However, it seems that that the design staff realized 3/4 of the way through the show that it was too easy, so the last 25% is STUPID HARD. Everyone is running (but only half of them should be, see above) and playing 16th notes like crazy. In theory, it's incredible. But right now, it's NOT WORKING. You can't understand it. This is either going to be watered down beyond recognition or completely changed. I don't see them cleaning that up. Final Thoughts: They have more room to grow than any of the three I saw--I don't think we can count them out either. The only thing holding them back will be the colorguard and visual program. Now some random ordinals that I feel like throwing in, my own personal opinion. 1 is best/highest/most difficult, 3 is worst/lowest/easiest. Individual Visual: 1. The Cavaliers 2. Phantom Regiment 3. Blue Stars Brassline: 1. Phantom Regiment 2. The Cavaliers 3. Blue Stars Physical Difficulty: 1. The Cavaliers 2. Blue Stars 3. Phantom Regiment Most Room to Grow: 1. Phantom Regiment 2. The Cavaliers 3. Blue Stars "Musicality" (what does that mean, anyway?): 1. Tie - The Cavaliers, Phantom Regiment 3. Blue Stars Lastly, I want to say something that is SURE to upset some people. I went in to the show expecting to need a hearing aid to hear The Cavaliers. Let me tell you what. Between the Blue Stars and The Cavaliers, I heard NO volume difference (again, I was sitting in the third row). If anything, The Cavaliers were louder (seriously!). I will say that Phantom Regiment was noticeably louder than both previous corps. But The Cavaliers are PLAYING. They have "Cavalier quality" and "other corps volume." Watch out. I'm excited! I leave you with my last ordinal of the night. Hornline Volume: 1) Phantom Regiment. 1.03) Tie - Cavaliers, Blue Stars

Says "PRC06." Hmm, wonder what that could stand for! But to throw in my .02 and really contribute to the discussion at hand, I think too many people confuse "emotion" and volume with a great hornline. Too many people think Regiment '03 is the greatest hornline ever. Not to bash anyone in that hornline, but...those horns were NOT good by any stretch of the imagination. Sure, the music was awesome, and they were BALLS loud. But greatest hornline ever? I'm almost thinking the exact opposite. Now, I'm not saying Regiment '06 was terrible, just saying that people still confuse 'volume, cool music, and lots of notes' with a great hornline. You have to look past the LOUD LOUD LOUD and look at the quality.

Troop-a-loop?

Elmo, Regiment got 2nd in '89 as well, with their New World show ;)

I have three votes: 1. The Cadets show. This show will be talked about in 10 years. Maybe not in the way that we speak of Star 1993, but it will still be talked about. Just you wait and see. 2. The move to Indianapolis. That definitely made a big impression on the future, I'd say. 3. I may be in the minority here, but number 3 goes to that little drum corps from Carolina. After their shows of the past few years, the fan reaction to their 8th place trophy, and the announcement of Lee Beddis, Carolina Crown has me wishing I could march again.

I know that Crown paints their shoes cream. Perhaps the paint they used this year (or every year) is a bit lighter than the cream of the uniform? I also know that occasionally the first show or two of the season they don't paint their shoes, as they spend their time focusing more on the show than the uniform. Whatever the case may be, I know they consciously make an effort for them to be cream, so I figured the shoes in your picture should be cream, as well. Great job with all of them, though! They're awesome.

There is a difference between USING dots and MARCHING dots. As far as I know, every drum corps out there USES dots. They use dots to clean drill, but in a show situation, it's all about the form. Only a few corps, however, MARCH dots.

Only one of those uniforms should be standing in third position :P And Crown's shoes are cream, as well.

"Leaking"? And you're right about BD. I've played on Yamahas and Kings (which is the only reason why I'm making the statements I'm making), but I've never had the opportunity to play on Dynasty horns. Apparently they're good enough!

I wouldn't call the Yamaha label an oversimplification. Like I said, they sound good...IF you know how to make them sound good. And yes, Phantom would be loud no matter what they played on. But if they played on Yamaha's, something tells me they wouldn't be quite as loud. King's are just easier to play loud emotional on

I guess the terminology one uses depends on the person. Regiment 2003 alums apparently call it "pushing the instruments to their limits." I consider it overblowing. To each his own.

You mean they aren't already? ;-)

UGH...not again.

It will be interesting to hear Crown's hornline on a bunch of Yamahas. Let's face it, King horns = LOUD. Phantom Regiment is the Phantom Regiment because they play on King horns. Yamaha horns, on the other hand, = great sound...if you know how to make that great sound. Crown's hornline will sound very different, but I think it will be a great change for them. Coupled with the new percussion staff, they're the corps to watch next year.

My opinion for the best hornlines are most often not what the judges nor what the general public pick as their favorite hornlines. So, how do you decide on YOUR favorite hornline? This isn't meant to put down any particular hornline. I have the greatest respect for every marcher out there, because I never had the gonzos to go out and do what they do. I just want to know how the public determines their favorite hornlines, and has this method changed through the years?

You should look into the Florida Special Needs Color Guard. They performed at WGI Finals last year, and I promise you there wasn't a dry eye in the house. Those kids define "inspiration." I'm getting choked up just thinking about it.