tim_brandt

*ding* *ding* *ding*

I hear a lot from the members that semis was the best run in '03. Would be interesting to hear the difference from quarters to semis. Many alums from '96 claimed the same of that show.

That's crazy to think considering how legendary the '74 show is. Aged like fine wine.

I highly doubt it. Looks like they are in a dogfight for 8-11.

Not at all. Momentum is on their side and they will surely have the crowd. Game On.

Dayum! ... Mandarins, man. Impossible not to root for them. As I expected, I think they are readying themselves to blow to roof off at Indy. Good for them. Quite an exciting year, all the way around.

This makes me miss the Glassmen. Also, rain shows are EPIC!!!! Phantom Regiment in the rain @ Madison '96 remains my all time favorite drum corps moment.

Oh man - 'Pictures' would be bomb. 'Unhatched chicks' percussion feature, with electronic effects to make it modern and hip Bring it all home with the gates of Kiev. I'm totally down.

The different worlds would be a great opportunity to add contrast, musically, visually and costume-wise. Agreed.

Yep, intangible is the right word. It's the overall emotional pull of the show. A good Drum Corps show makes you feel something, and I believe that is what hooks us to the activity. When I saw PR in early June '96 at Toledo, I said 'they are gonna win this year'. Their show had that power that just pulled you in, even that early in the season. When Regiment came out West in '05, I flew up North to see them and they hooked me. So much so that I not only watched them in SoCal, but drove all the way out to Drums Along the Rockies, and flew to Boston. My seats at Finals were right on the 50, down low. It was a very magical experience watching them, and I'll never forget the way that they made me FEEL. In '08, they came out West and I jumped on tour to volunteer. The show instantly grabbed me, I loved it. So much so that I joined back up on tour and got to stay on through Finals and watch the victory, firsthand. I knew the corps was going to win because of the emotion that they captured. It's that lightning in a bottle. Corps that capture that electricity I believe deserve any bump it brings them. As you said, it's the intangible and what this activity is all about, moving the audience. We all have those drum corps moments which are seared into our memories.

I love PR with all my heart, I'm an alumnus. But, I also call a spade a spade. This year's Mandarins are special and I believe they will come out ahead. We will see, though.

I've been warning of this since I saw Mandarins at the Rose Bowl. They will pass PR.

Yep. And Yep. Drum Corps has so much to do with staff and design. Without that, talent doesn't really matter much, does it? Vice versa, if you have a kick ### / exciting design, it elevates the members. All about the show.

I think that Mandarins will compensate for this with GE. And, as I mentioned in my earlier post, I believe that GE carries into all captions, to some degree. PR's show is just flat, I don't see the GE holding up with what the Mandarins are offering, but I could of course be wrong. Hopefully, I am proven so!

I believe that ship has sailed. He and Paul gave us some legendary years. Time to find that magic, elsewhere. They have a great thing going w/ SCV, why would they want to leave that? Or, even if they consulted on the side, it's their side gig. I think that we would want someone hungry and with a chip on their shoulder to use PR as their vehicle for drum corps badassery.

Mandarins have momentum on their side and will surely have the benefit of the crowd in Indianapolis. You can say that doesn't matter, but I've been following drum corps for too long not to feel that intangible 'it' that happens with fan favorite drum corps and how it pushes them over the top and bleeds into all captions. '08 Regiment comes to mind. I think that LOS crowd is gonna be hyping Mandarins and it's very difficult if not impossible to see this subtle PR show overcoming that. Just my opinion. I see Mandies in 10th, we'll see how it shakes out.

"The show doesn’t really go anywhere. " This.

This pretty much says it all, doesn't it? Nice review!

I like calling them the Mandies. It's a term of endearment. They won my heart after seeing them, this Summer.

This sounds bad on paper, but Mandarins are oozing with GE and have a great color guard. When I saw them at the Rose Bowl, I figured it was only a matter of time before they passed Regiment. Looks like it could be Saturday. Very exciting for those kids, they must be hyped. It's the difference between a show that gets the crowd on their feet (I stood a few times) and has a ton of GE, vs. one that just kind of sits there and doesn't really have any big moments. Have you seen Mandarins, yet?

Indeed. I can only imagine the difference in morale, as well. Momentum is on their side. Must be hype to be trying to knock of one of the 'big boy' corps. Hard not to root for them. Exciting season!

So much GE, compared to almost none. And a great colorguard. Seems like a huge advantage. Have you seen them, yet? It's good stuff.

Here come the Mandarins. I think they'll pass Regiment on Saturday Night. When I saw them at the Rose Bowl, I figured it was just a matter of time. Their show gets people out of their seats, as opposed to putting them to sleep.

Agreed.