Tony L.

Great run by Pacific Crest! And I finally understand the show: it is about California seceding from the USA. Brilliant!

So at long last I am FINALLY going to see this show live tomorrow. Don't you hate it when your work interferes with the DCI schedule! But, since this has been the one show that I have been clamoring for the Cadets to do for soooooo long (just check my prior Mass posts over the years), I am really looking forward to it. Is it perfect? No. Of course it isn't because they did not bring me on as a consultant! But, is it something that has some great moments that are unlike anything else out there? Yes. And that needs to be celebrated regardless of what number is assigned. After enough years following the activity, I have learned the lesson that the final results matter very little. What matters is what a show makes one feel as the viewer. One can appreciate a great performance, but what one remembers most is how a show connects and makes one feel. That is all that matters. So I willl fly to Indy tomorrow and prepare for my favorite corps to perform excerpts from one of my favorite works and I will just let it be. I hope everyone else will just wait until the season is actually over to perform the post mortem. Until then, ENJOY!

One of my biggest misses from the show is the use of "God Said" at the point they do. Starting a show that is about to beat you over the head with crosses (without any other moments of criticism/humor) should not begin with the key line "Godd @&# good!" I had hoped they would have played with speakers and use of the field a la Bluecoats to capture the actual beginning of the original work. Something thwy could have used throughout as well. Oh, there is more. But those are the ones that occur to me based on the discussion earlier in the thread.

Wold love to see Louisiana Stars, Southwind, and Music City join up with some of the other World Class corps in the South to actually put together a tour that will allow more exposure to corps throughout the South. And that is not just because I am in Louisiana now!

Not sure I am loving BDB this year. Some strong moments, but that child laughing in the first half is really annoying. And some surprising brass intonation issues (at least through my feed). Good, but not primo BDB IMHO.

Really nice show feom Music City, especially loved the step up in visual sophistication from years past. They mean business for sure! But, am I othe only one getting a little late '80s VK from the part of the field that looks like a fire pit? Keep waiting for PeeWee to come riding a bike across the field!

As a brand new Louisianan, I am happy to see such a great young corps in my own backyard. Maybe a nice New Orleans show could be a good vehicle for them next year. Always enjoyed that Magic of Orlando New Orleans show!

So it seems to me that perhaps discussion of board issues/management issues should be held in a different forum. Not to be too literal, but Cadets 2017 should be about the show and what is happening this season. As a long-time fan and donar, I feel like we should celebrate/enjoy/critique each season while it is happening and then undertake a "lessons learned" at the end. The kids this year love the show (apparently), so let them. And leave the needless intrigue for another space. So, most important on my list of show issues, are they planning to cut the absolutely insipid and totallly NON present in the original "can I get an amen". This show needs less, not more. And if you are going to be true to the Bernstein estate, then I would think it best to NOT add text where it was not in the original. Just one fan's opinion.

I never had any problem getting tickets to finals and then last year I ended up sitting down by the endzone! So this year I got desparate and just bought something to guarantee I had something in hand while I waited to get better tickets. So after I got some Friends tickets for Finals I was able to sell the back ups. Who knew it would be a profitable move! Just crazy now.

So I just posted two tickets for Finals on StubHub at their suggested price ($106) per ticket. And they sold in less than an hour!!! The face value for the tickets is $29. How crazy is that! And I felt bad for paying $80 for them on StubHub a while back. It is getting extremely difficult to get Finals tickets!!!!

I am not buying the guarantee that Cadets are locked in at 7th. Boston has a very straightforward show that is being performed at a very high level. Cadets have a show that is still evolving and growing into the end of the season. Give me the show with growth potential over the last week or so over the finished final product two weeks out any time. Not sure that BAC is a lock.

Having not seen Cavies live, I am going to reserve official judgment, but I find the total show to be so cheesy and borderline annoying (and not in the way the Propaganda show needed to be annoying to make a point). But, I am sure they are selling it!

Having not seen the show in a couple of weeks, I was very happy with many of the changes. This show has a '91 feel to it. So many great moments and ideas that eventually led to championship shows down the road. Just stay the course and let something grow, not only for this year, but for years to come.

Thanks for the review! I love the positive and passionate energy you seemingly always bring to the table. So refreshing to see a review that has something good to say for a change! Keep up the good work!

So funny how BAC looks almost exactly like CC from the era right before they won it all. A little too cookie cutter for my taste. Done well, but somehow a little hackneyed.

Loved Mandarins' show. That guard was fantastic. And the overall visual construction is top notch. Can't wait to see them live in Indy!

Really looking forward to Mandarins. Always loved their shows and now they are finally getting some love!

Valid. And that is why I always admired that opening solo from 1998. So tough to essentially come out cold (especially seated) and have the entire show start with a solo. It sets the tone for the whole show. Hopefully the changes will solve the problem.

I think you are being a little over the top with respect to the solo. Granted, it was not the best the last time I heard it on the feed from Oklahoma, but I have heard it played very well as well. Don't be rude. Otherwise, I agree with the rest of your post.

So here's what will hapen this year. Given the flaws of some of the top 6 this year, BD will win as a matter of course. However, I will say if SCV is within striking distance, the crowd will push them over the top. Other than these two, I am just not seeing it this year.

Seriously. Could actually be a refreshing change for them. It would almost be the same kind of moment as Blue Devils 1999. One of the loudest hornlines ever.

So, once again, having never seen anyone live, I really struggle with the Cadests being dumped on the music scores. Just not sure that DCI judges want anyone to actually play one piece ( or portions thereof) as written. Just getting tired of "layering").

Yeah, I am not saying anything about that. I am just saying the overall visual impression (granted while just watching on a small laptop screen) was that it looked cluttered. Not unlike the clutter of a couple years ago space show. What they did they did well, but the overall impression from my perspective was clutter and a lack of clarity.

Just watched Crown with no audio. That visuaal just looks like a cluttered mess. And it seems interesting that at the part where everything is presumably deconstructing, there is one large mass triangle that goes into smaller triangles back into one large mass triangle. Just seems odd. Anyway, did not look good on the laptop. Of course I will wait until I see it live (and actually listen). Just a thought.

Not really sure I am buying what Bloo is selling this year. I am getting a little tired of the Bloo rock and sway choreo. A little too redundant. And unfortunately this year's show just does not seem fresh. Of course having never seen it live, my opinion is just that. So please don't come after me.