Tony L.

If they want to keep it in the general area, then I would say have it at the home stadium for the Philadelphia Eagles -- that's a nice stadium. But if they decide to go outside the basic area, then Boston would be fine -- but, when I went there for a college football game, it was one of the most confusing stadiums I'd ever been to -- built in so many different sections that you'd better know where you're going or you're going to do a lot of walking around.

I have been wanting Nixon in China to be done for years now -- and I really think you could pretty much pull out so many possible shows from that one work: I really wanted to see someone try to recreate the revolutionary ballet sequence. But honestly, I really think Vanguard could have a fantastic vehicle if they did the Death of Klinghoffer -- the choruses are fantastic and could translate very easily to the field, and how could you go wrong with an ending like "You embraced them!" So raw emotionally and such a cool ending to a show. Too bad Vanguard has already picked a show for next year. The other works that I would like to see are El Nino and El Dorado. Some really good stuff in both. But, oh well, I don't really see anyone trying an ALL Adams show anytime soon. Remember, this is the type of music that is likely to be labled "fan unfriendly" since everyone in the stands has never heard it before.

So after reading through all of this, I felt that I had to comment on the attitude that what the Cavies were doign was all in good fun and thatthey were just playing with their good friends in the Blue Devils. Well, from where I was seated (fight on the 45 about half way up), there seemed to be a lot more than good natured play going on. In fact, according to the Cavies people next to me (people within the Cavies organization), they were very displeased to see the antics aimed at the Blue Devils because, according to them, there had been a lot of bad blood between the two this entire season. As for the Cavies antics, also, I really don't recall ever seeing them behave anywhere near this during the retreats when they were awaiting an announcement of their championship. Correct me if I am wrong, but to me, it looked like they knew they were not going to win and they just decided to screw around instead of maintaining any semblance of honor or decorum. I bet they would not have behaved like that if they had come into the retreat in first or second. Also, much has been made of the great sportsmanship shown by Cavies by going around to Phantom to congratulate them. I am in no position to know why they did that, but in my view (based on all that had transpired beforehand), I interpreted that as them going out of their way to congratulate Phantom so effusively in front of Blue Devils. I just got the feeling that they would not have done this had they not had to walk around the Blue Devils to do it. Besides, the last time I checked, Phantom and Cavies weren't necessarily the best of friends. As for the Cadets, I really appreciated the way they handled themselves during the retreat -- and the quick exit I think was a great show of respect for Phantom. The night was Phantom's and the Cadets left the field so that Phatom could do their thing. Finally, as for the griping about BD's playing during America, I can't say that I heard anything that awful coming from them, but in my opinion, all of the playing after the cut off came from the Bluecoats. If not Bluecoats, then Blue Knights because the sounds were definitley coming from the right side of the Blue Devils.

I would have thought that the original post was a little too sensitive, but, in Allentown I actually heard two women behind me complaining about the violence. I think there are those that will be very put off by Phantom's violence, just as there will be those who will be put off by the Cadets narration. But, we just need to understand that they have a vision and if that means turning off some, then so be it.

Bump.

I have just received my tickets for Finals Week and I have 2 tickets for Quarters and both Open Class events. The tickets for Quarters are in Sect. 106R, Row 4 (face value $55 each). The Open Class tickets are face valued at $15 and $20 each for a total value of $70. Obviously will need to move quickly! Best offer accepted. Get back to me if interested.

Yeah, PR didn't really have the best run brass-wise tonight. Honestly, as soon as I heard the hitch with soloist (along with several other slight issues), it was clear they would lose brass to Crown tonight. I will be interested to see if PR will be able to push the emotional edge with their music without losing the quality and control that they will need to win the caption. It's a very fine line -- especially with so much quality around them.

I had thought, after seeing Crown on Thursday, that they would be a great 4th place corps, but after tonight, I can really say that I can see them finishing even higher. They were absolutely incredible tonight! It felt like a championship level performance and I will have to agree with including them in the short list of potential champions. Without having seen Cavies, I will say that I expect them to win brass in Bloomington. It's going to be incredible to see what happens! Can't wait.

I was there tonight and I cannot possibly see Crown's guard in 3rd! That is absolutely insane. Oh well, they will be fine in that caption during finals and I would be very surprised if they are not top 3 in that caption in Bloomington. One funny thing I saw tonight and I don't know if it has been mentioned yet was that during the first Gladiator sequence of Phantom's show, Spartacus' sword broke during the fight! It broke right in half! And his rival simply gave Spartacus his sword -- I guess if you are dumb enough to give someone who just lost their sword your sword, then you deserve to die! It would have been a classic moment had that happened during the Finals performance -- right up there with the BD sop solo in '89.

I actually really enjoyed their show last night in West Chester. And I was surprised to find out that my friend who went with me had BK second only to Crown in his rankings on shear entertainment! I think that they should just do what they do and if it bores some, then fine. You can't please all of the people all of the time. And quite frankly, if they weren't doing their own thing, then I fear that a DCI show would turn into simple variations on the same theme in terms of how the corps do what they do. That would be boring!

So I see that there are already a couple of reviews for this show posted, so I will just add my brief comments. First: This was the worst show experience I've ever had!!! From uncontrolled tunnels, to virtually meaningless tickets, to impossible restroom/concessions, just a disaster. Someone really dropped the ball on this one. Oh, and the fact that buses were parked on hill directly overlooking the stadium meant that we had a constant idling engine hum throughout the night. Not good! As for the show: Jersey Surf and Crossmen: Sorry, missed both of you due to parking issues! Oh, I forgot to mention the parking! Glassmen: Had to watch from the 5 yardline due to the meaningless ticket situation! So I can't say much except that I felt that they marched pretty well and that they seemed to put out a strong show last night. I will also say that the show should not be seen from close-up -- I found the facial gestures and other affected movements by the guard, and to a lesser extent the corps proper, so over the top that it was distracting -- I mean seriously, I know you're trying to sell what you're doing (and indeed they seem to be selling it well to the top of the stadium -- but down low it just got tiresome. The only other comment I'll make about the show is that after Watermark, the show seems to meander a bit while it looks for the finale. If they can manage to make that portion of the show as engaging as the other parts, they'll be fine. Thought thescore was a bit generous last night, but I was on the 5 yardline! Blue Knights: Manged to cram into my row (along with at least two extra people in the row). So I was uncomfortable for this show -- which ironically enough made me enjoy BK more. I don't think BK sets out to put the audience at ease, but instead takes its time to present new sounds and visuals that you just don't get from anyone else. Like it or hate it, it's unique and I applaud them for doing it. As for the performance last night, surprisingly dirty and inconsistent marching -- this may have been a big part of why the lost to G-Men last night. Also, the trumpets had major intonation issues throughout, but otherwise, I thought this show was very enjoyable. The crowd really liked the bass drum/pit feature with the great visual work going on on the 50. I think that this show can still go places and I really think that it will earn the crowd's respect, even if it is not a favorite. I had them ahead of G-Men last night, but that's maybe because I am a slotter . Intermission: Yeah, let's make it an extra half hour longer! And yet, amazingly enough, even with the extra half hour I still couldn't get to the bathroom or concessions stand! Anyway, back to the show. Crown: As this was my first live read for all of the shows, I was really looking forward to seeing what all the fuss was about Crown's sound. Well, I am very pleased to confirm what everyone else has already said, they sound incredible! Easily the best sounding hornline of the night -- they have evrything! The stylistic challenges, the dynamics, the articulations were all spot on last night. If it weren't for one lapse of concerntration by a trumpet player in Claire de Lune, it would have been practically perfect. But, I have to say that the percussion for Crown were the real revelation -- they are very very strong and play so musically. It was a pleasure to litsten to the entire musical package last night! And of course the guard were on fire! I have not seen the recaps, but I would have put their guard ahead of BD last night. All that said though, the show as a whole has great moments and is built with extremely strong elements, but the show just feels like its got nowhere else to go. I mean they can add more visual elements (such as the guard vests at the end or the really cheesy and unnecesary corps gestures at the end of the Hungarian Rhapsody bit) but they can't make this show any more than it is: great music, great visual performance and a really strong drum corps show. My fried who had not been to a show in about a decade liked Crown the most (followed by BK) and I think it was mostly because of the great moments they were able to create. Great moments, and fan favorite are great things to be, but they don't necessarily translate into a championship -- just ask Phantom or Madison (non-recent vintage). Still can't wait to see them again in Allentown! BD: I actually preferred watching this show on the webcasts. It really didn't hit me as much from the low vantage point. In fact, the low vantage point made it easier to hear just how ragged their sound was tonight. It was not a typical BD sound and not what I was expecting to hear given the fact that they are undefeated. The most surprising thing for me was just how much visual dirt there was last night -- I have never seen a BD this dirty in August. A perfect example was the move where the corps are in the block and they march backfield bobbing their heads in unison. Well, the heads were together, but the lines were a mess -- I couldn't believe what I was seeing. The guard also seemed to leave a little equipment on the ground, which I am also not used to seeing. The show still got a good reaction from the crowd, and I still think it could be a really cool show, but last night I just don't think I saw their A game. If it was their A game, then they really need tokeep an eye on Crown, Cavies and Phantom. We'll see this weekend in Allentown. Cadets: OK, I must begin by saying that I officially turned in my Cadets Honk card last night. I had seen the show on the internet numerous times and I really didn't have a huge problem overlooking the theatrics of it to enjoy the actual corps prerformance. But last night, live and in person, it was a red hot mess. The stage and actors on the stage are the overiding point of the whole show -- since it is her interview that we are supposed to be paying attention to. But, they move the stage to the back where there is no way to actually see what they're doing and no way to ever actually feel like you're involved in that story. To me, it made me think of watching a drum corps show on my tv with an episode of Oprah in my pic-n-pic feature. I was watching the drum corps show, but had the perpetual distraction of the Oprah show hovering over me and as much as I didn't care what was going on there, it was there and I kept coming back to it. And no, since the show has had even more of the talking cut, I just wonder what the point is? The constant presence of the stage and the actors walking around -- seemingly aimlessly -- just took me right out of the show. As for the corps performance, they are a very solid corps doing some really cool things. But, because of the fact that we can't just enjoy what they are doing on their own terms, but instead have to think of the individual pieces in the contex of the story, it just ruins it. I love the almost ending and it got a really good reaction, but just like everything else in this show, as soon as you get caught in a moment and can detach yourself from the insipid drama playing out on stage, her story interrupts and you're out of the moment completely. I really wanted to say what everyone else seems to say -- "great corps show that I was able to enjoy because I blocked out the talking" but I simply couldn't do it -- they do not allow you to. I guess I can try again in Allentown. Finally, with the actual dialog/plot. If you are going to do this, then please try to make it at least make sense! First, Sarah's daughter gave birth to Sarah's first grand child "yesterday". And yet, Sarah says "Today's the happiest day of my life" huh? And if her first grand child was born "yesterday", then why is the full grown child running onto the field at the end? I guess we'll call it poetic license. Also, my friend and I were a little put off by the line that she was looking for a man that make her happy and "provide" for her. I really don't think that they should make the character a woman who needs a man to provide for her -- especially since she is so busily working on Wall Street. One interesting note that I thought was a little shady was that the girl who runs out at the end of the show won second prize in the Cadet's happiness essay contest! I don't think she should have been eligible to compete since it makes it look like the contest might have been rigged! Oh well, off to Allentown and to Bloomington!

I can't believe I was the only person who bid on this ticket package! I am going to be in Allentown on Saturday, so I will contact you about delivery of the tickets!

Back from the show -- I'll post a full review tomorrow. But, I have to agree that this was one of the absolute worst show experiences I have ever had! The fact that they added an extra half hour to the intermission and I still couldn't get out of my seat to go to the restroom or get a drink was absurd -- absolutely no show support at all. People standing in the aisles blocking traffic up and down, with abosolutely no one keeping the crowds moving. Don't plan on returning next year. As for the show, I thought BD seemed ragged tonight -- musically and (surprisingly) visually -- not what I expected from an undefeated BD this late in the season. Crown was hot -- but please drop the attmpted cutesy little bow and squat from the corps proper at the end of the Hungarian Rhapsody bit -- just a bit over the top for my taste. Really liked BK and feel like they simply aren't getting proper credit for what they're achieving, had them well above G-Men tonight. I'll post more tomorrow, but I have to say that the biggest disappointment of the night for me (a Cadets fan to the nth degree over the years) was the show that I saw from the Cadets tonight. It was truly a painful experience.

Basically, if the church had rights, then stopped using the name with no intention of resuming the use of the name (which I think 50 years of non-use more than adequately shows the church had/has no intent to resume using it), then the has abandoned its rights and the name is free for the Cadets to use.

Just wanted to let people know who might be looking for a hotel still that I was able to get two rooms at the Hilton in Indy (on Priceline) for $60 a night. SO if you're looking still, deals can be had.

I did not see Pacific Crest Today, but as for Academy, I simply cannot believe that they are beating Troopers -- sepecially in GE Visual! I raised the issue on a different thread, but one night Troopers beat Academy in GE Visual by like 3 poins, the very next show, Academy either closed the gap or maybe even won, then Troop spread them in that caption again at the last show before today. Now, Academy was about a full point up in this caption. While I realize that Troopers have had problems fielding a full guard all season, I can't understand how the GE Visual score has gone down (relative to Academy) when more have been added. One would think that the more guard on the field would only augment the lead that Troopers had in this caption. After watching today, I simply cannot understand the visual scores given to Academy. Nothing against the Academy, but that show is so watered down visually that I can't believe that the edge in demand alone isn't keeping Troopers significantly ahead of them. I think this is the key caption in this rivalry, so we'll see how this plays out.

Didn't seem that the crowd at the stadium loved the X-Men as much as everyone here did. Maybe it's a flat audience?

Well, I have always maintained that the best thing to do for the long-term health of the activity is to return to a more regionally based touring model. Essentially do what the West Coast has always done: tour in one region for the first tour, then do the national tour in a way that leads to Finals. If the corps in the Midwest stayed there during the first part of the summer, then did one "national" tour which culminates in Indy (at least for the next nine years or so). But, the problem now is that there are not enough corps in some parts of the country to support a regional tour. But I still believe that it could work -- especially if DCI actually embraced the Open Class corps and All-Age Corps. I think you could get full shows to keep fans happy. This could also be a way for nurturing start-up corps that can build a sustainable foundation in their home region without being overwhelmed by the costs of national touring.

Just moved to Philadelphia in June and already been to see Les Miz., the symphony with Yo Yo Ma, and tonight is a perfomance of Carmina Burana. It's good to be in a city with so many options!

Bump

Does anyone know if Academy changed their drill or visual program in any significant way this week? It just seems odd that they would have lost GE visual to the Troopers by 3 full points one night and then turned around the next perfomance and beat the Troopers in that caption. Can this simply be a case of one bad night or did something change?

1. Blue Devils 2. Cavaliers 3. Phantom Regiment 4. Carolina Crown 5. Cadets 6. Vanguard 7. Bluecoats 8. Blue Knights 9. Blue Stars 10.Boston Crusaders 11.Glassmen 12. Madison Scouts 13. Colts 14. Crossmen 15. Troopers 16. Spirit 17. Mandarins 18. Pacific Crest 19. The Academy 20. Pioneer For me, the biggest fight is for 12th. I think that Madison has the edge over the other corps in that cluster due to the big support that the Midwest big guns always get when competing in the Midwest. All things being essentially equal (which they are for 12-14) I give the edge to the Midwest corps.

I don't think Crown will win this year. But I also think that they can't win until they've placed at least 3rd at Finals. I just don't think it ever happens that a first time champ makes it there without first getting close. Since everyone seems intent on linking Crown to Star, let's just think of this year's Crown as the 1990 Star show. They'll get close this year and then put the final pieces together (like a championship level drum line) and then we'll be able to seriously discuss championships. Crown is just not quite there yet.

So I've not seen Crown live yet, but I have seen them a few times on the FN. But as I was watching their performance from SA, I noticed that they do a mini dissolving company front from Garfield's '87 Appalachian Spring show. I am a huge fan of '87 Garfield and the way that Crown worked that iconic moment of drum corps history into their show this year was fantastic! So subtle and well done. Are there similar references to past drum corps shows in the Crown production?

Check the comment made about 1984. I think BD finished second in 1984, not SCV, so the 1984 results were not the mirror image of the 1983 results.