Tummygoat

For those they see this as a BOA show because of the theme, look at Bluecoats last year. Tilt was entirely infused throughout the program - every second went by, you could find yourself connecting back to the theme of tilt. This show is similar to me. You really feel brought in to theme and for most of the show your are constantly reminded of the idea and journey with so many cool effects. Of course that closer was a fish out of water. Felt like that belonged to Finis more than Inferno. Just need to start over with that. I don't even know if they can work with the source music. It was just so odd, but I know they will find a way to finish the story and make it connect better.

Great show. This is a very Carolina crown show as it is a crowd pleaser, while still being technically difficult. I love the theme and the music choices but at a loss for the closer. I'm sure it will change a lot - just seems like a intense show and then this hippity little 60 seconds at the end as they frolic to the close. I guess they are including the ascension? Love the closing music, but definitely doesn't fit at the present.

1. Bluecoats - crowd favorite, original concept 2. Crown - another crowd favorite, not as emotionally connected as in the past, but fun to watch (and I'm sure fun to play) 3. Blue Devils - hard year for anyone to hate the blue devils 4. Santa Clara - great visual and percussion (preferred 2004 better though) 5. Cadets - great music to listen to 6. Blue Stars - solid music, underappreciated

Crown has a good show this year. In my opinion it's not as solidly performed as last year. I think Blue Devils, Cadets, Bluecoats, all have better shows this year. The scores make sense to me. It's really a fantastic year - I hate that with SCV that one of these corps will likely be in 5th place with most everyone improving from last year!

A lot of cool things happening in this snow, but the source music connects much less to a crowd. Really just a lot of runs and notes. I would have preferred 'Letting Go' from Super 8 over the Lost piece - there just isn't enough impact with this ballad - one their weakest ballads with this team.

I think a Crown victory will invigorate drum corps. There have only been 7 champions in the last 20-30 years. People like underdogs and this year gives everyone a chance for good memories. Hopefully Crown can produce and make this a special year to remember like 1988, 1991, and1996.

Lets see..... Fanfare for the Common Man The Planets Pictures at an Exhibition Pines of Rome Mahler Christmas favorites Some Phantom of the Opera Nessun Dorma Firebird New World Symphony Among many others... This is a year of classic drum corps repertoire. I think it's an awesome year in a way almost everyone can connect with one corps or another!! That's one heck of a track listing!!!

Agreed. I don't get the infatuation with being so negative toward Crown. There always seems to be a double standard with them when other corps who have done similar things dont get the same abuse. People complained so much how easy there drill was last year. The music was too gimmicky and entertaining to win. The crowd reaction toward Crown does not reflect a lot of the sentiment about them on this board. I feel like the board antagonized the Cadets for several years and now it's onto Carolina Crown. Can't just enjoy the experience of having so many different styles of corps productions?

I saw them live and I didn't have major issues with the show. All the corps need work on their concepts. Drum Corps should be about having fun and performing when you are young. The guys looked like they enjoy the show and that showed in their performance. Some of the comments made about the corps ans organization I think are a little over the top ans hopefully they don't think this summer is a waste of time because some fans don't think it's a first place show. Only one corps wins every year and most the kids are just so happy to be involved.

Great review! I sat on the 45 yard line on the other side and agree with everything you said. I've been watching drum corps since I was introduced as a fan in 1992. I never gave myself the opportunity to march with anyone, but it is nice to go to a great venue like Louisville and take it all in. I dont know what the official scores will be and I don't think it will matter at this point. It is so early that all corps had issues and room for improvement that these performances will be so much more polished by the end o the year. With that in mind, it was pretty clear to me and the rest of the fans there that Carolina Crown has a show in a different league this year. It was very messy, but hardest show of the night and very reminiscent of some of the greatest cadet runs of the past. The crowd gave them the most receptive and emotional response of the night. I am not sure why there are unkind things said about this corps on this site, but the show has everything a fan would love. The sound was incredible. Other than cleaning it up, I hope they can help sell the concept a little more as I'm still not sure it is conveyed effectively. The other issue is there is hardly any color. The whole field is one giant Creamsicle. They need color! Cadets were really fun to watch. You might not expect a Christmas show to be that good. I don't think it will be a championship contender but it will be a fan delight and still a very solid scoring show. As you stated the Cavaliers are way better than they are getting credit for and the sound is very typical of Cavies. They need to work on concept a bit but musically there are some nice parts. I thought the Bluecoats were great. This site really hypes them up and I was excited to see them. They have great execution and a good show design. They could win tonight but their show design is not in the same league as Crown or Cadets in my opinion. The synth was fun but felt like I was in a movie theater listening to the surround sound effect coming on the whole time. This was a very enjoyable show. I'd rank the corps based on show design and what they could be by the end of the year. Crown Cadets Bluecoats Cavaliers Blue Stars

Crown just needs color! Awesome show but one giant Creamsicle.

Does anyone know how/when they decide to cancel a show for weather? It's been raining some in lousiville and potential tonight for storms? I want to see the show but don't want to drive several hours only for it to get cancelled. Thanks.

1. 2003 Phantom - Harmonic Journey 2. 1992 Cavaliers 3. 2000 Cadets - We are the Future 4. 2007 Carolina Crown - Triple Crown 5. 2008 Carolina Crown - Finis 6. 1995 Cavaliers - Planets 7. 1989 Santa Clara Vanguard - Phantom 8. 1990 Star of Indiana - Belshazzar's Feast 9. 2008 Phantom - Spartacus 10. 1995 Blue Devils

Well the Blue Stars aren't going anywhere with this hire. Weinstein really helped bring BAC back to the finals.

How cool. Moonlight Sonata and Mars. What a strange combination, but it sounds very cool. I like weaving two ideas into one. Makes music that is very recognizable new again. Great job!

GREAT MUSIC. Vesuivius and American Elegy will be great on the field! Apollo Unleased should be fun to listen to. With that said, what a terrible idea. I just don't like the Cadets concept shows. Especially ones that are fluffy like this. Themed shows like Phantom and SCV have done recently are great and tell a story without being trite. I will love listening to this show, but again the Cadets won't be reaching out to me as a pure drum corps enthusisast. I hope the members enjoy the year...it will still be an entertaining show, just silly.

That's not true. Several college bands did arrangements this year. Mario Brothers, Tetris, Zelda were all done by a college in California. Made the Yahoo! national page.

Faust was one of my favorite shows all time. Cadets played good music this year, but Faust had a story and took you in. The execution was great too. Phantom always seems to get some magic during finals week. They almost pulled it off last year and should have, so Phantom.

1st - Blue Devils - 82.150 2nd - The Cadets - 81.950 3rd - The Cavaliers - 81.900 4th - Phantom Regiment - 81.200 5th - Bluecoats - 80.900 6th - Santa Clara Vanguard - 80.550 7th - Carolina Crown - 80.350 From 1st-7th right now, ANY could pull off the victory in August. 2 points is nothing. I don't think we've seen anything like this before. THe usual suspects are winning, but there is literally a teeny gap between 7 corps! Amazing...

The Masters of Classical Music have mastered crowd pleasing. This is going to be SPECTCULAR in August. They have the same bold power along with the Cadet like runs, and percussion is just sick. I haven't seen their visual, but you may have to pull the trophy away from Phantom this year. They have done nothing but increase every year with the exception of one year...wll this be the year?

Should be a competitive year.

1. Phantom 2. Santa Clara Vanguard 3. Bluecoats

This is some amazing stuff. I REALLY dig this. Very concert sounding music - great arrangment. St. Gregory the Great is a super song by Respighi and might be an instant classic movement by the Vanguard. They really reorganized themselves this year and from the sounds (literally and based on score) they might be the "dark horse" if you can even call them that. If they win this year I would be surprised because I thought with new direction it might take a while, but they really have a neat sound by those clips. Can't wait to see the Visual!

I think that's a bit harsh, however I can't see how the Scouts can be real thrilled with this score. Hopefully their show is entertaining...I've heard nothing about them all year but their uniform.

I think Carolina Crown is a corps that just plain "gets it." While I know they compete for a championship, you can tell that putting something on the field that is accessible is their main priority. Since 2003 with the switch the new uniforms and totally new direction under the same director, they have completely reinvented themselves into arguably the most entertaining and accessible corps each year. They took some hints from STAR and I see so much STAR in them. I hope the kids are proud of their program as it continues to rise in the rankings, but more importantly with the fans...you'll find very few fans that complain about the programs CC puts on the field...they are just enjoyable to watch and listen to. Great job Crown!