trumpetcam

Having seen Scouts, Spirit, Colts, as well as trip to CA seeing Mandarins, Academy, Troopers, I don't think Scouts will ultimately make the top 12 this season. I think its clearly an issue of better designs and levels of performance. I think that while Scouts have been treading water and maintaining, groups like Mandarins and Spirit have made major headway in all areas during that time. Its the reality of the activity and both of those groups have been rebuilding for several years now and are clearly starting to see the competitive results. I don't think Scouts are necessarily doing anything wrong, it's more that these other groups have just gotten that much better recently. We are seeing much more parity in the middle of World Class right now and the line between 10th and 17th is becoming very, very thin with little room for error. Hit or miss a show design and you could go up or down 4-5 spots any given year. I'm not a huge fan of Scouts uniforms and design this year, but they still have enough talent and teaching to make a push for finals if everything fell into place AND these other corps in their group started to fade. I just don't see it for 2018, but that's my own take.

Evidently they played the whole show last night for a community peformance and word is it’s smokin’ already! Should be in for the shows I’m assuming at this point.

And we may also have a new record for highest note in DCI history as one of their trumpet soloists is playing an E above double C at the end of the ballad. I remember hearing an F above double C in Madison and maybe BD in the 80’s, but that was on a G bugle. This would actually set the record and word is this kid can actually play an A above that! Crazy!!

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Correct, but they also beat BD in brass quite a bit during the season, hence my first statement. I did hear Crown on the video and sounds like another great line, but I wouldn't be so sure it's that much better than any of these other groups. Lets wait and see in 10 days. Everyone sounds great standing still right now. I am with you, however, that until someone knocks them off, they are still the King. They've earned it and someone will have to really bring it to unseat them. Should be quite the brass season if everyone is that much better in 2018.

I dont know honestly. I just remember watching them in the 80's and remembering that look when they marched, it was so cool!

I bet SCV, who beat everyone in brass last year minus Crown, might also have something to say this season as well. Boston wont be an easy out either. I agree, a VERY competitive brass caption in 2018.

I agree with you. Gone are the days where corps were mainly identified by their uniform (SCV aussies, Phantom helmets, BD spats, Cadets maroon, etc..) and that was something we all loved about them. Talking with many of the younger kids today, they seem to love the new look each year. To be fair, many of them grow up in BOA type bands and WGI groups where they already do this same thing, so I think it's just become the norm and somewhat expected for this generations of young performers. I suppose VK sort of did this back in the day, but even they were identifiable but the VK baseball caps and red converse CT's!

Sadly, it also because the judges wouldn't know how to reward it now. If you don't play something wth endless bodywork, jumping up and down and doing backflips on a double high C, there is no credit given. Melody left because those playing it were not getting enough credit and its also hard to fit when the visual design now is more about staging and body than flowing and musical drill. Phrase are no longer 8-12 measures, they are 2-4 counts now.. The match is just not quite there anymore. Some try and have done it well (Crown, older Phantom, etc.) but BD made sure that if you want to win, "chop and bop" is a good way to get there. (To be fair, their ballad last year was very melodic and a big reason why I believe they won the championship). Just give me a little melody now and then and I'm a happy camper!

I think the uniform (costume), as unique as it is, looks fine and clearly matches the theme. I mean, it is 2018 and costuming is more what the corps are going for than a basic uniform to enhance the character. I'm pretty old school, but I've joined the dark side and as long as it's more comfortable and easier to march and play in, then I'm cool with whatever fits the show concept the best. DCI is still behind WGI in totally off the cuff costumes, but it's just where the activity is going now. I'll just close my eyes and enjoy the music since the color I hear will be just fine!!

I don't think so. Had a friend who saw them, said a number of great solos and solis, but no set featured group. I think that concept was probably created specifically for their show last year. He keeps saying the brass are the real deal this year and that the music book can compete for a championship! I'll be interested to see how they and BD match up in less than two weeks!!

Here, here!! I for one think they sound WAAAYYY better than they did at this point last year, probably better than they did in early July. Much more clear sense of pedagogy and uniformity of tone, balance, pitch, etc. I think folks complaining about tuning have no idea what it's like to play on a cold night in the Midwest after 12 hours of blowing your face off. Go listen to Crown and BD, they have tuning issues as well in early June.. That's very minor compared to the clear improvement already in quality and clarity of the ensemble. I do think there are a few concerns with the written book between percussion and brass at times, where percussion writing muddies up the brass clarity, but overall its a MUCH stronger product already than what I heard from them in early July last season. They will keep growing and tweaking and I think we might just get some of that Phantom sound and energy back this season thats been sorely missing for a few years now. Good luck and SUTA!!!

True, I was only referring to Opening Night. You are correct, except that BD placed 5th in 1991. If I had to place it right now for Finals I'd guess: SCV Crown BD Bluecoats Boston Cavaliers BK Cadets Phantom Blue Stars Crossmen Madison

1. Crown - Just think they are going to click with the design team in year 2. Hornline will always keep them in the hunt and Sacktig knows how to write to win championships. 2. Bluecoats - I just think too much talent and they've learned from last year's mistakes. Too good to count out these days. 3. Cavaliers - The buzz says Boston, but I think the Cavaliers have been building and are going to maintain or push for higher this season.All areas are strong and balanced. 4. Boston - I have no doubt that with this team, they could be up there by the end. Not sure they will start quite as strong as the groups above. Could be totally wrong. 5. Blue Stars - I like their program, hornline is very good and I just see them being more balanced to start the season than PR. 6. Phantom - Should be an improved corps, especially in the brass area. wont be surprised if they are above Blue Stars.

Had a friend who drove over from Medford for the preview. They did about 5:00 minutes of the show and then a standstill performance for a large turnout crowd. No audio or video, but evidently props are super cool and the whole corps is very strong. He said percussion is outstanding as usual, guard is great, but that the hornline is on a totally different level this year. Said the show was super exciting and each tune was very unique, right up Vanguard's alley. Just makes me look more forward to seeing them later in the season!

I agree with you in some regards. However, BD has always "written to the sheets" and focused on what is going to get them the most points, You can't win that many championships without doing that purposefully. The problem is that harmonically the jazz vocabulary is so much denser and thicker that its just harder to get the same clarity and transparency that Crown gets. I'm not saying Crown plays an easier book by any means, but when you write in a lot more unison and major/minor chords, its way easier to create a clear sound. Crown, IMO, just out cleans and out "clears" everyone else, partly due to the nature of the harmonies they use, or don't use. Its more exposed in some rights, but a much easier sound for judges to evaluate and digest. Also much easier to play loud in unison, fact. Its a design choice and since they've had so much great success and are rewarded year in year out for doing it, why change? The quality is still fantastic and musicianship is strong, so it still "checks all of the boxes".The judges (and many of us) clearly like that sound and style and if you can't be that clean, forget about it. Unless BD and other corps are willing to change their sound, writing style and approach to match, its going to be awfully hard to beat Crown at their own brass game. It took an incredible BD line in 2014 to beat them and that book was a little thinner, combined with a ridiculously talented brass line. Crown wins year in year out with all ages in their line, so its a writing, teaching, design, out cleaning and "judges like the sound" thing. Hard to beat that in today's day and age. Very similar to the Rennicks and SCV almost always winning drums. Aesthetic and musicality go much farther than cool and dense in terms of sheet reward in performance areas. I personally love the variety of sounds in the activity, but if I was Crown, I'd never change my style unless they quit winning brass. Same as BD design with all of those championships. if anything, I'd say Crown has taken BD's model of design and applied it straight up to the brass area. Time will tell if their overall design will catch up to that level and create a number of championships. You can only ride a great hornline so far in today's drum corps activity if you want and expect to win championships.

No BDB or SCVC? Im waiting for the day when one of those organizations has 2 corps in finals.. Would not be a shocker to see it happen in the next year or two.

Boy, it sure is silent on the SCV front for a team that came in 2nd last season.. I'm sure they LOVE quietly building another program to knock our socks off while many count them out behind the mighty BEAST, the new darlings from Boston, and BD. Considering what they've been building for several years now, I would not be surprised to see them take another step and win it all in 2018. We are a fickle bunch here on DCP, and seemingly the lack of videos and media has caused many to doubt their potential or forget about them in the mix. I think Rosemont and Santa Clara could really upset the "usual applecart" this season. Curious to see how everyone starts in 3 weeks!!

Cool. Wonder why he is not listed as a composers for their official production. That seems surprising.

It’s not on BD’s repertoire list. At least not Peter Graham’s version.

Which tune is that? I don’t see any duplication on either music list? The brass band composers are both different.

They've been so quiet this offseason, it leads me to believe that they are going to come out swinging and firing on all cylinders. I think SCV likes being under the radar, and with the success of last season, Gaines doing the drill and this design team, the sky's the limit. I'd expect a really different and interesting show this season. Vanguard got their name for a reason, after all.. Corps wise, with the defending championship percussion and guard units, along with brass that should be ready to compete at the top, I think they have a real shot to push for the Championship in 2018. I too am excited to see the announcement and check out the music!!

Right up their alley. Aggressive brass and intense music! Sounds very cool!

The short answer is consistency of BD Brass Staff. Its primarily been a small collection of staff for almost 40 years, with Wayne Downey, Jack Meehan and now John Meehan carrying the tradition forwards. Crown has seen the same level of success in a shorter period as Harloffs and Klesch have been there now for around 15 years. I think at SCV you are seeing a clear plan in place now to build the same level of success, using SCVC as a way to train the students earlier so they are ready to jump to SCV when they are old enough and musically mature enough. Early training, consistency in pedagogy and a strong retention rate are the keys to building a champion at anything in any activity. BD and Crown have been the models of this and with the recent success of SCV, I'm sure they are hoping to join that club soon!

Good news is only about 20 of those are brass age outs. Potential for 50+ return rate in horns is a great sign for 2018.