the lone ranger

Sources say the show is still on!

Yes it does. Along with the whole staff and over 20 or so zingali winners from crown and pride of Cincinnati! I won't be surprised to see Bostons guard in the top 2 or 3 this year. Depends on where the corps can place. But I'm here to say I've seen the show, and the Boston colorguard is not kidding around. This is really unprecedented, such a talented staff and many performers moving together and drawing in talent for other top corps, to a much lower placing corps. Is there a precedent? Curious to know if any one remembers how things went down back when chandler left spirit. Etc... yes I know its hype. But hype is fun. ;-)

From what I have heard from people at crown, is that approximately 18-20 crown guard vets are planning on going to Boston. I'm sure this is a big reason for crown to try to keep that from happening. I'm sure they will stop anyone they can from going. I can totally understand the frustration. They won the zingali last year. Now they have to watch all that talent go to Boston. I'd be pretty ###### too. I have to say though being involved with Crown for quite some time I've never heard of this rule of scholarship repayment. They have always had the rule of paying the tuition fully before you can transfer to another corps, but this seems like something new maybe.

A little birdie told me that Herbert and the whole guard staff are going with Townsend to Boston. I expect to see all new guard staff at crown. That's sad but all things come to an end. Every end is a a new beginning.

Speaking of contracts. I heard everyone that went to Boston had to sign an exclusive deal. Can anyone confirm? If so I'm sad for academy.

I heard that everyone at Boston had to sign an exclusive deal with Boston, no teaching other drum corps. I would be shocked if they are allowing him to do that. The Academy did just beat Boston. Although the very thought of academy replacing him breaks my heart..:-( I would hope with the academy's heightened exposure and rise into finals that it would not be something so easily let go of. Leaving Crown and Academy..... for Boston. Arguably two of the most loved shows this summer, the best guard in DCI. That's a lot to give up. I'm sad. I'm sure he will do great things at Boston. But crown and academy will not be the same without him.

Jsd. You have really done a number in yourself in this thread. You are certainly in the minority with your complaints.... About everything. it took me 30 min just to catch up. You seem to be pretty lost on crowns story. Which is a shocker. As its one of the clearest story's on the field this summer. I mean as I look at the top twelve. I barely understand what anyone is doing aside from the academy crown and Bloo. Perhaps in your infinitite blue devil wisdom you could enlighten literally every non blue devil homer on this site. What the heck blue devils are attempting to portray this summer?The tempest? Mermaids? Ariel? Wtf dude. How's that going?Of all the things to complain about when you put your home team on a pedestal.... Story telling shouldn't be part of your equation. As many people have said in this thread if you can't get crowns show you just aren't watching. If you can't get blue devils show. You are normal. Because I've yet to even hear an explanation of how it makes any sense what so ever. Only that if they don't win its because of emotion. Well guess what ...emotion is on the sheets. And when you connect with the audience in a way that creates emotion or nostalgia it's worth points. The blue devils wouldn't know about that, cuz they just March spin and play better than everyone else every year ....just ask a blue devil. It's clear you drink the blue kool aid. As you yourself said ...you just want a 3 peat and you trust Scott, Jay and company etc... That's true colors right there. You bleed blue we get it. How bout lead with that instead of throwing other corps under the bus. I love Bloo show this year. As well as crowns. Imp jsd,,The devils show is really hard to participate in this summer. Just like most years. The crowd not clapping and being bored to tears is proof enough of that. So No they don't deserve a 3 peat when 2 other corps are better. And really if you take anything from this jsd. I would love to see your thought process on why blue devils are so good and what it is that they are conveying (trying to convey) this year?

The entire ballad is the struggle. Hallelujah is mercy. The trio stuff from the good the bad and the ugly is the anger and wrath. You even see him watching a "flashback" sequence of the opening murder over and over you can really feel the anger building in the production. So to me this is the conflict and the contrast is clear. To be or not to be? To kill or not to kill? Mercy or revenge? A nod to hamlet for sure.

Very true. As stories go it's much easier for an audience to follow a story they already know. For example Spartacus and turandot both have stories that already exist to help story board ideas. Much harder for an audience to follow an original story. Which make shows like the academy all the more impressive!!!

There is no more ge music per say. Ge1 and ge2 both judge overall ge. I wish this were not the case. As too many judges think they are qualified to judge it all. And frankly it's the ge 2 judges that seem to comment more visually than the ge1 judges comment on things musically. Judges should stick to what they know. Not their "gut"

That may be so. But Academy did beat Xmen in overall effect. That is not captions you want to be losing with 3 weeks to go. If I could I would put money on academy passing xmen based on effect alone. Given that the performance captions have 3 weeks to continue refining.

Interesting observation. Especially considering the academy show is conceived and designed by 2 of Crowns prolific designers.

I actually don't think that academy will be 12th in finals. I think they will beat someone in finals. I'm calling 10th or 11th. I do think Boston is out. The show falls pretty short I'm afraid. In my opinion The Academy has one of the better total shows this year. Crown, bloo, devs, Cavs, past those Corps, I think the academy programming is put together better than the rest, to me it's up at that top level of design/programming (not talking about difficulty, just inception and follow through). I like the total involvement and complete story/emotional journey that they give us. Hands down top tier design, and designed to compete with the talent they have. A perfect combo. I don't see that in most of the other finalist programs. The total package it seems, is present with the Academy this year. I truly think it will get rewarded! If phantom regiment did this show with these music selections( granted the difficulty would be raised a bit) The crowd would be in the palm of their hands. And everyone would be talking about them. Unfortunately I don't know of many people talking about the other perceived finalists, like they do the academy. It is something to talk about. So many memorable ideas! And that speaks volumes. We need more corps with this kind of totally thought out programming. Most corps leave me scratching my head in wonder at the misses In programming choices. Don't get me wrong they are-Great drum corps... But not great shows, academy is almost the opposite. A growing young drum corps with one of my favorite shows this decade. Probably the only goosebumps I really get from anyone this year. And that is a result of total programming, that is cohesive and engaging from beginning/middle and all the way to the end. Go academy. Get clean clean clean. The next 20 days should be super exciting. And everyone knows the show alone won't get you in. It's merely the vehicle you drive to finals. How well you drive is just as important!

No disrespect for sure. It's ok to not agree. But to say "neither do the judges" would be a huge generalization. Especially when crown has beaten bloo in guard,by more points, more often this year, by more judges in this caption. Let's see what happens as regional season begins, it a little early to make any generalizations about what "judges think".

I think crown makes Bluecoats book seems under designed in both difficulty and musicality. Bloo looks like a very good open class guard by comparison imo. The music is so repetitive I'm not sure it has the range of expressive qualities to compare " musicality" But to each there own. Crown is one of the few guards that really really interprets the music. But then again crown is one of the few corps that actually play "music" it's a wonderful marriage.

Crown would lose guard inexplicably last year once in a while as well. But it was always the same judges. It's all certain judges preference. George Oliviero has a history with scott and will most everytime have blue devils up. To my knowledge crown hasn't lost the guard caption to anyone this season until last night. Some judges may see crown way above Bluecoats and some may see it the other way around, its all subjective. Who wins the Zingali award comes down to who is judging the finals week. I thought crown would win guard last year till I saw that George and Marie were judging two of the 3 night. I knew then at that moment, that the blue devils would win guard. That doesn't take away from the outstanding season that crowns guard had. They were easily the closest anyone has come to touching this caption in almost a decade now aside from the Devils. So in my mind they won last year just like they won most encounters with the Devils in that caption. But just because George O says so, doesn't make it so. Crowns guard has been tops for a while now. And I'm sure there will be many shows where judges will have them 1st above the bloue teams. So i wouldn't get my knickers in a knot over it. It's one judge at one show. If all judges begin to agree on this outcome then I will start to ponder reasons why. As for now. This is the best crown guard I've ever seen this time of the year. Period. They look like they are in a different league of professionalism.

When is the last time crown won guard and drums, yet lost the brass caption? Has that ever happened? That seems screwy. To be expected of the guard, But wow go crown drums. Let's go crown brass, pick up the slack! Jk absolutely ludicrous.

I agree with drum man on his thoughts concerning the rise of Academy. 2014 was a turnaround year for the drum corps. The hiring of Michael Klesch to write the music and Michael Townsend as the program designer/artistic director, has been a home run! Townsend is the guard caption head/designer at Crown where he and Klesch have been together since 2003. I'd say they know how to put a show or 2 or 3 together. It actually reminds me of crown in many ways as they began ascending. Super accessible concepts, ideas and music. What a novel idea! ;-) The past 3 years have been following a similiar approach. And it seems to be working. If you want to build your drum corps, get the crowd on your side. I think there are some current top 12 corps that would put a "corpse" or two in the ground for that pairing, and that level of programming. I think this show will surprise everyone by years end. The thing I wonder is, how long can something like that work? Obviously the academy and crown aren't realistic competitors at this point, so I can see how there isn't a conflict. But at what point does it become one?

Yes I agree it's hard to break into that elite group of drum corps. I feel as though the academy is just beginning their upward trend. They have been establishing who they are just the past 3 years. The programming has become more laser focused, and specific to their brand/look. They have had the same BD/Crown designers the past 3 years and it is really working for them all around. I have really enjoyed each offering yearly! I truly believe the difference this year, is that they have been creating a following of fans and putting the crowd first. I believe this helps bring the talent and that is the difference maker!

Holy cow Academy! What wonderful programming, concept and musical choices! Great planning over time! I was totally engaged and intrigued the entire time. This show is so entertaining from the beginning to the end! This is a finalist caliber production all the way around. One of a few that I look forward to seeing again! Clean academy .....clean! Keep doing what you're doing I have been a fan for several years now. I think this is the one. Can't wait to see this production again and again!

Congrats to the crown guard for winning the guard caption last night. Completely deserved IMHO. This marks the first time the blue devils haven't won this caption every night of the 3 night championships since 2007. Regardless if crown actually wins the guard caption after 3 nights, this feat alone is historic. It breaks what is certainly the longest winning streak of any caption in dci history I think. Does anyone out there have facts on this I am curious.

I assure you that you are very confused about this trumpet/flugelhorn horn thing. It is and always has been on a flugel horn. He has never ever played it on a trumpet. The range is just very high so it can be deceiving.

this is everything. This consideration will really separate groups. Just ask Matt Harloff the hornline doesn't "standstill" very much at all. They are constantly in motion. More so than anyone else from my viewings. Not that moving is the only thing that matters. But while we are on the topic....this blows everything up. I would venture to say doing a complicated sequence of articulated body movements is harder than a consistent right left right as marching or running a lot is just repeating the same skill and much easier in my eyes.

I would say they have my favorite show 6th-22nd. This show is a bag of entertainment. So engaging! Everyone in the stands seems to really enjoy it as well. It will be a shame if the academy doesn't make finals. The show seems so worthy. It would be a treat, around a group of corps that are great but not quite as entertaining. Imo