CapSndSD

Stef & George said I should post my review of DCA finals here. You can read my experience at my very first DCA Championships in my journal right here on DCP. My review of DCA Finals, Scranton, PA: First off, I'm cold. Heat Wave (2nd in A, 77.20): Well, they were good, but they couldn't defeat the bitter cold rain of Scranton, PA. I like the arrangements (Santana), and I like the hornline, but it's sometimes hard to sell a show to me with out a good sized battery (3 snr, 3 bass), or a pit (all latin toys and trinkets, one keyboard). Overall, a decent visual package and a nice hornline. NY Skyliners (1st in A, 80.15): A very good hornline, with a great amount of volume for their size. Once again, it's hard to sell it to me without a good sized battery, and Skyliners didn't have a battery. However, their pit was pretty good. CorpsVets (T-12th, 84.55): I thought these guys played with a great sound, and their drumline had a good show tonight. I thought they had a good drill, but maybe a little lacking in guard. I like this corps, because they are the perfect example of the growth of a pretty strong organization. Now they are playing in DCA finals, after only 4 years, and they already won Class A last year. Grenadiers (T-12th, 84.55): Now I liked this corps, and their show concept. I don't think a lot of people did, though. Their drumline wasn't outstanding, but they were solid, and I liked their bass line. Sometimes questionable visually, but overall, I was very entertained and suprised by their quality. Renegades (10th, 86.20): Loud, and I loved it. They have a hornline and a visual program that could be top 4 here. However, the drumline and guard are what's holding them back. Both were better than the previous corps, however, when you see the hornline marching and playing like they did, it can be a little disappointing. Overall, I loved these guys. They were fu-un. However, in Renegades fashion, I'll say that they are only seven drummers, seven CG, and seven keyboards from that DCA trophy. :) I do like myT-shirt. Connecticut Hurricanes (8th, 88.0): Whew, this drumline was SMOKIN'. I was impressed by this corps tonight. They played "Fanfare for the Common Man" which I thoroughly enjoy, and they had a hot drumline. The guard and visual package was also very nice. Their tenor line could stand up against a lot of the ones that I saw on DCM and DCI tour this summer. mmm. Yokohama Inspires (5th, 91.85): HOLY CRAP!!! WHERE DID THIS COME FROM?!? This was an incredible drum corps. I was amazed. They could drum, they could march, they had a very nice hornline, their colorguard was one of the best in the show. And I finally got to see a great pit. This corps, hopefully, has earned the respect of everyone out here. What a show! Rochester Crusaders (9th, 87.30): Well, we found a corps I didn't particularly enjoy. These guys sounded good, and they had a pretty decent guard, but I just didn't like the show concept, nor did I get it. I feel bad too because originally I thought this was one of the more interesting concepts of the weekend. Oh well. Bushwackers (7th, 91.10): I liked these guys, because they were different. This corps was very interesting. I liked the concept, I liked the design, and I liked the drumline. BUSH! Hawthorne Caballeros (6th, 91.85): *sigh* I wanted to love these guys, I really did. They just didn't do it for me. The drumline wasn't as great as I had heard them to be, and the show didn't come across to me very well. Maybe I just expected a little more. Minnesota Brass, Inc. (4th, 93.90): Oh yay, my favorite corps! These guys were on, as usual. They do everything SO well. Those uniforms give them a very sharp look, and they have a great drumline. This was the best I've ever seen MBI since I first saw them in 1999. That drum solo...yes. Buccaneers (3rd, 95.55): Good design and an excellent visual program were the selling points for these guys. As well as an excellent battery and pit. It was fun to watch those guys play their butts off, plus I am all about that Vanguard tilt. Empire Statesmen (2nd, 96.75): I liked this show concept, and the bicycle guys were cool. Drumline was not quite as strong as the rest of the top 4. Sharp looking visual book though. Syracuse Brigadiers (1st, 98.60): These guys were just one of those corps, where I wonder what the judges said. This was clean, clean, clean, and fun, fun, fun. Drumline was tight, played ditty on the field. Yay. That was all for my trip to Scranton. Overall, I'd say that it was at the very least, a very educational experience. Drum Corps has a lot of roots in DCA and Sr. Corps, but I believe that we must also appreciate the corps of the present to consider ourselves true fans. ~Andy Dittrich Capital Sound