Photographer Jim

Just home from the Nolight Classic. What can I say? Obviously a big disappointment, but it could have been worse. I did, after all, get a chance to hear some live drum corps, including Boston, so I'm trying to keep my father's philosophy in mind: It was certainly better than a sharp stick in the eye! I very much enjoyed BAC's show. Very nice, warm sound, balanced nicely. I like the way they use a lot of playing to the backfield to help modulate dynamics. I was also impressed that more than many corps the past few years, they seemed to use amplification very skillfully. At no point did I think they had over amped any portion of their show. They also play some of my favorite music, so all in all, I very much enjoyed their show. They should do well. After the announcement that the show had been cancelled, we worked our way out of the stadium with the rest of the crowd. I got a chance to stop and chat a second with a BAC staff member, and thank them for coming out West this year. She said they had a great experience, and we're thrilled that they had rain during only one practice block while here! After stopping the out of state corps trailers to pick up some corp pins for my collection, we went out into the parking lot and listened to BK, BD, and PR play their shows in standstill. All sounded great. BD was killer loud, and tight. This music was just SO much better live and up close. We were able to listen to Phantom's pit warming up alone. Just beautiful. The rest of the corps then came over and they played their entire show. Hearing them play while standing only 20 feet in front of them was an incredible treat. I love the show musically, and hearing it in that way was absurdly good. I think both BD and PR are definitely going to be corps to be reckoned with come finals. At this point I can easily see them both in the top three for sure. After Phantom played, they stuck around to just talk with people, which was a very nice thing for them to do. I thanked their DM and a few MMs for coming to Cal again this season, and wished them safe travels before I headed home. I see it looks like Liahona was able to find some of my attempts to Tweet photos. Thanks. I guess now I'm going to have to change some plans. I'll be in SoCal next weekend, so I 'll just have to rearrange my schedule so I can get to one of the shows down there. OK. Off to bed. Night all.

Contest has been cancelled! No lights! More when I get home Dang!!!!

Pacific Crest on the field. Biggest sound so far tonight in their opener. Looks like they have a bass drummer filling in for an injury or open hole, he entered the drill just before the True Colors piece. Definite step up from the previous corps. Best I've seen this corps in a long time. They just announced they " are aware of. The problem of no lights yet". They are apparently controlled by a computer elsewhere, not here at the stadium! Boston up next

INT show has finally ended (much better than I expected really). Mandarins are the next corps up. Last of the sun about to fade from the field. Corps seems much smaller than in the past. Brass needs much more power. Lost track of what the supposed story line is. Chant is very interestinge but goes way too long. Last few minutes are primarily percussion, with little going on in brass. Ending comes up very suddenly, at least for me. I was expecting more from the entire corps and a more emphatic ending.

BDB very good musically once they get their show rolling. Like SCVC, last piece done in standstill, still waiting for drill to be added. I'd place them ahead of SCVC at this point but not by much. Both corps look like they are going to have very strong shows by the end of the season.

Vanguard Cadets -very nice job. Lots of well loved SCV moments in their music rep. Last part of show in concert standstill. This will be a very good show once the last of the drill is in for the closer. Very competent show.

BDC is just too cute for words. Some of the instruments are almost as large as their players!

Nice job by Renegades. Some good playing, and well done for a "weekend corps". BDC COMING UP!

Freelancer Alum just opened up with some jazz. Renegades setting up

Tried sending a tweeted photo but really at somewhat of a lose. Don't use Twitter since Demi Moore threatened the restraining order. #drumcorps

I have my tickets in hand; very eager to see the corps live. (I'd gladly post some iPhone photos if I knew how to attach them without having to post them first to amother URL).

This is a really good line. I have absolutely NO clue as to what it means! But it's a really good line.

From the Satie on I'm liking it. Over narration is killing me though. Course I didn't even like "this is my rifle..."

Loving PR guard. The brilliant red is being used very effectively

This is very reminiscent of the show INT did two years ago, but with a simpler drill.

I am highly insulted by, and resent being called "a professional". I do not take family portraits, I do not do weddings, and I certainly don't take photographs of people's cats! I, sir, ...... Am an Artist!

Mimes ruined mine.

My gut says mostly BD fans, since the series is published on their media box and is accessed by subscription, at $9.99 a year.

If you have seen the complete video, it is pretty reminiscent of the old "Inside the NFL shows, but I'd hesitate to label it a "bad attempt". The production values aren't bad, video is solid, pacing is OK. A bit dramatic in the narration style maybe, but actually not all that bad. I may feel differently after following all of the series installments over the summer, but for now my feeling is that it's really not bad at all, and has the potential to be pretty interesting.

Not sure why it was taken off of YouTube, but the segment that was posted here, along with the remaining 8 minutes of the episode are available on BD's MediaBox.

Whoa! I had no idea that Zappa's band actually fielded a guard unit too!

I am assuming you are, like all of the other seriously outraged posters here, aware that this is the teaser to an 8 1/2 minute video episode, and that you have also ]watched the entire remaining 8 minutes? And therefore you are aware that during the remaining 8 minutes there is discussion about their show concept, the challenges faced by corps members assuming leadership roles, being rookies, dealing with key injuries in the drumline, etc., etc.? And that the interpretation you have may not be the message conveyed if one sees the ENTIRE video? I can assume that can't I? After all, I'd hate to think that all of these highly judgmental statements, and implications that BD cares nothing about the music or developing character, just winning, is based on seeing only a snippet of the entire video.

Works for me!

Whoa. BD Does Zappa. What a concept!

It was the intro to the first episode of Inside BD 360, a video series they are posting on their MediaBox, which documents the corps' experience during the current season.