N.E. Brigand

In Blue Stars' show, are there actual words in the first part of the Siren song?

I'm using IE with access via Time Warner cable, no problems whatsoever.

Is the wolf whistle part of the show or was that an audience member? (And if it's part of the show, has it always been there?)

Spirit's opening narration-sample presumably is meant to hype their show: "I own this city ... I take risks no one else will take". Compare/contrast with the Blue Devils' promotional video that had everybody upset a few weeks ago. (And what risks is Spirit taking that no other corps is taking?)

Of course, with storms comes lightning...

Yeah, that sounds like the strongest part of their program. The tune might also be familiar to you from the 1995 film Babe (the one about the pig) where it featured prominently.

Accidental bass synth hangover after Glassmen horns down. (Will they get scored down for that?) Generally less bass synth then last night (except too much in the final chord) and whether that's because it was turned down or because of different microphone placement tonight, I am grateful. The rest of the synth stuff is too much for me -- and how dispiriting is it that the entire battery when featured and down front can still be covered up by a single keystroke? Question about the opening wind sound effect, to which the corps members are blown around the field: what is it supposed to mean? Are they grains of sand to be formed into the titular glass works?

Holy train.

Thank you especially for those comments.

#1. 1995 #2. 2008 #3. Their 2003 show, 'Spin Cycle', had a 'down' ending Actually, cadlag was referring to Phantom's 2003 show. This is a very interesting comment.

"Cesario likes what he sees" Even if he doesn't, would he say so?

Cesario says of the Blue Devils' show that "There's no way to talk about it ... there's no way to describe it". Is there any way to judge it?

OK, then: WORLD CLASS 1 – 77.65 – Bluecoats 2 – 74.30 – Madison Scouts 3 – 73.20 – Cavaliers 4 – 72.50 – Spirit of Atlanta 5 – 70.25 – Blue Stars 6 – 68.70 – Glassmen 7 – 55.75 – Pioneer OPEN CLASS 1 – 58.25 – Colt Cadets

Yeah, I think that's the word I was looking for.

I was listening to old Cavaliers' performances over the past couple days. Got to 1984, and I thought, "Where have I heard that theme before?" I didn't look up corpsreps to check, and am sorry to say I don't know most of Richard Strauss's work. Figured it out tonight.

Ow -- that effect hurt my ears.

Heh. I had thought the Scouts sounded a little weak --but just a little!-- compared to the two previous groups, then only after they were down did I find I'd turned down the volume while the announcer was talking before they went on.

I like the singing, but think it could be a trifle shorter. I am shocked, shocked to hear yet another corps making excessive use of synthesizers (and like the Bluecoats, at one point nearly covering up the contras who are surely placed down front so that they can be heard clearly!) but will trust kevingamin that this is more a function of microphone placement than anything else. Also, sometimes I wonder (or maybe I hope?) that corps are using synths more early in the season until the brass builds their chops.

Bluecoats are great, but somehow for me just not very exciting. I can't put my finger on it, but emotionally, I actually preferred Blue Stars' obviously much weaker show. Also, why in the world do 'coats put all the contras down front, give them a very low note to play, and then cover it with the synthesizer.

Yeah, the entrance was a bit odd: partly disciplined, partly casual.

Judge in a tight spot, there.

Lights not on? Looks pretty dim there.

Take away the bass synth, which plays almost continuously, and the Blue Stars have a better-sounding show. I love that drill, dirty as it still is, and find it shocking that Blue Stars might not make finals. If after four more weeks of work, that show can't best 13th place, what a top 12 must be in front!

Thanks to you and kevingamin both for clearing that up.

No, they don't need a story. But the narration describes a character going through a story. I just can't make sense of it.