losnickes

We have, but if I recall correctly, a corps can be nominated more than once. So I'll take a crack at Phantom. PHANTOM REGIMENT Hit: 2002. I'm probably in the minority, but I was really fond of this uniform. When they had the red sash, however, I didn't care for it. Miss: 2011/2012. Two great corps and two great shows, just a not so great uniform. Phantom's traditional baldric sash is gone, and I was never crazy about the black plumes with the white helmets. Next up: Since there's more than enough uniforms to choose from, let's do the CROSSMEN again.

Racine has had the same basic uniform (the first one you showed) since 1964, when they debuted their unique helmet. In 2013, they decided to use that placeholder "newsies" uniform because the old uniforms had undergone so many alterations and modernizations, a lot of the jackets didn't look the same anymore, and they were pretty beat up. In 2014, they got brand new uniforms that went straight back to the original look. In short, the newsies outfit didn't look fantastic, but it was the lesser of two evils.

SOUHTWIND Hit: 2007. A simple, yet very clean look. Plus, not many corps wear yellow. Miss: 2005. This was a very effective look for their show that year. But still, not my favorite look for them. Next up: Racine Scouts

They are spectacular. They, along with the Kidsgrove Scouts are the reasons I look forward to the DCE webcast every year. They first time I ever make a trip to Europe, it will be to see The Company live.

As an added bonus, here's BDB in 1999 with some much needed uniform changes: And here's BDC the same year: And as another bonus, here's SCVC from 1999:

Eureka! I've found one. This is BDB in 1998. I think this safely qualifies as a miss: As for the hit, I think they struck oil and gold with the look the've been sporting since 2012. It's very reminiscent of the design that the A corps started wearing in 1994, and kept wearing through 2003. Next up (I saw somebody nominate them earlier and I thought it was a good idea), the DCE powerhouse, THE COMPANY.

I want to take on BDB, but I can't find any pictures of them before the 2000's. I know they've been around a lot longer than that. I'm assuming they probably wore something similar to BD's classic open jackets, but I don't know. Does anybody have any pictures of them in uniforms before they came out with this one?

Have they released photos of their new uniforms? I've only seen pictures of their new hats.

Yes, the Freelancers have been done. But, if it pleases the distinguished members of Drum Corps Planet, I would like to continue this little game with the Oregon Crusaders. Hit: 2014. A very nice update to an already sleek, distinctive look. Miss: 2013. I'm really not entirely sure what they were going for with this one. It was an incredible corps, and the show design was fantastic. But I don't think this look really added to it. Next up: PACIFIC CREST

SEATTLE CASCADES: It wasn't until now that I realized the Cascades haven't had that many radical uniform changes. In fact, the most radical change they've ever had was the uniform they debuted in 2011. I scoured the deepest bowels of the internet, and I've stumbled upon photographic evidence of only five different uniforms donned by the Seattle Cascades, and three of them are almost identical. Here, we have what the Cascades presumably wore throughout the 90's (I'm not 100% sure on that one, though): In the early 2000's, they sported this little number: In 2002, the corps made a slight change, with a basic look that has endured to this day: In 2007 (I believe), they made another very slight change: And finally, in 2011, they debuted the look they wear today. A very modernized version of what they've been wearing for over a decade: These are all very solid looks. And they're all very "in line" with the trends in uniform design seen in the eras they were created. It's hard to pick a hit and a miss out of all of these, but I'll give it a shot anyway. Hit: The 2002 edition of the uniform. I personally wouldn't mind seeing them wear something like that again. Miss: The 90's uniform. It's a decent uniform, just a little bland for my tastes. Next up: PIONEER

I'm no expert, but I would imagine since they aren't making money from these videos, copyright laws don't necessarily apply. I don't think DCI would follow suit, since the Fan Network and DVD's are probably one of the biggest money makers for them. I'm also no expert on any of WGI's business. But WGI doesn't seem to be near as expensive an activity as DCI is. So I'm guessing DCI can't afford to offer their products for free like WGI can. Again, and I can't stress this enough, I'm by no means an expert. I'm just speculating/thinking out loud.

Sky Ryders: Hit: 1988 Miss: 1981 (Not a HORRIBLE look, but still not great) Next up: Magic of Orlando

I apologize for not being able to post pictures. I'm on my phone so it won't let me. But I will post links. But anyway, time for Glassmen: The hit: 2009-2011 http://media2.theranking.com/card/2769070/image/5074974ba3fdc339efec54bc14ef83c0/resize_image.jpg One of the best looks seen in the history of the activity. Interestingly enough, it didn't take much to turn that massive hit into a big miss. The miss: 2012 http://www.marching.com/photos/2012-dci-minnesota-corps-photos/glassmen-2012a.jpg Next up: Mandarins

This is true. But the VK of the past never looked that bad. But, to satisfy everyone, I can pick a uniform from the VK of the past that might qualify as a "miss." 1996:

This seems like fun. I hope this really takes off. But anyway, VELVET KNIGHTS. The hit: 1984 And the miss: 2009 Next up: Madison Scouts

Corps name: Confederate Regiment Director: losnickes Division: World Class Hometown: Wichita Falls, TX Home Show Venue request: Memorial Stadium, Wichita Falls, TX (Midwestern State University) Corps name: Confederate Regiment Cadets Director: losnickes Division: Open Class Hometown: Wichita Falls, TX Home Show Venue request: None Corps name: Confederate Regiment, Easy Co. Director: losnickes Division: Class A Hometown: Wichita Falls, TX Home Show Venue request: None

...or at the very least, remain indifferent. I am pleased to announce that, after several seasons of inactivity, three corps are rejoining the ranks of DCPI for the upcoming season, hailing from Wichita Falls, TX. AND, these corps will be sporting brand new uniforms. Rejoining DCPI's Division I, Confederate Regiment: In Division II, the Confederate Regiment Cadets: And finally, in Division III, Confederate Regiment, Easy Co: If it pleases the forum, I would like to make this my "intent" to field a corps.

I happened to notice that during Finals week, the Blue Stars' French Horn soloist was playing a Mellophone instead. Does anybody know why they decided to make this change so late in the game?

Just a heads-up, this review is probably a bit opinionated at times. Also, this is a review of the webcast. I wasn't actually there, in case that makes me opinions invalid. OPEN CLASS Guardians 2nd Place – 61.275 “Terra Nova" This was a magnificent showing for one of DCI's newest Open Class corps. The growth this organization has experienced from a small SoundSport team to an Open Class corps in just one year is simply extraordinary, and the drastic growth in members is more extraordinary still. Despite how young this corps is, the members performed with the maturity of a seasoned Open Class corps, and they put on a very entertaining show. I can't wait until they're able to make the trek to Open Class Finals in the coming years. It will be interesting to see how they stack up against the other corps. Genesis 1st Place – 65.500 “Art of Darkness" Since this corps has drastically improved every year since its founding just a few years ago, I had high expectations for them this year, and they didn't disappoint. I don't have a doubt that they'll earn themselves another medalist finish at Finals this year. They might even be our Open Class Champion. This show was far from perfect, however. The kids did a fantastic job, and are no doubt very talented. I'm not sure I'd say the same about the design staff, though. The show is entertaining enough, but lacks a lot of substance. There is no real prevalent theme except that it's supposed to be a “dark” show. It's not necessarily a bad thing, I just feel they could have done more with it than they have done. WORLD CLASS Pioneer 22nd Place – 64.125 “Joy!" This is probably one of the best Pioneer corps I've seen in recent years. They have a very entertaining show that is very much “Pioneer.” If there is one thing that I enjoy more than an entertaining drum corps show is a drum corps that does what is uniquely their own. It's part of the wonderful allure of this activity. At any rate, this was a great showing from Pioneer, and I hope to see them get “better every day.” Cascades 21st Place – 67.200 “Turn" The Cascades have quite a unique show, and are performing it very well. I understand the corps has had some trouble in recent years (not an uncommon phenomenon, unfortunately), but you certainly wouldn't know it this year. Those kids are on fire! I went into this knowing absolutely nothing about them, other than they were mounting a “Four Seasons” theme, which is pretty dull as far as I'm concerned. But they did something quite unexpected with it, particularly with the musical selections. Mixing “Summertime” and “Firebird,” “Dies Irae” with “Carol of the Bells,” and “Simple Gifts” with “Rite of Spring” seems nonsensical on paper, but it works remarkably well. All in all, it was a great showing, and a delightful twist on an otherwise not so delightful theme. Jersey Surf 20th Place – 69.650 “Pay it Forward: The Gift of Giving" This is certainly not the Jersey Surf we have seen the last couple years, but they are nonetheless unique. I noticed that they have changed the different colored plumes to just white plumes since I last saw them, which is probably just as well. I recall many “malfunctions” with those other plumes in Ft. Wayne. This show features some interesting twists on “Simple Gifts” throughout, as well as a great rendition of “Lean on Me,” among other things. The theme comes across very well, and the kids perform it very well. Mandarins 19th Place – 72.375 “UnbreakABLE: The Human Spirit is Limitless" The Mandarins treat us to another Key Poulan original with a very effective voice-over throughout the production. It's an easy enough show to follow, and it allowed me to simply sit back and enjoy this amazing corps do amazing things. They look fantastic, and sound even more fantastic. I don't know what else to say except “Bravo!” Pacific Crest 18th Place – 73.050 “No Strings Attached..." This is another terrific show from a corps that has been steadily on the rise over the last few years. This show was a lot of fun, and it's befitting what is becoming the “Pacific Crest” style. It is certainly intriguing watching a relatively young corps figure out who they are, and being amazing while they do it. This show boasts a very entertaining musical book, and a lot of “cute” visual effects. I'll be very interested to see where they end up in Indy. The Academy 17th Place – 74.775 “Vanity Fair" I must admit, when I saw The Academy's program announcement, I was underwhelmed. When I saw the show in San Antonio, I was pleasantly surprised to say the least. This show makes some interesting use of red tarps, eventually transforming the entire field into what I took to be the British flag. This show is simply fun and enjoyable from start to finish. There was never a dull moment, and it even reminded me of the Velvet Knights at times (which is FAR from being a bad thing). Bravo, Academy! Oregon Crusaders 16th Place – 74.800 “Nevermore" The Oregon Crusaders took World Class by storm last year, and they definitely aren't disappointing anybody this year. Their shows in recent years have been pure genius. They're always brilliantly put together, and performed so well. And they still manage to be very original every year. The corps' take on the Edgar Allen Poe poem, “The Raven” is impressive, bone-chilling, and downright eerie. While it isn't the most “original” show they've ever done, it's certainly keeping with the incredible standards the Oregon Crusaders have set for themselves. I wouldn't be surprised to see them knocking on the door of the top 12 in the next few years. Colts 15th Place – 76.100 “Dark Side of the Rainbow" While we're talking about being “original,” we should talk about this show. This production takes the “story-telling” shtick out a whole new door, and the premise is nothing short of unique. The Colts bring us to the merry old land of Oz, but years after Dorothy has come and gone. The Scarecrow, who narrates the show, has taken over Oz by way of killing the Lion and the Tin Man. The actor that plays the Scarecrow gives a very convincing performance, and is perhaps the best show with a narration I've ever seen. And the corps backs up the narrator quite well with some great arrangements of some Pink Floyd songs. This is definitely my favorite Colts show to date, and they've had some great ones in the past. Troopers 13th Place – 77.900 “A People's House" I was worried the Troopers would be a bit of a let-down after last year's jaw-dropping show. This, thankfully, was not the case. This show is just as beautiful and entertaining as last year was. And, it seemed to be an interesting commentary on the political climate today, as well. Robert W. Smith does drum corps very well, and I can think of no one better suited to arrange for America's Corps. He does an especially great job of making this show (and all his shows) flow seamlessly from start to finish. And their “America the Beautiful” closer is absolutely breath-taking. This is another great Troopers show, and I'm sure we'll see many more. Nothing would thrill me more than to see this corps be a perennial finalist. Spirit of Atlanta 14th Place – 76.550 “Magnolia" Amidst all the fantastic shows this season, there had to be at least one that didn't quite do it for me. This year, shockingly, it's Spirit. First of all, I don't like this new uniform. I'm not sure what it is about it, but this uniform simultaneously looks like classic Spirit of Atlanta and extremely generic. There's just something about it I don't want to look at. The show concept seems to be a bit of a departure from what they've been doing the last few years. I've often heard Spirit referred to as the “southern charmers” of the activity, and this show has a lot of “southern” in it, but not a whole lot of “charm.” It's not a terribly intriguing show, and if I were a betting man, I'd say Spirit probably wont be making finals this year. But, to be fair, they're facing some rather stiff competition this year. Where this show REALLY falls short is the use of electronics. They have all sorts of audio samples that just seem inorganic. For example, in many of the Bluecoats' shows, they use a lot of electronic sounds, but the fit so well in the overall musical package that you don't really think about it. In Spirit's show, they all stick out like a sore thumb. Crossmen 12th Place – 80.250 “Alma Gitana: A Gypsy Soul" The Crossmen have certainly pulled out all the stops for their 40th Anniversary. This show grooves, the drill is fantastic, and those new uniforms are slick and classic Crossmen. In my opinion, it isn't often that FJM makes good uniforms for corps, but this is not one of those. The Crossmen look fantastic. My only complaint about this show is the theme. Given the fact that they've changed their base of operations probably more times than The Cadets, the gypsy theme kind of fits. But that's as far as it goes. But the rest of the show is so enjoyable that I really don't mind. The Crossmen did well in front of a homewtown crowd. Blue Stars 10th Place – 81.725 “Where the Heart Is" This show is cute. The use of the props is definitely interesting, turning the entire field into the floor plan for a house. The Blue Stars are certainly no strangers to using A LOT of props, and it's usually pretty effective. This year, the Blue Stars props don't strike me as “effective.” They just seem to plug up the field and it looks too busy. The costume change is also not handled well, in my opinion. But I can't really see any better way to do it, so I wont give them too much grief. The musical book is decent. I wouldn't call it some of Saucedo's best work (of course, that's comparing it to shows like “Frameworks” and “Spin Cycle”), but it's definitely entertaining. The Blue Stars' 50th Anniversary production isn't bad, just far from my favorite. On a side note: those red plumes look terrific. Madison Scouts 11th Place – 81.425 “Time Trip" As surprised as I was that I didn't like Spirit's program this year, I was even more surprised at how much I didn't like Madison. I absolutely loathe the new “all standard brass” rule (I know I'm in the minority). That being said, the section that Madison has with the trombones is the only decent part of this show. I thought the show was a lot better when the guard didn't have those costume changes and that awkward clock prop wasn't there. This show makes me think of Madison in 2009. Their show, “Relampago,” told the tale of a Latin superhero, and featured a great repertoire of Latin tunes. But the storyline of the show was really thick and inaccessible, and they tried with all their might to make little additions and changes in an effort to get the show to make more sense. They even added a voice-over at the beginning to spoon-feed the story to the audience. It ended up being a not so stellar season for the Scouts, competitively. This year, the clock prop and costume changes looked like they were thrown in last-minute. It's all very awkwardly staged, and the color scheme is a bit of an eye-sore. Form where I'm standing, the show makes less sense with all these additions. That being said, that hornline is on fire. And Madison looks GOOOOD in white. Phantom Regiment 7th Place – 84.725 “Swan Lake" Phantom Regiment has definitely made it clear that they are good at story-telling. I think because they've done it to death in recent years, the idea of another story show is a big turn-off for a lot of fans. The new uniforms are nice. I've been wanting Phantom to go all-black again for quite a while now, and this is close enough, I suppose. But the costume change mid-show isn't so nice of a look. The costume change seems so “un-Phantom,” and the black costumes themselves don't look like Phantom. Overall, this is a solid show, and it's right where it should be competitively. Boston Crusaders 9th Place – 82.425 “Animal Farm" This show is one of my favorites this year. I always thoroughly enjoy Russian music, so on that basis alone, I love this show. When Boston announced they would be doing “Animal Farm,” I was perplexed as to how they would bring the Orwell novel to the field. I fully expected it not to work out so well, and I was pleasantly surprised, to say the absolute least. This show features a lot of neat visual moments. The drill writer managed to sneak in a “BAC” form, a hammer and sickle, and even an interesting “G7” formation (I wonder what THAT could mean...). One especially striking moment was when the guard and battery climbed on top of each other to form a windmill, just like in the book. This show is a little rough around the edges, but I'm sure they'll clean it up. Blue Knights 8th Place – 84.100 “That One Second" Ever since 2010, the Blue Knights have systematically dug their way into my heart with some of the finest shows in modern drum corps. In 2013, with their show “NoBeginningNoEnd,” they became one of my new favorites. I must admit I wasn't fond of the new uniforms when they were debuted. When I compared it to some videos of the Blue Knights in the 80's, this interesting new look definitely made a lot more sense. And then when I saw them on the field in San Antonio, I fell in love with them. They look fantastic on the field. And the show perfectly combines that cerebral quality that their shows usually have with a very accessible theme. The musical book is gorgeous, and they do some tremendous things visually. And the concept is one that could very easily go horribly wrong in the wrong hands. Thankfully, the Blue Knights know what they're doing. Santa Clara Vanguard 4th Place – 89.000 “Scheherezade: Words 2 Live By" Remember the last time Santa Clara wore white? There was a period in the 90's where many SCV fans would agree the Vanguard “lost their way.” It wasn't until they were back in red when they finally “became” Santa Clara again. When I saw those new white uniforms...I got nervous. From the opening hit, I knew my uneasiness was justified. All those trombones for just the opening impact (and then again at the very end) seems like a rather large investment for such a minimal effect. This new take on an old Santa Clara favorite is pretty uninteresting. It's performed with that usual SCV precision, it just can't keep my interest. And the color palette is a bit of an eyesore, mainly because of those pillow props. Speaking of which, those “pillows” aren't used very well. The show would be infinitely better without them. Not my favorite Vanguard show of all time, but they can't all be winners, I suppose. Bluecoats 3rd Place – 89.850 “Tilt" I didn't buy into all the hype this show was getting before the season started. But when I saw it for the first time in the movie theater, my jaw dropped. This show is, in my opinion, the best one of 2014. The white additions to their uniform really make it “pop.” And they make an absolutely genius use of those scalene triangle props. This show is just exhilarating from start to finish. I don't know what else to say about it. It's the perfect show, and it is performed so well. The Cavaliers 6th Place – 86.925 “Immortal" After undergoing some big staff changes, The Cavaliers have had to take some time to truly adapt. Well, ladies and gentlemen, the wait is over. While I don't think it'll happen this year, The Cavaliers will probably end up being a regular in the top 3 again very soon. The Cavaliers, who haven't been strangers to putting on “weird” shows, offer us an impressive program with a vampire theme. Their color guard certainly sells that theme in fine style. The “marimbas on the field” is certainly one of those classic Cavaliers gimmicks that go alongside the 2010 rifle feature, their upside-down performers and stilts in “XtraordinarY,” and many others. The drill is certainly on par with some of the Cavaliers greats, and they boast a fantastic musical book to boot. This show is 100% Cavaliers, which is never a bad thing. Carolina Crown 5th Place – 88.700 “Out of this World" I have to say, I was rather shocked at the 5th place finish. But after comparing it to some of the other corps, it isn't THAT surprising, I suppose. Last year, while Carolina Crown certainly earned that championship, I didn't think it was very “Carolina Crown.” This year, they seem to have merged the new Carolina Crown of 2013 with the Carolina Crown fans fell in love with over the last few years, and the result is spectacular. While I'm not fond of the new uniforms, they're certainly unique, and Crown makes them work. And nobody can dispute the sound and virtuosity of that hornline. And the drill is certainly impressive on the obvious physical demands alone. The show opens with an a capella rendition of “Space Oddity,” which is, to say the least, intriguing. And then we're hit in the face with that powerful brass sound that we've gotten so used to. This show kind of makes me think of their 2009 show, but in space, and that is not, by any means a complaint. Blue Devils 1st Place – 91.650 “Felliniesque" If we can get a show like this from the Blue Devils every year, I personally would be one happy drum corps fan. This show combines the Blue Devils' unique approach to show design and the entertaining Blue Devils of the past. The result is an absolutely beautiful and thought-provoking show. The music rocks the house, and their use of props perfectly meld with their overall visual program. I found this show absolutely captivating from start to finish. And not just because of the color guard. The Blue Devils were definitely the clear winner. The Cadets 2nd Place – 90.975 “Promise: An American Portrait" This show took me a while to warm up to, but it has really taken shape since I first saw it in Akron. This is probably their best use of narration since 2007, and their “Appalachian Spring” blows SCV 2009 out of the water (which blew Cadets 1987 out of the water). This show certainly inspires a certain amount of patriotism. Perhaps not as much as Troopers, but they are America's Corps after all. The three different cummerbunds used to match the guard costumes was an interesting touch. And they all look rather nice with the traditional Cadet uniform. The “stage” behind the front ensemble is strange to me. It doesn't really distract from anything, but it doesn't really add anything, either. They just don't do anything all too extraordinary with it. This isn't really a complaint, just an observation. This corps will most likely finish in the top 3 at Finals, but the Bluecoats still might surprise them. Overall, this was a spectacular show top to bottom, and one of the greatest seasons in DCI's recent history.

In case you didn't know, Racine's repertoire includes: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart Four Score and Seven by Les Brown and Vic Schoen Once Upon a Time by Charles Strouse (I think?) 7/8 by The Kyteman Orchestra Crown Imperial by Sir William Walton

I know this review is a bit late. I had typed this up on my iPad, and forgot all about it until just now. After some last-minute editing, here you go. Better late than never, right? First off, I want to say what an honor it was to be in the presence of all these groups. What a great year for Open Class it was. Racine Scouts - 12th Place; 70.400 "From the Ashes" I don't know about the rest of the people in attendance, but for me, the Racine Scouts put on the best show of the night. In the activity nowadays (not so much now, but it still happens on occasion), there are so many shows that seem derivative of others. The shows that "stick out" in our memories are the exception. We have a hard time remembering other shows, and sometimes outright forget about them because they all seem the same. Like I said, in recent years, corps have moved into a new era of very diverse styles between each corps. But that exists mainly in world class, and in open class, we tend to see the derivative show concepts more often. However, the Racine Scouts' program, "From the Ashes" had a certain "freshness" to it that I didn't expect from this small, but powerful corps. It told the tale of Racine's glorious rebirth "from the ashes" of their 2012 season, which, as you may remember, ended early around mid-July, along with Teal Sound and Forté (interesting side-note: of all those corps that ended their seasons early and "folded," the Racine Scouts were the only ones that bounced back. From a beautiful opening of what resembled "You'll Never Walk Alone," (their corps song) to a gorgeous ballad with some magnificent flag work form the drum-line (yeah, that's not a typo), to a spectacular rifle feature from the horn-line (again, not a typo), to a triumphant, "in-your-face" closer, this show had it all, and then some. The Chrome Domes are back with a vengeance, folks. I'd wager that they're going to surprise us in a couple years. Les Stentors - 11th Place; 76.650 "25tentors" Les Stentors celebrated their 25th anniversary and did Canada proud with their program, "25tentors." Racine was a tough act to follow, but I'd say they were up to it. They put on a fantastic show, and I believe they enjoyed their most successful season in years, perhaps ever. They had a show full of entertaining tunes. It was a relatively simple show (in terms of design), but sometimes those are the most enjoyable. Well done, Les Stentors. Taipei Yuehfu - 1st Place (International Class); 77.350 "The Butterfly Lovers" It is always a treat to see Taipei Yuehfu. They told the story of The Butterfly Lovers, a sort of Asian "Romeo & Juliet." This corps put on a great show, and demonstrated the precision a sort of precision we come to expect from such a magnificent corps. Colt Cadets - 10th Place; 80.900 "Red" The Colt Cadets sported some snazzy new uniforms, and presented what was probably the best Colt Cadets corps we've ever seen. I might be wrong, but is this the first time they've broken 80? That's pretty fantastic by itself. As I mentioned before, a lot of shows in open class tend to be a bit derivative, and this was one of those shows. Not to say these young people weren't very talented, but the show just wasn't terribly memorable. They rightfully earned their fantastic season. Raiders - 9th Place; 84.950 "The Raven" The Raiders put on a rather unique show, bringing the iconic Edgar Allen Poe poem, "The Raven" to the football field. I'm not usually a fan of narration, but the Raiders used it quite effectively. A lot of open class corps surprised us this year, and the Raiders were one of them. If they continue this upward momentum, I'll be interested in seeing what they accomplish. Legends - 8th Place; 85.700 "Ichabod" Legends....WOW. This corps is spectacular. I remember when Legends was just on the better side of "okay," but now...again I say, WOW. Why can't this corps seem to get off that 7th-8th Place island? Legends is an organization that seems to be doing everything right. I hope to see them grow and become even more spectacular. 7th Regiment - 7th Place; 86.600 "Luminous" Where did this corps come from? A big, powerful sound in a medium-sized package. I was simply blown away by 7th Regiment, much like I was with Legends. While this struck me as another one of those "derivative" shows, what it lacked in uniqueness, it made up for and then some with pure, loud, powerful drum corps. 7th Regiment was definitely a contender for a top 6 spot, but they were faced with some stiff (and i mean STIFF) competition. Gold - 6th Place; 86.750 "East Meets West" This show was...different, to say the least. And holy cow, was it fun. This is another organization that seems to be doing everything right, and are on the right track to becoming a powerhouse in the future. Gold employed a martial arts school (an idea that probably never occurred to show designers before, so bonus points for being COMPLETELY original), and this group of martial arts students ended the show with some crazy, mind-boggling stunts. The whole show was just one magnificent spectacle after another. Definitely a crowd-pleaser. Music City - 5th Place; 90.350 "Postcards from Havana" Music City treated us to some great Latin music (a genre that just can't go wrong in drum corps), and sported a nice, sharp update to their uniform. The corps was loud, crisp, and clean, and it was no surprise that they ended up advancing to the World Class semifinals. While this was without a doubt the best Music City corps we've ever seen, this was one of those shows that was extremely derivative of other shows. It was a great show, but not exactly a fresh one. Spartans - 4th Place; 90.500 "Break Free" Unfortunately, I left the stadium to relieve myself, and met some old people I marched with, and ended up missing Spartans, much to my dismay. I'm sure they were as fantastic as ever. Genesis - 3rd Place; 91.550 "mOZaic" If this corps keeps doing what they're doing, I wouldn't be surprised to see them winning some championships in the very near future. Genesis' program "mOZaic" sported a "Wizard of Oz" theme that was both very accessible, and very unique. It was a very fun show, and it was masterfully performed. Blue Devils B - 2nd Place; 95.700 "Warped" While we're on the subject of derivative shows, we should take a look at BDB. I wont deny that the Blue Devils B were very clean (in true Blue Devil fashion), but this show seemed to be a bit similar to a show the Raiders performed in 2012 (what was that show called, again?). This show was very well-performed, but it wasn't very memorable for me. Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets - 1st Place; 96.150 "The Art of War" While the show was a tad on the derivative side, it was very well done, and a pleasure to watch. My personal favorite moment was when the entire corps saluted the crowd with the drum major. It was a very striking visual, and had me on board immediately. SCVC's championship title was very well-deserved.

I'm going to be keeping an eye out for the Racine Scouts. Bill Clark is doing great things there.

I've heard that Teal Sound isn't coming back, but they plan to field a corps in 2014 called "Teal."

YES! This is most welcome news.

From what I've gathered, the Open Class lineup will be the same as last year, except for Revo and Forte. And I saw there's a new corps starting up in Wisconsin.