BACsader

I would love to buy these from you. PM sent your way!

Are these available?

This might be the best top 5 in quite a long time, so it goes without saying that corps with a great shows might not win. You have to look at the judging sheets. As much as they want to say that crowd connection is heavily weighed, the sheets don't reflect that. 40% of the score is GE and 60% of performance analysis based on content. Ultimately, a good show will help boost your score, but being clean with strong content visually and musically is ultimately what wins championships. I know this may seem obvious, but sometimes we get wrapped up into great shows and forget this simple concept. I think based off of what we are seeing, the placements are pretty much on point. Bluecoats have a great show, but when you compare their content and demand, it's not quite where BD and Cadets are, and I don't see that changing in the next two weeks. Infact, based on what Crown is doing within their show, it is more likely they pass BC and coats end in fourth or fifth. This isn't anything to be upset about, because being 5th place in this group is still going to be a score of 94 or higher. Just my 2 cents.

Score hotline? Is this for real. Because if it is, that is awesome!

Phantom 2008 Cavaliers 2002 Star 1991

From the way I see it, and the judges see it, BD deserves to be on top at this point in time. Personally, I think their show is okay from FN viewings, but I am waiting until a live viewing at Allentown to make my final decision. As much as I enjoy Crown's show, right now they are a mess from a visual perspective. There are points of the show where the drill is illegible and transitions from set to set are not making any visual sense. There is no doubt that their demand is extremely high. I remember I watched this the first available FN show and said "if they clean this show, they will win it all." I still whole-heartedly believe this, but right now they are far from clean, and BD is performing at an incredibly high level and doing it much cleaner than is Crown. There is still plenty of time left. We'll see how the rest of the season goes.

I don't know if this has been talked about because I didn't want to go through all the pages of this thread, but I would love for Teal Sound to continue their merchandise sales at shows. I really think in efforts to keep them alive, people would eat up everything. I know I would.

Honestly, I would not be at all surprised. I just listened to it and heard it. I wish there was more.

Yes. It was a really good arrangement!

lol Did anyone else find it strange that the horn line didn't play for the last few minutes of the show?

Is it just me, or do none of the scores make any sense this year?

That's exactly it about BD. Some people love it and some hate it, but regardless they are awesome and any person that knows a little something about DCI can't deny how good they are. As far as Crown's hornline, maybe just maybe because of the exposure of their drill and the terrible acoustics in the dome they were having some issues as far as balance. That is my only explanation. If that is the case, they will have their work cut out for them in Indi.

I can understand how someone would say the music and drill really hasn't changed all that much in the last few years. It is the way they are trying to present the show that has completely changed. Every show now has some "deeper" meaning that the audience is supposed to pick up on. The problem is for the audience to understand they are using means that most people don't support such as voiceovers, sound effects, and synths. The only exception this year would by BD. Their music is really out there and their use of props is very different than the "traditional" use of props. Right now DCI is more appealing to high school marching band members rather than the alumni of the activity. (This is not a knock on high school marching band or its members) I don't necessary mind certain uses of amplification. For the front ensemble it makes a lot of sense. However, I'd rather not be talked through shows.

I really think you need to look at my review again. I didn't hype Boston above Phantom because at the end of my review I placed Phantom above Boston. As for GE visual I agree that it is design and execution of the design. However, SCV's technique is very weak and imo their drill isn't exciting. At no point during their show was I thinking that "wow, that was impressive" when it came to their visual design. GE is the ability to draw out emotion and SCV failed to do that more than all of the corps I reviewed.

Well obviously I don't think Boston should have WON the whole thing. At the end of my review I put them in seventh or eighth. I do think that Boston's show has flaws but I am not going to sit here and talk crap about "my" drum corps. That would be like you talking crap about your family on a forum. It is not going to happen.

I think the issue with stickouts and some balance issues could very well be attributed to the dome. As far as the synths, I don't know what to think. They are a huge to deterrent from what could otherwise be great musical moments from the hornline and battery. I am willing to bet that in the second level the amplification didn't seem nearly as bad as it did from the first level. For people that haven't been to a live show and are watching on Fan Network, you really can't here it like you can live. It really is a huge problem and I am having trouble understanding why these corps are getting such high GE music scores when there is no balance between the synth and the rest of the corps.

Hello everybody, I just got back from the Georgia dome and I thought I would post my thoughts on what I saw tonight. I was sitting in the lower section on the left 40 yard line 24 rows back. Unfortunately I did not watch everyone but I did catch from the Blue Stars on. Apparently Madison was excellent tonight so kudos to them on their great accomplishments they keep achieving this year. Without saying it in every review but Boston’s, they synths were all way too loud for an indoor setting. The worst definitely being the Bluecoats. The synth just seems like a way to add volume while also masking some dirt in the hornline and masking timing problems. Being that I was a hornline member I will mostly comment on brass, and in the dome the percussion was incredibly difficult to hear. I will also let you know that I am a Boston Crusaders alumni (if you couldn’t already tell from my user name) and that is why you will not find many negatives for me to say about their show. =) Blue Stars- This show is a very good show, but about halfway through I completely lose the Houdini concept. The hornline has great volume, but there were quite a few balance issues and stickouts. Musically this is really a top notch show but the brass is having trouble selling it. Visually this corps moves a lot but I do feel they still have some dirt to clean but fortunately for them there is still two weeks. The color guard is really good and from the beginning they display that by doing flag work with their necks and their necks only. That was an excellent effect. However, like I said before they lose the concept and you start forgetting that this show is about Houdini. They need to find some way to make the disappearing act more apparent because I was not paying attention to that until I realized that there was nobody in the coffin at the end of the show. On the front sideline they have their “screens” which have pictures of Houdini. I personally found it distracting and a cheap way to remind people that this show is about Houdini. Another thing I noticed is that the coffins really limit the corps use of the field and it makes the drill look somewhat cluttered from time to time. The synth is overbearing for a good majority of the show, especially in the dome. Phantom Regiment- I was expecting a lot more from this drum corps. The hornline was underwhelming and had a lot of stickouts tonight. The playing in the tunnel before and after the show is an excellent effect and it sounds great, everything in between that is lost on me. The soloist was very good tonight, but the crowd unfortunately was standing and clapping before the show was even over and you couldn't here him. Visually this drum corps is much improved over last year but is still weak compared to many of the drum corps around them. Especially Boston. Boston Crusaders- The one thing I am most impressed with is the hornline. To me, they were honestly one of the most balanced and in control hornlines of the night. Their drill is very good and they still have quite a bit of cleaning to do. I do not see why they are getting hit so hard if GE because they are doing things much more difficult than other corps around them and doing it just as well, if not better than some of those other corps. I hope they can really clean this show and place where they rightfully deserve. Santa Clara Vanguard- I was very excited to see this show but afterwards I was very disappointed. The show is not paced well at all and it always leaves you wanting more but you never get it. At least last year they gave you what you were waiting for the whole show and did that extremely well. Their hornline was very good and balanced. Like most of the other hornlines there were stickouts, mainly in the high brass. Musically this show has a lot of demand, mainly with the staging. However, the visual demand of this show is lacking. They have the least demanding visual show of the corps I am reviewing. I do not like how they now do a “Cavies” style march but it doesn’t surprise me knowing who there corps director is. For such a relatively easy visual show they are quite dirty especially in their feet. They had phasing problems the whole show and for a drum corps this late in the season who is beating other drum corps that are doing this better than them, it is inexcusable. This show is just not working for them and at the end of the show the audience was collectively confused and really didn’t give them any applause. It is unfortunate because like every drum corps the members are working so hard but the product is hurting them so much. Cadets- This show was so very good to me until the point where “Little Jeffrey” gets on the drum major podium and they use voiceovers. After that they completely lost me, and because of that I paid very little attention to the rest of the show. It wasn’t just me, you could hear the audience collectively groan at the sound and site of that. The hornline was probably the second or third best of the night without a doubt. They were very balanced from left to right, had few if any major stickouts and they put out some crystal clear volume tonight. They were pretty darned good. Unfortunately their scores are not reflecting that. Visually they seemed to be quite clean but “Little Jeffrey” completely hijacks the show and you find yourself watching him the whole time rather than watching the rest of the show. This show concept is beingexecuted extremely well, almost too well because of “Little Jeffrey”. This is a solid show and they probably deserve more credit than what they are getting. Crown- This hornline has been the most hyped and talked about hornline of the season and they did not deliver the goods last night. Yes, they are a very good hornline with a difficult brass book and very exposed drill, but, they have a ton of stickouts especially in the trumpets that are killing them. Their trumpets sound very bright and crass to me and don’t meld well with the rest of the hornline, which sounded great. Overall this show concept doesn’t do anything for me and I bet they wish they never called the show “A Second Chance” because they blew their chance with this thrown together bit of second movements. The best part of the show is their ballad, which is very true to the original “Nimrod” which I best know as the choral piece “Agnus Dei”. Other than that they are still not a strong visual drum corps. They had many members with poor marching technique and even worse was their phasing. That was an issue the entire show. I do not see this corps scoring above the Cadets but for some reason they are. Bluecoats- This show seems to be one of the fan favorites this year and from the scores and praise they have been getting I was very anxious to see them. Musically this show is excellent. The brass line was definitely the best Bluecoats hornline I have ever heard and they have quite an entertaining and difficult book. Visually this show was a huge letdown for me. For this drum corps to compete with BD and consistently be in the top 3 every year, they HAVE to improve their visual package both with drill and with technique. Their marching technique is the worst in the top five right now. From member to member it is too inconsistent. It is too late in the season for them to fix it and this is something they will definitely have to improve on next year in order for them to remain legitimate contenders. For me they are being scored way too generously and don’t deserve to be where they are now. Don’t get me wrong, this is a GREAT Bluecoats drum corps, but not so great where they should be beating the Cavaliers. Cavaliers- I have seen this show multiple times on the Fan Network and was anxious to see it in person. This show looks like they are having fun with it and the hornline seems to be much improved over the last few years hornlines. They are finally putting out some volume and also keeping the technique and finesse that they have been known for. Visually this corps is very strong and the drill is one of their better offerings in a few years. The theme of this show is coming across very well and they have come a long way from where they were at the beginning of the season. This is another good show from them. They have an excellent way of always integrating their guard in with the rest of the drum corps and I was extremely impressed with the guard. I hope they can continue to push to the end of the season and maybe make the end of the season more competitive, but I doubt that because of the…… Blue Devils- Okay. I will tell you right off the bat that since I have watched this on the Fan Network I have completely disliked this show. I didn’t understand it, it was so segmented, and it was just bizarre. However, after seeing it in person I don’t hate it anymore, but I am also not in love with it. This show is different. It is edgy. It is good. This has to be one of the most talented drum corps to be in the activity in a long time. All three sections of the drum corps are equally contributing to this show and it is so hard to say this section is better than that. Their hornline is definitely the best this season. Visually this drum corps is without a doubt the best in the activity and they can march circles around everyone. This can possibly be a show a while from now where people look at it and can think “Man, this show is different, but I see why it won”. It isn’t personally my favorite show, but I respect the corps and where they are scoring. Review- At this point in time I feel like the only corps in the right placement is the Blue Devils and Phantom Regiment. Everyone else in the top nine is not where they should be. I really feel like with all these changes being implemented every year in the activity, the judges are having difficulty interpreting the shows and starting to become subjective with the scoring rather than objective. I also do not like this direction that drum corps is heading in with synths and drum corps trying to put on stage productions. I don’t mind thinking, but I would rather not watch a thirty minute video to understand an 11 minute show. To me that is counter productive and defeats the point of putting on a show. I hope that next year corps will maybe take a step back and see this but with the current progression of drum corps every year, I am willing to be it will be even worse. I will now tell you how I thought the corps should have placed. 9. SCV 8 + 7. Bluestars or Boston. These two corps should be neck and neck. I really don’t see why there is almost a three point gap. 6. Phantom Regiment with Boston or Bluestars being right behind them. 5. Carolina Crown 4. Bluecoats 3. Cadets 2. Cavaliers 1. Blue Devils I am open to any questions or comments that anyone has.