POSITIVenrgy

Ah....no. If anything, the spread should have been greater.

LOL Okay. Uncle. I'm a glass-half-full kinda person/fan. Too bad for the glass-half-empty guy. I'm not mad....... just tired, (and now bored), by certain negative rhetoric. Anyway..... bring on 2011! Can't wait to see what California's own has to offer!! And everyone else, for that matter! And, if any corps gives me X minutes of a show, minus finished guard costumes, or finished silks, or with tentative drill that is changed or edited by the next month...... I won't cry about it. I'll enjoy and appreciate it for the fascinating process that it is. And, my final thought...... 8 minutes of SCV's Bartok show, along with the other corps' early season offerings, was very much worth the cost of the ticket(s).

Actually, the West coast fans are mostly grown-ups who "get" that early season offerings are a bit rough, and works-in-progress. All the fans in my group, for all the west coast shows were blown away by what "California's own" presented on the field. And, IIRC there was some discussion on DCP last summer of other corps who started with incomplete shows. Anyway. 2010 is history. Get over it. It's tiresome. relentless. negativity.

YAY!! Thank you for your insightful, informative discourse! I am exhausted by the negative, snide rhetoric regarding the "G8". Some of these DCP'rs are so tiresome in their relentless negativity. Even when we on the West coast will be treated to two additional top, WC corps this summer, there are those who have to find fault, and point fingers and question intent. Well, as they wallow in their unhappy, bitter, G8-hating anger...... I will happily look forward to welcoming the Cadets and PR, this June. And, wow..... what a welcome they will get from the West coast!!

Amazing film score....... stunning visuals!

Actually.... the MM I knew and supported aged-out last year. But, I fell in love with this activity..... and I will continue to support it. I can't wait for next season, and I plan on going to whatever shows I can. I will buy the fan network again and I will shop at the souvie booths again. SCV became my favorite corps..... but I am also a fan of many others. I do believe I am a fan for life!

1. Santa Clara Vanguard 2. Cavies 3. Bluecoats 4. Crown 5. Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets 6. Academy 7. Blue Devils 8. Madison Scouts 9. Blue Knights 10. Pacific Crest

Thanks, nice review. I do have to take issue with your comments regarding SCV and Blue Stars. Blue Stars had a great show, and they performed it so very well. But, honestly......... when SCV followed....... I felt they took show design to quite another level, to say the least. Gimmicky props, etc. just could not compare to the complexity, sophistication and class of the Bartok show. It was such a (refreshingly) different animal....... I felt over-loaded by thrones (BAC, I know) and boxes spread across the field, and such. Then, SCV comes out with such artistry and subtlety and nuance. This was, I feel, the important difference. Frankly, I was surprised the scores were so close. And, if not for PR's spectacular drum line...... I think SCV should/could have been ahead of them as well. That's all. GREAT summer all around!

YES, YES, YES, and YES!

Great thoughts!!

Agreed. This is what I have learned as a newbie on this forum. It is pretty obvious, I think, who the intelligent, rational, even-handed posters are on DCP. They might not like who I love, and vice versa. But, I always learn something from them because they balance their thoughts...... critical with positive. Their comments come from a place of real love for the activity. Then, there are others who are relentlessly negative and seem to have, I don't know...... maybe a bitter outlook on life in general. These posters I now ignore. They really never have anything constructive to add to the conversation. So, I thank all the informed, passionate, balanced, and fair-minded posters who have given me a wealth of insight to drum corps. I've learned a lot.....and I've come to appreciate every single show this year. And I truly enjoy them all...... I can find something entertaining in them all. Good luck to all the corps tonight. It's been a fantastic summer!!!!

Saw BLandL at a theater in Southern Cali. The theater ended up mostly full with a crowd about 70/30 young to old. The young audience was really vocal and extremely appreciative. Lots of clapping and cheering......it was a lot of fun. Pretty savvy kids, too..... they appreciated all the corps, but cheered loudest for SCV, Cavvies and BD. Oh, and Madison Scouts. There were groans and a couple of "oh no's" when SCV's score was announced, (PR response was tepid).

Way to go SCV!!! LOVE the Bartok!!! Good luck this week!!

I know you are focused on your corps being unfairly scored, but is it so difficult to accept that maybe SCV earned that increase in their score?? If I am not mistaken, SCV added a little somethin' somethin' to their ending tonight..... maybe that had an effect?? Then again, I am of the mindset that Vanguard hasn't been getting enough credit by the judges of late. So...... there you go....... Anyway..... go SCV!! And good luck to all these amazing corps as they enter this final week of the season!!

Thank you for such a thoughtful and wonderfully descriptive review! Nice attention to detail! And very appreciative of all performances. My heart is very much with Vanguard's Bartok, and your final comment for SCV was spot on....."the show has a vibe that is like nothing else out there". One of the reasons it is my favorite of the year!

I am not a music major, although I do have a music background. I was an art and theater design major.... and, for me, SCV's show is art on the field. And I love the Cavies show because of its theatricality, (and I love, love, love Mad World).

Congrats SCV....on getting the 90+ that you deserve! Keep fighting!!

Thank you for this spot-on, eloquent post. These passive "consumers" who have, (to quote Ben Martinez), "jumped on the "I don't get it bandwagon", without attempting to understand SCV's adaptation of Bartok's music", just make me want to But, I'm trying to let it go. I will simply continue to enjoy this work-of-art, slice-of-heaven show!!

So well said! Lance, you are my hero.

Wrong on all counts. At least the judges seem to be giving some credit where it is due. And, Cowtown...... to claim that SCV's show is a "waste of a corps" is (IMHO), a rather careless remark. I know that these kids really, really love this show..... and they love performing it. I don't feel their efforts are being wasted in any sense of the word. Okay, some find the music/show boring. There will always be those who can not/will not appreciate certain types of art, music, or design. But, don't disrespect the effort. Anyway..... thanks, SCV! I look forward to watching Bartok every time you take the field! I am mesmerized and thoroughly entertained!!

LOVE the show. LOVE the music. LOVE the design. (and the whole "hot dog corps" thing..... kind of tacky.)

So, based on two corps' shows that you viewed in Riverside, (very early season), you and your friends decide that quarterfinals in the theater, (or any other shows, for that matter), would not be worth the money this year? Really? How unfortunate for you. Absolutely no entertaining shows to be seen this year? Based on Riverside? Sounds very narrow-minded to me. I was at the Riverside show, as well. Now, I understand some of the crowd "not getting" SCV's show, (especially as it was very early season), although my group, and everyone around us really, really liked Bartok. But, I have to say that I saw an audience go a little crazy for BD's show. They cheered loudly at the big impact moments, and especially at the end. Loudly. Cheering. I personally LOVE SCV's show this year. Because it is different, and quirky, and intellectual, and challenging. I find it interesting that you initially didn't appreciate Star '93, but admit to having a different view now. So, again, I say...... how unfortunate for you. I think there are many, many people who are cheering, and enjoying this year of drum corps.

Kind of a rude tone. What part of "random draw" do you not get? I would imagine all these corps will be fine..... they have very strong shows. And, please don't be disrespecting the Vanguard.... they really do have a pretty wonderful show, too. Good luck to all the corps!!

Congratulations SCVC on another great season!! Loved your show, Chakra! Both Vanguard corps continue to give us class and excellence on the field!! Thank you, for that!