Scott Newton

They pulled the post. Too many negative (and either extremely funny, or completely offensive) responses.

The 14-16-18" Cut A Way Trios were used in 1977 and 1978. In 1979, they used 12-14-16" Cut A Ways. To the original poster: Good luck in transcribing Verdi's Requiem!

1983 Sacramento Freelancers: "Undiscovered Chicago - An Obscure Collection"

I would agree with this assessment as it applies to many shows, including teh Blue Devils this year. When watching modern drum corps, I'm reminded of any of the latest Transformers movies and their addiction to overkill CGI for effect. "Ooooh, look what WE can do with our new computer......" Who needs melody and complete songs when you have so many neat new toys to show off?

Lee, by my count, we've lost over 100 corps in the past 30-35 years. When the top member corps directors vote for rule changes that require corps to invest in tens of thousands and in some cases hundreds of thousands of dollars in new equipment in order to have a shot at competitiveness..... Economic laws eventually kick in. We can expect this trend to continue until only a small handful of super corps are left in the activity.

They don't. The front sidelines or in some cases the track, is completely overtaken by the front ensemble/pit/clutter mad scramble between corps. It's a disgrace.

Old Schooler here with a brief review of the Walnut Show (Top 3 Corps). Warning: this review will upset some folks..... For this reviewer, it was fitting in this 40th anniversary year of DCI for the top 3 corps this evening to be the perennial competitors for the top 3 spots when I started following this activity in 1978. SCV - Best show I've seen from them in over a decade. Why, you might ask? Well, let me count the ways: 1) Great show concept, using Holst's The Planets. This speaks to those of us who fondly recall the corps' 1980 show, as well as many of us who attempted these selections in High School concert band. It's a perfect old school Vanguard show, at least musically. 2) Awesome horns. Most powerful Bb horn sound I've ever heard from the corps since the poor G bugle was kicked to the curb years ago. Not only loud at the punches, but loud and balanced through sustained notes. Awesome (for Bb). 3) The Drumline. Thank God the tilted snares are gone. The line throws down some very innovative beats and isn't afraid of nailing old-school duplex rolls as opposed to the more modern triplet rolls typically associated with today's higher tempos. Very solid drumline, with clean, well-exposed features for each section of the battery. The tenor line is solid! It's also nice to see a pit that isn't over-amplified to the point of distraction. 4) The drill. Watching a corps of this caliber without the field littered with crap and wheeled contraptions is a treat. The drill pictures and sets were great and worked well with the theme of the show. 5) The uniforms. Best SCV uniform yet in the Cesario era of modern uniforms. They actually LOOKED like the Vanguard for a change. Now, about those guard unis..... Several standing O's, and a big Standing O before the final notes of the show. My favorite show of the night. Phantom Regiment - This is the show that I was really looking forward to this year. Beautiful music. What else can you say about Turandot? It's the perfect vehicle and will serve them well as the season progresses. What Phantom needs is more field exposure for their drumline. Some of their best "Marty Hurly" moments are lost as the drumline is parked behind the horn block. The horn line was the biggest disappointment for me. Way less power than the two California corps (BD and SCV). If they can up the dB level, they'll continue to grow into this show. For me, their Colorguard was the best of all. Thankfully, the Phantom Regiment has, over all these years, resisted current trends and continues with their all-female guard. It makes a huge difference and adds to their uniqueness. They work well as a unit, and thankfully aren't preening as individuals out there. Phantom will be OK. This show will continue to improve as the horns improve. Blue Devils - Where do I start? So much individual talent........ First of all, their horn sound is huge. Like, SCV, this may be one of their best post-G Bugle horn lines ever. Now onto the show concept.....ummm....whatever. Let's start with the recorded narration that runs throughout the show: It's extremely distracting and nauseating. It takes away from the music that is happening on the field. Why would you cover up all that talent on the field with some pre-recorded garbage? The last thing I want at a drum corps show, is to be lectured, in French, about some artform. If I have to have it explained to me, while its happening, then the art isn't speaking for itself. Then there are the now-standard Blue Devil contraptions that litter the field. This year, it's hobby horse uniform racks. While other corps take parts of their uniforms OFF throughout the show, the Blue Devils put their uniforms ON during the show ("oooh, see how DIFFERENT we are?")Different, but is it better? The Blue Devils' soloists are first rate, but why must they play into a mic? Seriously? a mic? They don't need it, and it just ruins their sound. Also distracting is watching the drumset player in the pit playing the ride cymbal and then hearing the sound coming out of a speaker 25 yards away. Weird, and unnecessary. If you need more ride cymbal, then put it where it belongs; on the field with a cymbal line holding for the snare drums..... and this takes me to my biggest pet peeve; Why, of all corps, do the Blue Devils continue to write drum books without the snare line playing on ride cymbals? Maybe a cymbal line would get in the way of all the individual snare posing and soloing that goes on during the show. It's too bad, because their talent level is second to none, but it doesn't always come through in this show. I'd like to see some innovation in a marching cymbal line that holds for the ocassional ride pattern for the snares, and the Blue Devils should be the ones to do it. The squatting and pivoting in the snare line is getting old. They were the first to do it...many years ago now. Courtesy standing O after the final note, mostly in appreciation of the obvious talent and hard work the kids have put in.

I have rarely liked the copy and paste shows they (and most other corps) have fielded the past several years, but this show is different. I can even stomach a little PA and Amp just to hear some straight up arrangements of some great music like this. My favorite show at DCI West - By Far. The Scottish Twirling tenor section is fantastic.

Just saw them at DCI West. By far my favorite show this year. Wonderful tune selections and true-to-the-original arrangements. Very effective Scottish twirling tenor feature by the keyboard players. Haven't enjoyed a drum corps show this much since Carolina Crown in 2007.

27th Lancers covered this in 1979 and 1980, and the Blue Knights had elements of those arrangements. Kingsmen covered this in 1972. I love the Blue Knights take on this. Great melodies that carry through more than just a couple of bars, without being a note for note transcription from the concert band pieces the songs are based on. A great show for them this year.

Hey! That's me on the far left!

Cavaliers using Mylar snare drum heads makes me happy.

Would have loved to have been able to see the Scouts this year. From what I've seen on youtube, this looks like one of the most musically listenable shows this year. Go Madison!