blue4ever

Give the Blue Devils credit - they've gone 180 degrees from last year's Kenton show. This is a huge crowd pleaser, very melodic. Even DCI novices will "get" this show and love it. Last year's show was pure genius, but it even took me 2-3 weeks to understand it completely. I saw the new BD striped sidecapes in the parking lot when we pulled in and said immediately "I don't like it". But like with last year's show, I decided to reserve judgement until I saw it on the field and the new uniform does work better from a distance. The percussion up front opener is terrific, the brass sound is in your face amazing several times in this show. Maybe they went to "park and play (blow their brains out actually)" one time too many, but the audience will eat it up. Starting with the melodic ballad in the opener, the audience immediately sees that this show is WAY different than last year. There were 4-5 big climaxes in the show, lots of "gimmicks" (laying on the field pre-show) and props that will drive the DCI haters crazy. The props are not so integral to this show like the mirrors and chairs the past 2 years, though. The DVC Stadium is all low-level seating, so I couldn't appreciate the full impact of the props forming geometric patterns on the field. A problem will be when the corps carries the 8-foot white tubes horizontally on their shoulders that they stay horizontal as they move and bounce - potentially breaking the geometric symmetries. I'd like to see more difficult drill in the show, although it had its moments. After seeing their finals shows at Indy last year, its hard to readjust to seeing BD sloppy drill on the field but it's so early in the season. Some of the diagonals last night were atrocious. It'll be great watching this show evolve to BD perfection again this year - this show, with weekly tweaking, is going to be intimidating to other corps - number 15 championship is a clear possibility - this show has enough design and music elements to carry BD to the highest levels again.

Well, if we can just convince BD to cut back on their achievement, we can have more exciting, close races at the wire. Blue Coats dropped to 3rd - did that excite you? My lasting memory coming back from Indy is the enormous talent of all the corps and how they laid it all out on the field at Finals - I'll keep going to Indy forever, the thrill of a lifetime. Attendance? ALL sports are down (NASCAR, MLB, etc down 5% and more) with this rotten economy. Indy was in the same ballpark as last year, about 22,000 counting freebies. Bring DCI back to California and you'll see another monster crowd like Rose Bowl 2007.

There were A LOT of DCI fans (and judges) who were BLOWN AWAY seeing the "dissonent" show. The power, beauty and complexity of the dissonent show was light years ahead of its time. And, for example, I learned to enjoy Bartok on a new level after seeing SCV a few times - my first reaction was "are you kidding - Bartok in DCI?" Each corps brought their individual style and it was amazingly wonderful to watch IN PERSON. If I only watched in theaters, I would have lost interest in DCI long ago. West Side Story, Gershwin, Phantom of the Opera are GUARANTEED crowd pleasers and I love to watch them, but I increase my "knowledge and appreciation of the arts" each time I see a drum corp actually try something new and different, something out of the box. Thank god for DCI's diversity in musical expression.

I love MediaBox, just found out about it a few days ago. This Encore video is a jewel, HD, I've watched it many, many times. The more you learn about this BD show, the more you wonder if it is going to be one of those "defining" shows that changes the direction of drum corps. $29.95 for a year - well worth it for MediaBox. This show will not look "dated" years from now when fans review it again - years ahead of its time and pure genius.

Yeah, we got a mess in Indy...perfect climate-controlled environment in the record heat wave that hit in Finals Week this year, with the luxury of a last-minute decision NOT to open the dome, after all, with the unexpected heat. No bugs, mosquitos. Guaranteed event even when rain storms hit (unlike Minnesota, etc.). NFL's most beautiful stadium. Safe streets to walk with tons of hotels/restaurants nearby. Beautiful, nearby White River Park for parking lot shows. Lovely Exhibition Hall for merchandisers. Central location to the majority of corps minimizing driving distances (except for BD/SCV - and people wonder why BD was not cheered as lustily - you should have heard the crowd at Pasadena screaming for BD, by the way). Decent crowds considering the horrible economy (and overpriced $125 tickets). Even improved sound this year, still better than Atlanta, San Antonio domes. What do you want, jacuzzis and car hops at your seat? And no, those seats are not used at Colts or DCI...there were plenty of unobstructed seats that were still available at the 20-yard lines. I'll happily return to Indy every year, but bring DCI to California in 2013!

Thanks DCP for a positive BD post. This show definitely messes with your head like none other I've ever seen. In rehearsals, I didn't like it. I saw it live and there was so much going on I couldn't take it all in. I watched it live some more and started to love it. I saw it for a few weeks on only fannetwork and began drifting away again. Then Atlanta multicam captured the beauty of several of the effects and reminded me why I loved it so much in person. And I've had to listen repeatedly to understand the complexity and power of the music. I'm still sifting through the layers of this show, it's genius. I'm happy Bluecoats have risen so high, but this show has to be awarded for it's excellence on Finals night. And, please DCI, give us another retreat in Indy! What a pleasure it was to see the Atlanta vid. Crowds have been somewhat subdued in their reactions this year, but the retreats will bring fans back to DCI. Amazing experience. I can't wait to see this BD show 3 more times when I go to Indy.

That Atlanta crowd was not overly responsive to ANY corps except Cavaliers. Cavs were irresistibly adorable doing their pushups and bringing the company front (no disrespect intended, I did enjoy their show much more than most other corps minus the tepid ending). Let's face it, company fronts get big crowd response every year, like SCV last year with "Simple Gifts" and that company front note that lasted about 28 beats. Crowds go berserk for that stuff, and I even enjoy it of course. But judges don't score it, in proportion to the loudness. I watched BD/Atlanta several times today on fannetwork and keep finding extaraordinary examples of field craft and show design, it's such a complex show. Casual audiences are not going to "get" that BD show, but it grows on me more as I watch it repeatedly, especially in person. It will not be a fan favorite (even though they sweep most every caption) in Indy although it is extraordinary in so many ways.

Best comment of the night!!! I've gone through all the reactions you described above. This year's BD show is a show you HAVE to see In PERSON to begin to understand it fully, not just on fannetwork. I still don't like it as much on fannetwork. When I first saw it in rehearsals without mirrors/costumes, etc., I didn't understand the music, there weren't "hummable" tunes, I didn't like it. But, after seeing it repeatedly LIVE, I'm in love with it now. It's like great literature - you have to peel away the layers of its complexity to start to grasp its genius. And watch it from fairly CLOSE UP in person. You see those fantastic multiplying effects of the silver mirrors, the silver uniform sequins flashing in your eyes, the silver sidecapes and silver drums reflecting light. You see the effects of corps members in front of and behind mirrors creating the effect that the "images" are marching right out of the mirrors. BD's trying to achieve effects like "broken glass" falling on the field, the discordant music makes the audience "uncomfortable", powerful tensions in the music and show design wash over the audience and don't get resolved until those final chords at the end.

I can't tell you how happy I am that SOMEONE has FINALLY acknowledged the Blue Devils "C" Corps - those adorable little 7-13 year olds who work hard all year long just like their big BD brothers. By the way, they are ranked ahead of 2 Open Class age 14-up corps - Blue Saints and Spirit of Newark AND beat Velvet Knights 2 times this year on captions. Sorry for diverging here, but I probably will never see BDC ever mentioned again. I have heard speculation that BDC may overtake their BDA big brothers with their new "closer" rewrite. They care little that they have never been close to BDA all season and that they have lost to them every time this year. They're only 34 points behind, but they know they'll get a big "crowd boost" when all those Indy people cheer wildly for them since they're so well loved and adorable. That's about the level I see this discussion going with Cavaliers, etc. Ignore all the scores all year, a 2-year winning streak and the fact that BD now has a 2.25 lead going into the final 15 days. Just hope, hope, hope that your corps will rewrite and overtake BD and carry the crowd. BD rewrites too - last year they pulled off a major closer rewrite just before Allentown. BD has been known to improve in the final 2 weeks, too. Good luck to all corps - they all worked so hard all year, may the best corps win and let's all tip our hat to that corps who wins. And no booing please in Indy (as WILL happen IF BD wins). How low class and disrespectful to ANY kids who have worked their butts off all year long.

Time's getting short for anyone to catch the Blue Devils.Tonight, they opened up a 2.25 lead on 2nd place Cavaliers. And I bet they're getting ready to unleash a delicious rewrite of part of their show, maybe their closer, like they did last year as they approached Allentown. If they pick up many more tenths with any more improvements, it's all for 2nd place in Indy behind BD. Love 'em or hate 'em, you've got to tip your hat - they're working their butts off like everyone else and getting results.

This year's BD show is a show you HAVE to see In PERSON to begin to understand it fully, not just on fannetwork. When I first saw it in rehearsals without mirrors/costumes, etc., I didn't understand the music, parents were shaking their heads on the sideline since there weren't "hummable" tunes, I didn't like it. I came home and told my family that BD had a "stinker" show this year. But, after seeing it repeatedly LIVE, I'm deeply in love with it now. It's like great literature - you have to peel away the layers of its complexity to start to grasp its genius. The other corps look like they're marching the same old stuff (very well, though!) from past years, then BD gives you a glimpse of the future of show design. And watch it from fairly CLOSE UP in person. You see those fantastic multiplying effects of the silver mirrors, the silver uniform sequins flashing in your eyes, the silver sidecapes and silver drums reflecting light. You see the effects of corps members in front of and behind mirrors creating the effect that the "images" are marching right out of the mirrors. BD's trying to achieve effects like "broken glass" falling on the field, the discordant music makes the audience "uncomfortable", powerful tensions in the music and show design wash over the audience and don't get resolved until that final chord repeats 7 times at the end. The guard is wearing the most disruptive of costume colors. If you sit high, you don't see the amazing mirror effects, you see the tops of plumes behind mirrors, etc. SIT CLOSER! And no one has gotten the "genius" of the DUAL PURPOSE of the mirrors. If anyone went to Indpls. Finals last year, you know the sound there is HORRIBLE. Corps in January were encouraged to find creative ways to "deal with it". I thought, yeah, that's an impossible task. But BD has built a BANDSHELL that really does bounce sound to the audience. They sometimes face the mirrors from a foot away while playing.

The issue for BDB is, do they want to finish 1st each year or fall to the low middle area of World Class. I think they are ready to try World Class. I'm not sure they're pushing as hard this year since there really is not much competition at Indy Finals...and last year they were pushing like crazy for their first championship. SCVC is not going to Indy this year, Teal Sound moved up, Citations dropped out (the 2nd, 3rd, 4th place corps last year. BDB would have ranked about 14th place in world class last year - their show design was fantastic, better than this year's, by the way. They would very probably beat Teal Sound and Jersey Surf, so place them at least around 18 or so this year world class. I think they're going to need the move to world class to stay motivated and hungry in coming years...their goal would be to make the final 12, like Troopers last year.

This year's BD show is a show you HAVE to see In PERSON to begin to understand it fully, not just on fannetwork. When I first saw it in rehearsals without mirrors/costumes, etc., I didn't understand the music, parents were shaking their heads on the sideline since there weren't "hummable" tunes, I didn't like it. I came home and told my family that BD had a "stinker" show this year. But, after seeing it repeatedly LIVE, I'm deeply in love with it now. It's like great literature - you have to peel away the layers of its complexity to start to grasp its genius. The other corps look like they're marching the same old stuff (very well, though!) from past years, then BD gives you a glimpse of the future of show design. And watch it from fairly CLOSE UP in person. You see those fantastic multiplying effects of the silver mirrors, the silver uniform sequins flashing in your eyes, the silver sidecapes and silver drums reflecting light. You see the effects of corps members in front of and behind mirrors creating the effect that the "images" are marching right out of the mirrors. BD's trying to achieve effects like "broken glass" falling on the field, the discordant music makes the audience "uncomfortable", powerful tensions in the music and show design wash over the audience and don't get resolved until that final chord repeats 7 times at the end. The guard is wearing the most disruptive of costume colors. If you sit high, you don't see the amazing mirror effects, you see the tops of plumes behind mirrors, etc. SIT CLOSER! And no one has gotten the "genius" of the DUAL PURPOSE of the mirrors. If anyone went to Indpls. Finals last year, you know the sound there is HORRIBLE. Corps in January were encouraged to find creative ways to "deal with it". I thought, yeah, that's an impossible task. But BD has built a BANDSHELL that really does bounce sound to the audience. They sometimes face the mirrors from a foot away while playing. I loved the Troopers' "West Side Story" music last year, even SCV's "Ballet for Martha/Simple Gifts". Catchy tunes that are easy crowd pleasers, but BD has shattered the creative barriers with this show. They took a big chance with this music, but open your minds, enjoy the power and the beauty of the effect they're accomplishing. I didn't think they could top the genius of the 2009 "chairs" show, almost the highest DCI Finals points show ever, but this one comes close. Two home runs in a row!