tariq.shah

I applaud him, and renegade bass drummers everywhere.

Alcohol is a drug.

My view: The black uniforms were boss. The white uniforms were OG. The tan uniforms, though not as rad as the two previously mentioned, are sharp uniforms. I would vote for a red sash to accompany it, though, instead of a black one. By the way, where did this rumor come from? Is it based on anything substantive?

I would argue that Cavs are as reputed to be a percussion powerhouse as they are to be a visual powerhouse. The past few years, cavs haven't been as dominant as they usually are. Let me be clear. The Cavaliers were great this year. Their members have a lot to be proud of. Listening to their book though, it just leaves me a little dissatisfied.

Is anyone else not entirely satisfied that The Cavaliers won High Percussion this year?

Shaw?

#2 - Capriccio Bohemian.

Tapper, give us a break.

F*CK YEAH PRELIMS SUTA!!!

I agree with the OP. Except for the accordion. When has the accordion NOT been awesome?

Regarding the Phantom Regiment: Having marched there, and having an older brother who marched there in the mid-late 90's, I've heard a large number of members, staff, and fans use both "Regiment," and "Phantom," in reference to the corps. I've used both. I'm pretty sure both are acceptable in the eyes of the organization. Just don't call us phantoms.

Day of finals, Tyler Dempsey was to be pink bellied. He pulled a knife on us though, and chased us away, like a feral chihuahua. It was rather awesome. Fight to the end. HFL.

-and I should add, that this, obviously, has NOTHING to do with how shows are judged on the field. This is merely a few thoughts on how to considere themes in art themselves. We all know themes aren't part of the scores. This fact makes this entire thread weird and doomed to failure, but I thought I'd give it a go.

I fail to see how the themes are any better or worse than each other. The two shows are attempting to tell different stories in different ways. The "winner" will be the show that executes more thoroughly. There is much whimsy in Juliet, and there are elemental conflicts and emotions explored in Baccarat's catalogue, if one is to look as objectively as possible and parse the meaning(s) from the works. One must accept the show on its own terms. You can be put off by the fact that the Blue Devils aren't performing the show you'd construct, but this is an unfair demand. What they present to us is all we can consider, if we're going to be serious about critiquing this year's programs. In other words: You can have a show about high schoolers (or some other theme similarly considered "low," or "frivolous"), or you can do Beowulf: in the end, a theme should be a vehicle for exploring the human condition, the limits of story-telling, art, etc, whatever your goals are. The perceived "depth" of the theme vis-a-vis plot, character, setting, is not important. Indeed, great works of art have been created through re-narrating the most classical of works in radically different settings, tones, characters. West Side Story comes to mind. I hope ya'll are grasping what I'm trying to put forth here; this reply seems a bit vague to me, I'll try and do better later, but right now I've got to go blow stuff up for America.

Performing consistently IS the reality of the matter. Every rep, every run-through, every show, is of the utmost importance. Your assertions are still ridiculous.

THANK YOU!! So glad someone said it!

This not a fact. In my experience, corps are taught (and rightly, in my opinion) to execute their show at the highest level possible every time they perform it. I think your premise is completely ridiculous.

Meh, ignore it.

I didn't make up an arbitrary definition. dress rehearsal  –noun a rehearsal of a play or other performance in costume and with scenery, properties, and lights arranged and operated as for a performance: often the final rehearsal. italics mine. When I think of the term "dress rehearsal," it is mostly with this in mind. My link

Good feedback! I am not opposed to dress rehearsals, and I completely understand the importance of having them. They were hugely helpful when I marched (00-02). I suppose my gripe was semantic. I was under the assumption that dress rehearsals, by definition, were a one time thing. Subsequent non-competitive performances (which are of course a huge help at a season's onset) ought be referred to as exhibition performances, no? "2nd dress rehearsals" simply sound funny, and prompted me to post my thoughts on this forum. Additionally, I think my urge to see this season begin in earnest informed the framing of the questions I posed. Dino rage, is that a thing?

First off, aren't dress rehearsals a one time thing? Isn't that what makes it what it is? Second, what does the existence of a few "2nd dress rehearsals" tell us? Marchers participate in this activity to perform and to compete. I think these DR's are satisfying this desire in marching members until actual competitions ensue later this month. So: The season has taken an increasingly long time to commence. Why exactly is this, and can it be changed? Instead of Dress Rehearsal #2, in a town the corps is not from, ought there be a competition? Is this possible? Are corps these days reluctant to perform and compete in early season shows because their presentations are unpolished? If yes, what does this say about the state of the competitive aspect of drum corps, vis-a-vis the competitive instincts of the marchers themselves?

Bingo Tso. I mean to say it's a tad out of context is all.

Sup with the drumset at the beginning of the ballad? Should probs hose that.

I believe Rennick has always prefered quints for his lines.

Probably because it is one of the more logistically-feasible sub-Saharan African countries one could work with for a program like BD's. Having lived in Mozambique as a peace corps volunteer for over two years, and having traveled throughout the area, SA provides an infrastructure that doesn't exist in its neighbors. It is still very poor, and lacks many human resources, but it has roads, communications, a reliable(ish) bureaucracy, and a certain modernity that has yet to spread to Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and to a lesser extent Malawi and Zambia. SA is a good springboard. I think the kids would better "get" what BD is attempting and respond enthusiastically. However, there are other African countries that I could see being suited for a program such as this. Ghana, Kenya, Botswana come to mind. Gotta start somewhere....