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dandaman31

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Posts posted by dandaman31

    Bowling Green Review

    in DCI (All) Corps Show & Event Reviews

    Posted

    I have to agree with Splat. There is no one, at the moment, that is arranging for drum corps as well as Michael Klesch. He is an all time great and could literally arrange any piece of music (pop, rap, classical, country, atonal etc.) to fit an ensemble perfectly. I marched in 2010 and our encore tune was a Madonna medley... and it ROCKED.

    I understand if you think the music was repetitive, or you don't like the source material, but to say that it is badly composed is ignorant... Best brass book this year/decade/of all time.

    That aside, I really enjoyed your review and I appreciate a critical eye!

    • Like 3

    Quincy Review

    in DCI (All) Corps Show & Event Reviews

    Posted

    An aside… didn’t notice much in the way of pre-show garbage this year. I never really saw the point of pretentious narration, or atmospheric recorded music accompanied by silly posing by the corps. Crown’s pre-show last year is only one I’ve ever found worth watching.

    You didn't think that Crown's preshow in 2010 was the best part of their show?

    Your Theater Experience

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted · Edited by dandaman31

    My first thought as I left the theater was that I was extrememly impressed by how prepared all eight corps were (although the cavaliers still have a few sets to learn). That said, I did have favorites, and least favorites.

    Blue Stars- They know how to put on a finals-possible show. But the music selection was not worthy of drum corps. They played the s*** out of it, but it really has no place on the field. They look great for only their second show and I really look forward to seeing them in August. (synth was WAY too loud)

    SCV- After being disappointed with their show last year, I have renewed hope in SCV. They have some great source music and their brass sounds really good. Not the most memorable show though, I remember their encore more than the show...

    Phantom- LOVE the new uniforms and all female guard! I've been wondering, did they just tell all the male guard members to get lost, or how did that work? Phantoms musical selections always get me going. Huge fan of classical music and they always deliver. Brass sounds great and despite losing their entire percussion staff, they are doing a fine job so far.

    Cadets- JEEZ!! They are HAWLING A** THE ENTIRE SHOW!!! Love the idea of having two sides pitted against each other! Brass sounded pretty good, but the book needs some work. Guard looked amazing and percussion is doing a great job this early in the season.

    Crown- What a change from last season. From dark and classical, to bright and modern. They really know how to get the crowd into their shows! I loved the first half till after their rendition of "Eruption", but then things got a little flat to me. But if the wind hadn't already knocked everyone's hats of, the cream team's sound would have! Holy smokes can they play! The production needs a lot of work to get the second half as good as the first.

    Blue Coats- I was very impressed by this corps! After sort of coming out of no where (in my oppinion) last year, they seem ready to defend their medal, if not do better this year. Brass sounds great and I'm loving the book. Percussion blew me away! Still looks like the beginning of season, but that might be because it is :tongue:

    Cavies- So clean! And man are they moving too! I'm never really impressed with their brass, but they sounded great tonight; very full and balanced. One of the only guards that really impressed me, but it must have been hard for them in constant 20 mph winds with gust up to 50... This show has TONS of potential. They did not march for the last minute or so of the show because they have a few more sets to learn, bringing their total up to 250! Last year with crown, we had about 180

    Blue Devils- NOT impressed. They started the night, which was probably the first time that had ever happened, and the audio and video went out for about five minutes of the show, but I couldn't believe this was the same corps that went undefeated last year... There was only one recognizeable "drill move" and way to much interaction with props. Not enough marching and more walking to sets. On the other hand, its very nice to hear a melody coming from the 14 time champs :rolleyes: But it still didn't sound like first place quality. Individual brass stuck out more than in any other corps. I know this show will improve probably more than any other show being put on the field this season so I am excited to see it in August.

    So for the theater, I was in Fairfax, VA and as I said before, there were a few times, during the performances, when audio and video would cut out completely for a few minutes, VERY frusturating. After the first two corps, that stopped, but I still wanted it to be louder. Guess that means I have to go to a live show! There were probably a hundred people there with not much crowd response. The only applause was for crown, cadets and phantom...

    Carolina Crown 2011: Rach Star

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    It doesn’t advance the drill or the show, it seems like a simple mello part where they added the body movement to up the demand – I can’t consider it another ‘layer’ unless there is justification – one I can’t find, how does it tie into, connect to the show??? And after so much body movement and watered down parts, well I’d rather less body movement and better parts – just stand there and play something cool because this seems needlessly busy and kind of a cop out, being hard for the sake of being hard, well, I get the demand credit thing but do something that’s hard and cool…anything done to death is no longer cool

    That mello part was the opposite of simple. It was a part of the show that they needed to work on everyday, for the whole summer until it was perfect (which it was by finals). It also stimulates the audiences eyes. During the ballad, the marching is generally much slower, with a lack of drill moves. The whole corps continues to make the show visually interesting by showing musical technique that is off the charts while moving in ways that would normally restrict sound quality. They're doing legitimate ballet in this section while playing smoothly and lyrically, not to mention softly. I think it is one of the most impressive parts of the show, after, of course, the unison hits while running towards the center of the field during the reprise of the Mahler.

    I really hope Crown continues using body movement in the future, because it is what stands them apart from other corps.

    • Like 1
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