DeepSouthDCI

Anyone seen SoA perform lately? What's going on? I'll see them in San Antonio and will try to post a review afterwards.

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Spirit is getting a good amount of love currently in the What is Your Favorite Show thread. If you enjoy seeing Spirit of Atlanta on the field each year, consider participating in their current "Race to Indy" fund drive at www.spiritdrumcorps.org.

After watching video from Opelika, I take that comment back. I'd take it back more if I could. There's a lot of power in that hornline, and they handle it well.

ugh ::shudder:: cute

The dreaded Tour Crud. Speedy recovery to all effected.

Hope they can get the 'lectricity and the indoor plumbin' ready to go for the show.

I'm not great at reviews, but I'll post my brief thoughts from the San Antonio regional. The show has a ton of great "little moments" Hornline sounded good, and was well balanced but nothing that really pinned me to the back of my seat. I was in the 6th row of the 3rd deck. Right side of the field, just above the 15. So, not the best place in the world to judge hornline sound or ensemble sound. Lots of echo in the Alamodome, especially in my seat. The closest they came to blowing me back was the Sweet Georgia Brown hits in the closer, but they were too short and fast to really pin me back. On the flip side, I didn't hear anything that I considered raw ( I mean bad raw) or unbalanced for the entire performance, and I can't say the same for BK. Intro, corps coming onto the field needs work. There's a guard member "playing" the piano (Sweet Georgia Brown) and the hornline and battery are acting like they're coming out of a party, or participating in a party, generally acting kind of drunk, and then hushing up when there's a knock on the "speakeasy" door. I'm sure the kids have been told to "sell it to the box" but it looks really forced and weird. Made me uncomfortable, and anxious for the real show to start. Getting the intro/rolling start to feel like the real show is a challenge. From my high angle, I could see a good bit of visual dirt. Stuff like forms not "clicking" before moving to the next and really noticeable stuff like gentle arches not hitting when everyone comes to a halt. Better believe that's hurting right now. On the bright side, still plenty to clean! Way to go lead sops. The screamers are noticed, appreciated, and darn well done. All in all, a very enjoyable show, but they didn't make me want to jump up on my feet at the end. I feel they're being placed about where they should be for now. I think it needs something besides cleaning to close the gap between them and BK.

Maybe it's our crappy facilities down in the deep South. Maybe they should consider re-locating the corps to Arkansas or Texas. Edit: Excellent. Someone downvoted me for this. If it's not obvious, this is a joke.

I don't know if I'd go quite that far, but basically, the merits of the program and the performance must be undeniable. Also, it's a factor of needing to get better year over year faster than the other guy does. I aged out in 2006, and the corps I saw last year was an order of magnitude better than us, but they came in 11th and we came in 12th (and scored .4 up on the 2012 corps at finals). I'm not sure what it takes for SOA to have a break out year. Probably something I can't put my finger on plus money.

I really don't know. Maybe I'll have more of an opinion after San Antonio. The recaps from Denton say that the judges disagree with me, especially in the area of visual demand/content. What can I say, homers gonna home. Do I think it's political? Not really. Do I think the way that DCI is judged results in things like saving scores and slotting? You bet, but that's the ballgame, you've got to punch above your weight class before you get the credit for it (holy mixed sports metaphors , Batman). But there's no judge sitting in the press box twirling his mustache just waiting to stick it to Spirit of Atlanta lest they sully the good name of the Cavaliers. Better execution of what they've got can't hurt. Get some Spirit of Atlanta.

It's frustrating to see most of the conversation about SOA on DCP revolve around who folks think is going to pass them. From what I've seen, and I haven't seen that much (will see them in San Antonio this weekend) Clear and accessible show concept that most audiences consider fun (not counting the DCP dinks that have to say "I think this is the third year in a row they've done this show... hurr durr de hurr") Great sounding horn line that's playing music that's syleistically interesting Improved visual program year over year. Visual has been SOA's Achilles heel for some time now, in my opinion Guard and percussion are harder for me to talk about. I'm a brass guy. I also think that some fans on here use the phrase "not enough demand" as a substitute for "I don't think their show is cerebral enough" or think the two can't co-exist. They see the Blue Devils on their post-modern kick and think "Now, THAT'S high demand", and yes, it is, but there's not causality there. There's no shame in having a fun show. I'm glad SOA has a fun show. I hope they continue to have fun shows. I try not to be a homer, but sometimes you've got to say something nice about your team. Get some, Spirit of Atlanta. Throw down and kick a**.

2004 Spirit: The Architecture of Life Not only did I not like it, I marched it, and I feel qualified to say... it was a bad show. For anyone who remembers that show... traffic cop. Enough said. Although the lyrics the hornline made up to go with the bizarre music were pretty good.

Thanks for the great season Spirit of Atlanta. Don't let things get too weird on the bus ride home.

It was lonely having no one to talk to in the shower...