justafan

My first drum corps show was the US Open in Marion, Ohio in 1969. It was amazing then and it is amazing still, even with all of the changes that have happened throughout the years. Today's show are quite different but they are still challenging and extremely impressive performances by ever increasingly talented young people. You could never pay them to work this hard if they didn't love it! From top to bottom this was my favorite year and if I am honest the only I can remember year where there was no hot dog corps for me. Every single one had something good and interesting to offer. My opinion from a enjoyment perspective: 1 Bluecoats - For me they deserved to be the champion. It is still surprising that they won GE and tied for first in Music and didn't pull it off. But, that was the result. What a year! I do not criticize any judging or take nothing away from amazing BD but this Bluecoats show was a master class of design, the arrangements were superb, the performance was inspired and the result was an uplifting joy that the crowds really appreciated. This is my new favorite Bluecoats show of all time although I still love Tilt (which in my opinion should have won as well). I look forward to next season to see what this design team will come up with. They have been quite innovative for several years now so my expectations are pretty high. 2 Blue Devils - BD is the unquestioned champion of cleaning and adding and I think they pulled off a great feat beating the Bluecoats this season. For me, the show got better and better and the finals performance, including that whirlpool drill, was simply amazing. But, why wait so long? A great tactic to win but how many fans never got to see their best product?? That bothers me a bit. 3 Crown - There is no denying the distinctive and powerful brass sound which I love. This show is also one that grew on me as the season went on and I quite enjoyed the end result. It was a bit old school but then again, I am one of those dinosaurs so that is not all bad. But, the Bluecoats are driving the activity in new directions so it will be interesting to see how other corps like Crown respond. 4 SCV - I love SCV and this was another powerful show but it fell a little short for me - maybe a bit forced? I would like to see more of a return to a traditional SCV look as I think that would suit them very well. 5 Blue Knights- While BK seemed to me a step down in intensity from the corps above, I found this show very classy, clean and cerebral. Easily my favorite BK show in a long while. 6 Cavaliers - What a fun show and it was performed with great energy. It reminded me of the great shows from earlier this century! More of this, please. 7 Crossmen - An aggressive, hard-driving show that was quite enjoyable. 8 Phantom - Phantom is a sentimental favorite for me as I used to work for a company based in Rockford. I think the activity has passed them by a bit but I hope they continue to put quality shows together. I would love Phantom to be a contender again. 9 Blue Stars - Sorry, I did not see the show live. 10 Mandarins - I love the character of this up and coming corps. This was a very nice show in year of great shows. 11 Colts - Sorry, I did not see the show live. 12 Boston - There is no doubting the talent and drive of this team and the guard was amazing all year. The show got better as the season went on but the design just did not work for me. Loved the corps and they did an admirable job at selling it but the show design just fell flat, from an enjoyment perspective.

I find this thread to be a hilarious waste of time. The Bluecoats were one of the corps back in the day that resisted the rule changes that still have people riled up. But, the rules were passed and life goes on. Now, some seem to think the Bluecoats and others are somehow wrong for being innovative, creative and competitive within these rules. I get you don't like the rules but why bash any of these hard working corps for working effectively within them? I was at the Akron show and truly enjoyed every one of the corps from Crossmen to Bluecoats. I have been watching drum corps off and on since 1969 and this is the first time I can honestly say that. It is clear to me that this is a much more impressive and enjoyable competition today than it used to be. Is that due at least in part to amplification? Don't know and don't care. I, along with everyone else in the stadium it would appear, were greatly entertained by 9 hardworking and extremely talented drum corps.

Slick Pig BBQ!!

I have seen this comment a couple of times about the bluecoats show this year but to be honest, I don't get it. Why do you think this is just a rehash of previous years? They have different music, different vibe, different look, different drill, different theme, different props, different uniforms (costumes, I guess), a singer. To me it is completely a different show. Can you please explain?

posted from the DrumScorps app

View from our seats. Beautiful evening for a show!

Does anyone know who the judging crew was for Dallas?

OK now, be honest, I think you like that description.

OK, I will play a bit longer. The show represents nonstop energy resulting from the all that tilting and it's eternal battle with gravity. The energy builds at the beginning of the show, is attenuated temporarily during the ballad and then builds again strongly at the close with multiple pitch bend teases and then the real pitch bend itself. The jumper at the end is the final, satisfying release of the built up energy that restores natural equilibrium to our world.

Brutus, you have been baggin' this show all season with your pretentious pseudo-intellectual bullcrap. I saw my first drum corps show in 1969 and fell in love with the genre because of the precision, power and pageantry - the unique sounds and images that only exist here. I don't have any desire to do any research to make sure I understand the full "meaning" of a show. We have a great season going on and I have enjoyed all of the corps I have seen both live and on Fan Network. I love how clean the Blue Devils are, I love to watch the Cadets march and I love Crown's lush brass sound, SCV's drums and Phantom's guard. But I love the Bluecoat's show most of all because feeds my drum corps fix better than any other show this year. It puts a smile on my face, makes me stand up and yell and want to watch it again. And, from the two shows I went to this year and the vast majority of the posts here, people get it just fine.

Congratulations Bluecoats! This was a great finish to a great season by a corps that has done it the right way and is structured to sustain this level for a while. I can't wait until next year - the blooing after winning a championship will be awsome. Yes, it could happen.

Here is my prediction. The Bluecoats are ready for a jump. Yes, it could happen. 1) Bluecoats- 91.25 2) SCV- 88.25 3) Phantom- 88.05 4) Blue Knights- 85.00 5) Spirit- 78.50 6) Colts- 77.50 7) Teal Sound- 74.00 8) Cascades- 73.00

Bluecoats 85.35 Crown 84.70 Cavaliers 84.65 Phantom 82.45 Boston 81.20 Madison 78.55 Spirit 72.60

What is up with the Bluecoats Music Ensemble score? Dead last in one of the subcaptions? 1.4 behind their last show, I think. 1st in percussion, 2nd in brass and 4th in ensemble??? Bad show or judging anomaly?

1. Bluecoats 2. Carolina Crown 3. Cadets 4. Blue Devils 5. SCV 6. Cavaliers 7. Boston Crusaders 8. BlueStars 9. Blue Knights 10. Phantom Regiment 11. Madison Scouts 12. Glassmen 13. Colts 14. Spirit 15. Academy 16. Troopers 17. Crossmen Yes, it could happen

1) The Cavaliers 2) The Cadets 3) Bluecoats 4) Blue Devils 5) Phantom Regiment 6) Santa Clara Vanguard 7) Carolina Crown 8) Boston Crusaders 9) Blue Knights 10) Colts 11) The Academy 12) Glassmen 13) Blue Stars 14) Spirit from JSU 15) Madison Scouts 16) Crossmen 17) Cascades 18) Troopers 19) Southwind 20) Pacific Crest 21) Mandarins 22) Pioneer b**bs

Bluecoats - 79.85 Phantom - 79.25

Is it just me or does it seem people are in a bit of shock that the Bluecoats were within 0.2 of the Cavaliers last night.

Like I said, I get it. I just don't like it. Tom

OK, gotta put on my two cents. I have been a fan of drum corps off and on since 1969 and a regular fan and volunteer since 1999. I have seen a lot of changes from "real" color guards (actually guarding the respective national flag) and marching tympani to the artistic guard and huge pits of today, "real" bugle to b flats, amplification, the list goes on and on. I have liked some of the changes, not others but understand that today drum corps is still a unique and entertaining activity - not the same as 1969 - but just unique and entertaining and perhaps even more so. For me, the 2007 Cadets show in its current form is irritating, not entertaining. Not because I hate the Cadets, or hate Hopkins or don't like change or am closed minded, but because the talking during the show is a huge distraction. Don't say I don't get it - I get it. I just don't like it. I don't need the constant explanation. I don't need to be lectured or talked down to. It was simply like trying to watch a show with the person next to you talking the whole time. I wanted to (and almost did) yell "Shut the **** up!!!". It really is too bad because I think the Cadets would otherwise have a decent show this year. Tom

Time for a change at the top. 1) Phantom 2) Bluecoats 3) Cavaliers 4) BD 5) Cadets 6) SCV 7) Crown 8) Scouts 9) BAC 10) Crossmen 11) Glassmen 12) Colts 13) BK 14) JSU 15) Troopers 16) Blue Stars 17) Mandarins 18) Cascades 19) Southwind 20) Academy 21) Pacific Crest 22) Esperanza 23) Pioneer

To answer the original question, a full horn line costs roughly twice that of a full pit.

I know the University of Akron gave college credit equal to marching band to Bluecoats a few years back.

To be correct, the Bluecoats have not yet finished in the top four, but certainly could this year. As good as they have been and continue to be, Glassmen and Boston have never been higher than 5th (in the modern era) and Blue Knights have never been higher than 6th. The Bluecoats have never finished lower than their previous year since the 13th spot in 1999 (which followed 12 years in the top 12) and they appear on pace to keep that streak going this year. The corps is well managed, well financed, well staffed and has attracted increasingly talented members. They continue to make moves designed to keep them in the hunt for the long haul. That said, this is a tough business and it is very hard work to consistantly improve all too easy to falter with an ill conceived show design and fall back, especially when everyone else is doing their best to improve as well. It is a great year of drum corps and it is good to see new blood (or should I say blooooooooood) near the top.