Slingerland

Considering that Time guy wasn't even in Cavaliers' show, I'd say the lack of clarity here is pretty epic. I'll have what these guys are having.

Not at all. After all, Satan had an agenda when he planted all those fake fossils 6,000 years ago when the world was created. He was trying to sew doubt. I've been told this by people who also tell me that they find Presidential quotations about national unity and resolve to be "offensive."

Ditto. I actually see Vanguard fighting with Cavaliers for 5th this year. The top four are pretty much set.

How about these guys?

Copland had a gay, Jewish, intellectual agenda. Plus he probably liked vampires.

Just imagine what that must have smelled like.

Either a terrifically witty sendup of current whack job thinking, or the convention speech of the next Governor of Alabama.

Ralph? Ralph Reed? How'd the nutcase convention go this year?

The show is a mess, unfortunately. You can't write inspired visual programs when the music has a case of ADHD, which this show does. It takes time to develop more sophisticated visual 'music', but if the arranger is going to change tunes every 16 bars, you're screwed. I found myself mouthing "finish the ___ing phrase!" more than once tonight.

1. Bluecoats - wow. Pure effect, rather than attempts at "meaning" anything. If I were BD, Cadets, or Crown, I'd be concerned about this mother coming up from behind and mugging me starting in late July. 2. I feel like I've gotten everything out of Cadets show I'm ever going to get. They do it well - I'm just not that interested in "yes we can, we're Americans, d___mit." We can't fix basic elements of governing the country these days, so maybe I'm just not in the mood for optimistic bromides about how good we are at things, especially when other nations kick our nutsacks on every major front except for homicides, bankruptcies, and obesity. Nuff said. 3. Crown. The show has no shape. Cool effects, and a much improved percussion section, but I find myself checking the watch 5 or 6 minutes into it. 16th note ensemble horn licks for their own sake don't interest me anymore than Sun Ra's music interests me. 4. PR. I've seen this show from them before. Many times. 5. Cavaliers. MUCH improved in every facet. According to the recaps, they tied Bluecoats for first in Percussion, yes? Uniform changeback is appreciated. They'll be battling it out with Santa Clara for the 5 spot, make book on it. 6. Scouts. Love the organization, wanted to like the show. Choppy, boppy, and not marched well. The trombone ensemble in the Kenton piece is buried under the pit writing. 7. Boston. Some interesting things going on. If they can clean it, they'll have a succes d'estime that people will look back on fondly as having pushed some envelopes. That's not a bad thing, necessarily. Overall, this is the strongest opening to a season I can ever recall. Every single corps I've seen has something to bring to the table, and the level of preparedness tonight was impressive. Lastly, Tom Blair or someone on the production staff; get those pleated front khakis away from Rondo, and put him in some pants made in this century. and to all a good night.

Bluecoats this year. The triangle ramps on the field are simple but very effective. Otherwise I'm in agreement with the OP. Those who want to use large pieces of scenery should have them designed to require no additional time to set up on the field, not require significant additional loading room in the lot, and allow for smooth moving in/moving out transitions between corps.

http://www.dci.org/tour-of-champions/

It's a change that It's a change that was instituted this year, to replace one of the usual 7 with a regional Finalist corps at some of the shows. If you look at the TOC schedule, you'll see that Blue Knights, Boston, Spirit, Crossmen, and Troopers will also be appearing at some of the TOC shows this season.

1. BD (they have the best package, and no reason to believe they won't drive it home). 2. Crown, 1.5 points back 3. Bluecoats 4. Cadets (they'll start stalling in July) 5. Cavaliers (surprising a few people, but this show has more room to move than the 6-8 shows) 6. Vanguard 7. Regiment 8. Boston 9. Scouts 10. Blue Knights 11. Crossmen 12. Blue Stars, Troopers, or Spirit - pick 'em

Because it wasn't well-arranged, and the show choices were pretentious and off-putting to much of the audience. "What do we want?!" A more entertaining show concept. "When do we want it?!" Next season. Fortunately for them, they delivered.

Much more accessible (and successful) program choices from Crossmen this year over last year's protest show.

And most of us can watch movies without other people sitting next to us telling us exactly what we're supposed to be seeing. If the audience isn't getting it, that's usually a sign of failure. The best silent film directors prided themselves on using fewer titles to provide "dialog" for the audience - they tried to make the work understandable using visual design and performance. YMMV, of course.

Mandarins, you can lose the voiceovers, and the show won't suffer. Really.

Have you MET George Hopkins? I like and respect The Cadets - but their design choices have a tendency to go uber-literal whenever possible ("I know - we'll put an actual living room* in the middle of the field!"), which has a tendency to annoy rather than impress. (* thanks, 2000Cadet)

That all looks about right to me. Cavaliers pulling closer to Regiment, and all three midwestern "7's" within about a point of each other.

No one should worry - or get too cocky - at the first read of the season with a 5-judge panel. The first 10 days of the season is like out of town previews for a B'way show; you get enough feedback to fix the obvious problems, but the slotting (and real competition) won't begin in earnest until after July 1.

I'd agree. PR had a better run, but a less well considered show.

Regiment's show is fine, but feels like I've already seen this from them before.

A little fuzzy in that snare passage, but appreciate the aggression in the writing.

No one said that. The point was about spreads.