palmettomello

Check out the Cavies video they released about the show design connecting the Bolero theme to a neurological disease shared by both Ravel and an artist who painted a piece based on the music. It enlightens as to why the weave the Bolero theme throughout the show.

Are the tarps new tonight? Haven't seen many of Blue Star's performances recently.

At least they got the description of the heart and the "blue" vs red anatomically on the correct sides

I do like Hymn of Axicom, but I'm a sucker for a good mello solo and just that entire 2010 show. Getting the chance to follow that show all throughout the summer on tour marching a different corps, it's one of the productions that always stands out inmy mind for how much I loved being able to catch it live (along with phantom)!

I saw the Saro video a few days ago on reddit, and it has been stuck in my head the past few days. VERY excited to see how this takes shape on the field, could be at the top for my favorite ballad this summer! I like Crown's "If I Fell" and hope that it will grow a lot this summer, can't wait to hear what cavies do with "Vanishing Act" too, but this will be a definite contender! The last ballad I loved from Bluecoats was back in 2010.

Really loving the design of this production! This show along with those uniforms they revealed is light years ahead of what they have recently been producing. The only thing that worries me is the lack of content in the drill design. They could easily move up the ranks to around the 14-15 range and pull in more talent in for next year, where they could be a solid contender for finals. Prove me wrong SOA and KSA!

Anyone periscoping or fb live streaming the preview? Really want to see this, I couldn't make it up there tonight.

From Fruhauf Uniform's FB page

Crown might be taking a representation of some local South Carolina lore of the infamous Lizard Man with these uniforms and show! SC Lizard Man History and Festival

Cadets win for best headgear <shako> 2018, This I Believe.

Like 2017, not really digging the headgear. BUT, I understand why the designed it that way, looks like they eyes are made out of a mirror so they will really stand out in the stadium lights. I could see them doing some interesting visuals with their head down so that the eyes are straight ahead and it looks like a heard of beasts coming toward you.

Between the uniform leak, music, drum finishes, etc. I am definitely getting more of The Shape of Water feel from this program. Starts out beastly and mysterious and then turns out to be more whimsical and heartfelt, just IMO.

I was able to view the video literally minutes before it was taken down, couldn't even get a second viewing. I agree that this is a new direction for phantom and not quite what I was expecting either- it had it's ups and downs. I was really hoping to get an elegant 2010 vibe from the announcement, but this is not what I found. I applaud that PR put that much on the field playing and moving for an early public performance. I agree with another poster that this does seem like a younger corps with some rough musical moments from the brass, but it does appear that their visual design has greater momentum compared to some years in the past. The video was kind of at an awkward angle but I think there will be some nice moments in the drill based on their uniform design. The props are interesting and will be used well from what I could see in video, I hope they get a backing or something more added to them. I really enjoyed the opener's source music from Mr. Magorium and I think they captured that pretty well with the opener, just needed to fix some staging issues. Not a percussionist here, but I really didn't like all the tenors on the field nor did I think all the trombones added that much either, these both felt like design choices where they said "well, other corps are doing it so why not us?" The biggest cringe worthy moment personally was at the start of the ballad with the electric guitar, Phantom's identity in my head versus what I was hearing clashed and just really erked me. Overall, I like what they are doing and think that they will tweak this program to make it more phan phriendly come August. Mod edit: suggesting a location for finding videos not released by DCI and their member corps goes against our media policy.

Can anyone confirm if Spirit will be returning this look to the field? I thought this is one of the best of spandex uniforms of last summer.

Not a percussionist and don't usually follow this annual thread that closely, but we don't usually have natural wood finishes with the drumline- right? Kind of cool to see both BAC and Blue Stars using it this summer.

Will be interesting to see what the diamond shape around the face will all look like together on the field. Wonder if that was intended or just a "side effect" of the hood and how the uniform was constructed.

You could make out the side of a prop in the Cavalier's instagram story from this evening. I went to go back and screenshot it but it was already deleted. What they just put up showed a speaker on the field too. All I could tell about the prop was that it had wheels and looked to be something like a screen, not entirely sure.

No, I would guess that the design team was pushing more into the non-headgear movement and bringing more of the WGI winds/drumlines look to the field with the use of the built-in hood.

Would prefer a helmet over the hood, but not bad! Im sure they will look better once they are on the field together.

So I am assuming the grey shako and coat with the white front baldric are the only things that will remain the same this season with BAC's uniforms? I honestly did not like the unis when I first saw pictures last season with the burnt orange, but then seeing them all together on the field changed my opinion quickly. Interested to see what color palette will be used for this program and if there will be red. (Surprised a 2018 uniforms thread hasn't been started yet).

<Disclaimer: This is a combo of what I think will happen, wishful thinking, and how strong I feel about their show (except for Blooo and SCV who have yet to announce).> 1. BD- Would like to see a new face at the top, but for the first time in a long time, I am really digging this show announcement and rep coming out of Concord. 2. Crown- Well, yeah. 3. SCV- When I first heard last years show announcement, I didn't think it would be that strong of a show, but boy was I wrong. I think they will announce their program soon, prior to their first show, according to what Michael Gaines tweeted today. I think momentum is on their side, but could easily see Boston, Cavies, or Coats sneaking into the top 3 too. 4. Boston- Putting up a strong fight for medal contention, but I think it will take a little more time. Prove me wrong BAC! 5. Cavies- Another strong year for cavies, but will be edged out come finals. 6. Cadets- I see the corps really working their butts off to prove themselves after everything that has been going on. Late season surge possibly? 7. Bluecoats- No idea what they are bringing to the table this year. Probably completely wrong on this one. 8. Phantom- Loving this show announcement, I think they are back on the upswing. Rooting that they could maybe even place higher. 9. Crossmen- Simply who I think in this range of corps has the most potential to climb the ranks. 10. Blue Stars- Interested to see how strong this show will be. I found last year to be a little cluttered in design. 11. BK- Show concept scares me a little, losing the brass caption head will hurt them. 12. Mandarins- One of the first to announce their program and I was pleasantly surprised how refreshing and new this concept should be. They will make finals this year. 13. Madison- Scouts will be out, but usually a perennial finalist, would always enjoy to see them to sneak in to grab the last spot.

Looks like both the colorguard and brass line are wearing carpenter belts this summer during rehearsal from their instagram stories. Guessing those will be incorporated into the uniforms too. Can anyone confirm that they will be wearing the same ones as 2016 & 2017?

Heard some clips of the technical tonguing passages Crown takes from the show as their typical lot warm ups from a friend yesterday. Some very difficult stuff going on in the book, but it will sound amazing on the field! Can't wait to see how this show is going to shape up.

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this before on here or reddit, but the first time I heard the show title "This New World," I immediately thought of HBO's Westworld. The hosts (robots) frequently use this phrase in reference to what is occurring in the plot right now [don't want to ruin it for anyone who hasn't seen the show]. Did this come to mind for anyone else that follows both DCI and Westworld?

Digging this guard work and glad they are releasing some early season snippets. Non-percussion guy here, but does anyone what are those black things attached to the top of the basses? Cow bells?