quietcity

The remarkable thing about the ensemble last year is how little they actually played. Check out the YouTube GoPro videos from various ensemble members, including a mellophone and the piccolo trumpet player. They spend the vast majority of their time re-arranging props and running around. They were essentially auxiliary guard members who had occasional musical duties. I actually felt a little bad for them, as they did not get to participate in a lot of the big brass moments. Such is the price of stardom.

AMEN!

Yeah, Terri, but at least those Quaker Oats shakos were useful. We could carry a lot of stuff in them, like gauntlets and souvenir t-shirts and clandestine beers.

Good god, that is a beautiful picture.

UNICORNS! There, it is settled.

Brasso, mon cheri, I think you missed BlueStain's point. S/he is merely saying that in a particular corps that wears "costumes," they all wear the SAME costume, hence they have a look that is uniform. I believe it was Nietzsche who made the same philosophical argument. Or was it Wittgenstein?

UniUmes?

I don't care about the semantic debate over uniform vs costume. I do think, however, that there is a distinct difference in the look and feel of a corps wearing old-school uniform (e.g. traditional Cadets) vs the modern outfits. While I understand the functional reason for the new WGI look, it leads to softer, less distinct visual lines, and the corps have less visual pizazz as a result. I miss the crisp, truly uniform appearance of old dino-corps. Hmm, this is reminding me of the G bugle vs. Bb horn argument.

I am very ready. The apotheosis of BD's current style is Fellini-esque from 2014, one of the finest drum corps show ever. But though the style has stayed the same since then, I don't think they ever recaptured the magic of that show. Time for something different. And remember the title of last year's show...

But it is getting harder and harder to call them uniforms.

I am guessing that the aqua color on the guard is meant to represent the ocean, such as the ocean one would need to cross to reach "The New World." Could lead to some interesting water effects and divided corps drill. Can anyone explain the benzene-ring theme in the logo and on the uni? Seems kinda random, unless the show is actually about The New World of organic chemistry. Which would be cool.

Hmmm. This year's soft and flowing uni is an improvement over last year's lumpy look. The hood is a clever way to address this era's move away from headgear, I am curious to see how they use it in the show. I worry that the black and white stripes will fade to gray on the field. The guard uniform is rather nondescript, kind of a dance recital 101 look. It does not seem to contribute any particular attitude. The overall color scheme of black, white and aqua is kind of blah, but could cohere well with the right flags and props. Overall, I will wait and see how this translates.

This is not your father's Vanguard.

So a blues/be-bop flavored show with visuals inspired by Mark Rothko and Grant Wood, maybe? I could into that.

Hmm, I suspect another round of Mars/My Way-type mash-ups. This would be.... unfortunate.

Shout out to 2004: Apasionada 87. This show was based on the Nuevo Tango music of Astor Piazzolla . I am surprised this show has not been mentioned in anyone's good or bad list. It must have fallen through the cracks. It was classy, sexy and driving, with an ambitious and demanding brass book. But it was certainly not a typical Phantom show.

Fellow french horns, if I recall. Hi Terri!

Thanks! That year was the most fun I ever had in drum corps (on the field, at least). And we jumped from 10th in prelims to 7th in finals. Words cannot describe how we all felt when scores were announced at Finals, as we passed North Star, then Blue Stars, and finally Madison. One of my great memories.

There are three corps from 1979 that have stood the listening test of time for me: Guardsmen (my corps), Spirit (Nutsville!), and Troopers. It was a hype having Troopers in Finals that year, and their closer of Ecstasy in Gold/Ghost Riders was pure adrenaline . Still gives me goosebumps.

Rest

And a riotous Saturnalia to all.

"Designed to win" and "would win" are two different things. And, Illiana's statement makes perfect sense. And, pettifoggery.

These pictures give me such a case of cognitive dissonance!

SVC 1999: Samuel Barber's Symphony No. 1, movement 3. The music is transfixing, the performance commanding, and the staging masterful, especially the counter-intuitive work of the guard. The interpretation is mature and austere, with none of the maudlin or literal qualities that too often afflict ballads. I am surprised no one has mentioned this piece. I am spellbound every time I watch it, and always have a tear in my eye by the end.

Just ordered my Blu-Rays, despite the edits, and despite the less-than-stellar year, programmatically, and despite the $139.42 with tax and shipping. Why? Because, ######, I love drum corps and this is my main way of supporting it. Plus, SCV in high resolution audio / video! Come at me, mellos!