nallop24

I love the show and the guts it took to put this on the field.

I said I would review this past weekend's experience in Atlanta so here goes...PLEASE BE AWARE...THESE ARE MY OPINIONS...I mean no harm to the corps or it's members. I know the amount of work that goes into these shows and I respect them all. Some I loved, some I didn't...please don't beat me up for my opinion. 20 years later...I still love drum corps! There were obvious differences and the first notable one was the volume. It was in fact not as "paint peeling" as I remember however, the balance and clarity of the music was amazing. The drill for some corps seemed very intricate with a high degree of difficulty...on the other hand, a few corps scored very high with very simple drill... I was pleasantly surprised at the quality level from all World Class corps but particularity the lower scoring(The Academy, Troopers, SOA)....pleasantly surprised. I found myself smiling a lot and I'm sure my wife thinks I'm a geek. As for the amplification....it didn't bother me at all. I actually finally "got it" and see the merit to adding it to the show although I wasn't a big fan of the Cadets narration. I'm not sure if it was the acoustics or their PA system but I never understood what was being said even-though I know "What Abe Lincoln said." There was a huge disparity between the sound systems....Blue Knights had the best use followed by the Bluecoats. Cadets...sorry, but it got lost... The acoustics of the Georgia Dome sucked!!!!! Rim shots overpowered every note being played and echoed five times...It was very annoying. That is the price you pay for being in a dome. The venue overall was awesome. Lots of booths but horribly long lines but the vending crews did an awesome job of pushing people through. As far as the shows...here is where the subjectivity starts and I hope no one gets offended by my opinions...Everyone squats!!!! Geez...we had a good laugh at that... The best shows as far as entertainment goes... Boston Crusaders-Loved Animal Farm...Color Guard was very cool in a sick and twisted way with the masks and I love the darkness of the book and the subject matter. Madison Scouts was very entertaining and the crowd seemed to love the show. I think they're pretty young this year and the should be stronger and cleaner in the years to come. Trombones added nothing. They were actually a distraction because I was forcing myself to hear them and it was never clear. Not a fan of the T-Bones...sorry Scouts. Top shows of the night....Phantom Regiment, Blue Knights, Cavilers, Carolina Crown and Bluecoats....by far. I know Phantom isn't scoring very high but I really loved the show. They sounded balanced and appeared to be pretty clean(hard to see the overall drill from the 15th row) but I'm not sure the story line of the show is completely clear. Blues Knights...probably the best show they've had in years. It had meaning, the narration was clear and followed the musical transitions well and it was actually touching. In my teens I wouldn't have understood the show but being a little older and wiser now...I got it. I actually felt emotional at the end of the show...They get my "Inspirational Award" for the year. Cavilers...I really think this show has the potential to be a top 5 but time is running out. The marimba army is amazing....brass is tight but not as powerful as the past. While I loved seeing the 4 valve compensating euphonium on the field(I'm a euphonium player)...translation just wasn't there....it needs to be mic'd or take out of the show. It didn't work very well at all...I never heard it. Carolina Crown...second best show of the night. There were tons of things going on and the drill seemed a lot more difficult in person....but the horn line. HOLY CRAP...that horn line blew me away. Crazy hard book and executed flawlessly...Matt Harloff is a freaky beast!! Very Impressive! Now the Bluecoats....hands down best show of the night. I'm a little bias because I've really liked them for years and I've been following this show all season but honestly it was the best of the night. They were loud, clean and the show is the most unique original one I've seen. They are either going to push their way to a medal or drive a few corps to improve...they're chasing bronze now and could get more. They had the biggest crowd reaction of the night. The new ending was perfect....the show ended with energy and with a standing ovation well before the last note. I hate to end this on a negative but the three shows I just didn't get or enjoy was SCV, Cadets and Blue Devils. I nearly fell asleep during SCV's show...I hate to say that but it's the truth and I mean NO disrespect. Even my wife(who knows nothing about drum corps) said it was very slow. Again...Trombones....no value add. Cadets...I've already stated that the narration was not working in Atlanta...Even though Appalachian Spring is one of my all-time favorites...I'm just not loving this show like I normally love the Cadets. They're pretty clean...just not my favorite show. Blue Devils...Too much going on...I couldn't concentrate on anything. I felt like I was watching a tennis match looking back and forth between all the props, guard, stages and trying to follow the horn line...also the drill seems too simple. The field looks like a cluttered mess at a garage sale. There seems to be a lot of standing upright playing and I'm not saying that's a bad thing but there are others that have vastly more difficult drill and out marching them. However....the brass sounded awesome. Very clean and plenty volume but not a gold medal show in my opinion. With that being said...I'm not a judge and they are undefeated. Overall, it was an awesome experience for me as well as my family. My wife who was always an athlete and knows nothing about this type of activity surprisingly really enjoyed it. My son loved it and told me that he enjoyed even more than he knew he was going to...I think that we are officially a drum corps family and now I have to convince my son that he needs to be in music. He loves Phantom so maybe I can motivate him by telling him he could march for PR one day....although my wife did say to me that if our son wanted to be in drum corps that Carolina isn't that far from us...sounds like she sees the merit in this crazy activity we love. As bad as I hate to say it and I know I will get beat up for this....in some ways drum corps today is actually better...but that's a whole different thread. I see the changes had to be made to fit the generation that is currently active...it keeps drum corps current and relative....all of us old dinosaurs are just going to have to get over ourselves. Hot rods have changed, clothing styles have changed and so has drum corps. So...no it's not the drum and bugle corps of 20 years ago but it is still drum corps, I still love it and now I get to share it with my family...and really...that's what it's all about. Enjoy!!!

My son and i were watch Crown in the lot while they were warming up in 2013...He said they look like the JibJab Christmas Elves when they squat...

Well, it's obvious I have a very different perspective on the sport...I think it's the time I spent away from it, finding out that DCI isn't really represented in Florida any more and the many changes(corps disbanding) since I first started following drum corps it's like I'm having to start from scratch. Even though it's so different I still love it.

That's the plan. Sometimes reading this forum can really tick me off and then other times I learn a lot....I'm trying to think about it as if it were my first time.

Good tip...did not think about that! Wife thanks you too...I'm sure.

I do plan on writing a review once I get back from Atlanta. I think after watching live streams online and videos of performances over the last 20 years I'm pretty much ready for the changes. I've been talking to my wife and my old band director about some of the DCI changes and I've seen all the bickering back and forth about G vs. Bb bugles, mic'd pits, narration, squatting/dancing/prancing and I get the complaining. I remember what it was like before and I've not had the transition period like many others have and to be quite honest I wasn't thrilled at first. After watching and reacquainting myself with drum corps and now modern drum corps I've formulated my own opinion and here it is....I love drum and bugle corps!!! I love what it stands for, I love what it does to and for the individuals involved(parents,volunteers and drivers as well) and I love that it keeps music alive in a sports dominated world. While I may not love all the changes today or what the changes will be tomorrow...I still love it. We can sit here and complain all day long on these forums but I guarantee you this....those kids marching believe drum corps is alive and well....and they believe in what they are doing as much as the participants did 50 years ago. To them it's the best drum corps has ever been and I'm going to support not just the activity but those individuals. I can't wait until Saturday so I can introduce my family to an activity that I love so much....drum and bugle corps. Even though we're driving 7.5 hours to Atlanta...I'm excited, they're excited and I'm looking forward to a fun weekend.

Thanks for your kind words and I will update after this weekend in Atlanta.

So my chest won't rattle and my ears won't ring for 2 days????

Even my 9yo laughs at the squatting...

I was in the military for a long time and I've been away from drum corps for years. This weekend will be my first live show in over 20 years...I've been bragging about it to my family so I hope it won't disappoint. I know there are many changes but I can't wait to see the World Class take the field. So far I've enjoyed streaming performances but the big question is....Will I be surprised by what DCI live has to offer and will I enjoy it as much as I did 20 years ago? I guess I'm about to find out!!!

I was in the military for a long time and I've been away from drum corps for years. This weekend will be my first live show in over 20 years...I've been bragging about it to my family so I hope it won't disappoint. I know there are many changes but I can't wait to see the World Class take the field. So far I've enjoyed streaming performances but the big question is....Will I be surprised by what DCI live has to offer and will I enjoy it as much as I did 20 years ago? I guess I'm about to find out!!!

I can't wait until Saturday in Atlanta. First and only live show for me this year!!!

I'm just not a big fan of props. I guess they have their place but I can't see a corps winning or losing because of props. Is everything in drum corps moving into a theatrical performance instead of a musical marching show? Maybe I'm stuck in the past and unwilling to evolve...I guess I'm a dying breed of dinosaur.

I'll agree....there are a lot of crazies in FL.

Trust me I've thought about it but I would need like minded individuals and I've yet to fine any in central Florida...among many other things...

So how do you really feel Cappybara?

Agreed, Star!

All are valid points and I totally agree...Florida is hot and rainy....I know, I live in central Florida. Also, with as many large corporations as there are in Florida it just dumbfounds me that no one will support and back a World Class Drum Corp...I know a lot of people give Star flack for the way Bill Cook funded them but he was a great business man. The companies he created to fund the corps provided the opportunity to have long term financial stability and for the life of me I can't figure out why no other corporations will follow that model and back/start a corps. Is drum corps that dead to the outside world? Is it only known in our small circle? One last thing....why doesn't DCI advertise more....look how sports are shoved down our throats on an hourly basis but you very rarely, if ever, hear about drum corps or DCI...confusing and frustrating.

I emailed TBT to volunteer since I'm so close and this is the reply I received. Thanks for the offer, but unfortunately Thunder will not be going out on the road this summer. We are taking a season off to regroup.

I can't wait to see the show.

About 30 mins a day around 2pm but still...

Sun Devils and Tampa Bay Thunder are around but now World Class shows in the near future. Tampa Bay Thunder aren't even traveling this year...sad.

This has probably been brought up before but Florida is seriously missing drum corps. It's sad how far you have to travel, living in Florida, to get to see World Class drum corps.