DCIFanManLA

Agreed! I still think their guard is pretty great . . . maybe not as great as last year, but still, very impressive.

I completely agree! I am a big Crown fan, but who in the world thought it was a good idea to bring in a mediocre singer and basically make Crown a backup band to her? The show is pretty great until she comes on, then it is a slow crash and burn. Next year they can redeem themselves!!

Could not agree more! PLEASE bring out a beautiful French Horn and cut the vocal! It brought everything down a few notches. I'm sure the singer was great in some college musical, but not on this stage (sorry to say).

Loved the look of 1930! Ink was great. Haven't seen this year march yet, but they are always very fitting of the show. Waiting for the Rose Bowl!!

Okay, BD just laid the gauntlet down! Crown better bring it!!!

Please let the Cadets beat Bloo....

Cadets on FIRE!!!

LOVE SCV's show!!

How do you stream this on iTunes? Do I need to have a Mac??

Very excited!!

Well, after reading all of the comments here, I can't wait to see the show tomorrow at the Rose Bowl! BD is always . . . well . . . BD. They have their own voice and their own way of getting a show/point/topic/story across and I have loved them for continuing to do that and to keep pushing the envelope all these years. I am also excited to see SCV and Phantom; two other corps I have admired and respected over the years. It's going to be a great day!

I agree with some that think Crown was just a little nervous last night. They are definitely going to be contenders once they get the show together. I wasn't blown away by any corp. last night, but for the first run out of the gate, I think everyone needs to watch out for Crown. I will be seeing the show at the Rose Bowl next week and will have a better perspective on how some of the other corps shows are shaping up. We'll see. Excited for 2015!

The end of the first act of Sunday in the Park With George is one of the most moving and powerful pieces of music ever written for the theatre (IMO). It would be great to hear it blown out of the "park" with brass.

LOL!! Too true.

Wow - When I saw SCV's show in Glendora, CA, I said almost the same thing you said above. I am a HUGE SCV fan, but when they were done, I turned to my friends and said, "wow that sounded pretty amazing, but it could have been done 10 years ago. Not much new." I just didn't think it was very creative - BD had just performed and the crowd had gone crazy. I think this is something that BD has made most of the other corps do. Since every year they are stepping out of yet another box (love it or hate it) and coming up with something else new, and doing it EXTREMELY well - and almost always being in the top 3, what are the other corps to do but follow. Those who don't - who try to live on some past glory, play Scheherazade again. Don't get me wrong, I think Scheherazade is beautiful. It's just been done. Those who do step out there and try to be inventive and new are almost always appreciated whether they win or not - BUT they gain respect by the crowds/judges/other corps in the process (provided that it's done well). Bluecoats are a great example to me this year. Their show is extremely inventive and played incredibly well - SO much better than their 2013 show to me. We'll see how they are rewarded in the end. There is a lot more I could say about a lot of the corps, but we have seen several great posts from fans that have been saying the same thing in their own way. And miles to go before we sleep . . .

LOL!! He certainly has a lot (of good) to say!!!

I am very excited about tonight. It will be interesting seeing how BD and Cadets stack up against each other after all of the talk. Go BD!!

Bluecoats have a really interesting show this year. I saw it at the movie theatre (and bits online) - and I know it's going to continue to get better and better. That being said, I just don't think it's going to be possible to win with the amazing show BD has this year. I know there are a lot of people who don't like BD (I heard responses in Indiana last year), but Feliniesque is pretty amazing AND crowd friendly for a change! I do think the Bluecoats will end up in the top 3 for sure. It's still too early to know what the final outcome will be - I don't think this is another 2010 for BD, but I do think it's going to start getting really interesting in the next couple of days!! Your actual prediction sounds pretty good to me. Can't wait!

Thanks as well for this post and the really great pictures! I was there along with you and agree with most of the things you said; however, I do have to disagree about BD's show. To me, it was one of the most inventive and well-played things I have seen on the field in a long time. I know they have a lot of "clutter" with their props, but I think all of that will get cleaned up as the season progresses. I thought their guard was completely amazing and I didn't feel the show was incoherent at all. I am an ex-Broadway performer and loved all of the music from Nine and the fun Fellini theme! I am SO thankful they have a crowd-friendly show this year. I loved the Re-Rite of Spring, but yes, yes, yes, it wasn't audience friendly at all (one of the most difficult things I have ever heard - but not audience friendly!). A good move for them this year. SCV to me, and I am also a huge fan of theirs, played extremely well and their guard was very good, but, honestly, it sounded like something that could have been heard 10 years ago. There wasn't anything really creative or innovative about it. I do hope the show continues to grow - I'm always pulling for them to do well. I also agree about the cheesy narration!! Ugh. I am very excited about BD and the Cadets meeting up!! Let the games begin!

I submit. . . I submit!!

Sorry you've had that experience. I am from the Cal, and the competitions I have been to here have been next to some really great people. I was able to go to the semis and finals last year and sat next to some wonderful people as well. The only thing I have come across are young kids talking throughout the performances (I DO say something!). As someone said above, bad "luck of the draw??" BTW, the cologne DOES work too!!