Mead09

A guide to the answer may be : Would the majority of us look forward to a 2019 season where every corps in prelims ie all day Thursday duplicating their visual/costume and musical style? If the answer is YES then it is indeed epic and a truely welcomed activity changer. If NO then the reverse is true

Devils are awesome what more can you say !

Boston were absolutely superb !!!!

Very happy for Boston as a corps and the Guard in particular They are literally one score away from winning the caption Ahhhhhh!!!!! Can you imagin how fantastic it would be if they will be if they pull it off! On a side note : It’s so funny!!! We were in the bar at the JW having returned from Semis and you couldnt move for SCV jackets and T shirts. Hahahahahaha. Years prior it was the clothing of a different contender ie Bluecoats or Crown or Cadets.Oh how fickle we are! Every year a new contender for the title owned (rightfully so) by the Blue Devils. They are the comtinuing Dynasty. Amazing! Who will the challenger be next year, I wonder? Looking forward to finals tomorrow

It could well be! Clearly it is a big step but I would not put anything past the Boston Crusaders, they are so driven. Quite frankly I have never seen anything like it Having said that, it is important to enjoy the moment and so you and your family should today and the rest of the season. We will also be at finals and very much looking forward to it. It's a great DCI year!

Congratulations in having your son march with Boston Crusaders and to your parents for getting to see the amazing spectacle of their first DC show. That is great! Your family must be so proud to see him march in one of the elite corps and one of the best shows of 2018. The corps is Wicked Awsome, as they say in Boston, as they take yet another step closer to the ultimate goal of winning DCI. I hope he gets to be a part of that corps. Wouldn't that be something? Enjoy!

Guard : Boston Crusaders or BD (Tough one but I would go out on a limb and say Boston Crusaders!) Brass : SCV Percussion BD GE : SCV Visual : SCV

Absolutely fantastic Congratulations to everyone. Big drive to the finish line now Boston!

Thought BD may have stolen it tonight they are amazing

Well done Boston thoroughly deserved !

BAC Awesome Awesome Awesome

I am in full agreement with you. If I am correct, Bluecoats start the show with a recording of Billie Holiday (Please correct me if I am wrong). Somehow, to me, that's just not right but I suspect within the current rules? The young lady that they have singing is awesome and the show is so entertaining. Very much looking forward to seeing it again at finals. Another example is SCV. I was at both TX shows last weekend and thoroughly enjoyed both events. There is no doubt in my mind that SCV will be champions come August Finals, the show is fantastic. However, I was a shade disappointed, at what, in my own opinion, appeared to be the abuse of electronic sound manipulation. Everyone uses electronics, I know that, but this seemed to be on a different level to all the other corps but I could be wrong. Even sat on the 50 yard line in an open air stadium in Katy TX, I could not differentiate between horns that were in the back, middle or front of the field. It was impossible for me to pick out any individual horn sounds? it was as if all the sound that we received in the stands was manipulated in almost real time. Their hornline was also significantly louder than everyone else, when required, and to me the sound was different somehow to anything I have heard before. The rimshots from the battery were twice as loud, when appropriate, than any other corps, which again I found to be strange. So much so that it begged the question of what and how much of the corps is miked and what is happening to the true sound? Maybe it was just the stadium or my hearing on that one night. Maybe SCV will win this year's High Electronics caption? What do I know? it is just an opinion

So I just looked and they have BAC in 4th and Crown in 5th (SCV 1st then BD 2nd then Bluecoats 3rd ) All sounds about right but we will see. The only thing that is pretty much cast in stone is SCV winning.

Hahahaha. I like it. Please let me know when you get the date! Mine just shows a medal for Boston but no details. (I bought the low cost version)

The whole organization is on a Big Time Roll, so I am just wondering: Will it be tonight that Boston catch and pass Bluecoats? Or, will it take a bit more work on the show and therefore take another week or so?

Went to both the Lawrence and Lynn shows and thoroughly enjoyed both nights. Boston Crusaders were definitely my favorite. Their production SOS is captivating, energetic, entertaining and balanced. If they did not gain elite corps status last year, they definitely have it now. Great show with real talent in all sections. Very well written, demanding production that goes by in a flash. No sooner does it start than it is over, its that good! Go and see them if you get a chance, well worth the price of admission. I am thinking 5th for Boston, maybe a shot at 4th in the Big Dance. (Strange, low guard score/placement last night though, very odd?) Bluecoats are no doubt talented and have an entertaining show but it is sort of like that of the last two seasons with what appears to be a bit less movement. The show relies principally on static group features playing some intricate passages. The large/colorful props and multiple amplifier stacks all over the field are impressive, but as a part of the show format, sort of restrict any real development of the production as the season progresses. Again, sort of like the past 2 years. It is what it is. I really enjoyed Crown. Like BAC they use the whole field. Demand is the middle name in this show. One example: They have a female brass ensemble (If I fell in love with you : Beatles) feature, positioned right up front with little if any background accompaniment. Therefore, any flaws what so ever, will be clear to everyone, including adjudicators of course (There were none!). The exposure is off the charts. It is awesome. Novel concept, big sound, great percussion, without electronic overload. The closer however is pure unadulterated Crown! When you see/hear it, you will know what I mean. They will do a lot with this show over the coming weeks and by finals ……..who knows Cadets are obviously in transition but I really enjoyed their show especially last night. So happy to see them on the field with what is clearly a top 12 show. Well done indeed! Just one thought though: At Lawrence, just as the corps entered the field, a young person (From the booster stand I think) came up the stairs to watch the corps. He was dressed in a traditional Maroon and Gold, Cadets uniform. We glanced at him and then over at the field and the thought/image just happened: How great would it be to have the Cadets enter the arena in Indy, wearing their Maroon and Gold. The crowd would go wild! I also enjoyed Spirit, as did both night’s crowd (3.5K in Lawrence!) The horn book and players provide real excitement especially in the opener. Clearly, it is still early season and they have development plans. The multiple doors are a little distracting to the audience but I am sure the creative staff have that well in hand. I expect them to be in the mix for a finalist spot in August So happy that it is Drum Corps Season!

Very much enjoyed the Premier. The quality of both Crown and Bluecoats was clear. First and second could have gone either way in my book but I was surprised that Cavaliers were ahead of Boston. Reading the threads though, it certainly sounds like I am out of step, with at least some other opinions? It will be interesting to see how this duel develops over the coming months. Certainly looking forward to seeing these corps and more live

Sounds awesome ! Do we need a pass or anything?

Sorry, re reading the posts, I see that it was Craiga who made the trip to Castleton. Can you please give us any suggestions or advice ?

Hi BRASSO Sounds like it could be a banner year!! Seriously thinking of driving up to Castleton on Wednesday or Thursday to see the corps. Any thoughts or suggestions for us, it's a long ride!!

Just watched BD 2017 for the 20th time since finals and finally decided that it is my favorite of all time, overtaking Filliniesqu. Blue Devils are simply awesome, year after year. Can't wait for 2018 to see what magic they produce (and they will!)

Attended prelims yesterday. Great time and some really super corps. Congrats to all ! BD were absolutely fantastic and should take gold. I did see 2 people fast asleep during SCV. I know it's a long day but .....

Bottom line is that there is absolutely no reason why SCV should win. The show is a little boring (being nice) and the uniforms are horrible Blue Devils show is fun, alive and exciting. They thoroughly deserve gold this year

I have seen all of the top 4 corps several times and if we are impartially honest, it's not even close. BD is miles ahead of the field, their show is superbly constructed and performed, it is super entertaining (for the impartial viewer that is !) They play music that we can all identify with and do it in a way that is very challenging yet seriously captivating to the regular viewer and expert alike.

Clearly, there is a place for amplification and it is obvious that programs are enhanced by selective use of it, for example soloists. However, and it is a big however, miking selected members of the marching unit is wrong and against the spirit of the activity and allowed use of the technology. So, if as quoted, there are corps, that have miked a number of their marching hornline to be played most or all of the time, IMO this is cheating. (I hope for one that the reports that SCV are doing this is incorrect, I would be so disappointed in them) in any event, DCI has to put some controls in place for 2018