MikeRapp

It’s become their brand, and I dig it. Their guard is so physical. Their arrangements are so in your face. It’s really cool.

I get that, I do. I like them, but they are really flat by design.

Yeah Mandarins is all about performing on the very edge of being out of control. That will get you a lot of attention but in DCI the brass judges aren’t swayed by that. The corps ahead of Mandarins now are all mastering brass range, control and tonality.

Well they don’t really serve any role in the show until the end. That’s not so much a criticism, it’s just fact. Usually BDs props are used by the corps for staging and such.

After seeing the recaps, I think Cadets are fairly safe at 5. Don’t see Mandarins catching them, they are behind in virtually every musical subcaption.

I’ll be very surprised if true. I think the top four will be VERY close.

That’s my too four as well. And I have Mandarins five. I don’t have any feeling at all for the BD show, it seems like the same basic approach every year. There is NO denying their talent or execution. But for the first time in a very long time I would not say they have the most demanding book. The top four are very different, but all very high demand.

Let me guess…

That classic shrinking while rotating rectangle is absolutely insane.

What was that crazy musical interlude?!

And now Mandarins.

These scores are going to be VERY close.

Basically the entire middle third of the Bloo program is exposed brass attacks. With crazy weird timing. Just crazy that they are all kids out there.

Bloo knows how to perform a show at every level. When they feel it it’s magical.

Anyone know how they secretly scored in Canton?

This may be the best fourth place show in a decade. Praying for a tie.

It really doesn’t matter how many times I watch this corps go into the crown set. I get tears in my eyes every single time. There is NOTHING like it.

Spectacular.

Crown plays concert level brass runs from end to end. It’s insane how unified and consistent their volume and tonality is.

Mandarins gonna finish fifth. At least…

Mandarins has the look and feel of a medalist corps. There are no weaknesses, none. They are b@lls to the wall from start to finish. Reminds me very much of when Bluecoats went from a nice story to a threat. I could watch that show ten times and never regret it. WOW.

Dang Mandarins plays with such confidence. And I absolutely love the costuming of this show, reminds me a whole lot of Angels and Demons. Guard is SO physical. This is a smoking show.

There are no apologies for that brass book. It’s flat out in your face end to end.

Insane drill at the end with no loss of power.

I don’t know that you can do signs well, honestly. It always feels sloppy.