MikeRapp

SCV mellow. Just for Metropolis. My goodness. They are going to bring Lucas Oil to rubble with that closer. I would freaking LOVE to hear Crown play that arrangement!

I love Carolina Crown for so many reasons. They are the only corps to emerge from nothing to a power in the last two decades, maybe even longer. I also respect the fact that they really know and embrace their position as the corps band members usually want to emulate. They also probably have the single most consistent brass “sound” in the world. That said, I tend to find their shows predictable from a playing and arranging style standpoint. There is nothing wrong with that. But, I tend to prefer corps that stretch themselves in style and design.

And again, the comparisons to cadets are glaring.

It may just be that not enough alarms care. In my opinion, the scouts alumni are split. Many of them want the scouts to remain the way they’ve always been and I also want to win championships. The other half wants to change in someway, and win championships. Both size can’t help with the one without the other. Unfortunately, the scouts are left With some “next year” concept that really has no chance to succeed because half the alumni are not committed. Somehow, the Cavaliers found a way to rally around a new way of doing their thing. They still have people who don’t like the new stuff, but everybody wants the corps to remain relevant. I’m just not sure there are enough people in the scouts Malones who are willing to give up some of their “tradition” to complete. Right now, the shows the scouts are putting on the field are either sensitive to tradition, nor sensitive to basic artistic relevance. Frankly, if they are going to struggle to make finals, I would rather they just put on their old green uniforms and do what they used to do and have their alarms be proud of the traditions. The scales are not the only corps dealing with this. It wait to be seen whether cadets will be able to find their new direction without pissing off half of their support base. They have made a lot of the same decisions scouts have made, with not all that different of a result.

Then raise the money. I mean really, if you need to have more resources no one is stopping them from raising money. I would,rather see someone step forward with a vision and a plan than do silly things like the last two seasons.

I meant five consecutive seasons.

What was new tonight?

Bluecoats’ show is leaving the field in the dust. To be up almost three points on Boston at this stage is incredible. I don’t see how anyone will beat them in GE this year. Incredible how they have done five consecutive shows that are all very different, and each with an amazing impact. The only show I’ve seen that I think can catch them is Vanguard.

Where are you seeing them?

I think most of us know which shows are going to be there at the end. The final six are likely set.

Dry Cleaner from Des Moines is my favorite song of the tour so far. Yes it’s likely because mellows pretty much carry the song but DAYUM that sounds like so much fun to play live! By the time this gets to finals it’s gonna be rocking!

And I don’t see that changing for the better this year.

They used a click track for thei entire show.

Can you find a good reason to not do it?

Technically I believe I played an F trumpet.

I marched with a French horn as a freshman! We got brand new silver mellows when I was a soph back when Chuck Mangione made them a thing. Loved marching with that brand new silver mellow!

Crown always sounds the same to me. That is both a compliment and a criticism. I’m okay with the same technical sound, to a point, but when I can liken four or five arrangement concepts to virtually every show they have done, I think that’s a bit lazy for a world class corps.

What’s your kid do and where is he/she from?

I was the same guy. Marched mellow, played French in concert.

Wrong corps.

I would love to hear what Thrower would do for BK and Academy.

Just watched the Mason show. The way the mellows blast through these arrangements so many times is so awesome! That little run right before the closing blast, wow! Just wow! Why don’t more arrangers use mellophones this way?

Their snare line was flat out dominant last year. Their sound just cut your head off. Their lead snare was the star of their show. If those guys return, watch out.

I’d like to see a list of the average experience/age of all world class corps, most to least experienced. I’m gonna guess that the final standings will be shockingly lock step with that list.

Crown third in guard. Not a good sign.