brassdude6171

I personally love it.

Exactly. I think you made the point better than I did. But this is exactly what I was getting at.

Another video of the aforementioned chunk where the effect is easier to hear @superOOk Do you know if Alan will eventually use the same effect?

How realistic do you think it would be that DCI moves in this direction at any point?

Just went back and watched the MN performance. Either I wasn't paying attention to their closer on opening night, or they've gone through MASSIVE improvements because HOLY COW! That is one awesome section of drum corps! The high brass feature that kicked it off had me so SO impressed with especially with that killer mellophone book they have this year and the Come What May section had my heart jumping! Very impressed!

So I got a problem. And it's really petty and I know it, so don't tell me it's petty because I already know I'm being petty, BUT. Equivalence of certain scores is not equivalent. For example, Bluecoats on opening night received just above a 72. On Sunday, Mandarins received a 71.000. Now I know this is being petty but there is no way that Mandarins on Sunday were near as clean as the Bluecoats were on opening night, and that's just my issue. Maybe judges need to start the better corps off higher earlier or have there be more disparity between groups, but this is a major discrepancy that I see. I have nothing against the Mandarins, they've been one of my favorite lower world class groups and their show this year has really started to grow on me this summer, they were just used as an example. Am I making a clear, fair point?

Absolutely delicious

The mirrors on the sides of the staircases make all the difference, imo. Still don't understand why it's scoring as high as it is though... I'm curious to see how it does when it goes against the other two proj. medalists on the same night.

I think Boston pulls it off pretty well imo.

Lol what if finals night, the hornline's drill for the ballad is inversed so they're on the front corner facing front field and it's finally that satisfaction that the audience has been waiting for and everyone is totally blown away and they get the perfect 100 just from that... /s obvi

Hence, my "humble uneducated opinion" qualifier. Here's my comparison of the two shows: Bluecoats found something that worked last season, and so this year they've done a VERY similar show, while adding to it (having more brass ensemble phrases in the closer comes to the front of my mind in that aspect). While Vanguard had a very effective show last season and did something TOTALLY different, while improving the level of effectiveness. I think that if you took away the uniforms and any knowledge of the shows, you (the general audience) would not be able to tell that Force of Nature was done by the same group as Ouroborus. While Bluecoats is the total opposite. NOW. I love both shows, but I think you're right. In terms of complete package, Vanguard far exceeds Bluecoats design-wise this summer, at least at this point. I think if both shows develop to their full potential, Vanguard wins gold.

GE...

Lol I wish I could've chosen both "no" answers. It's my opinion that the medal group has already solidified itself, being Bluecoats, SCV, and BD. Plus there's Crown and Cavaliers. Outside of the top five, I think Cadets are the top group. But in a season where Cadets didn't even get top 3 on opening night, I don't think medal contention is in their future for 2017.

In my humble uneducated opinion, the spreads should be flipped. SCV should be .7-1 pointing BD. BD's show does NOT do it for me during 90% of their show while SCV DOES it 100% of the time.

I got chills just reading this, remembering experiencing the same feelings and thoughts both in the lot and in the stands. They're definitely a group that renders you speechless after seeing them live. INCREDIBLE sounds coupled with maybe even better design. And I really don't think that small ensemble gets the credit they deserve. The listening situation is impossible most of the show, and its the least difficult thing for them from my point of view. The music they play is absolutely ridiculous and just about any time they're on the move, its running. They have my favorite show at the moment and I don't think it's close.

I'll be there, leaving here in a couple min actually. Mixed emotions of anticipation for this show. I'm sure there won't be a dry eye in the stands.

Video. Not able to travel too far for performances. Gonna see my only live one for this year on Monday (today for some, tomorrow for me)

I was having a huge problem with the brass sound and I just figured out what it was. There's a whole ton of low and barely any high for the majority of ensemble phrases. When there's good balance, my goodness m-m good.

So what's the deal with Academy starting so slow? From everything I've seen (literally just the Stanford shows from both), there's no reason Mandarins should be ahead, especially by 2.

Vanguard wins music again. They start cleaning up the little things that come with time, such as the roll step for visual, and the electronic/prop usage for GE, they may push BD into a bronze.

*2

I actually don't have much of a problem with it, if they'd get more out of the brass (which I'm sure will come with time and indoor venues) and turn down the pit a little, but I don't have a problem with the idea.

Ya know, I really hate being wrong, but I owe the Cadets and their fans an apology. I was really really wrong about their show this year. But that comes with a caveat. I was fully expecting this show to bomb in the worst way, both competitively and from the fans. But this seems to be shaping up into a very emotional show that certainly has it's moments (while it does have it's not so good moments, too, but it's June). I absolutely love their opener. 100%. That opening climax with the Simple Song motif is one of the biggest rushes of chills in the country this summer. I still don't like how the choir fits in, and I think that their retention in the top 6 is just as much due to other corps not stepping up to take that spot as it is due to Cadet performance, but I was certainly wrong about this show. Continue to impress me please, Cadets.

Neither of those two are on the Friday (Aug 4) show that he'll be lotting. They're both on the Saturday.