ThePlanets

I was barely alive. One of Phantom's best shows of all time if not their absolute best. This show is absolutely amazing and probably the biggest standout of 1989. VK also had a fun show but not as memorable as 87,88,92. I really enjoy SCV and think this show is a classic. A do-over would never fly today though, let alone win.

Nice review! This is my 2nd favorite show of the decade from the Cavaliers far behind Mad World but far ahead of Propaganda. Their strong brass performance and full line of 16 contras are what definitely won me over. Otherwise it was a pleasant accessible show from a fan standpoint. Their encore in Buffalo was a can't miss experience and I probably enjoyed their show reveal more than any other corps- but I was expecting a real boxcar after that reveal. I do agree that the Cavaliers (and Boston) have a lot of potential to move up over the next few years. Cavaliers definitely finished stronger and earned 5th though

McArthur Park Madison 1975 Channel One Suite BD 1976 Don't think there is anything more B@da$$ than those

They DID blow down the stands in 2019. It seems that design isn't current with the score sheet. If adding female members makes those current MMs and staff members more enthusiastic about the organization then they will do better. Besides...please...Madison and the Cavaliers aren't the only loud corps on the field from 1971-2019. (Not directed at you but some other comments on here).

Got my tickets! (For semis) My mom likes to sit in 640. 138-140 are extremely picked over probably with the 3 package presales

I have been wondering the same thing myself as there is no way I can do the super 3 or Friends of DCI and I am putting in for PTO this week. I bought semi finals tickets the past 3 years (and got pretty good seats) a lot earlier than this time of year.

Part of the reason why I am wondering if him attending/supporting a local show that is now ALWAYS early season. I haven't been to a live early season show but the tour opener in the theater usually has a lot of cringeworthy AV issues to work out. I would imagine the added AV effects are a very hot mess at this time with a lot of bugs to work out. It adds a lot more timing, equipment, and skill factors that weren't in shows 10 years ago. Generally(not in the case of CC 2017 with the micd soloist) by finals week all the bugs have been ironed out and everything sounds/looks great in LOS.

For those of you who have been around a long time... Do the electronics/props add more to the "dirt" of an early season show/performance? I know early season shows have a long way to go before finals but the extra props/amps/visuals seem to add a lot more factors to clean. These "new style" shows are mind blowing come finals week but I would imagine they have a lot of bugs and kinks out west. Is this more of a case where the "best" shows since 09 have been from Allentown to Indy and he just hasn't seen the final product? Not that I am a particular fan of over the top staging and amplification...just something to think about.

This is what gets me. Even in a commercial it's normal.

Seconded. A list of the 00s without the Cavaliers is pure blasphemy but 2010 was the only great Cavaliers show. And there are a lot of other great 2nd place shows.

I did the appropriate 1:1 vote. 4th place. Rach Star in. I wouldn't be opposed to the 1:1 2nd place. Inferno in either....but I loved both aforementioned 2nd place shows. I would take Inferno over Rach Star but it doesn't make sense to eliminate 4th place. On another note...great list and thanks for putting this together. My personal favorite won 4/12 times but I have a strongly favorable opinion of 10/12 winners.

I cited 2 shows that I thought SHOULD have won and many others that COULD have won. I never said the other corps didn't deserve their ring. Plus I said (also in the case of these 2 years) that there are often more than one championship caliber show in a season. ...then I went on to say, which applies to 2019 in particular, that I am a little salty because being not as knowledgeable and/or more careless about visual aspects of the show I heard and felt that the Bluecoats were better (but not in Percussion). But I didn't necessarily SEE which corps was better and visuals are a huge factor especially when both corps are so close. As for 2007 there were clear show design issues. Before this thread I was thinking of starting a thread about other shows that COULD have won a ring. Worded a bit different to keep the language that implies keeping the linguistics of something such as "1980 27th Lancers were robbed" and saying "wow the 27th Lancers were great in 1980 and certainly championship caliber"

Nah. It's all in fun. There are a lot of years where there was simply more than 1 great performance/show. Plus many of us are more knowledgeable in one area (i.e. brass or percussion for music majors/minors or those that work in music education) than another (I know nothing about color guard) so when a show that we feel is stronger in our more knowledgeable area doesn't win we might get a little salty. BUT there may have actually been robbing, rioting and pillaging in 2012 if this call wasn't reversed.

I was going to start another thread but title it "in an alternate universe" Not to claim the judges "got it all wrong" but, when appropriate I will list another show I feel had the chops to win but didn't. There are a few that I think there was no contest with the champ and I will list those as well. 1987. Santa Clara Vanguard- beautiful, powerful, accessible show. I didn't do a frame by frame with the Cadets but I feel like this show is championship quality. 1989. Phantom Regiment- SCV did a rehash a year later. Come On. 1996. Phantom Regiment (alone)- one of the best musical shows I have ever heard. 2000. Cadets (Alone)- my gold standard drum corps and still gets my nod for the best all around DCI show of all time. Niagara falls looked cool but wasn't as good musically 2001 Cavaliers- it seems they should have dominated 01. BD/Cadets not close 2002- Cavaliers. See 01 but better musically (I personally like 01 better though) 2003 Cavaliers- Can't win 4 a row but this show had the chops to do it. 2004 Cavaliers- In a time that pushing drill to the limit reigned supreme- Cavaliers were king. No other 04 show was even close 2005. Blah. No thanks. Pass. 2006 Phantom Regiment- this show really is beautiful and did have the chops to win. 2007- Cadets. Ok. Unlike most years where I can accept the champ...I really do feel like the Cadets should have won in 07. Unfortunately nobody likes incessant narration. 2008- Blue Devils. But I am very happy with the legend of the PR Spartacus show. 2009- Blue Devils- Dominant with what I feel is their best show of the century so far. 2010- Cavaliers. Mad World. One of the few total package championship caliber Cavalier shows. 2011- Blue Devils- One of the most liked and accessible BD shows of its time and it gets...2nd place. No wonder they followed it up with Cabaret Voltaire 2012- Carolina Crown- one of the most beautiful masterpieces to ever take the field...I know... Percussion. There's always next year right Crown? 2013- Cadets- It really was Crowns year but if not I could see this show taking it all. 2014-SCV. Not going to subtract from the pedigree of 2014 BD...but this SCV show was extremely well performed and well balanced 2015- Bluecoats- Honestly I think a legitimate case can be made for any of the top 4 winning in 2015 but my choice is Kinetic Noise. The musical arrangements and GE flow of this show was perfect. Music Technology was used in a way never seen before. Percussion and brass were on point...etc. 2016- SCV- This was probably the best performance for any corps of the year and it had good GE to go with it. 2017- Metamorph- in retrospect there is no other answer. This is a great BD show and Ouroboros was technically very good but didn't have the punch to contend. And below that It Is and Men from Mars. Hard Pass to both. 2018- Bluecoats- I do think the judges made the right choice with SCV but I think Bluecoats had a strong enough show to win too. 2019- Bluecoats- They scored higher than the champs in GE and Music and still didn't win. Yes BDs percussion was killer but otherwise they were just stronger on the sheets visually. I'm personally more of a Cavies 06 visuals kind of girl...so...Hard to swallow especially considering the difference in brass and music analysis. Probably my 2nd choice after 07 for championship change. so really I would only riot and push for change in 07 and 19 otherwise these are just championship caliber shows regardless of the actual champion.

It's all good. I wasn't trying to call anyone out and I honestly thought I read it multiple times.