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DFA1970

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    Blue Devils in the Details 2023

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    28 minutes ago, lawdn said:

    I only have a guess, which is they were a little off from the night before and were still working on integrating the changes being layered in, and that is where the dirt was. The guard did seem to have more drops than night before but not a lot. The parts that are clean look BD clean to me. Bluecoats are very strong in VP this year, looks like, as well as Crown, with BAC coming on strong.

    Exposure...everything in BD's show this year is exposed. Meaning all phases pop out like no other.

    • Like 3

    Blue Devils -- Too good for the rest of DCI?

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    2 minutes ago, ContraFart said:

    I see it more as old money rather than new money when talking about it in a wealth point of view. Yes somebody along the way made the right decisions and the current people are maintaining those gains, but kids from other top 4 corps go to BD, not the other way around. That did not happen overnight. So I believe today more than 20 years ago 3rd base is more given than earned.  

    Old money...new money? What???

    Blue Devils -- Too good for the rest of DCI?

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    4 hours ago, ContraFart said:

    I have come to a realization.

    DCI is not a fair competitive league, nor can it be. How you can say the BD and Jersey Surf are in the same competitive division? I think the motto of "Marching Music's Major League" is misleading as if the competition was on a even playing field. You cannot compare it to sports because there is no way to do things that sports leagues do to enforce parity like revenue sharing, salary caps and reverse draft orders because these organizations do not pay the members, the members pay them and you cannot tell people how to spend their money. 

    I have also realized that the drum corps activity does not exist for the audience. It exists solely for the marching members. Drum corps is a high end intensive pageantry camp for young people. Sure there is an audience that loves the activity, but at the end of the day, it does not exist for them. Much like the various community bands and orchestras I play for, we exists for people to play, not as much for people to watch us. 

    BD is going to start every year on 3rd base. Cant blame them for doing everything right, but at the same time, they have every structural advantage in the world, from location, favorable state laws that allow their bingo (Glassmen anyone?) DCI advantages such as better and closer housing sites and later gate times which allow for more floor time and more rehearsal time. They have also done all of the right things by diversifying their portfolio (the Bill cook model in a way) with System Blue, buying US BANDS and BD entertainment. 

    It also seems that BD is going to have right of first refusal with a majority of their talent. You often hear of players from other top corps going to BD, even feature soloists, but not so much the other way around. 

    In the end, the rule is going to be BD winning every year, anyone else winning will be the exception to that rule. To me that is a sad reality. 

    I don't disagree with what your are saying but they built what they have through amazing management and consistency. They EARNED everything they have won. The 3rd base is not a given.....it's all EARNED!!!!!!

    • Like 4
    • Thanks 2

    Hotlanta On My Mind - July 29, 2023

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    15 hours ago, Vuitton said:

    To me, Bloos is like Crown’s last year. Honestly, I heard “right here, right now” on a commercial a few months ago and I wanted to SCREAM. I never ever ever ever ever want to hear the phrase “right here, right now” again.

    Bloo’s isn’t as bad. But, here’s the thing. I think if I was an average fan who saw the show once, or maybe three during finals week, it would be totally different. I think Crown would have been one of my favorite shows last year. I loved it at first sight. Then, hearing that #### phrase 63,277 times last summer did my head in. So I think if I saw Bloo a few times I would love it all.

    That all being said, 2023 Bloo is a show I will definitely watch and listen to. I never want to see or hear 2022 Crown for the rest of my life 🙂

    I'm just not into the Bluecoats this year and probably last year. They are good at what they produce...don't get me wrong but I want that aggressive in your face style they had like Tilt or Downside up when they won. This year is like the Summer of Love 1968. Instead of blowing your face off they are blowing you kisses. 

    • Like 1

    Bluecoats 2023

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    23 minutes ago, OhioBoy_99 said:

    I try to refrain from commenting or paying much attention to complaints regarding most shows for that matter but I have noticed a lot of commenting of “I don’t like bloo’s show”, “I just can’t seem to get into bloo’s show”, and even some “Bloo needs to change xyz to stay competitive”. Personally I think show design is fine. Is any show perfect? No, but Bloo seems to have one of the better designed shows year in and year out. Member talent can take you far yes, but they need a good vehicle to perform no? And competitively that seems to be the case. 

    This is probably the first season since 2014 that Bloo probably overwhelmingly isn’t one of the crowd favorites (I’d argue that got a pretty good reaction in Atlanta) and that’s okay.

    Bloo has been the most consistent corps outside of the Blue devils and I don’t expect that to end anytime soon. Anyways just repeating what everyone is saying at this point so I’ll hop off.

    Keep doin what you’re doin Bloo, I’ve enjoyed this season very much so far. Top 4 have all been a joy to watch! 

     

    Yeah just not diggin the Coats this year or last year. I want that in your face aggressive Tilt like or 2016 when they won. I guess this is the kinder...gentler Bluecoats. I want that aggressive Coats. 

    NightBEAT 34 - July 30th, 2023

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    2 hours ago, WarriorWay said:

    Obviously BD will win tonight the question is just by how much. The battle for 2-4 is really interesting this year and I think not quite the same as 22’, 19’, and 18’. 
     

    Crown’s show really does have legs. The effect is here (unlike their last few shows) is in the emotional and epic music they are playing- so it’s already built in. Some say the story is feeling a bit trite and lacks depth/ intrigue of concept compared to the rest. Which I might agree with, but that isn’t necessary for effect to work, however it does help. I think the drill in this show is hard like last year and not always to my liking but I’d say that’s about my only critique. As a percussion person I think their line is actually quite good, just maybe not AS GOOD as others. The symphonic brass sound isn’t as loud as in the past this year but it’s beautiful. I also think crown’s guard is fantastic and very worthy top 4 at the very least!

    Boston’s show really doesn’t have any more depth of concept than crown’s - once again it’s very literal… and I think that helps crown. Boston is very clean, arguably the cleanest of these 3. I still give crown the brass edge but Boston isn’t playing around. However their percussion and guard do help them. Everything else is pretty even. Only thing about Boston’s show is the beginning has a lot of starts and stops. It doesn’t feel long per se, but it is a lot of musical styles to achieve and feels just slightly off to me. 
     

    I’ll be honest I do not like the coats show as I’m over the 60s genre. However, their sound is really polished and what this design team can achieve is just incredible from a staging and entertainment perspective. I do think the trombone stuff after that amazing ballad feels odd tonality wise since the rest of the book is so clean and precise soundscape wise. 

    The top 4 won’t complete at the same time until prelims. It will be interesting. 

    Hotlanta On My Mind - July 29, 2023

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    13 minutes ago, MadScout80 said:

    I'm bored out of my mind watching on Flo.  But I followed ther tour from Broken Arrow to McKinney and witnessed the finest drum corps I've seen in 47 years.  These shows are truly amazing in person.  Crown is my favorite followed by Devils, Coats and Boston. 

    If you’re bored out of your mind best to cancel your FLO subscription. 

    • Thanks 1

    Flo versus Reality

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    3 minutes ago, PopcornEater1963 said:

    Sorry! I didn’t “note” anything for some reason, but they sounded AMAZING! I had Boston #2 last night overall. Brass sounded great. Loved the whole show. I’m not sure if the tuba soli was all mic’ed bells, mixed mic’ed bells, or no mic’ed bells with a shotgun mic but it was as clear as a bell and sounded natural. Same with the “Show me the way to go home” ensemble. I went into the night thinking “maybe” for Boston winning. Devils dashed that for everyone… but Boston to me was a slight cut above Crown overall. I had Bloo on their own island in 4th. And then the 5-8 block of Phantom, Cadets, Mandarins, Cavaliers (last night). Troop will end up making that a 5-9 block in my opinion. Indy crowd will eat up Troop’s show. Then, going into the final 2 weeks I see Bluestars and Colts in a 10-11 battle. And a free for all for 12. 

    Thanks for your wonderful reviews. 

    • Like 2

    2023 Season Predictions

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    2 minutes ago, craiga said:

    While I'm sure it is a minority opinion around here, I remain convinced that the Boston Crusaders will win on finals night.  I'm no fair weather fan.  I have been involved with them more than 40 years.  BAC has survived far worse both on and off the field, and is more than capable of overcoming what amounts to less than a .2 deficit per caption.  To any members reading this, have a tremendous two weeks and enjoy the love you're getting from fans everywhere !

    Nothing wrong with you saying this.love always thought if a show can maybe beat BD this one would be that. I thought that last year. Do I think that will happen….No. But if it did that would e wonderful for the organization. They will eventually. 

    Flo versus Reality

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    13 minutes ago, PopcornEater1963 said:

    While I’ve got a fresh live impression from Atlanta, I’m really looking forward to rewatching the whole thing on Flo this evening to “dial in” the Flo Factor of live versus Flo. 

    I was sitting at the very top of the stadium close to the 50. From there it was interesting to hear brass that you knew was hyper-mic’ed versus brass you knew was minimally mic’ed. 

    Sone things I made notes to look for today while watching last night… 

    Spirit was pretty loud! But I felt like I was getting the sound of the horns considerably more than amplified sound out of the arrays. 

    Troopers sounded MAGNIFICENT live. Almost reminded me of some of the signature Phantom lines that always had that rich low brass texture in its DNA. I have no idea what their mic and amplification strategy was. That’s kinda the point. 

    Cadets sounded great as well. Powerful horn line. And natural horn sound. 

    Kinda harsh, but Phantom felt like I was listening to an electronic veneer of a hornline rather than the horns themselves. Again… I’m as far away physically from the field as you can get. Add in that opening Baritone solo had so much signal processing on it ( I’m sure by design) that it just didn’t even sound like a horn at all. It sounded like a trombone sample in a digital synthesizer. 

    Whatever Crown is doing was freaking spectacular live. I know they use mics and tons of them. But whoever is managing live sound in the venue for them is a keeper. Simply fantastic. 

    Bloo’s hornline was awesome too. Powerful and loud but not getting blown over by the  PA representation of their horns. 

    Devils tended to be a mix. Their hornline is clearly the best on the field this year. From my vantage point though, there are moments where the “veneer” sound took precedent over the “natural” sound. 

    I’m actually excited to now hear these same performances on Flo tonight to see if what I heard live is discernibly different. 


     

     

    What about Boston? 

    Blue Devils in the Details 2023

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted · Edited by DFA1970

    6 minutes ago, Chief Guns said:

    98 BD gets lost in the sauce. Maybe cause it's sandwiched between championship years 96/97/99. 

    But 98 is one of my favorites too. Killer brass, insane guard. Sadly the drums, while good had a off year by BD standards. 

    But still a great year. 

    Age outs from the lines of 96/97. To this day the highest 3rd place score. And in 2004 2nd highest score and so on…

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