jwillis35

Really like this last tune by Crossmen. Show is beginning to come together.

That's a good point. They had a shot last year with USC. I mean, I love my Buckeyes but after we lost to UM we were not going to get in the CFP...that is until USC decided to get smashed by Utah and TCU got slammed by Kansas State. I was glad we played a great Georgia team as well as we did because the other two games in the playoff were not so good. Back to the top 4 in DCI, I do not think it's quite over yet. It just depends on how Blue Devils perform. Last night they were OK and Boston was really close. Tonight Blue Devils put on a clinic. I think most people on DCP sensed it early in the show. When you are that strong in every caption it just exposes those few weak areas of the other shows. The other 3 corps are really really really good. But each of them have little areas that if not performed well will allow the other 2 corps in that group to push them down. And that is all that is needed for BD to create some spread. But tonight Blue Devils just absolutely put on a clinic!

It's close between Cadets and Phantom in brass. The difference I hear (Flo perspective of course) is that Phantom seems to hit FFF or mp too often and do not show enough range in their dynamic peaks and valleys. It's like FULL BORE or off. The only time I feel they are crafting the dynamics at a higher level is in the ballad. This is perhaps a bit exaggerated because I know they are doing some great things dynamically but I don't need all their FFF moments to be at the same max volume. This is my gripe with Cavaliers too. At times they give me this wonderful nuanced sound like in the opening statement. But then I get too much full bore, all-out playing. I know they have a super talented brass line. I can hear it in their control and articulations but as of now the musical book is not crafted in a way to let them shine. If Cavaliers can add the musical nuances to this book and enhance that build from the end of the ballad to the diagonal front that leads to the close of their show then I can see their brass scores going way up. Considering how amazing their percussion is then I would say to Cadets, Mandarins, and Phantom you better not look over your shoulder too much. Their are some visual things they need to clean as well, but if they have a plan and can execute those changes I would say we may be adding Cavaliers to the middle pack along with PR, Cadets, and Mandy.

The Blue Devils do need to clean up that closer...and that's about all I got for critique. I mean, we are talking marching excellence at a different level. The visual analysis of this show is superb. The brass and percussion were on FIRE tonight. If you listen closely to intervals, key signatures, range, articulations, and the agility to handle those crazy licks then you can appreciate just how good that brass line is. Much better performance tonight. I love the dynamic contrast they put into the ballad push that I don't think I heard last night. The show feels so smooth and so seamlessly put together. Congrats to the design team once again. I thought their guard was again outstanding and I love the content. It felt like a clinic tonight.

I love how that box is always in flux and sort of building and only hits on the final first verse of the ballad. Incredible.

The attention to detail in the body when marching or doing other types of movement is just so good.

What a brass book! What a percussion book! BD on fire musically.

Bluecoats are beginning to put some real Mr. Clean on this show! The Ballad and Bump were just incredibly good. Whether you like the narration or not I think it's undeniable that this corps has been cleaning. I know they had to do a stand still concert last night and they were still missing 1 or 2 tonight, but their GE is really starting to hit. Brass is playing much better. Percussion were really good tonight and their guard is outstanding. Thought the ending worked better as well. Some of the timing things they do musically, rhythmically and visually are really impressive...and they handle it so well.

Oh gosh, no! I love your posts. 🙂 Sorry about that.

Not much to say about Carolina Crown other than WOW WOW and WOW! Brass is stunning! Great music. Great guard. And yes I think they have one heck of a percussion section too. They are getting better. It's a top 7 line in DCI. That is GOOD! Percussion is just a tough and very competitive field this year. But I do feel this show has legs. Just about all of the components are there. They are a solid top 4 for sure but I would not be surprised to see them move up. It's a beautiful and entertaining show.

I don't know who Poppycock is but I always enjoyed their posts. Sharp eye and good knowledge about DCI. Very well educated.

Cavaliers intro is one of the things I love about them. Perfect sonority in the brass. The Rutter Gloria in the 2nd section is nice too but I want them to back off on volume and bring out the nuance of that brass line. They have the players. I think the visuals have come a long way. The 3rd section of the show confuses me. But when it leads into the percussion feature all I can do is SMILE. Like holy cow!! Percussion section is an absolute monster. Musically in the brass though I think what they are playing before and after the percussion feature is probably not the best material they could have used for a 75th Anniversary show. Somewhere from West Side Story is nice. This song does not need to peak at such a high volume. I think they can make this more tasty and subtle. They are getting into the diagonal front much better but the build to it out of Somewhere is not really developing. They need the music to seamlessly go from a more subtle ending of Somewhere and build with more development in the theme or a well crafted transition to that front. Overall the corps is really getting a lot better. I think they have way more talent that some may think. Obviously the percussion section is incredible. But they have a brass line that with better musical nuance and perhaps more of a subtle build through Somewhere into the closer could score a lot better. They can articulate well and have excellent tone when they are in control. I keep waiting for this show to pop. I definitely like a LOT of things about it.

DANG Cadets!!! That is one awesome show. I am liking that ending even more today. That will be tough to clean. Big field use, tough drill, and some major brass sustaining and power needed. But I love it! Most of the show felt much cleaner other than the ending. I think there are still some tweaks to be made in this show but for the most part I am not complaining. Good gravy the brass and drums are good.

Fantastic pit and drum set work. Sabre work in the guard was nice too. That is one of the small sections that I feel they need to bring more impact visually.

Their guard is really beginning to communicate. Silks are wonderful in that ballad.

I feel the visual looks much cleaner tonight.

Crowd loved that intro. So effective. Nice Cadets!!

Give me that harmonica any day. Bring the feeling of their theme in a more characteristic way. We're getting plenty of brass.

Love the tuba use in the intro with sound effects and percussion. The whole opening build in their opening section is really well done. They take time to bring you into the feel of their show and it's well done. Percussion seems to have really stepped up. So has guard. This show really uses the entire field. Crowd going nuts for the ballad after the harmonica solo, then again near the end of the trumpet solo when the full corps comes in. Some intonations issues today (pushing very sharp). But in this kind of heat that will happen. Overall that ballad is nicely staged. That last company front is wonderful. Crowd went nuts. Still lots of visual dirt in this show. There is a lot of wonderful GE in this production. Cleaning the visual will help pull this to another level. Brass was also losing some endurance in the last few minutes. Mostly due to heat. Keep it going, Troopers. This is one great show!

Looking forward to seeing how the audience reacts to Troopers. This is certainly one of the shows this summer that can pull several big standing ovations. It's a terrific show. I love the pre-show music and sound effects.

BK has cleaned up the brass quite a bit. The visuals are still very dirty and need polished. Honestly I love the uniform. Effective. The props in the last half of the show feel like they have no meaning but they are used and moved quite well in the 1st half. It's a very nice show that simply needs some "shine" in a few spots. Some of the moments they want to be big GE hit points are not really working. Some of this is cleaning and some is more focus. They have a shot at top 12 but that visual program will need some work.

Very effective opener visually and musically from BK.

Great job Spirit of Atlanta!!! Very fun show.

It is sad but it's a different era. Most of the corps that folded were simply not able to adapt to the costs of the 80s and new rules and regulations for insurance, drivers, good management and fund raising. Many of those orgs were poorly run or run by folks who were unable to set them up for the future.

I remember those days. They were fun for those of us who were younger but for a lot of folks the day was too long. For me I had no issue when they changed to a 2 day event. From a money standpoint it makes more sense. DCI brings in more ticket revenue, corps can sell their souvies over 2 days (even if they performed Friday their souvies tent will stay), Allentown does better when some folks stay longer, some get a hotel, and the fans that stay for both days are spending more $$$ locally. It's a much more relaxed 2-day event for the fans. The stadium itself is a little old and I am not sure if they have made changes or updates. My last DCI East was 2005 I think.