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jwillis35

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Everything posted by jwillis35

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Very effective opener visually and musically from BK.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. They scored an 18.8 last night. Different show from The Masters but that is one nice percussion score. I was worried about them because with all the sickness it is possible something like that could set them back. I worry about the "out of sight, out of mind" sort of thing since they had not competed in a while, but last night's score definitely helps. Not saying they will take percussion tonight but they certainly are capable of it. Blue Devils were HOT last night in perc. So was Boston. It's a great year for percussion. But on the right night I have no doubt this Cavaliers percussion section can win. They are the real deal.
  7. I didn't think scores would go up much at this show. I think the placements were mostly as I saw them. Some of the spreads in various captions and sub captions were interesting, but given we are beginning to see new endings I don't think this is that odd. Boston being .6 behind Carolina in brass is likely a bad call by the judge, but hey...I was not there so I will leave that alone. I doubt that is the case again. Visually lots of new stuff going into these shows. Boston with some new stuff at the end. BD brought their new ending the other day but have some work to clean that, and there could be more. Carolina changed some music and changed some of their visual program, especially with the middle section props being out. Not sure if that is for good or not. The Cadets with a new ending that I think can be really effective when cleaned. Once these new ending and other new material come into play scoring will always stagnate or take a step back. The key is this: will the payoff take the corps visual and musical program to new heights? Especially in GE. Overall great show! Hard to not like all these shows.
  8. Santa Clara from 1985. I'll probably change it up some, but since I am missing them this summer I thought I would throw out some old school Vanguard photos.
  9. Dang...Bluecoats sound Fantastic even with many members missing. This is one great music ensemble.
  10. Blue Devils - perfect setup for the show with the angelic voice and saber tosses - guard staging is wonderful - Big brass hit exposing a full range with superb control - the way the brass runs out and into those boxes is stunnig when you look closely at how they have to orient themselves and still play - sheesh - love the guitar is the front ensemble - trumpets that was TIGHT and effective - I like to call that the Crossmen set and it is visually almost perfect - looks like even BD has 1 or 2 holes in brass - talk about a flowing visual program - OMG that whole percussion feature section is fantastic! Percussion are sounding fantastic and the body work in the brass was very creative. The staging is just sooooo GOOD with BD - Love it with the horns back to back until the first hit in the ballad - soloist was great - THIS BALLAD!!!!! My heart can't handle it!! - That last form really cleaned up. The flugel and trombone soloists are wonderful but the screamer (only 1 tonight) is likely not needed. If anything have him stick to octave work in tandem with brass and not in the open. That will ruin the moment. It's not a Maynard Ferguson chart. - My goodness the front ensemble here is just first rate. Some of the most creative and unique scoring going when it comes to the front ensemble. - Goodness Gracious...GET IT BD! That jazz chart is HOT and the visual is just emphasizing what they are playing so well. - AH...The Mattise Star. So well done, this closer is becoming a real winner in my book. And those silks and the guard performance. JUST WOW! - Blue Devils continue to be masters of the body, legs, control, timing, and staging. Not too mention they have a fabulous music book. They are still the corps to beat, but I was pretty blown away by Boston tonight. What a great year.
  11. Boston Crusaders - Nice intro. Beautiful and controilled playing in the brass - the visual is a real step up here - this baritone feature is outstanding and one of the best I have heard - guard is doing some amazing tosses, so daring -- and OMG that guy that just did a quad or whatever it was and caught it behind his back one handed -- wow! - visual excellent is high with Boston. Feet, legs, timing all locking in with the music. We will have to see how Bluecoats do in this regard. Only BD perhaps handles this aspect better. Boston just looks and moves so well - percussion sounded great in this movement 3 feature...Pretty sweet. They are really locking in - great tuba solo, and the tuba soli feature is killer - Oh Holy Cow percussion that was insane - Brass and percussion are just scorching earth tonight. So is guard. This corps is on FIRE! Across the board Boston has just about as good caption strength in the performance areas as anyone. What a joy to watch and listen to. - That Flugel solo was pristine, just gorgeous - The dynamic control is this brass line is so top notch, maybe even a pinch more nuanced than Carolina...and that is saying a lot. Not as big of a sound but still incredibly controlled and good. - Oh here we go, new visual prop (I like this tarp); adds some color to this show. - DANG...the crowd is eating this show up. Big ovation! - That was one awesome performance. So strong in all captions and to me the only question about whether they can catch Blue Devils comes down to GE. In brass, percussion and guard they can hang. Even visual proficiency they may be close (though that is BD's forte). All I can say for now is I LOVE THIS SHOW! Even more sold on this tonight.
  12. Seems like we have a lot of Boston fans in the audience.
  13. Phantom Regiment - Love the tarps layout - big opening brass hit - very full sound - the year of the great baritone soloist continues with Phantom as well, and trombone too, very aggessive - not sure I like the body moves when they run to the front. They lose some control in brass - this second movement is classic phantom. The chords, the sound, the power - maybe too many body moves in position where the forms become somewhat stagnant in the 3rd movement - percussion did a nice job in that section though. Good writing. Needs cleaned. - Love the use of piano here as they lead into the ballad. The effect of the brass and battery just disappearing into the white tarps is excellent - Nice dynamic contrast as they lead into the big hit. Visually this part of the show is very strong. Clean, easy to focus on what matters, very effective - props moved so effectively as they go into movement 5 by the guard - love those silks, love the company front that eventually wings out. The music is fantastic here. - Tubas sound amazing at the end. - This is one fun show. Not much to complain about. Phantom has definitely brought a fun and engaging show to the field this summer. - To me they may have Cadets beat by 1 point or more tonight. Phantom's visual is much cleaner and easier to read. The show is more polished. This was really the perfect vehicle for Phantom this year.
  14. Had to go back and re-watch some of The Cadets closer. That was a lot of new drill and some new music. It makes sense that they were very dirty tonight visually as they probably spent a lot of time on that closer. They have a lot of work to do in cleaning the feet, legs, and intervals. But I am very pleased with that closer. If they can clean that and still bring the power that should be a crowd pleaser for sure. I expect them to take a hit in scoring tonight, though maybe they pick up some points in analysis and GE but musically brass struggled some with the closer as well.
  15. It is definitely Bjork. They credit her in their program guide. I believe she is used 2 or 3 times.
  16. Carolina Crown - fantastic intro, so metered and slow growing - brass is so full of control and the build to the first big hit is perfection - visual program is really cleaning up. from the high cam the intervals look much much better - love those vocal effects they present with some excellent front ensemble writing - brass is really playing one touch book and I find the music very melodic with fantastic builds and development. It's impeccable scoring. - what can you say about Carolina playing Tristan und Isolde in the middle of their program? Perfection, daring, gorgeous? All of the above. So much control. - This brass line is beginning to clean a really good book - again, I think the visual program is cleaning nicely. Most things are really well staged. - like some of the new vocal audio that only cuts in for a few seconds but really works with the majestic nature of Camelot. - Closer still needs the most cleaning but I still have goosebumps from watching it - the whole show is fabulous, top to bottom. How far can it go? I think that is entirely up to Crown and their staff. There is plenty of meat and musicality and nuance to make this thing fly come Finals. Keep cleaning the visual. I heard some new music in spots, mostly just tweaks, but I am in love with this show musically and I don't think visual is that far behind.
  17. The Cadets - Very powerful and physical body moves at the intro - Huge opening hit in the brass after an excellent percussion intro musically - about 2 or 3 brass holes tonight - Brass can really play - and in tune - props were moved very well heading into the trumpet feature in ballad 1 - ballad is just gorgeous. Focussed with climactic build and real resonance - percussion sounds fantastic. Oh basses...very nice. Bring that out more. - big interval problems in the trumpets especially. May be due to the missing players tonight but plenty to clean with this visual book. - staging and effectiveness with the music is wonderful - ballad 2 is great but when they break out of the first form as the music builds they need to go to a different form at the end. The music is pushing forward so don't go backward visually and bring that form up a smidge and into something different - OH HOLY WOW!!!! The last part of the closer...YES that will be nice. Much better build to end the show. Music even changed a little and I love the field covereage. Not clean at all but that ending could knock the house down. Yes Yes Yes!!!! - Still a few weak moments, mostly just before ballad 2, but in the grand scheme of things the visual intervals and leg work need to be cleaned big time. That will bump up the GE scores on what is already a very compelling and engaging musical show. The closer felt like a real Garfield ending. 🙂
  18. Blue Stars - Brass seem much cleaner and more polished now - Nice job Baritones on the ensemble feature - visual program looks so much better when they march the smaller intervals. Seems when they open up the patterns lose some focus - Baritone soloist in the ballad is incredibly good. Just so gorgeous. Love how the trumpets play backfield here underneath the solo. Great effect. - Mello writing is also wonderful, trumpets not yet pushing that theme forward. The range is tough tonight it felt one or two of them were trying to carry the melody and did not have the control. Again I am sure heat is an issue. - Not sure I prefer the prop setup after the ballad - still plenty to clean with the visual program. Closing drill is the most effective visual part of the show...and yes that is how you want to end this production, but they have some visual work to do in earlier sections of the show. - thought the guard was great - musically I enjoy them but only the ballad really stands out. With the other musical moments of the show I get a lot of segmented stuff and perhaps not enough builds and developing lines. - still, this is a fabulous corps and some cleaning should have the crowd loving this show come Finals.
  19. Masters Comments (Flo High Cam Perspective) Music City - love it overall - great use of props and a great intro - soloists in the early part of the show were having some issues. Heat could be playing an issue. - some holes in the brass tonight...again this could be due to heat exhaustion or maybe injury - from the high cam I really like the visual program. They use the field well. They bring an awareness to the props and move them quite well as they lead into the ballad - when they turn the props to change color early in the ballad it is very effective and the red silks really work here. Really godd stuff. Music is beautiful. - Immediately after the ballad we get another color shift to dark mode. Mostly black with some red in the guard. - Nice use of jazz running. Closing drill is wonderful and actually cleaner than some of the early stuff. - great music and visual over. Keep cleaning, Music City. This is a great show and the crowd seemed to love it. I could tell endurance may have been an issue tonight. It's a tough show.
  20. I agree. But this is always the thing with DCI. You will always have those folks (and sometimes they are a small minority) who just don't like something, didn't think it deserved to win, find it joyless, or just don't understand the scoring. Why people feel a need to constantly keep stating the same thing over and over again is usually what causes these arguments to get out of hand. Just say what you think and then leave it alone. Try to state it professionally, but then leave it alone. People will respond and that's cool. You don't have to respond back. You've already made your point. Just let it stand on its own. If you feel you need to defend yourself do so once and keep it focussed on the issue and not anything personal. There are people who like to make shocking comments (or even hateful comments) just to stir the pot and cause argument. I really don't think we get that type on DCP (maybe a little). For the most we just continue to argue and parse words and on and on until the fights break out. Personally I have always found the Blue Devils to be one of the most fascinating organizations out there. I truly enjoy their show this year.
  21. This is fair. Personally I thought they had a great run in visual and guard. Even brass though there are things to clean. It's a tough book. We must also remember that as a corps cleans the mistakes stand out more. I think they are doing so many things well that the little mistakes are clear to us and we get the sense they had a bad night.
  22. Haha! Yes...that would end well. But it would be fun. It would be cool if DCI, after announcing the scores also announced the DCP favorites and caption winners for any live-streamed show.
  23. I doubt this would happen or that they would let him. That is a year-round educational music program that I doubt wants to ONLY focus on brass instruments. Now, could they move to all brass and percussion for summer only? They could but that might leave some kids out who would rather not make the change or the adjustment...and generally taking such choice away from the kids in a youth arts music program like Stampede would be frowned upon.
  24. Or...perhaps we want to be welcoming to international groups. Drum corps is adjudicated differently around the world. Heck, the original Holy Name Fife and Drum Corps used Fifes. It's not all about what WE think DCI and drum corps competition should be. If DCI is to be international they have to be accomidating and respectful of international customs, styles, and rules that may be common in other nations. DCI Finals should be a celebrations of the world of drum corps but also offer some head room for other corps or bands that would love to join us in the same spirit of outdoor field performance and competition (or exhibition).
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