devsabre

Yep, I'm with you Monkey and I loved 2000 BD, but totally dig the 2010 BD music as well, although not as much by comparison. Visual for BD this year...HOLEY CRAP and yes Cavies are smokin this year as well.

Tez, dont sweat cardman...i think he means well, but he dislikes a large list of things and it appears BD is on that list.

honestly...music you like was not part of your criteria. like it matters...the likelihood of any one organization leading the entire activity in a singluar direction is less than low.

yea...sounds like Blue Devils to me!

Darn kids anyway!

You hit it on the head. Cadets were awesome in 93 but its Star that everyone talks about nearly 20 years later. People will say the same about BD 10, only difference is they should (#### well better) win. I love BD this year and I also think its the best show EVER. Honestly forget the mirrors, they are an affect that only works (100%) from down low for god sake. A large part of the effect is when the corps appears from behind the mirrors. For me its the music and the terrifying amount of things going on at the same time at such a scary level of excellence. On the other Coin, I threw babies for Madison in Atlanta. They were more than entertaining, they were primal in ways that noone else is this year. We dont need these corps to be the same, its the differences that we are drawn to. For those of you concerned that other corps will attempt what BD has done this year...seen in Star 93 look alikes lately? DCI staffs are smarter than that.

I saw Pioneer in Atlanta and I was just blown away. Fun show and awesome hardworking kids. Wow! Pioneer, you should be exceedingly proud of what you do and how you do it. Good luck in Indy. Thank you for reminding us that fun and performance matter a hell of allot more than a number. I can’t wait to see you next year.

As much as I loved '80 Spirit and I was blessed and cursed to be in Memphis when Jim Ott was taken from us; I love the opening of the '78 Spirit show even more.

One of my favorites is '79 Santa Clara. The tension building brass opening of Verdi's Requiem with the guard in two straight lines on the 50 that opens into an power wedge while they twirl bed posts with streamers. Goose-bump City! WOW!

No!

Expectations: - Blue Devils win in dominant fashion with score over 99.15 - Phantom Regiment wins percussion - Bluecoats in 2nd by a very thin margin - Blue Star’s place 7th Hope For: - The crowd throws babies at the end of Madison’s show and they place 9th - All the corps peak at finals and set a record for the number of corps breaking a 90; yes the shows are that good - BD set the crowd on fire finals night and that more people just enjoy this monster of a show - When the last note from each corps is played the members and fans are happy and spent from the sheer excitement and raw energy—everyone wins when this happens regardless of placement

I agree, the design of this years Scouts show was intended to get them back into finals. Not a safe show, but not too much demand either. Mason is very smart, I believe he and crew have a multi-year plan to not just become more competitive but to go for the gold. Mason marched with the '75 Scouts, I believe he came back to not just get them back into finals but to make them champions once again. Look at the members, they are young...the perfect group to groom for several years into a champion. If I'm right, 2011 will be the next step on that path with a much higher demand show that will rock DCI. 2011 goals will be 9th to 6th, perhaps higher. The next few years will be very exciting. The rise of the Scouts along with Blue Stars and Boston could usher a level of competition that we've not seen before. I love it GO SCOUTS!

The concessions and beer girls sold plenty at Drums Along the Rockies (Denver) this year. They have always sold beer at that show...at least since I've been going ('94).

One can never go wrong with a nice cold honey wheat for hot evening shows. It has to be a dark beer for Finals though...Guiness for the Win!

trumpetcam is on the right page.... BD is only behind in percussion at the moment and not by much. Noone else seems to be able to take another caption from them. There have been some close numbers but thats about it. Although Cavies have taken control of 2nd at this point, up to this weekend caption scores have been much like a shot gun at 60 feet for Cavies, Bloo, Crown and Cadets. Caption and sub-caption scores have not been relatively to placement. Some examples - Crown's 6th in percussion; Cavies 4th in brass, bloo 5th is brass, Cadets 5th is visual. All of them have issues in other captions. BD has to maintain their lead but thats easier than playing catch-up in 2 or more captions. I love the level of competition but it sure seems like a race to 2nd place for the moment. I think it will be very difficult for anyone to catch BD and I pick them to win this year.

Yes

Someone asked about this earlier....It was the '77 Oakland Crusaders that did not make finals and won drums at DCI prelims. Take a look the the sheets from San Antonio (both nights) and there is the possibility that slotting may be less of a factor than percieved in the past. Blue Devils aside, all the other corps caption and sub-caption scores are all over the map. With that in mind, lets hope that caption scores at finals are similarly reflective of performance vice slotting. Phantom will win percussion in 2010.

Phantom Regiment

IMHO some caption within Bluecoats has peaked early the last 4 years (06, 07, 08, and 09). '07 was near flameout, they peaked the week before finals and ran out of gas with the best hornline in DCI and top-2 percussion. One year is a fluke, 3 is a trend, 4...well you get the point. I dont want them to peak early, but I almost expect it to happen. Come on Bloo, peak at finals so we can throw babies.

Excellent information and many thanks. I'm staying at a hotel near the airport so I will take the rail transit line. I hope its up late in to the evening otherwise it will be a cab back to my hotel.

Yea, i think outstanding corps will finish 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th!

I'm a percussion person as well, not a guard person. I have my own biases. I've not seen this show live so a great deal can get lost from a monderate quality video but some of my issues have been with placement based on the brass and percussion. Some of what I noticed is left or right placement of the guard vice a frame stageing given the form the percussion or guard are in or moving to. Guard staging seemed out of place, transitions not fully integrated for effect or did add to other visual or musical effects. This is not universal throughout their show but somethings distracted me on the video. I'm guessing that I may feel different at a live showing...ill get that in a week or so at Atlanta. Honestly i hope Bluecoats rock. I can give out a 2nd opinion after Atlanta if you want.

I’ll bite, ”…on the current Top-5.” Cavaliers – *only seen on FN* This show appears very intriguing. Cavies show appears to be just plain hard, superbly integrated and staged (exactly what we’ve come to expect from them). Few weaknesses in performance levels across the corps, percussion could cause problems down the road. Looking at the sheets, music is their Achilles Heel. I like the concept and they are starting to perform the crap out of it. Championship level show: Yes. Placement Prediction: 2nd or 1st. Thats right baby…they are the dark horse to beat BD. Cadets - *saw them in Denver* Many old school folks (like me) will like the guard in the same uniform as the rest corps at the beginning of the show. They will also like the music, Procession is a nice piece but IMHO it was not very effective. I felt the “kid performers” individual performance was at a higher level than the rest of corps, which was a distraction for me. *not flaming* I just didn’t get into this show. Visually the show is hard, but it did not complement the music or vice versa for me; hard and effective counts, hard and ineffective doesn’t. Musically I was not drawn in. Cadets have strong percussion but not captivating, same for the rest of the musical book. This show is brutally hard by any measure, and the members are performing it very well and it will get a lot better (which is #### scary). Never count Cadets out the fight but IMHO this show is not a championship contender for 2010. Championship level show: No. Placement Prediction: 6th to 4st. Carolina Crown - *only seen on FN* This show is gorgeous musically. Visually, it’s not all that striking. CC doesn’t seem to have many weaknesses. However, their music (specifically percussion) numbers are not keeping them aloft as they have in the past. This show is very well designed and integrated. Performance levels are strong and will get stronger. The visual show does not draw me in but that could be the “small” screen view talking. Championship level show: Yes. Placement Prediction: crap shoot, although I dont think they will win; 3rd or 2nd. Bluecoats - *only seen on FN* Smokin music brought to you by top-3 percussion and horns. I like everything about this show with the exception of some guard staging and integration. Overall show design and integration is superb and the performance level of the members if very high. The visual show is very effective and supports the music well, with the exception of guard. My only issue with BC is that they don’t seem to finish a musical phrase IMHO; this is about writing not performance. Unfortunately, I expect Bluecoats to peak early. Championship level show: No. Placement Prediction: 4th or 5th if they peak early, 2nd or 3rd if they dont. Blue Devils - *saw them in Denver* This show rocks and it is performed at a typical BD level, very high. Visually this show is deceiving in its perceived simplicity and is very effective. Don’t be fooled this show is not easy on any level. The things that set BD apart are integration, design and performance. BD has no pure weaknesses so appear to design to showcase everything, nearly all the time. Overall design is not conventional so some will think the show (especially visually) easy and overly prop-based. Put the props and design aside and just look at what the performers are doing and consider that it is all being done at a very high performance level and there is no question why they are winning. BD are executing the #### out of their show…it’s that simple. Musically BD’s show is very different and highly exposed, I love it. Toe tapping is not necessary to be good however; I had been exposed to this music beforehand. If you want old school Drum Corps…dont look here; pick up a video tape. Championship level show: Yes. Placement Prediction: 1st, if they peak early and if someone else peaks during DCI week (ala 2008) 2nd. 2010 is Blue Devils DCI to lose, someone will have to find a way to take it from them and that may be a tall order indeed. To the Blue Devils - You’re on top so you’re going to be a target. Blue Devils have been dominating DCI since your first 3rd place in ’75. As someone mentioned in a previous thread above, you are the Lakers/Yankees of DCI. Even when you’re not winning championships you’re making the rest of DCI nervous. I love drum corps and you have been part of why I’m still a fan even with electronics and many other changes I don’t necessarily like. Keep doing what you do at the level you do it. Love you or hate you no one can take away the excellence that is and always has been Blue Devils. Thanks for kicking ###, taking no prisoners and making no excuses about it. ***Others you better look out for*** Phantom Regiment – *only seen on FN* Wow smokin music with percussion from hell. I pick Phantom to win percussion this year, no matter where they place. The visual program is excellent with the exception of forms being a bit compact for PR. Phantoms brass has not been up to their normal standard execution wise but I see that changing for the better down the stretch. However, I love how their brass sounds, chills and thrills . This show has a few distractions in that the guard could be better staged and integrated and that their performance level is a bit low. The use of the soloist is a bit odd to me but not distracting…wow that kid can play. PR is performing well and they could scare someone down the stretch. They will peak finals week and someone will pay the price for PR’s excellence. Championship level show: No. Placement Prediction: 7th to 5th Santa Clara – *saw them in Denver* This show is very intriguing. The music is difficult for most people to digest but I like it very much. This show is a visual treat nicely staged and very well integrated. 2nd half of the show gets a bit slow on me but the performance level remains high. This is no stroll down memory lane to 1993 Star; this show stands very much on its own. The guard is excellent and the music is starting to gel with the visual presentation. The show is a lurking monster and anything could happen with it. If they peak finals week the outcome could be scary. So those of you in the top-6 better keep looking over your shoulder because Santa Clara is there lurking. Championship level show: In some ways, yes. . Placement Prediction: 7th to 4th To all DCI corps - Thanks for keeping it fresh and fun in 2010. This has to be one of the best fan years for DCI in quite some time. Nearly every show is intriguing, fun to watch and very well performed. I can't wait to see all of you in Atlanta. Honorable mention to the Madison Scouts. Welcome back boys; now please peel the paint off the box in Atlanta. Ill be there enjoying every moment.

I could not agree more....Phantom owned the field from the moment they entered the field to the moment the last spectator left the stadium. Great drums corps is about passion which is the key to great performance. Phantom won because every one of their members left their hearts on the field. The numbers don’t lie either.... You're on the mark ouooga! Percussion coupled with 4th in Music Ensemble mean 4th in Music on finals night which makes for an unlikely win. We’ve seen this before in much more profound sense in the past. Take a look at the recaps from 1981 DCI Finals (I’m sure there are other examples). Yea, yea...3 decades ago I know, I was there so it stays in my mind. Don't get me wrong, BD percussion was excellent this year and has been superbly strong in the Scojo era (thank you scott). I also believe BD peaked a week to two days earlier. Phantom also peaked at the right time and with a show that had all the elements and passion to bring home a hard earned championship. So there were many factors that came into play. The most important is that Phantom brought the goods, without that...its championship 13 for BD. Congratulations to all the corps for a great season. There were some smokin shows this year in and out of finals.

Yes, i was dubbed a Blue Knight and was the drum sargeant during my time at Keesler. Capt Cox sounds very familar, not sure about Belcher. We had the pleasure of marching in 2 of the New Orleans Mardi Gras us parades in 82. One of them was too long to be believed. Of course noone told us it would last all day. I'm not sure how long (distance) it was (far too tired to care), but it started at 10:00 AM in some remote corner of New Orleans and we marched into the Superdome at around 7:00 PM. We had endless starts and stops but, my god... it was brutal. Although, we were well fed and lubricated afterward.....hehe! I think something close to 70% of the members of my Basic Training Band flight had marched the 81' drum corps season. An example of our talent level: we had 4 snares and all of us had marched in a top-25 corp in the 1981 season, 2 in top-12. We are scary clean and had a great time together.