DarronSopDude

When I was talking about them being first to play recognizable tunes, I was referring to them sneaking in Moondance, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, etc... Not too much this year recognizable. I wasn't complimenting them on song selection this year completely...

Holly and I met my dad in Powder Springs last night for the DCI show at McEachern High School last night. I love this activity, and up until this year was a proud soprano player for the Atlanta Corpsvets. I find that I'm really missing marching, and will probably jump back in the mix next year. This is not a full show review, but just the things that I thought were worth mentioning. CorpsVets This corps being my old corps were special to me. Their show is different from their past shows mainly in the level of difficulty. They are really moving out there for the first time in their history. Good to see it. You guys rock. The music for the opener, I'm still not sure I 'get', but Strawberry Soup kicks butt. I'm digging it. Mello's running all over the place, hot (whew) sop solos, lush baritones, and big contra sound. Not to mention the improved drumline. (nice tenors by the way). This show has the potential to put you into your highest finals showing ever. Keep up the great work you all are doing this year. It's showing up with results on the field. Glassmen Holy cow!!! I've never really understood the Glassies, but always respected their marching. This year they pulled me out of my seat with the music alone. I LOVED THE SHOW (My favorite of the night). It was so good to see that these guys can express fun music. Nice compliment shouted from the audience.... You did it without amplification, and we still heard it!. Carolina Crown Good music selection. The GLAD album that the opener was cut from is one of my favorite CD's of all time. You did it well. I'm not a fan of amplification, but not for the traditionalist view. It comes down to this. When the corps gets soft, you need to turn down the amps. Sitting low in the stands (usually the best place to hear the brass) all I could hear was marimbas, and pit percussion. Your pit guys are playing softer, but the mic's don't transmit the lower dynamics into the stands down low. It really puts those of us front and center at a big disadvantage. Really distracting. Maybe some one shaking a maraka with one hand, and turning the amps up and down with the other. Boston Crusaders Nice show, especially the Sing, Sing, Sing arrangement. I like it. It had style. I especially liked the dissasembled drum sets on carriers, marching around the field. It added depth. Same drumset sound, but with one set played by 5 people, it was like having a drummer with 10 arms running around the field madly flailing about. Good stuff. Cavies Woo Hoo, I'm on fire. Someone grab a ladder. I loved it. Almost took my favorite show caption. The horns on the ladders really kicked butt, and the show ratcheted up a notch once they got on the field. Loved Sweet Home Chicago. Would have loved to hear them do the standstill, (but that was Spirit's spot, and rightfully so.) Cadets Guys, you have been my favorite for the past couple of years, because you were the first to play recognizable tunes again. The hornline was smokin', loved it, and if I'd have known that an outhouse could multiply schoolgirls, I'd have never left Alabama! Neat trick. I wasn't expecting that, very cool. The moving start didn't work as well this year as it has in the past for me, but maybe it was the announcer being uncomfortable as to when to ask for the judges, and drum major's ready signal. Who knows. Overall, good show, but I'm not so sure I'm 'feelin' it. I'll check back next month when I see you again. Spirit My first love... Spirit. I was very excited about hearing this show, as I hadn't heard any recordings, or really anything about the show. It was good. The guard work was great. I loved the witch flags at the end. The horns were a little shaky, I still believe this corps just needs to hang it out and play. Trying to be too rigid doesn't work with a southern corps to me. Overall How can you beat this lineup? Add Blue Devils and Madison to the mix, and I'd call it perfection. Great show, great venue, and great crowd. What a great time. Sorry if you missed it.

My new avatar is me during that last note. Look how purple I turned. Note to Marvin... next time get Greg a smaller bottle of water. Thanks to whoever put up those pictures from that show. Great Job Surf... cant' say it enough. Good luck in Denver.

Spirit's Georgia at the end was the best I've heard that hornline since the "glory years". Way to go Spirit.

Great comeback! I'm glad you got the spirit of my comment.

I gotta concur, he does keep a solid dubba C. Is there an emoticon for jealousy?

LOL, I though it was conditioning so the baris/euphoniums wouldn't be able to complaing about 12 minutes of continuous playing.

Thanks man. We loved playing for you.

You weren't kidding about making him famous... Last night at Jacksonville when we were marching to the gate, I got asked by members of both Cavies and BD "Where's Hunter Moss?" I laughed out loud. How good do you have to be when members of DCI's elite are asking bout you and you've been aged out for almost 20 years.

Someone told me the Mello line changed mouthpieces since this post was made. It's unconfirmed, but they did sound pretty good at rehearsal today. Wish I could have heard them from the front during the show, but we were waiting at the Gate when they were on. Spirit looked good from our really bad perspective. :)

I voted G, but it depends on what the application is. For a drum corps outside in a stadium, G by all means. Either one played with bad technique, or overblown sucks pretty bad.

My father bought me a trumpet the day I was born. I think he kind of made up my mind for me. And I've never regretted it. :) Still playing that horn too. Getzen Severinsen model.

I was just over there listening to them last night. You are right. B)

Speaking of Hunter Moss, and "Blues in the Night", the CorpsVets show this year might just bring back some fond memories. He's still got it.

Spirit of Atlanta '80 Old Man River, the whole song. They were unbelievable.