93Bluecoat

Funny you mention Michigan....I was out running in the Grand Ledge/West Lansing area (Saginaw Hwy) a couple days ago and saw a 60 acre property being cleared for development. All I could think was that it was a perfect spot to put up a corps hall/bingo hall/practice field. I think it would be a great location because of its central location in the state too (MSU is here, UM one hour and then CMU, EMU, and WMU all within an hour or so). DW

Finals is a longshot at best. A DCI finals with Madison is highly incomplete in my mind, but lets be realistic, after last night's Cali shows, Madison is out of the semis. That doesn't mean they are down for the count but they are now many points behind: Blue Stars, Academy, Crossmen, PC, Mandarins (all scoring in the mid to upper 70s). Madison can catch a few of these, but passing 5 corps that are 3-5 points ahead of you is next to impossible (by the way there is less than 3 weeks left). Academy seems like they are kicking for middle top 12 now. Sheez. Yeah Arizona. DW

Yeah, I gotta agree, this isn't the place to air that grievance. I'm not defending what you overheard (sounds like they haven't had the talk about decorum while in uniform), but I know every person that has ever marched talked about corps x (maybe not in public, but definitely had their opinions). My dealings with Spirit have always been great. I think the organization is loaded with great people (especially the alumni association). Take this up with Mr. Bodiford. DW

There should be some push ups or some lap running for that. DW

How did you NOT hear Smooth Criminal. The main bass theme from that is passed around the entire corps about 5 times throughout the show. I know its in the tenors, bass drums, pit (several times) and horn line (several times). When I heard the corps do this in April it was the first thing I noticed and was cracking up because it was so awesome. DW

We need more honest reviews and everyone should be able to take it without getting prissy. Good job. As for my 'Coats show, the conclusion of the show is constantly changing. You almost have to watch the show evolve over the entire season. The briefcases will make sense by Aug. 11. DW

As long as the quality of production of non finalist corps continues to rise, I don't seeing it being as big of a problem. Also, if more Division 1 corps become active (are the Freelancers coming back any time soon?) it could only help the non finalist status. DW

Then again, BD could end up in 4th or 5th, SCV in 6th or 7th, and the PC, Academy and Mandarins could all get lapped by the Crossmen and Madison. Ifs and buts with three weeks to go. DW

You didn't explain yourself when you said 'weird'. Weird in what way? DW

Jeffrey, I agree.....there seems to be no rhyme or reason to the GE caption this year, especially in music. There are some genres of music that no one can take and make it fit drum corps: The Beatles.....I'd love to see it done by someone and make it into a top 5 show, but I just don't think its possible. I've seen drum corps, marching bands, jazz groups....and it all sucks. Maybe Billy Joel is the same way? I kind of like the Cavies music this year, although it does lean toward the cheesy side at times. Maybe I'm narrow minded, but to me the Cavies visual style and music don't match. Does that make sense to anyone? If it doesn't, I'll go to the basement and practice my trumpet. DW

Matt, I'd be ashamed if it weren't true. DW

I say they are one of the dirtiest with the most to go simply from what people have been saying in reviews. The scores in the Visual and GE captions would refute your statement that BD and Cadets are dirty.....box 5 tonight in a few of those captions. I think some would like to sound the death knell for the Bluecoats.....better watch those premature autopsies. DW

You don't think that its at the least bit impressive that the Bluecoats might be the dirtiest of the top 7 right now and they are still knocking on the door to the top 3? There are 3 weeks left to clean. They might have the most room to go of anyone in the top 7. Look at the big picture chief. Hanging around in July is ok, cleaning and being ready for finals week (which I can see this show doing) is even more impressive. DW

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Way to go Bloo! DW

Too clean? I think you may be the only one with that opinion, so congrats for being unique. Most of the reviews I've read (including a great one from Alaina Sines, Bluecoats alum) have stated that the 'Coats really have some work to do visually to stay in contention. Thats good news because they are hanging around with a dirty show. Lots that they can still improve and gain in the scoring column. DW

Have ya seen the show?! I mean, the whole #### thing is GE.....honestly they need to clean up visually and if that happened they'd be scaring the crap out of everyone. Case closed. DW

I wouldn't worry....yet.....about the Bluecoats. They have a complicated visual package that is admittedly dirty. What's even scarier is that their brass book is STILL dirty and, ahem, they won brass tonight. If its Aug. 1 and they are 5th in visual that would concern me. What is perplexing is the GE numbers for the 'Coats. Would need to get the opinion of someone at the show to explain those numbers. DW

That is until the fault line cracks and you sink into the Pacific. DW

None of those would surprise me tonight. DW

Wow, sounds like you think people come to see the judges perform and not the actual corps. I digress though. I marched with the Bluecoats back when we were infamously referred to as the "Country Club" corps because of our rather relaxed attitudes about protocol. We did take our ranks seriously though simply because it was a matter of respect for the unit. You're going to have a few that don't know any better and that is understandable, but if you are in the drum corp community you should know better and we would protect our ranks as such. Contrary to what Tom thinks, I think judges and contest coordinators SHOULD know better. Tom, just as you say that the judges and coordinators have places to go and things to do and the corps should respect that, I think the judges and coordinators should respect the corps. There's a classic story still being told about one of our rather beefy contra players in 1991 shoving a Boston Crusader's member about 5 feet when they tried to march right through our ranks as WE were entering the field.

If memory serves, that year 8th through 14th was seperated by 2 points going into quarterfinals. Can someone confirm my tepid memory? Dw

Amazing, I was driving from Michigan to Cincy today thinking the same thing! I would have listened to 5 straight hours of whatever they would have to offer. DW

Just a quick overview of the recap. I was expecting the 'Coats and Crown to be close (1-2 points) and they were. If you are a Crown fan, be leary of a few things...they won Color Guard and GE Vis tonight and that's it. If they are going to overtake the corps in front of them they are going to have to win the visual and music captions more. For the Bluecoats, they need to start getting clean visually and their once strong (in June) percussion and brass numbers need to start showing significant jumps lest they be left in the dust of BD, Cavies, and Cadets. DW

Bluecoats took their lumps in color guard for the second straight show. I'll be anxious to read a review....this is starting to sound like last season. Yeesh. DW

Holy crap. This is incredible. So much for the dude on some other forum that said the Cadets were going to run away with it. Its amazing that a different corps has won in each of the last three shows between Devs, Blue and Cavs. Just amazing. The spreads are a little wide tonight, t'will be interesting to see this recap. DW